Grow your investment boutique 📈 Founder / CEO @ Havener ⭐ $30B AUM for boutiques w/ The Billion Dollar Blueprint™ 💲 Story-led sales & marketing for founders, fund mgrs, and teams 🎤 Speaker ▪ Podcast Host

Hi, I’m Stacy - a blue-collar girl from the Berkshires who turned a way with words and love of numbers into a business that has raised billions for boutique asset managers.
 
I’ve raised $8B+ for new/undiscovered funds that led to $30B+ in follow-on AUM.

Being a female founder in the male-dominated investment industry at the age of 30 required a huge leap of faith in connecting two tribes: talented boutique asset managers and early adopter investors.

The leap of faith was spot on. 

10+ years later, Havener Capital Partners leads the industry in helping investment boutiques grow. We help clients in three ways: (1) Embedded as part of your sales and marketing team (2) Consulting on sales and marketing efforts with you (3) Coaching you and your team in our membership community

Whether it’s consulting and masterminds, expanding sales and marketing capabilities, or connecting to our network of RIAs and family offices, clients benefit from an expert team and a time-tested framework that has raised billions for boutiques.

If I can be of assistance, please reach out at stacy@havenercapital.com

A little more about me: 

I’m obsessed with all things old school – hip-hop music, classic cars, craft cocktails and vintage furniture. My best lessons in life were learned on the soccer field where I went from picking flowers at the age of 9, to playing on all-boy teams, to becoming an Academic All-American in college. 

Most days you will find me at our office in the city-by-the sea, Newport, RI, sitting next to my reggae-loving husband (who is also my business partner), with a Dunkin Donuts coffee in my hand, and our rescue pitbull at my feet. In addition to building a business together, Erik and I are raising a daughter which is by far my favorite adventure. 

At the heart of it all, there is one thing I believe in – underdogs. Doesn’t matter who we are or what industry we are in, we all start from the bottom; we have all been underdogs. This rebel spirit fuels me every day.

Stacy Havener

Studies say that 7 vacations a year for 3-4 days is optimal. I completely disagree. 

More frequent shorter vacations might work for some. 
It's a total bust for me. 

I don’t take 7 vacations a year.
I take 2 to 3.
But they are over 7 days each. 

In fact, two weeks minimum.

Because here's what my research says:

• The first 3 days I’m still answering emails in my head (and on my laptop)

• By day 5, I stop checking my phone every hour.

• Around day 7 my mind finally exhales.

That’s when the real vacation starts.
That's where I am this morning (finally)

When I took shorter vacations, I'd never really rest or restore

I'd either still be in work mode
or 
I'd be partying like it was 1999 and need a vacation from my vacation when I got back

I have learned that I need time on my side and 14 days is my minimum

There is another added benefit of a 2 week break

Our team gets to step up without me as a safety net.

In 3 days, stuff can wait til the "boss" is back
In 14 days, the team is the boss

Will things break? Sure. 

But then we can work together to fix 'em
and for every one thing that might break, 10 others will shine bright and run without me.

A break doesn't mean broken. I have found it's healthy for me and for our team to get some real space.

14 days is my magic number
Day 7 is game on

👉 Maybe a longer vacation is a founder thing or is it just a me thing? Are you team more but shorter hols or less but longer ones??

I shared this in my prez to an inspiring group at a $50B asset management firm this week. 

As an example of The Visibility Effect in action.

📽️ Olympic freestyle skier Eileen Gu’s response when a reporter asked her if she lost 2 gold medals or gained 2 silvers. 

😶

First, she laughed. (might be my fave part of her respectful yet powerful clap back)

Then she flipped the narrative instantly.

-- She owned her story - her unique expertise and her value.

-- She showed it - the most decorated female freestyle skier in history. Not bragging, facting.

-- She claimed it - she took up space not just with her words but also her behavior:  I deserve to be here, in this seat, at this table

(and she closed her comment with grace and gratitude)

That’s the Visibility Effect in action.

Each of those 3 steps are difficult and require bravery. 

Videos like this from people like Eileen Gu don't just show us how it's done but also let us borrow their courage. 

We can be it, if we don't see it. 

Flowers to every person who chooses to be seen. You inspire us. 💐

And flowers to the incredible people at Polen Capital who practiced visibility with courage this week. Proud to be your partner. 🙌😁💐

Vid credit: AccessHollywood

Your story is money - don't believe me?  

My story has earned me millions of dollars:  

⤷ Get scholarships  
⤷ Score a new job 
⤷ Earn a promotion 
⤷ Land board seats
⤷ Secure speaking spots 
⤷ Launch my own biz 
⤷ Find great clients
⤷ Hire a great team 
⤷ Pivot my biz 
⤷ Make friends  

(that last one is priceless 💐)  

Doesn't matter what industry we're in 
People do business with people in them all  

Is it uncomfortable to share your story? 
Yes  

It's taken me years to get there and I still struggle 

Do it anyway  

Your story is money™
Literally and figuratively  

📌 How has owning your story helped you in life/biz?  

Need a sign? This is it.  
 
Need help? DM me.  

=  
➜ We help investment firms use their words to get more dollars  
➜ It starts with strong stories and sharp differentiators
➜ If you feel successful, but stuck, we got you

I (almost) can't believe what I am about to say. 180 new investor prospects on our client's funnel from an old school marketing campaign. 

Webinars

(insert crickets chirping)

I know. 
Same.

Here are things that went thru my mind:

-- 1998 called and wants their strategy back
-- Please send that report to me via fax
-- Can you ring my Blackberry to discuss

🤣

But here's the deal

It works

When done well a webinar is one of the most successful, underutilized marketing, sales, and IR tools in all the land. 

It's like the 6th man of comms.

Call me a value investor but I'd trade all the AI newfangled whirligigs for a laptop, an Internet connection, and WebEx. 

(just kidding people. there's a new thing called Zoom)

Sometimes old school beats new school

(old school new school need to learn tho burn baby burn like a disco inferno 🎶 - just in case you doubted that my mind thinks in 90s rap lyrics)

While you contemplate what it'd be like to get $180 - $360 million in new pipeline from a webinar (and that's at very conservative avg allocations) 

I will be here anxiously awaiting all your digs. Go ahead. Drop gems on my renewed love of webinars. 

Signed, 90s chick

👉 (what did I have for breakfast today. this post is off the rails. maybe I had a McGriddle. 🤣🤣 'member that... I can't)

I am part of a friendly takeover next week. 5 days. 0 rules. 1 brave team (+ a leadership lesson)

Next week I’m handing over my LinkedIn.

Completely.

No rules.
No previews.
No edits from me.

Just loads of trust and bushels of talent.

Here’s why this is one of my favorite weeks of the year:

Havener's squad is stacked 

→ We have talented creatives.
→ We have wicked smart people.
→ We have cry laugh funny people.
→ We have gifted storytellers.
→ We have glue hands operators who quietly make dreams real not just for me... also for our clients.

And most of LinkedIn never gets to meet them.

That changes next week.

Because this isn’t just a “fun takeover.”

(here is the leadership lesson)

It’s employee advocacy in action.

And not the corporate, copy-paste, share-the-company-post kind.

The real kind.

The kind where leadership is democratized.

Where we believe:

→ Everyone has a unique power.
→ Visibility isn’t reserved for the founder.
→ Authority can be distributed.

