Signature clients expect exceptional investment opportunities and creative solutions to complex problems. We satisfy those expectations through research, networking, and continuous attention to new ideas.

Signature clients receive responsive service from a team that understands each client’s complete financial situation and can act quickly. A dedicated team of professionals serves each client. Members of the team spend the early phase of the relationship getting to know the client and understanding the client’s goals. Those goals often include maintaining a certain lifestyle, transferring wealth to younger generations, and creating charitable legacies, leading to discussions around investment strategies, tax planning and legal structures.

Information, from summaries of estate planning documents to current financial data, clarify progress towards one's goals and highlight opportunities for new strategies. Therefore, contemporaneous with discussions about goals, Signature prepares a Family Almanac. The Family Almanac summarizes a client’s existing estate planning strategies, income tax situation, investment and other financial assets that have an impact on wealth management. By understanding what structures and strategies have been put in place to accomplish goals, the Family Almanac generates ideas for new strategies that can complement existing plans.

On an ongoing basis, we focus on the following issues:

• Cash flow needs to support current or expected lifestyle
• Investment expectations, time horizon and risk analysis
• Goals and strategies for funding intergenerational transfers
• Capital needs and timing
• Charitable initiatives and levels of funding over time
• Other issues specific to the client’s situation
  

At the beginning of the relationship, we work with the client to determine what data would be helpful to see on a regular basis. Investment returns are important, and we prepare investment reports that include information that the client finds helpful. However, investment reports alone are not sufficient. Remaining exemption amounts, annual gifts and recipients, charitable gifts and pledges, and tax data such as realized gains and losses and alternative minimum tax liability are useful in fine-tuning strategies on an annual basis. Progress towards achieving goals of transferring wealth to younger generations and benefiting charities can be charted in order to update strategies in a timely manner.

Members of the client’s team are available to meet as often as the client desires. We encourage quarterly meetings. In addition, we are in contact with clients whenever applicable new ideas or opportunities arise. Because of the relationship we have with each client, we can offer creative solutions that are appropriate to the client’s situation and move the client towards achievement of the stated goals.