Our Partners

We always strive to be the best financial advisory firm we can be by working with the best product, service, and information providers available. Over the years that has meant building informal relationships with nationally known estate planning attorneys, ERISA attorneys, financial economists, fiduciary experts, planned giving specialists, and actuaries. It has also meant building formal relationships with some organizations. Listed below are three of those organizations and how they help us help our clients.

Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA)

Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) is one of the biggest mutual fund companies in the U.S. and maybe the most different. They invest based, not on speculation, but on the science of investing. They believe most actively managed fund managers are wasting their time and their clients' money trying to outperform markets. Rather than futilely trying to “beat markets,” DFA strives to deliver the performance of capital markets and increase returns through state-of-the-art portfolio design and trading. 

DFA works with some of the world’s leading financial economists to develop strategies based on leading edge research and to design portfolios that enhance returns by keeping turnover and transaction costs low. The result is practical investing that is backed by solid theory and economic knowledge.  

As part of their strategy they don’t sell directly to individual investors. Instead, DFA chooses to make their funds available through a select group of fee-only advisors. They do this because they believe independent fee-only advisors, who are free from the conflicts associated with commission based transactions, are best positioned to assist individual investor in developing long-term investment solutions.  

Fidelity

Fidelity Investments is among the most diversified financial services companies in the world. They are one of the nation’s most highly automated brokerage processing firms, offering the size, scalability, technology, and service our clients require.  

Through their Institutional Services, Fidelity offers a comprehensive range of custody and reporting services allowing us to manage our clients' portfolios with efficiency and accuracy.  

Fi360

Fi360 provides education for fiduciaries. Their Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst™ designation certifies that holders of the mark have successfully completed a specialized program on investment fiduciary standards of care and ISO assessment procedures.  

Fi360’s services are essential for us in successfully managing our roles and responsibilities as fiduciaries and in providing services to our clients who are also fiduciaries.

TIAA-CREF

TIAA-CREF is a leading financial services organization with $453 billion in combined assets under management (as of 12/31/10). The firm is a leader in helping those in the academic, medical, cultural, governmental and research fields plan for and live in retirement.