Inside The Visibility Effect, we talk about 3 pillars of choosing to be seen:

Own it
Show it
Claim it

This takeover is part of that movement.

We don’t build personal brands so one person shines.

We build them so the whole hive glows.

(High five to the Queen Bees 🐝)

If our work is about story-led sales and marketing strategies

Then our team should be living proof.

We are walking the talk.
Follow along next week.

Get to know the other amazing humans @ Havener.

And if you’re a founder or exec still holding the mic too tightly and layering compliance and corporate rules around everything...

Maybe this is your nudge.

Leadership isn’t diminished when it’s shared. It multiplies.

Stay seen, stay storied.

And watch this page for what I am sure will be a week of treats 🍿

👉 Who thinks my beach walk and talks are going to get made fun of... 🙋

PS I will be in the comments bc I can't miss this 🙌

Hard work creates expertise. Visibility creates opportunity. (I struggle with this. Let's unpack it at a Jamaica beach.)

The Visibility Effect has three pillars
Own your story / value
Show it
Claim it

Each aspect has some courage baked in
but that second one

Ugh. 

We were told not to be a show off, not to brag, not to want the spotlight. 

That's v real and also true on some levels 

But if we don't embrace the power of visibility and show others what we are doing, what we are uniquely good at, the value we are creating, we will remain in the shadows. We will be overlooked.

There's a line in the F1 movie that I can't stop thinking about. 
"Sonny Hayes isn't a has been, he's a never was."

A Never Was. 

(gawd that breaks my heart)

I don't want that for any of us. 

I don't want you to be the best kept secret.

And I am right here with you on the journey.

Let's go.

I am not boring. But for years, I brought my boring-est self to work.

Might as well have called it The Boring Blueprint. I was executing it perfectly. 

I believed, like many people, that authenticity / personal brand somehow takes away from professionalism. 

That's why we put on the armor of boring and generic before we go to work. 

I did it for years. 

- Hair pulled back in a low pony
- Brooks Brothers suits (purchased in the boys section to save a few bucks)
- Minimal make-up bc too pretty somehow meant not too smart 
- I sat still, stayed quiet, took notes
- I smiled but not too much
- I chuckled at the appropriate times but never cry-laughed 
- I did what I was told and what was expected of me

Then I realized I wasn't me anymore and the story I was living wasn't my own.

I started to feel like my life was for rent and I listened to that Dido song on repeat

Until one day I sat there as the founder of a business that was almost 10 years old, raising a shitton of money, telling other people's stories... and realizing I never told my own. 

So, with some brave friends and colleagues by my side. I stopped hiding.

I chose to be seen. 

And my business and my world changed. 

Today I am delivering a presentation on The Visibility Effect with a $50B asset manager to help their team do the same. 

So bear with me while I flashback to my own journey and my first photo shoot where I literally had rap music playing and tequila in my glass. 

Bc that is me. 

I have Dunkin coffee in my cup r n and  rap music on now (Dax iykyk that YouTube vid still dre omg the beat and the lyrics 🔥)

Here's to being successful professionals and real people at the same time.  

Those 2 things are not mutually exclusive. 

LFG.

My first 2 mandates as a third-party capital raiser were for European managers who wanted to tap the U.S. market.

They were big brands in their home countries.

Stateside?

No one knew them.

Half the time people couldn’t even pronounce their names. (Those two dots over the “a” were tricky if you weren’t used to it. 😉)

One of those 2 became one of my greatest success stories.

And introduced me to some of my favorite people in this industry - many of whom I’m still friends with 20 years later. (run thru a wall for anyone in that OG crew)

When we started:

• $17 million in the fund
• Horrible performance
• New leadership team
• Legacy PMs fired
• A young analyst promoted to lead

On paper?

It should have failed.

We went on to raise billions.
Alongside a super awesome internal biz dev team.

That first fund closed around $20B.
Firm AUM peaked near $60B.

The U.S. institutional and wealth markets worked for them.

Early.
And often.

Here’s why:

→ Specialists in an asset class that benefited from a non-U.S. perspective

→ Smart, talented, fun people who cared deeply about each other and their clients and believed in their mission

→ It was different. The philosophy. The process. The accents.

(Don’t laugh. That last one resonates more than you think.)

And yet…

For every story like that, there are 20 non-U.S. boutiques who never make the leap.

Not because they can’t compete.

But because they assume:

→ “The U.S. is too competitive.”
→ “We don’t know the gatekeepers.”
→ “Our brand won’t translate.”
→ “We’re too different.”

But different is the point.

The U.S. market doesn’t need another copy-paste manager.

It rewards:

• Clear specialization
• Conviction
• Cultural edge
• A perspective that feels fresh

The firms who win don’t try to sound American.

They learn how to translate their edge into a narrative U.S. allocators understand.

That’s distribution but not just in the bodies knocking on doors kind of way 

It's positioning.
It's story.
Those build confidence.

So I'm pondering 2 things:

1. Why don’t more non-U.S. boutiques come to the States?

2. Could we help them own what makes them different and bring them here the right way?

🤔

And if you’re a specialist manager sitting across the Atlantic wondering if the U.S. market could work for you…

It just might.

👉 Why don't more non US managers make the leap? What's in their way?

I am not a fund manager, but I "get" fund managers (and that is a big secret to my success)

I love to geek out on some investment talk and some stats and some cool charts and some fascinating differentiated views 

But the secret to my success isn't my passion for investments

It's actually more basic than that

More human

Here's what I mean:

Really smart talented investment people are rare birds

They have awesome insights, connect dots at crazy levels, and see things others don't. 

They can come across as standoffish, cold, maybe even arrogant when they meet people.

In my experience, it's often the opposite.

They are quiet and aloof but it's not because they are arrogant. Typically it's because they are nervous or uncomfortable in social settings. They are human.

And we expect these "beautiful minds" behind their Bloombergs and excel sheet to also be charismatic and charming salespeople in meetings.

That's a lot of pressure. 

The biggest secret to my success in raising billions of dollars is understanding people at a human level:

who they are and why they do the things they do

because if I understand that, and all the nuances around it, I can really help them

This is the basis for what I call Human to Human Selling (H2H)

The quietest people often feel things most deeply. They need someone to see them and help them. We all do. 

👉 Have you found this to be true for yourself or others you have worked with?

How to go viral... and here's what I think.

Without even realizing it, I've been reverse-engineering content since I was handed a phone.

TikTok, Instagram, whatever app you haven't heard of yet (I'm easily persuaded when it comes to those things). But I was never just scrolling. I was studying.

Every day, I'd watch something go viral and dissect it: Why did I stop scrolling? Why did I care? Why did this random person's unfiltered take get 2 million views while a brand's perfectly polished ad got ignored? How many times have I seen this same advertisement on my screen?

In a world drowning in content, I became obsessed with one question: what makes people actually pay attention?

Four months into my first post-graduation job, with no financial background, just a degree in marketing, I'm starting to see the answer more clearly.

Authenticity wins—even when it's imperfect. Actually, it connects better because it's not perfect.

For example, TikTok—the most powerful content algorithm ever built—doesn't reward the most polished videos. It rewards the most real ones. A shaky camera. An unscripted pause. A creator talking to you from their car. Authenticity builds trust faster than any production budget ever could.

