Who will be managing my money?
We are a manager of managers. Each portfolio should have an appropriate allocation among bonds and stocks and within stocks to large cap, mid cap, small cap and international. We don’t believe any one individual can be a master of all these investment choices. Accordingly, we select for you the very best portfolio managers we can find for each asset class we are investing in from the universe of all investment managers. The result is a further level of diversification with the intent of providing you with the best performance at the lowest cost.

What is a CFA and why is that credential important?
The CFA charter is a prestigious credential awarded only to a very select group of investment specialists who have mastered a rigorous curriculum covering a broad range of investment-related subjects. The CFA designation represents broad investment knowledge across core areas of the industry—from portfolio management to asset valuation, derivatives to quantitative analysis. To earn the right to use the CFA designation, candidates must pass three levels of examination, which requires hundreds of hours of study over at least three years.

What is the general philosophy that guides your work with clients?
We believe that the most important thing is listening to our clients, seeing them as unique individuals and learning about their personal financial goals and risk tolerances. We want them to sleep better at night, not stay awake worrying about their investments.

What do you hope for your clients?
We hope that our clients will develop a sense of confidence in their wealth, so that they’re able to make decisions that are going to bring them the quality of life that they want. We know we’ve done a good job when our clients are able to buy the house they wanted, when they’re confident even during a difficult market, when they’re able to pay for their grandchild’s education, when they’ve taken the early retirement they dreamed of, or when they’re bringing to life their charitable giving programs.

What differentiates Aegis from other full service managers?
Aegis is a completely independent firm. We work through Charles Schwab in order to have access to a wide variety of mutual funds and separate account managers, but we are not loyal to any brand and are under no pressure to purchase the products of any one firm. At Aegis, our alliance is to our clients—exclusively. This way we can shop in an unlimited universe to deliver the very best managers at the lowest available cost to our clients.

Do your full-service clients get personal attention?
Aegis works with a very small, select group of clients, so we are very hands-on with each of them and know them individually. All of our work is specific to who they are. We do not use model portfolios or pre-defined risk levels. Each account is overseen on a daily basis. We also interact with clients’ tax accountants, estate attorneys and insurance agents to help ensure that all their professionals are working in concert to provide comprehensive solutions to our clients’ best advantage.

On what basis are you paid?
We provide fee-only services. We do not take any commissions. Fees for continuous investment management are based on a percent of assets managed. Our consulting fee is $285 per hour.

How often do you meet with your full-service clients?
We meet with clients at least quarterly to review the performance of their portfolios. But we also check in with clients regularly to find out if there have been any life changes that would affect their investments, such as a marriage, birth or inheritance. Additional meetings are at your discretion.

How can you help me if I want a consultation?
People come to Aegis for consultations for many reasons. Some have had a life-changing event, such as an inheritance or an early retirement offer, and need to develop a plan for the future. Some are divorcing and need to decide how to best divide assets. Many clients have multiple money managers and need help to see the big picture of how their assets are invested. For more details see hourly consulting.

Can you help me evaluate whether or not my money manager is doing a good job?
Yes, many consulting clients ask us to evaluate the work of their financial professionals.

Can I consult with you on other issues?
We consult with clients on a broad range of issues. We offer over 20 years of experience in the world of finance in areas such as real estate purchase consulting, reviewing limited partnership agreements, evaluating IPOs, insurance, tax needs, and setting up appropriate trusts. Aegis also works with a wide network of professionals if referrals are necessary.

Do you provide socially responsible investment services?
Yes. We can help shape your portfolio to reflect your values and principles. Learn more about this option.