Investment Strategy
We seek to maximize total return by identifying financially stable companies with positive growth prospects and consistent earnings growth. In deciding how to best achieve our clients objectives we utilize a wide variety of investment research to develop an independent opinion regarding their individual portfolio. All of the firm’s research efforts rely first on information emanating from each company or mutual fund, then on reliable third-party sources. Our primary source is institutional research purchased from Northern Trust, a highly regarded Chicago-based wealth manager. We also subscribe to a variety of services, including Value Line, Morningstar, and Standard & Poor’s. Utilizing the internet (online), we have regular access to multiple resources through Schwab Institutional (our custodian), as well as a large list of other online resources we employ on a regular basis. Finally there are the newspapers and periodicals we receive. The Wall Street Journal and Investor’s Business Daily are available each morning, and The Economist, Forbes, Fortune, and Business Week are part of our regular reading list.
Investment Selection
Investments chosen for our clients are the same investments we employ in our own portfolios. As fee-only independent investment advisors, we do not receive any commissions or hidden fees that may cloud our judgment. Our fundamental investment approach focuses on a company’s financial statements, management, competitive advantage and industry. Lenk Ladner Investment Solutions adheres to an Investment Policy that stipulates a number of elements, such as investment risk, credit risk, market risk and currency risk that may be considered to maintain proper diversification and diminish risk. The Policy also sets varying guidelines to the purchase of stocks and bonds. One such element is the use of investment grade bonds (by a nationally recognized rating agency such as S & P or Moody’s).