So walking into an industry I knew nothing about four months ago was intimidating. Still is, honestly.

But here's the one thing I know for sure: post that video. Share those ideas. Put your thoughts out there—even when they feel random, half-formed, or imperfect.

Because the imperfect stuff? That's the stuff that actually connects.

•••••••••

Stacy’s out and trusted her team at Havener Capital Partners with her LinkedIn this week. Bold move.

I’m Kendall Walsh, and I help investment boutiques tell their story authentically.

I will help 250,000+ people this decade. (You can too. Here's how + math + 💐)

We are each sitting on a gold mine of positive impact. 

I know because of the notes I get in my DMs, the conversations I have with people who know me from LinkedIn, or heard me on a podcast, or saw me speak

Visibility creates opportunities for us

and also for others 

Let's get to the mathing:

Think about this

If we inspire just 10 people a day to be more authentic, more excellent, more themselves

-- That’s roughly 300 people in a month

-- Over 3,000 in a year

-- Over 30,000 in a decade

And if each of them influences just 10 more people?

Now we’re talking about 300,000+ lives touched.

(That's the math with 10
you can put a few turns of leverage on it, wow, the positive impact we can create)

🤯

That’s the compounding power of visible leadership.

This is The Visibility Effect.

When we:

• Own our story and our value
• Show it with courage 
• Claim our seat at the table

Opportunities expand for us.

But when we layer in The Give → Gain Flywheel the visibility compounds for others

When we lead with generosity
When we share lessons, not just wins
When we shine in a way that lights the path for others

When we use our story to help people get in touch with their own

The impact multiplies

Our visibility does something for others

It’s about caring
It’s about contribution
It’s about compounding human potential

Leadership is getting democratized. The Visibility Effect helps every one of us become a leader at our work and inside our lives 

Friday Flowers 💐

🌸 To the leaders who go first and positive
🌸 To the founders who model courage
🌸 To the once quiet experts who decide their voice matters

We don’t need millions of followers.

We need courage to own our story and value, show it consistently, and claim the power that is lying dormant inside everyone of us.

We need that 
And 10 people a day

👉 Have you influenced others by showing up here? Tell me. 💐🙌

3 common mistakes I see in fund intro emails (and some easy fixes)


We review a lot of intro outreach emails from fund houses. 

Real talk: They typically aren't great. 😬

(Please know I write this with peace and love ❤️ bc I want us to do better)

Here are 3 patterns we see 👇

---

1️⃣ Too many words

Trying to explain everything about us 
(That's a double whammy btw iykyk)

Who we are
What our strategy is

Plus 

The track record
The pedigree
The stats

That takes a lot of paragraphs 

Which means a lot of work for the allocator

If it takes 3 scrolls to understand what this email is about, we’ve already lost them.

💡Studies show we have < 8 seconds to make someone care in an intro email 

Easy fix:

→ 50 to 125 words 
→ 5 sentences

(Did you just spit out your coffee? Sorry but it's true)

Think: curiosity > completeness.

---

2️⃣ Too many attachments

"Here's 5 paragraphs plus every single piece of collateral we have."

Pitchbook
Fact sheet
Quarterly letter
Case study

We basically PDF all over them before they’ve even said Hi.

Not only do attachments scream
“You do the work.”

But we've literally played every . single . card . in our hand. 

There's no build up. No strategic thought to what we share when. 

Easy fix:

→ Ideally 0 - 1 attachments in an intro email
→ 2 attachment limit on all emails

Think: Do they need all these PDFs to say yes to a convo

---

3️⃣ Too many asks

"Can we schedule 30 minutes next week?"
"Are you allocating to this space?"
"Here's some info for you to review."

(That last one is a hidden ask btw)

Three asks in one email = zero clarity.

When everything is important… nothing is.

Easy fix:

→ One ask
→ One calendar suggestion or soft CTA
→ Make it low pressure

Think: would this convo not only be interesting and useful but.. fun. 

(Yes. I said fun.)

---

Ask yourself: What's the goal of my intro email?

Not about closing a deal.
It's about opening a convo. 
It's about making a friend.

We don’t need to prove everything.
We need to earn the next step.

The fund teams who master this don't just get more meetings, they get better ones.

👉 What would you add to the list of intro email don'ts (or hit us with some dos!)

= 
+ if you feel seen in this email bc you are making some of these mistakes, it's ok.
+ you know where to find us

3 tests we use to help funds craft differentiators that are actually different.

We hear this all the time from fund managers:

We’re different because ...
And then comes a list that could describe 100 other firms.

If everyone says it, by definition, it is not different.

Here are 3 quick tests we use to see if a differentiator actually differentiates. (steal these moves or call us if you need help)

---

→ 1. Category of One Test

Start with this sentence:

(Our firm) is different because X.

Now replace your firm’s name with a competitor.

If the sentence still works, it is not a differentiator.

Example:

“We seek to generate long-term out-performance on a risk adjusted basis.”

Sorry. You could insert almost any firm in that sentence. 

(also +1 for my very compliance oriented word choice amiright?)

When we combine 3 real differentiators, we create a category of one.

---

→ 2. Attract & Repel Test

Great differentiation doesn’t try to please everyone.

When someone hears it, they should think:

• “That’s exactly what we want.”
or
• “That’s absolutely not for us.”

If everyone nods politely…

You probably delivered a so what, not a super special.

PS This often happens when we try to say what we think allocators and asset owners want to hear. 

---

→ 3. The Truism Test

A truism sounds good but should ofc be true.

Ask yourself: Is the opposite of this statement even a viable business?

Examples:

• “We put clients first.”
• “We take a disciplined approach.”
• “We have great people.”

Of course you do.

Because the alternative would be:

• Ignore clients
• Be reckless
• Hire subpar humans

Truisms are nice, and they feel great, but they aren’t different.

(Special shout-out to Dan Mikulskis who helped me crystallize our approach to truisms on his first B$B episode. Masterclass on differentiation.)

---

Here's why all this differentiation talk matters. 

The real test:

If an allocator or asset owner meets with you, what will they remember? 

Would it be obvious why you’re different?

Or just that you’re good?

Because in a crowded category, good isn’t memorable. Better isn't even memorable sometimes. 

But different? That stands out. 

👉 What else do you hear asset mgrs or wealth mgrs say that is not really different?  

=
+ We start our work with target market, story, and differentiators bc without those 3 things all the content and lead gen and meetings in the world, won't save you. 

+ PS Oh, AI won't save you either

Before investors read your numbers, they read you.

Stacy’s on vacation this week, so I’ve got the mic. While she’s away, let’s elevate the standard and give her something exciting to come back to.

In finance, you are judged before you are fully understood.

Before anyone reads your philosophy, they read your signals.

Your deck.
Your website.
Your fact sheet.
Your charts.
Your typography.

When your materials look refined, you look refined.
When your branding feels cohesive, your strategy feels cohesive.

Legitimacy is visual.

Polish is not vanity. It is reinforcement.

We have seen what a strategic makeover can do. A firm that once felt small suddenly feels institutional. A story that felt cautious suddenly feels confident.

The numbers did not change.

The presence did.

And that changes everything.

Believable firms invest in how they show up.

If you are ready for a serious visual upgrade, let’s talk about your makeover.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

•••••••••

Stacy’s out and trusted her team at Havener Capital Partners with her LinkedIn this week. Bold move.

