Yes – or at least that’s what a select group of leaders in the wealth management sector would have us believe.‍ Pertaining to capital placed in the market by institutional investors and market leaders, smart money historically refers to the powers at be that move and influence the markets, most often led by the big banks. Over the years, it has become common practice for advisors to closely mimic this top- down approach to information flow and money management by disseminating the institutional level data they have ingested to their clients, encouraging them to follow suit in their own portfolios. However, one must pause to reflect on this type of all-encompassing investment advice, or one-size-fits- all approach, to decipher how well these big themes apply to you, the end investor.

Yes – or at least that’s what a select group of leaders in the wealth management sector would have us believe.‍ Pertaining to capital placed in the market by institutional investors and market leaders, smart money historically refers to the powers at be that move and influence the markets, most often led by the big banks. Over the years, it has become common practice for advisors to closely mimic this top- down approach to information flow and money management by disseminating the institutional level data they have ingested to their clients, encouraging them to follow suit in their own portfolios. However, one must pause to reflect on this type of all-encompassing investment advice, or one-size-fits- all approach, to decipher how well these big themes apply to you, the end investor.

Often times very logical, straightforward, and formulaic - the investment approach of large university endowments, pension funds, and insurance companies tends to encompass known and predictable inflows of cash, rigid redemption rules, future liabilities planned at reasonable and expected rates, and a time frame that is potentially infinite. Little to no room is built-in to consider the dynamics and complexities of everyday family life or situations that must be handled with delicate care and thoughtful planning. Life gets messy – global crises hit, jobs are lost, relationships and family dynamics shift, businesses are bought and sold – and it is this dynamic approach that must remain central to the management of your portfolio. Where high-level institutional money can impose rules to stop its members or organizations from being able to alter their investment objective, you don't always have that liberty when considering your own financial obligations.

To quote Donald Rumsfeld at his U.S Department of Defense news briefing back in 2002 “…as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know". Even smart money can’t be expected to pass every test. Flexible in mindset, flexible in investment mandates, and hyper vigilant in managing the risks that matter most to you – get real advice for your real money.

Yes – or at least that’s what a select group of leaders in the wealth management sector would have us believe.‍ Pertaining to capital placed in the market by institutional investors and market leaders, smart money historically refers to the powers at be that move and influence the markets, most often led by the big banks. Over the years, it has become common practice for advisors to closely mimic this top- down approach to information flow and money management by disseminating the institutional level data they have ingested to their clients, encouraging them to follow suit in their own portfolios. However, one must pause to reflect on this type of all-encompassing investment advice, or one-size-fits- all approach, to decipher how well these big themes apply to you, the end investor.