Investment Approach

Equity Strategies

Mark firmly believes that a carefully constructed portfolio of individual equities is the best risk-adjusted way to seek to grow wealth over time and is a vital component of a successful investor's overall asset allocation strategy. He is a strong proponent of simple and focused investment approaches. He constructs customized portfolios that are broadly diversified. He does it the old-fashioned way – striving to buy low, hold, and gradually reduce or sell positions as they become overvalued.

Mark seeks to invest in companies at valuations that he believes will mitigate risk of permanent erosion of his client's principal and will deliver capital appreciation over the long term. He invests systematically, with discipline, diversified over issues and over time.

Fixed Income Strategies

The equity portion of a balanced portfolio is designed to contribute to both the potential for long-term growth and income in the portfolio. The bond portion is designed to provide potential income and reduce the volatility of the overall portfolio. Rather than investing in actively managed portfolios, Mark advocates purchasing individual bonds and holding them to their maturity dates. The former receives far more attention, as managers compete in the marketplace, but Mark believes investing in fixed income, especially for retirement, shouldn't be driven by maximizing returns when the consequence of giving up maturity values may put principal at risk. When laddered individual bonds are held to maturity and interest-rate risk is reduced. A client's lifetime spending needs and goals represent a stream of liabilities that need to be funded with a retirement income strategy. Mark's focus, as it relates to the fixed income portion of his clients' portfolios, is on securing and providing for those needs.

Investments in fixed income securities are subject to market, interest rate, credit, and other risks.

When investing in bonds, it is important to note that as interest rates rise, bond prices will fall. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will default on payments of interest and/or principal. This risk is heightened in lower-rated bonds. If sold prior to maturity, fixed income securities are subject to market risk. All fixed income investments may be worth less than their original cost upon redemption or maturity. Bond laddering does not assure a profit or protect against loss.