I’m Erika Hutchings and I help boutique asset managers with branding and visual storytelling.

Client Makeovers

“Hello… it’s me.”

Adele turned a phone call into a global anthem.

Meanwhile, most of us avoid making one.

We scroll. We read. We react. But we rarely call.

Americans spend an average of 5.5 hours a day on their phones. Less than 15 minutes of that is spent making voice calls.

Somewhere along the way, the phone became everything except a phone.

Voice calls now sit somewhere between handwritten thank-you notes and balanced checkbooks on the list of lost arts.

And yet — here’s Stacy, dialing anyway. 📞 
Old-school. Wired. Curly cord and all. (If you’re under 35, this may require a quick Google.)

We are more connected than ever. And yet we rarely speak to each other.

We default to:
→ Email 
→ Text 
→ Zoom

All incredibly efficient. But efficiency isn’t the same as connection.

When you call someone, you hear tone and intention. You can sense alignment — or misalignment — in real time. And you can respond in real time.

For founders growing their business, these nuances are important. 

Conversations are how relationships are built. And relationships ARE the business.

So here’s a small experiment for the day:
Call one colleague. 
Call one client. 
Call your business partner. 
Call your mom.

Don’t schedule it. 
Just dial.

If you get voicemail, leave one. (Another lost art.)

And if you feel slightly awkward?
Good.
You’re probably doing something human.

Stay seen. Stay heard. Start dialing. ☎️ 

👉 Got any pro tips for out-of-practice phoners? Share them!

•••••••••

Stacy’s out and trusted her team at Havener Capital Partners with her LinkedIn this week. Bold move.

I’m Emily Boyle and I help boutique asset managers spark connections with clients through targeted content.

Walk the talk, Stacy. (Thats what I told myself this morning.) (in my sternest mom voice) 

In a recent prez, I encouraged the group to write a letter to their younger self.

Then I went about my merry way.

This morning I called myself on "not taking my own advice". Here’s the letter I penned in my journal. 

---

There will be a time when your soccer coach offers you a crazy job in investments, a job for which you will feel woefully underqualified. It is important that you say yes.

---

You will go to dinners with really smart people talking about economies, markets, and stats. You will want to hide under the table. Don’t.  Take notes. Then leave and read everything you can. It is important that you teach yourself what you want to learn.

---

At those dinners you will be overwhelmed by the convo and the etiquette. The silverware. Why there are so many utensils. You won’t know where your fork goes on the plate. It is important that you don’t let your upbringing make you feel like you don’t belong.

---

You will find a mentor. She will change your life. She will tell you to play by some effed-up rules for a while. Pull your hair back. Don’t wear makeup. Shop in the boys’ section at Brooks Brothers. If you are pretty, they won't believe you are smart.  It is important that you do this even though it will break your heart.

---

You will feel out of place in the investment industry. You will question why you are here. Whether you’re doing it for the money or to prove you are as good as the boys. It is important that you stay, that you work through it. One day it will make sense how much this industry needs you. That you love it here, you belong here.

---

You will play small. Your whole life. You will go to a small school, work at small companies. You will tell yourself you didn’t have a choice. It’s not entirely true. You didn’t dream bigger because you didn’t believe you deserved to. It's okay. Play small and crush it. Your confidence will build. It might take 20+ years, but you will eventually realize what your definition of success is. And be brave enough to step onto a bigger stage and brighter lights. It is important that you trust the process, even when you are tired and burned out and feel like it’s taking too long.

---

The rent is not too-damn-high. Your life isn’t for rent. It is important that you own your story and your value. That you show it. And claim it. Not just for the opportunities it will create for you but for the path it will make easier for others. 

---

There are others who feel like you feel. Men and women who didn’t take the traditional path. Who are great at what they do and also afraid of what that means. Unsure of their paths for that greatness. Who have a vision of success that looks different or feels a little crazy. It is important that you show up for them. And keep showing up. That’s Give-to-Gain. For you and for them.

---

We aren’t odd ducks.
We are rare birds.
Let's. Go.

Here’s a 5-minute test to know if your website sucks.

And, I say that with love. ❤️

If you’re a boutique fund manager, your website should not be a brochure. It’s a tool to help position you with authority and credibility. You’re a thought leader, and it should position you that way.

Run this quick test:

1. Is it instantly clear who you help and what you do?

When I land on your homepage, can I tell in 5 seconds what you actually manage and for whom? Or do I see vague language about disciplined processes and long-term value creation? 

Not only is that not clear, but it’s boring. Next, please!

Remember: Clarity converts. Cleverness confuses.

2. Does it talk about your investor or just about you?

Count the number of times you say “we” versus “you.”
Your site shouldn’t read like a resume.

Allocators are not looking for your life story. They’re looking for differentiation and quick answers to their specific objective. Give them what they want.

3. Is your differentiation obvious?

Are you disciplined, research-driven, and long-term focused? Yeah, so is every other manager. That is NOT a strategy, it should be a given.

Your edge should be unmistakable. It should set you apart and make you stand out in a sea of sameness.

4. Does it make the next step easy?

Is it obvious what to do next?
Download a fact sheet. Subscribe to emails. Request information. Contact IR.

I don’t have time to go hunting through links trying to figure out how to engage with you, and neither does your prospect.

Confused people do nothing. They’ll click away out of frustration and go invest with the one who makes it easy.

5. Does it feel current and credible?

Outdated commentary. Old press mentions. Broken links. A blog that hasn’t been updated in a year or more.
It’s stagnant, and it’s hurting your reputation.

In this business, perception matters. Your online presence is part of your due diligence trail. It’s the first place prospects go to learn about you and take the next step.

If your website is not reinforcing your narrative, it’s working against you.

And most firms have no idea it’s hurting them in that way.

Take 5 mins to audit your website. Are you making any of these crucial mistakes, and how can you fix them?

•••••••••

Stacy’s out and trusted her team at Havener Capital Partners with her LinkedIn this week. Bold move.

I’m Steph Russell, and I help boutiques get visible online.

Here’s something I’ve learned from Stacy and an important sales tactic we teach our clients.

The behavioral side of selling says a prospect/client will usually feel more positive about a conversation when they’re speaking 75% of the time.

You may think that’s absurd but it’s true… on a 30 min call, try speaking for only 7 to 8 mins.

Crazy? But it works!

Why?
Because people don’t leave a conversation thinking, “That guy or gal was impressive.”

They leave thinking:
→ Did they understand my situation?
→ Did this conversation feel helpful?
→ Did this person “get” me?

When the prospect talks more, you get the real story:
→ the pressure
→ the fears
→ the goals
→ the language they actually use

That creates better trust, better diagnosis, and better recommendations.

That’s why I still use a version of the “old-school” D.O.S. questions early:

Dangers - What’s in your way now, preventing you from reaching your goals? What risks/fears need to be eliminated?

Opportunities - What are their biggest opportunities to focus on and capture once these dangers are eliminated?

Strengths - What’s already working that we can build on?

It keeps the conversation centered on the person, not the pitch.

Performance and your value prop matters.
But before performance, process, or product… people want to feel understood.

What talk-time split do you aim for in discovery calls?

•••••••••

Stacy’s out and trusted her team at Havener Capital Partners with her LinkedIn this week. Bold move.
 
