Investment Management

Evidence-Based Investing is the Foundation of Our Philosophy

Through our evidence-based investment approach, we can help identify which investments are more likely to succeed, based on objective criteria—and which investments involve unnecessary risk and expenses. Our proprietary portfolio methodology follows a four-step, multi-layered process with the goal of helping build a better portfolio, better life, and increased peace of mind for our clients.

Although concepts like investing for the long term, diversification, and staying in your seat don’t sound flashy, they are primary cornerstones of our philosophy. Our steady investment approach is structured to anticipate rocky inclines and uncertain times, not just tranquil waters and sunny skies.

Services-Investment-Managment

Schedule a No-Obligation Introductory Call

Building a Better Portfolio

Investment Strategy Review

  • Review and analyze your existing portfolio
  • Complete Risk and Return Assessment
  • Confirm your investment strategy

Investment Transition

  • Establish custodial relationships and coordinate asset transfers
  • Formulate tax-efficient transition plan
  • Document investment policy statement
  • Design and implement portfolio

Investment Management

  • Monitor and manage portfolio
  • Systemically rebalance portfolio
  • Proactively manage your tax liability

Portfolio Review

  • Review progress regularly
  • Re-affirm alignment of portfolio with your plan
  • Update portfolio and investment policy statement
Grey Spotlight

Aligning Investments with Your Plan

Building your financial plan on a sound, disciplined investment strategy is a key element of pursuing your financial goals.

Savant’s portfolios focus on preserving and growing your assets. In addition to properly balancing risk and return, your portfolio will be designed to provide effective diversification, eliminate excess cost, reduce tax liability, and provide adequate liquidity and cashflow to meet your needs.

Additionally, we focus on a disciplined decision-making approach, which provides enhanced value. We don’t sell products and don’t make commissions on the investments we recommend. We receive compensation based on how well we manage your assets, not how often we trade or which products we use.

  • Seek out unbiased sources of investment information.
  • Fear, greed, indifference, impatience, poor discipline, and lack of complete information are investors’ worst enemies.
  • Effective investment strategy compensates for investors’ tendency towards overconfidence by designing policy to minimize human error.
  • Complexity ought to be introduced only when it increases overall utility.
  • The pain of losing generally exceeds the pleasure of winning.
  • Investors don’t rely on emotions, ignore short-term trends, and avoid hot tips.
  • The objective of all long-term investors should be to optimize after-tax, real (inflation-adjusted) returns.
  • Investment risk is more than large swings in value: Understand, measure, and evaluate all forms of risk.
  • A dollar today is not a dollar tomorrow: Inflation is a long-term investor’s silent enemy.
  • Past performance is not indicative of future performance.
  • Long-term investment returns equal an asset’s underlying productivity (growth).
  • Bear markets are always temporary: Human nature causes the global economy to grow over time.
  • Investing is a process requiring commitment of upfront planning time and ongoing review time to maximize potential for success.
  • Financial, life, estate, and income tax planning should serve as the foundation for effective and integrative investment strategy.
  • Investing isn’t an end unto itself, but rather a means to closely align your path and plan with your “Ideal Future.”
  • Successful long-term investing requires maintaining a comprehensive and strategic investment plan.

  • Asset allocation is the primary determinant of long-term investment performance.
  • Broad global diversification increases portfolio return and reduces overall portfolio risk.
  • We live in a world economy: Invest globally to reduce risk and increase returns.
  • Ownership assets (i.e. stocks and real estate) provide real (inflation-adjusted) long-term portfolio growth.
  • Debt assets (i.e. bonds and cash equivalents) provide stability and preservation of capital.
  • Invest for “total return” to optimize risk, return, and taxes.
  • Buy low, sell high wins: Use strategic asset allocation combined with disciplined rebalancing to do so.

  • “Stock picking” and “market timing” hurt investment performance since no one is able to consistently predict short-term economic trends and market events.
  • Passive investment strategies, in aggregate, must outperform actively managed strategies.
  • The surest way to enhance long-term returns is to reduce expenses.
  • Avoid sales charges and commissions.
  • When making investment decisions, an investment’s merit should always be considered before government policy or tax benefits.
  • Boring works! New and interesting investments are designed to be easily sold. Evidence-based investments will withstand the test of time.

The Four Steps of Our Evidence-Based Investing Methodology

  • 1 Challenge Conventional Wisdom
  • 2 Ask Meaningful Questions
  • 3 Apply the Evidence
  • 4 Monitor for Effectiveness

Compared to more conventional investment approaches that commonly reflect emotion, instant satisfaction, and market timing, the evidence-based investing approach relies on wisdom, facts, data, and time spent in the market.  Built on logic and supported by compelling data, we believe evidence-based investing can put you on a path toward building your ideal future. Our methodology helps build better portfolios.

Savant Wealth Management (“Savant”) is an SEC registered investment adviser headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Therefore, it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended and/or undertaken by Savant, or any non-investment related services, will be profitable, equal any historical performance levels, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Please see our Important Disclosures.