Fiduciary Responsibility

 Our designation as a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) means that Cookson Financial has a fiduciary duty to our clients, and we will always put our clients’ interests first.  We receive no sales  commissions or fees based on which investments we suggest, nor do we have any of our own financial products to push.  Therefore, our clients can feel secure that our recommendations are objective, and free of any conflicts of interest.  Our success is based on one thing—  growing assets by developing and maintaining successful long term relationships with our clients.
 

 Whether you are an experienced investor, or feel  overwhelmed by the idea of developing an investment plan, we can  provide a comprehensive review of your portfolio, and make the  appropriate recommendations to make sure you are on track to meet your  goals.  We have access to virtually any investment vehicle available  today, and will be happy to help you find the option that fits best with  your unique situation.    

Cookson Financial determines a customized plan for each client based  upon their individual tolerance for risk, as well as their financial  needs and goals.  Obviously the risk profile for different investors  varies based on age, income, dependents, retirement goals, and many  other factors.  And just as importantly, it may depend on the personal  comfort level of an investor— the “sleep well at night” factor. After an  appropriate allocation is established for our clients, their portfolio  is monitored and each portion kept within certain predetermined limits  through periodic rebalancing.  We consider tax implications important,  and keep them in mind both when selecting investments, and when timing  necessary adjustments in taxable accounts.

Cookson Financial generally seeks investments for our clients with low  fees, high liquidity, and low tax liability.  In order to also provide  suitable diversification for investors, Exchange Traded Funds (ETF”S)  are the predominant investment vehicle used, particularly due to their  generally low fees, and high liquidity.  We believe that some Mutual  Fund Managers add value, particularly in certain asset classes, in which  case Cookson Financial will utilize them.  Also, there are some  situations that will require the purchase or holding of individual  securities.     
 

 Many investors find themselves in a situation with an  overly concentrated position in one holding, often with a low cost  basis.  The resulting tax implications, and diversification issues can  be complicated and difficult to handle.  We will work with you, and your  tax professionals, to structure a plan to diversify this part of your  portfolio.  

 We are believers in this Nobel Prize winning approach  to portfolio construction.  We will help you understand and avoid the  pitfalls common in most asset allocation recommendations to further your  understanding of this widely used diversification technique.  Once we  have gone through an Investment Policy process, we are in position to recommend an asset allocation strategy that fits with your needs and goals.  

Active management or investing refers to choosing specific investments with the goal of outperforming, while passive investing is generally taken to mean using markets or indices as a whole.  Although there has been a great migration to passive investing in recent years, Cookson Financial believes that both active and passive investing can fit with well constructed asset allocation strategies.  We will customize the strategy to each client's needs or preference.

 In addition to monthly statements provided by Charles  Schwab & Co., Cookson Financial will provide clients with a  quarterly report of their portfolio detailing account positions and  performance.
 

 We monitor all client portfolios in order to maintain  proper allocations for their investment plans.  We also believe that it  is critical for long-term investment success to have regular meetings  with our clients.  Whether we meet quarterly, semiannually, or annually  is up to you, but we highly recommend regular account check up discussions  to evaluate your portfolio, and to address any changes or concerns in  your financial situation. 

 Ensuring a seamless interface between the professionals working on your behalf is very important to us.  We look  forward to getting to know your CPA and attorney to coordinate services and to make sure the best plan is in place for your situation.