I’m Dustin, and I help find the best in class boutiques that are looking for a partner to help them grow.

I have a question about meetings (and this might bomb bc polls are so 2023.) But hey, 90s webinars are crushing for clients so let's keep experimenting.

Riddle me this:

- Fund managers want to increase AUM
- They want more meetings

I see you. I agree.

So

- What does success look like there?

- How many meetings between the fund manager and prospective investors is ideal per week?

I hope people play bc I am like this 🍿 
Popcorn and a poll

👉 After your vote add nuances in the comments

(Is anyone in comments going to say I want less prospect meetings? 
Bc that's real too and you know what my solution is?...
 
Webinars 🤣🥁)

undefined undefined

Newsletter

📌 Got the investment skills, but need marketing help? We've got you.
Email Dustin Sullivan 
dustin (at) havenercapital (dot) com



Client Acq

havenercapital

billion-dollar-backstory

It took two major market meltdowns for me to finally realize, Wall-Street and Academia are, quite simply, wrong.

I joined this industry in February of 1999. Thirteen months later, the Dot Com bubble burst.

In the middle of that crisis, the leaders of the firm which I was then affiliated, assured me, “Don’t worry. This is a once in a career crisis. It’s good to get it behind you in the beginning.”

That made sense to me. We survived and I soldiered on.

Then came the Global Financial Crisis of 2007 and 2008.

“Don’t worry.” I was told, “This is a once in a career crisis.”

Wait, didn’t you guys say that already?

After this second stock market crisis, the proverbial scales fell from my eyes. I became convinced that financial planning and portfolio management are two distinctly different skill sets. I had one, but not the other.

This is the backstory of how Hicks & Associates Wealth Management has come to be much more of a boutique asset management firm than your run-of-the-mill financial advisory shop.

Simply put, we specialize in managing the wealth that you’ve spent decades building. 

Who we serve:
→ We serve individuals and families that do not want to see their wealth take the stairs on the way up, and the elevator back down.
→ We serve those who believe a defensive strategy is just as important - sometimes even more important - than an offensive strategy.
→ We serve those who want truly professional, truly active portfolio management.

If you'd like to chat, send me a DM.

Theodore Hicks

Pretty well sums it up. 


“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://lnkd.in/eXJF-UzF

Hope you have a great day.

My book link

PS I cannot comprehend how ANYONE can study the founding of our nation, the Revolutionary War, etc. and 𝙣𝙤𝙩 see the Divine hand of God. 

There are so many instances like this:
- Prevailing winds failing to allow the British Armada (which was immense) from encircling our troops in Brooklyn. 
- Fog descending at just the right time to conceal Washington's retreat

Go back to the French & Indian War, and you'd learn that Washington had multiple bullet punctures in his jacket ... but none ever struck him. 

Devine protection, in my view ... as well as the Native American leaders who were specifically directing their men to fire on Washington!

The list like this is long! 

May God bless this nation, has He clearly has since our founding. May we live up to His blessings and be a bastion of freedom. 
May we reflect His glory. 

Happy Birthday America!


Author, Evidence Based Investing (Coming Soon) |
Chief Investment Officer at Hicks & Associates Wealth Management

My name is not Maverick, but I am a bit of a maverick. 

After graduating from NC State University in December 1998, I started my financial planning practice - what has become Hicks & Associates Wealth Management. 

Joining the industry in February 1999, I saw the last year of the great bull run up close.

I then saw the dot com crisis up close too. 

Going through that crisis, the leaders of the firm which I was then affiliated, assured me, “Don’t worry. This is a once in a career crisis. It’s good to get it behind you in the beginning.”

We survived and I soldiered on.

Then came the Global Financial Crisis of 2007 and 2008.

“Don’t worry.” I was told, “This is a once in a career crisis.”

Wait, didn’t you guys say that already?

After this second stock market crisis, the proverbial scales fell from my eyes. I became convinced that financial planning and portfolio management are two distinctly different skill sets. I had one, but not the other.

This is the backstory of how Hicks & Associates Wealth Management has come to specialize in managing the wealth that you’ve spent decades building. 

Who we serve:
→ We serve individuals and families that do not want to see their wealth take the stairs on the way up, and the elevator back down.
→ We serve those who believe a defensive strategy is just as important - sometimes even more important - than an offensive strategy.
→ We serve those who want truly professional, truly active portfolio management.

If you'd like to chat, send me a DM.

Author, Evidence-Based Investing | Managing Wealth for the C-Suite

It's gone global.
And, I gotta admit ...


It's pretty cool.
Kinda humbling, in fact.

Two days ago, I got a DM.
Someone, I have never met.

They had just finished reading my book.
And they thoroughly enjoyed it.

So, I checked out their profile.
They live in Portugal.

Last week, I was looking at sales receipts.
(Gotta get records ready for tax prep.)

I saw a couple of sales in Germany.
Well, that's cool. 

My first unsolicited review:
Someone from the UAE.

Couple of folks in the United Kingdom.
I've got readers in Canada.
Australia too.

While I'm sure there'll be more than one,
so far there's only one 1-star review.
All the others are 5-star reviews.

So far,
my favorite review:

"I can't believe I'm actually enjoying this."

Yes, financial nerds like me are into it.
But, it appears non-finance folks are too.

'Cuz I've heard that feedback more than once.

If you've read my book,
I'd be honored if you'd leave me an Amazon review.

If you haven't read my book,
you can get the first chapter free.

Just see the link below.
Or send me a DM with "Free Chapter please"


❓ What book are you reading now?

~~~~
I'm Theodore, author of Evidence-Based Investing.
Get the 1st chapter free at: 
TheodoreHicks.com

I also manage wealth.
We serve individuals and families. 
We are vigilant so you don't have to be.

Send me a DM to chat.

Later this year, I'll be biking across NC.
Gonna be great.


Cycle NC just announced the route.
14,030' of elevation gain.
454 miles over 7 days.

We will start in Mount Airy.
That day will be 4,027' of gain & 64 miles.

Final day will be 
Manteo to Hatteras Island

That'll be 55 miles
and only 190' of gain.

Definitely looking forward to it!

Earlier this week, I got fit:
A proper bike fitting, that is.

Took 4 hours.
Steph at Conte's was great.

Very detailed.
Very professional.

Very scientific.
I was all wired up, sorry no pics.

Gave me some pointers too.
Maybe I'll be better at climbing?

About to head out for a ride.
Will see how the fit feels.

Gotta fuel first.

If you're a cyclist,
wanna join our little team in October?


~~~~
I'm Theodore, author of Evidence-Based Investing.
Get the 1st chapter free at: 
TheodoreHicks.com

I also manage wealth.
We serve individuals and families. 
We are vigilant so you don't have to be.

Send me a DM to chat.

Caroline and I saw Anne Wilson. 
This time did the VIP experience. 

It was another great concert. 
This time in Fayetteville, NC. 

The venue & staff,
Well they were NOT prepared. 

It was like we all surprised them. 
Have never experienced that. 

But it was important to see. 
As a performer, it was a lesson. 

Caroline needs to know,
Yes, put on a strong performance.

But you need a strong team too.  

As for me, I have a strong team. 
I’m very blessed in that regard. 


