AN OVERVIEW OF SSG STRATEGY
For every new relationship, SSG Executive Advisory Group will build a comprehensive financial plan. Plan development requires mutual adhesion to due diligence and qualifying and quantifying the family’s financial needs and goals. As a product of the plan, our group will develop an investment program defining the initial asset allocation, investment process, risk management, and communication and review strategy. We create tailored investment strategies and manage them on a discretionary basis.
Our investment strategy is supported by the study performed by the University of Chicago, The Latent Statistical Structure of Security Price Changes (1964), indicating 80% of the risk in any particular security is related to the market or sector. As a result, we take a top-down approach when evaluating the market. Once the overall stance of the market is established, we move to individual sector evaluation. Through continuous monitoring of each position for signs of impending change in the trend or relative strength, we attempt to enhance return opportunities while reducing controllable risk.
The top-down relative strength evaluation performed by our team aims to remain invested in what we believe are the strongest performing asset classes at all times. Evaluating the characteristics of each asset class against cash, portfolios can ultimately allocate to an aggressive or conservative stance. Further, sector relative strength is performed daily to evaluate potential opportunities and potential adjustments that we believe may require reallocation to alternative investments. The goal is to take advantage of major themes in market and sector leadership and avoid major losses.
When major asset class adjustment (market level) or sector rotation (sector level) changes occur, we look for opportunities to rebalance your portfolio with the goal of capturing realized performance and reinvesting in potentially underperforming but still favored investments.
With respect to individual equity investments, when market conditions warrant (overbought conditions), the team may recommend hedging strategies such as stop-loss orders.* These strategies are designed to increase realized performance and allow for additional growth potential, while attempting to reduce downside exposure. Initial positions are considered with a minimum reward-to-risk ratio of 2 to 1.
Lastly, if an investment decision fails as a result of underperformance or relative strength indicates better potential opportunity elsewhere, positions may be closed without emotion.
*Stop-loss sell orders are designed to sell a specific stock once it reaches a certain price. Once the stock reaches this price, it is sold at the prevailing market price. Short-term fluctuations in a stock’s price could activate the stop price.
-
The Global Macro flagship strategy is based upon relative strength and momentum investing. Strategy analytics are actively followed by evaluating the relative strength of the five major asset classes (domestic equity, international equity, fixed income, commodities and currencies) and identifying the two leaders. Subsequently, each asset class is measured against cash identifying periods of “defensive posture” (i.e., 2008, 2001). As a result, the strategy has a strict risk management bias providing opportunity to be more aggressively invested (focused on equity or commodities) or be quite conservative (can focus on fixed income and/or cash). The strategy is comprised of exchange traded funds, providing sector- or country-specific risk, and does not take individual equity risk.
The Global Macro Balanced strategy is the same as the Global Macro flagship strategy with the exception of a 30% carve-out for fixed income. We believe this carve-out logically decreases the market risk the strategy can be exposed to, thus decreasing volatility.
-
The Core Growth strategy is designed to produce long-term growth without regard for current income. The strategy consists of 25 predominately large capitalization equities. The strategy seeks broad diversification across most major economic sectors. A top-down investment approach to these broad sectors is taken to determine the desired sector exposure of the strategy. A bottom-up approach to stock selection is applied thereafter. Due to the limited number of equity positions and growth bias of the selected stocks, the strategy is expected to have volatility equal to or somewhat greater than the broader U.S. equity market.
-
The Equity Income portfolio is designed to produce long-term total return by combining current and growing dividends with appreciating share prices. The goal of this strategy is to capture dividend yields that exceed the dividend yield of the S&P 500.
The portfolio will seek broad diversification across most of the major economic sectors. A top-down investment approach to these broad sectors will be taken to determine the desired sector exposure of the portfolio. A bottom-up approach to stock selection will be applied thereafter.
-
For true fixed income exposure, SSG Executive Advisory Group builds and maintains both municipal and corporate bond strategies constructed on an individualized basis. Clients ultimately own the underlying positions.
-
For clients who desire even greater risk/return potential, we will build and maintain individualized equity strategies that can be self-directed or co-managed with an SSG Executive Group partner.
There is no assurance any investment strategy will be successful. Investing involves risk including the possible loss of capital. The process of rebalancing may result in tax consequences. Asset allocation and diversification do not guarantee a profit nor protect against a loss. Dividends are not guaranteed and are subject to fluctuation. Investing in international securities involves additional risks such as currency fluctuations, differing financial accounting standards, and possible political and economic instability. These risks are greater in emerging markets. Commodities are volatile investments and should only form a small part of a diversified portfolio. There may be sharp price fluctuations even during periods when prices overall are rising. The market value of fixed income securities may be affected by several risks including interest rate risk, default or credit risk, and liquidity risk. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks. Investors cannot invest directly in the index.
Bond prices and yields are subject to change based upon market conditions and availability. If bonds are sold prior to maturity, you may receive more or less than your initial investment. There is an inverse relationship between interest rate movements and fixed income prices. Generally, when interest rates rise, fixed income prices fall and when interest rates fall, fixed income prices rise.
Municipal securities typically provide a lower yield than comparably rated taxable investments in consideration of their tax-advantaged status. Investments in municipal securities may not be appropriate for all investors, particularly those who do not stand to benefit from the tax status of the investment. Interest on municipal bonds is generally exempt from federal income tax, but may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, or state or local taxes. Profits and losses on federally tax-exempt bonds may be subject to capital gains tax treatment. Please consult an income tax professional to assess the impact of holding such securities on your tax liability.
Clients invested in these strategies are charged advisory fees. These fees are in addition to the internal expenses charged by mutual funds and other investment company securities. To the extent that clients intend to hold these securities, the internal expenses should be included when evaluating the costs of a fee-based account. Clients should periodically re-evaluate whether the use of an asset-based fee continues to be appropriate in servicing their needs. A list of additional considerations, as well as the fee schedule, is available in the firm's Form ADV (Part 2A) as well as the client agreement.
