The Geometric Blog

Philosophy Point 8 Dropdown

Every investor should understand what they own, the purpose of each of account, and how it all fits together to form an overarching financial plan.  Unfortunately, there is complexity built into the financial services industry that often prevents this from happening.  We believe that this complexity is confusing, costly, and largely unnecessary.

Most investors have too many accounts.  A brokerage account here, an IRA there, an old 401(k) somewhere they can barely remember; the result is a portfolio that lacks coherence and is difficult to monitor.  We believe that investors should maintain the fewest number of accounts necessary to fully utilize their tax-advantaged options, and no more than that.  Consolidating our clients’ accounts helps to eliminate some unnecessary complexity and redundant costs.

Most investors own too many investments.  The diversification of a portfolio is not determined by the number of mutual funds or ETFs owned, but rather by the underlying investments within those vehicles.  We believe that investors should own the fewest mutual funds or ETFs necessary to be fully diversified, and no more than that.  Not only is this cost-efficient, but it enables the investor to better understand what they own and how it fits into their overall strategy.

We want to make our clients’ lives simpler and for them to feel more in control of their financial situation.  To us, that means a developing customized, understandable investment plans using only those components that are necessary to achieve our clients’ goals.