❓ What was your favorite concert?


~~~~
I lead a team that manages wealth for others. 
We are vigilant investors.
You don't have to be.
Want a second opinion, let's chat.

Find my Featured section to check out my latest book, "Evidence-Based Investing".

Theodore Hicks, CFP, CKA, CMT

No alternative text description for this image

There's only 2 ways to survive,
As for me, I'm done with HODL.


The markets have been volatile lately.
In times like these, ya gotta know:
Volatility begets volatility.

The Fear Index jumped this week.
No surprise, volatility followed.

Yesterday (Tuesday 3/3),
The S&P broke short-term support.

While that's not good,
the index did come back and rally.

But that short-term support break ...
File that under "Not Good".

The S&P has been living below the 50-day line.
File that under "Not Good".

The term "thin ice" comes to mind.
And I see some cracks in that ice.

What's gonna happen today?
Or tomorrow?

Will we test the November lows?
That's certainly possible.

But, ultimately, I have no idea.
But I know exactly what we'll do.

We will follow our process.
We have an offensive game plan.
We also have a defensive game plan.

If you've been relying on HODL,
my DMs are open. 

If you want a 2nd opinion, send me a DM:
"Can I get a 2nd opinion."


❓ Is the 2 pocket square look too fancy with no tie?

~~~~
I'm Theodore, author of Evidence-Based Investing.
Get the 1st chapter free at: 
TheodoreHicks.com

I also manage wealth.
We serve individuals and families. 
We are vigilant so you don't have to be.

Send me a DM to chat.

Got some air.
Then ate some humble pie.


Yesterday, after the closing bell,
we went out on our bikes.

I'm not a mountain biker,
I usually ride my road bike.

But, T3 has a mountain bike.
So this is called a "single track".

I took T3 here many years ago,
But he had forgotten all about it.

Now that he has a legit mountain bike,
let's go buddy.

What you see here is tame,
at least compared to other jumps.

My little buddy is brave.
He wanted to jump most of the jumps.

So we had to have a lesson in risk management.
"That's a 20 foot jump son."

Yes, he jumps curbs.
But that's a far cry from a 20 foot high ramp.

I told him we need to take small risks first.
Once we can handle the small risks,

Then, and ONLY then, we can move up.
We have to earn the right to take risks.

This is the same way we manage money.
We have two tactical models.

➡️ We have to earn the right to take risk.

Right now, we are heavy in cash.

➡️ Not because we are prophetic.
➡️ Not because we are fearful.

Because we are process driven.
And we just followed our process.

Ultimately, I made a deal with T3.
If I can hit the jump, I'll let you try.

But if I chicken out,
our if I wipe out,

Then we're both grounded.

We eventually found this section.
A series of tame jumps.

So I ran 'em.
And hit all of 'em ...

Except one. 
I went around that one.
Made him go around that one too. 

But we both hit all of 'em.

But, ever hear that saying:
"Pride goes before the fall."

Well, I just had to have a picture.
T3 decided to take a video. 

This picture is ...
well, it looks great.

But I did not stick the landing.
And I wouldn't let run thru again.

Not sure he got the lesson. 
But it is a lesson in risk management.

Don't take risks you can't afford to lose.
And when you do take risks,

Take small risks, first.
Earn the right to take bigger risks.

If you don't understand how this translates to wealth management, but you want to learn more ... just send me a DM.

~~~~
We manage wealth for C-Suite Executives. 
We are vigilant investors.
You don't have to be.
Want a second opinion, let's chat.

Find my Featured section to check out my latest book, "Evidence-Based Investing".

When you read stock market
or economic forecasts, this is key:


"No one knows what is coming - 
who can tell someone else what will happen after them?"

That's from the book of Ecclesiastes.
Chapter 10, verse 14b.

That was in my daily reading this a.m.
Seemed appropriate.

Recently, I posted something & said,

"And, I'm not predicting.
I'm just saying that's what I see."

Someone accused me of predicting.
No, I am not.

I am 100% certain,
I do NOT know what's gonna happen.

That's why we manage wealth the way we do.

We do not predict.
We prepare.

We are constantly tweaking.
Constantly making adjustments.

Every position is examined independently.
Every strategy has it's rules.

We have 4 equity strategies.
Most people only have one:

HODL
Hold On for Dear Life

➡️ That's not a strategy.

Is war with Iran imminent?
Will China invade Taiwan?
Will the United States default?
Will we see a recession this year?
Will Ds / Rs win the majority in Congress?

➡️ I have no idea.

So, no, I do not know.
But I do know we are prepared.

If you're getting close to retirement,
If you're doubting your portfolio strategy,

If you just want a 2nd opinion,
just send me a DM.

We are fee-only fiduciaries.
We are not selling anything.

We are just looking for folks who want truly professional portfolio management.
 
~~~~
I'm Theodore, author of Evidence-Based Investing.
Get the 1st chapter free at: 
TheodoreHicks.com

I also manage wealth.
We serve individuals and families. 
We are vigilant so you don't have to be.

Send me a DM to chat.

First time I can recall. 
First time I wasn’t prepared. 

This morning I voted. 
Typically, I’ve got the ballot. 

I’ve done the research
And marked who’ll get my vote. 

Not today. 

I knew there were only 2 races. 
I knew how I’d vote in one. 

Didn’t know the other. 
Didn’t even know the candidates. 

So I parked my truck. 
And did some quick research. 

On my phone, of course. 
And that’s my point. 

You don’t have any excuses. 
Researching candidates is easy. 

It’s easier than ever before. 
You don’t have an excuse. 

Go vote. 
Be a good steward of that right. 

It’s not given to everyone. 
Use it wisely. 


~~~~
I'm Theodore, author of Evidence-Based Investing.
Get the 1st chapter free at: 
TheodoreHicks.com

I also manage wealth.
We serve individuals and families. 
We are vigilant so you don't have to be.

Send me a DM to chat.

Lots of red. 


Met with a client at the office. 
Then transitioned home. 

Caroline had a performance. 
So, I’m working from home now. 

Teddy was done before I arrived. 
But at least he isn’t alone. 

Next call in 8 minutes,
Just enough time to check-in. 

NC State couldn’t eek out a W. 
Neither can most stocks. 

Risk is elevated. 
Be careful out there. 


❓ Does your office shut down for the ACC Tournament?

PS How is a team from California in the Atlantic Coast Conference?  If the ACC leadership had integrity, they’d at least change the name of the conference to the Coast to Coast Conference. 

~~~~
I lead a team that manages wealth for others. 
We are vigilant investors.
You don't have to be.
Want a second opinion, let's chat.

Find my Featured section to check out my latest book, "Evidence-Based Investing".

“Do you sell horses?”


Given the temps,
Had to pull out the felt again. 

Thought I’d transitioned to straw. 
But felt is for >50 for sure.

Had to drop returns off at UPS.
Nice lady asked me,

“Do you sell horses?”

No ma’am. 
I manage money. 

She confessed. 
She just liked my hat. 

She liked my “get up”. 
Figured I sold horses too. 

Not today. 
Maybe I’ll buy some. 

Well, that’s the vision. 
We can manage 💰 anywhere. 

So I’d love to be in the country. 
Got my eye on a couple spots. 

Still in NC. 
But who knows. 

Might also never happen. 
Will prepare and wait. 

