Asking the Right Questions

The one question that most investors want answered is, "What should I be investing in now?" Finding an answer is usually not difficult. There are hundereds of advisors (and just as many websites) willing to answer this question. But how many times have you bought a recommended stock or other investment only to watch it decline? And how many times have you then heard, "Just ride it out. It'll bounce back."

Buy & Hold or Buy & Hope?

Simply put, the "buy and hold" investment strategy DOES NOT WORK most of the time. From January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2008 the S&P 500* index was down more than 38%. However, investment advisors as a group still seemed reluctant to do anything but recommend that investors hold on to stock (and stock funds) despite the fact that the market was in a tailspin.

"...The Buy and hold investment strategy does not work..."

To properly manage a portfolio, we feel that there are two essential questions that have to be answered.

• Should we be growing our portfolios now or protecting them?




• Are we invested in the right place given the current market conditions?

Our strategy is the combination of fundamental analysis and technical analysis. It's like a musician playing the piano. Restrict him to playing the piano with one hand and the music he makes is going to be marginal at best. Let him play with both hands and he will make beautiful music. Fundamentals can potentially answer the question of WHAT to buy and technicals potentially answer the question of WHEN to buy.

Forget the Pie Chart!

Chances are if you have ever sought advice from an investment advisor, you have been presented with a colorful pie chart recommending that you allocate your assets according to a pre-determined model, based on your investment objectives, age, risk tolerance, and time horizon. This type of PASSIVE INVESTMENT MANAGMENT allocates investments among a broad array of asset classes and holding such assets for an extended period of time regardless of market conditions.



At Garrett & Robinson, we ACTIVELY MANAGE our clients' portfolios based on a strategy whereby exposure to different asset classes varies based on changing economic and market conditions.*



We believe there is a time to be on OFFENSE and a time to be on DEFENSE. When risk levels are low, we want to be in a wealth-accumulation mode and when risk is high, we want to be in a wealth-preservation mode. To ascertain the overall risk in the market, we use a method of technical analysis that measures the supply and demand relationship for more than 90 broad sectors of the market. Further analysis enables us to determine which asset classes present the greatest momentum and growth potential.



Our investment strategy is designed to MEASURE, MANAGE, and POTENTIALLY MITIGATE RISK. Most importantly, it adapts to economic and market changes, which keeps your portfolio from being stuck in one spot while the world moves on and leaves you behind.