In the meantime, 
No, I don’t sell horses. 

We manage wealth. 
So, on that topic:

Tighten your reigns. 
Just hold your horses. 

The data is unclear. 
Things could get ugly. 

Managing wealth,
Well it requires patience. 

You ever see a real cowboy ride?
As in riding full speed?

Herding cattle,
At full speed?

Well, that takes skill. 
And strong horsemanship. 

And ya better know:
When to lead with the spurs,
When to lead him with a whisper. 

Same concept to managing 💰 

Ya gotta know:
When to pull in the reigns. 

And when to loosen the reigns. 
And let that pony run. 

If you're not sure,
send me a DM.

Happy to chat.


❓Ever witness a real cowboy riding full tilt herding cattle?

~~~~
I'm Theodore, author of Evidence-Based Investing.
Get the 1st chapter free at: 
TheodoreHicks.com

I also manage wealth.
We serve individuals and families. 
We are vigilant so you don't have to be.

Send me a DM to chat.

I know it isn’t much. 
But first impressions matter.

So, I try to keep up the exterior. 
Seasonal flowers are easy. 

But maybe I should also get one of those wind catchers too. 

I’m looking forward to Cycle NC,
Cycling across N.C. in October.

But there’s a theme inside. 
Our walls are full of airplanes.

Mostly military aviation art.
Got some Civil War art too. 

But aviation dominates. 
Plus, my aviator pilot gnome.

So, should I add to the look?
With an airplane wind catcher?

~~~~
I'm Theodore, author of Evidence-Based Investing.
Get the 1st chapter free at: 
TheodoreHicks.com

I also manage wealth.
I also manage the flowers.

There is a lot of good news ...
but this falls into the category of concerning.


When I look at the S&P 500,
my eye naturally sees this.

I can't help it.
It's just what I see.

➡️ A rounded top

Remember:
➡️ Charts are NOT predictive.
➡️ Charts are only SUGGESTIVE.

Well, that plus they're historical.

They don't tell you what WILL occur.
They tell what has ALREADY occurred.

So, I don't know if this will be "a" "top".
But that pattern is what I see.

If it is "a" "top",
that implies the S&P 500 will fall.

How much?
I dunno.

And, I'm not predicting.
I'm just saying that's what I see.

So, reasons for & against "a" top.

Reasons the market may fall?
➡️ Rounded tops like this are tops. Period.
➡️ The S&P can't get back over the 50-day average.

Reasons the market may NOT fall?
➡️The Advance-Decline line is moving higher.
➡️Small companies are leading 

GDP for the 4th Quarter will be out today.
It'll get posted an hour after this post goes live.

PCE (inflation) update will also come out.
PCE is what the Fed likes to look at.

Could be an interesting day.

If you are a Buy and HODL ...
This is all irrelevant.

But if you're getting close to retirement ...
HODL is a bad strategy in my view.

What's HODL?

➡️Hold On for Dear Life

That's not our approach.
Send me a DM if you want to learn more.

Heck just send me a DM that says 
"I don't wanna HODL."

That'd be a kinda funny DM.

❓ Has Team USA made the Olympic Hockey finals? That's the only event I'm interested in. 

~~~~
I lead a team that manages wealth for others. 
We are vigilant investors.
You don't have to be.
Want a second opinion, let's chat.

Find my Featured section to check out my latest book, "Evidence-Based Investing".

To quote the Sham Wow dude,
"But, wait, there's more."

The FEAR index (VIX) spiked last week. 
You likely know that.

Even if you don't know what VIX is ...
Your personal fear likely spiked last week.

Sometimes, that spike marks important bottoms.
Will this spike be THE bottom?

Well, RSP is showing that it could be.
Several charts are showing the same thing.

But to quote the Sham Wow dude,
"But, wait, there's more."

The article attached explains.
[In short, don't bet on it.]

PS I'm trying to get into a routine.
I know some of you don't want it,
but I know some of you do ...

So, I'm trying to create a rhythm,
a cadence of regular market updates.

If you don't want to follow this stuff,
but you are getting close to retirement,

➡️ You might be our ideal client.
Feel free to send me a DM to chat.

As an aside, we do not sell stuff.
We are fee only fiduciaries.


❓ I chopped wood and planted flowers this weekend. What did you do?

~~~~
I lead a team that manages wealth for others. 
We are vigilant investors.
You don't have to be.
Want a second opinion, let's chat.

Find my Featured section to check out my latest book, "Evidence-Based Investing".

Open article: Have We Found Support? by Hicks & Associates Wealth Management, LLC • 2 min read

Hicks & Associates Wealth Management, LLC

What do Caroline's new shoes have to do with portfolio management?


It's a longer story, 
but here's the short version.

When Caroline was still in-utero,
one day, her sister made a bold statement.

While eating one night,
Savannah, who was 2 yrs old, declared:

"My sister is gonna be a good dancer."

It was out of left field.
We have no idea where that came from.

Turns out,
she was prophetic.

I'll admit,
I don't get dance.

Sorry, I just don't get it.

But, the famous scripture says,

"Train up your children in the way in which THEY should go."

It does not say,
Train them up in the way you want them to go.

Or the way you went.
Or the way traditions suggests.

Our job is to help our children find THEIR calling.
How did God make them?

God made Savannah a photographer.
That's how she's wired.

She's excellent at it.
Look her up if you need some brand photos.

She didn't get it from us.
But she did get the blessing to peruse it from us.

With Caroline,
I resisted dance as long as possible.

Did I mention:
I just don't get it.

But, at some point,
it was painfully obvious:
I'm doing this child a disservice if I don't get her in dance.

She was always dancing.
So we did.

That also eventually lead to her love of theatre.
And she SHINES on stage.

But, if you're gonna perform on stage,
you better know how to dance too.

We had pulled her from dance during Covid.
Dance lessons via Zoom just didn't make sense.

But once she really locked in to her post high path:
She knew she had to pick it back up again.

So, she just earned her pointe shoes.
I still don't get it.

But, man, am I proud.

So, what's that gotta do with portfolio management?

I guess I'd say:
Your strategy had better be "on pointe".

I guess I could say:
I hope you're on your toes.

Successfully managing wealth,
especially as you near retirement,
or if your wealth is especially large,

It's not a part-time gig.
You better be on your toes.
Your strategy had better be on pointe.

If you're not sure,
send me a DM.

Happy to chat.


~~~~
I'm Theodore, author of Evidence-Based Investing.
Get the 1st chapter free at: 
TheodoreHicks.com

I also manage wealth.
We serve individuals and families. 
We are vigilant so you don't have to be.

Send me a DM to chat.

Sometimes more is just more.
Sometimes fancy is just too complicated.


Someone reached out to me.
They want a 2nd opinion.

Happy to render one.
That's how we find win / wins.

I don't charge a fee to take a peak.
We are looking for win / wins.

That means long-term relationships.
So, to render a 2nd opinion:
Happy to do it.

It helps us determine:
➡️ Is this a potential win / win?

The current portfolio I'm reviewing:
Very sophisticated approach

Lots of folks make 💰 this way.
But it's very time intenstive.

I'd argue
➡️ It's overly complicated.

If you aren't familar with Occam's Razor,
The philosophy basically says:

"When you have two competing philosophies, 
often times the simplest one is usually correct."

You ever watch or read Sherlock Holmes?
That was sorta his approach.

Your portfolio strategy
➡️ Does NOT have to be complicated.

That said, 
➡️ It DOES need to be thorough
➡️ It needs a Defensive Component
➡️ It needs an Offensive Component

But to manage money well,
I'd argue to do many things well ...

The approach does not have to be complicated.
Sometimes, it's better to keep it simple silly.


❓ What's one overly and unnecessarily complicated thing?
I'll go first: ordering coffee at Starbucks.
Why make it so hard?

~~~~
I'm Theodore, author of Evidence-Based Investing.
Check it out here: https://a.co/d/35xRdre

I also lead a team that manages wealth.
We serve individuals and families. 
We are vigilant so you don't have to be.
Want a second opinion, let's chat.

Find my Featured section to connect.

While I have concerns about a meltdown,
I see this and become a little less concerned.


On the left is the S&P 500.
The right is the Russell 3000, IWV.

The S&P 500 is widely followed.
But IWV gives a better breadth measure.

Both are "cap-weighted".
The biggest stocks impact price the most.

But when you look under the hood ...
If more stocks are advancing,
than are declining,

The Advance-Decline line points up.
That's why we look at the AD Line.

The S&P 500 AD line is pointing up.
It's making new highs.
That's bullish.

But, look at the AD Line for IWV.
Not quite as strong.

But ... the IWV has 3,000 stocks.
(I know it's Monday, but 3,000 > 500.)

That's why I look at IWV's AD Line.
If it's bullish, that's a stronger sign.

Right now,
The IWV AD Line is pushing higher.

It is also LEADING the price chart.

Overall, I think that's a good sign.


❓ T3's soccer game got rained out. So our weekend was a bit more chill than expected. But we did celebrate my bride's birthday. (I'll be walking additional laps at both of Teddy's practice tonight.)

~~~~
I'm Theodore, author of Evidence-Based Investing.
Get the 1st chapter free at: 
TheodoreHicks.com

I also manage wealth.
We serve individuals and families. 
We are vigilant so you don't have to be.

Send me a DM to chat.

Tradition is we should see a lotta green today.
But I see way too much red.


No, I'm not wearing green.
I'm not Irish. 

But I'd like to see a lot more green.
When I look at my "sub-sector" watchlist ...

➡️ Lots of red.

The column I'm highlighting here:
That's a true false question.

➡️ Is the ETF above its 200-day moving average?

Red is false.

There are a lot of "sub-sectors" in downtrends.
That's what that means. 

If I was to show you the equal-weight sectors,
there are 11 of those sector ETFs
4 are already below their 200.

Two more are within 1.3% or less.
If they also drop below their 200 day,

That'd put the majority of the sectors in technical downtrends.

Key take-aways:
📌 We might have found support.
📌 But don't be so sure ... risk is still high.

If you are a "buy 'n hold" investor ...
Carry on.

But ...

➡️ If you are close to retirement ...
➡️ If your wealth is large ...

You might want to reassess.
📌 Reassess your defensive strategy.
📌 Reassess what a 20% drop would mean.
📌 Is a 30% drop in your portfolio tolerable?

No, I'm not predicting a 20% drop.
I'm not predicting a 30% drop.
I'm not predicting anything.

I'm just saying you might want to be prepared.

Sometimes, a strong defense is more important than a strong offense.


❓ Do you wear green on March 17th?

~~~~
I'm Theodore, author of Evidence-Based Investing.
Get the 1st chapter free at: 
TheodoreHicks.com

I also manage wealth.
We serve individuals and families. 
We are vigilant so you don't have to be.

Send me a DM to chat.

Monday's rally was encouraging.
But, you might wanna take a deeper look.


The chart is for IWV,
this is the Russell 3000 ETF.

But the chart for the S&P 500 ...
Well it looks very similar.

Both had similar action.
Which is not surprising, really.

Both opened lower to start the day.
Then traded even lower ...

Then the buying started.
About an hour into trading, it started.

But then, at 3:00 ...
An impressive rally into the close.

A rally into the close is bullish.
That is a really good sign.

However, look where it all ended:
right in that zone I've highlighted.

Now, look under the surface.
Look at the red & green bars at the bottom.

That is showing a pretty even split.
Advancing stocks = 1,400
Declining stocks = 1,417.

Once again, the big boys dictate.
The biggest stocks rallied.

That's why Monday's candle looks so strong.
'Cuz more than half the stocks declined.

So, we could conclude:
Monday's rally was not that impressive after all.

We may call it an oversold bounce.
But, regardless of it all:

➡️ Risk is still elevated.

As a result, 
➡️ Be wise with your wealth.
➡️ Follow your investment rules. 
➡️ Always (ALWAYS!) manage your risk.


❓ Do you think the war in the middle east will spread? Do you think it's almost over?

~~~~
I lead a team that manages wealth for others. 
We are vigilant investors.
You don't have to be.
Want a second opinion, let's chat.

Find my Featured section to check out my latest book, "Evidence-Based Investing".

Wrote this article last night.
Briefly explains why we are positioned the way we are right now.


In short, weakness abounds.
The jobs report this morning could be key.

Once you've read the article, let me know what you think ... either over on the Hicks & Associates Wealth Management, LLC page or right here in the comments.

Open article: At the Edge of Support by Hicks & Associates Wealth Management, LLC • 2 min read

Trying to use our firm's page for slightly longer, more detailed market or economic commentary. If you've followed that page, I encourage you to do so ... and, obviously, let me know if I ever write something that causes questions for you.

PS Let me know what you think ... preferably over on the original post on the HAWM page / post.

View company: Hicks & Associates Wealth Management, LLC

We see a LOT of "risk-off" behavior.
In the grand scheme of things, that's not a good sign.


First, it should be noted that this is being written at ~2:00 pm Eastern on Thursday, the 5th of March. It is entirely possible that many stocks could rally into the close. However, IF that happens, the point I am making here is still valid.

So, what's the point?

The point is we are witnessing a very key technical test. If that test fails, there's an increasing argument for further downside movement. And, if you've read my book, Evidence-Based Investing, you know that large market drawdowns can begin at any time.

Since the majority of our clients are near or already in retirement, defending their hard earned capital is one of our top priorities. Yes, we want to take risk and GROW the portfolio, but when the data starts screaming "risk off" we want to respond appropriately.

In an attempt to keep this brief ...

Look at the chart attached to this post. This is IWV, the Russell 3000 which captures about 90% of the U.S. stock market. Two things to note:

1) At the top, notice the blue gray bar that I've added to the chart. I see that as a critical area of support. At the moment, IWV is testing that support. That support was most recently tested Tuesday of this week.

2) Now look at the bottom pane. The green and red bars represent advancing stocks (green) and declining stocks (red). So, this test is being conducted while the vast majority of stocks are declining. 

Regardless of how the markets close today, I would argue that tomorrow, Friday, March 6th, is a critical day. If this support fails to hold and we close the week BELOW this support area - which is only ~1.5% lower - that would be a very concerning sign.

This is one of many reasons why our tactical models are positioned as they are right now. If you are a client, you can see this on your statement(s). If you are not a client, and want to learn more, just send us me a message either here on LinkedIn or to my email: Theodore@Hicks-Associates.com

~Theodore Hicks, CFP, CKA, CMT

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