Investment Planning Built Around You, Not a Template

Our team in St. Albans works with clients to build portfolios based on their timeline, risk tolerance, and goals — with access to a broad investment universe.

An Independent Approach to Investing

How We Approach Portfolio Construction

Investment planning in Franklin County looks different from what you might find at a national chain or a bank branch. We start by understanding where you are right now — your income, your existing accounts, your time horizon, and how you genuinely feel when markets move. From there, we develop an investment approach based on your risk tolerance, time horizon, and financial goals.

 

Diversification is an important consideration in our investment approach. Portfolios may include exposure across different asset classes and investment types based on each client's objectives, risk tolerance, and circumstances. This isn't a set-it-and-forget-it approach. We review portfolios on a regular basis and communicate with clients when market conditions or changes in their circumstances warrant a conversation.

 

The investment vehicles we work with include:

 

  • Mutual funds
  • Individual bonds
  • Common stock
  • Brokerage accounts
  • Donor-advised funds for clients with charitable giving goals

Staying Focused Through Changing Markets

Market volatility is uncomfortable for almost everyone. An investment strategy involves more than portfolio construction. Ongoing communication and education can also help clients understand their investments and stay focused on their long-term objectives.

 

We've worked with clients in St. Albans and across Franklin County through multiple market cycles. When markets become volatile, we communicate with clients, discuss current conditions, and review how their investment strategy relates to their long-term goals. For clients who are newer to investing — including the adult children of existing clients we've begun working with — that kind of steady, educational guidance matters especially.

Our investment planning clients span a wide range of life stages and goals. Pre-retirees in their late 30s and 40s who are building toward retirement and want to make sure their portfolio is actually aligned with their timeline. Current retirees managing withdrawals and evaluating how their investments fit within their retirement income needs. And the adult children of longtime clients who are just beginning to invest and want a local, independent advisor they can trust from the start.

 

If you've been working with a bank advisor or national firm and aren't sure whether your investments remain aligned with your goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon, that may be worth a conversation. We serve clients throughout Franklin County, Chittenden County, and the Plattsburgh, NY area, and we're happy to talk through what an independent approach might look like for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Investment Planning

  • How does an independent approach to investment planning differ from working with a bank or brokerage firm?

    An independent advisor isn't limited to the products their employer has approved or incentivized. We can draw from a broad range of investment options — mutual funds, bonds, individual stocks, and more — and select what fits your situation. We're not compensated to steer you toward any particular fund family or product line.

  • How do you decide what investments are right for me?

    We start with a detailed conversation about your goals, your timeline, and your comfort with risk. From there, we build a portfolio that reflects those factors — not a generic model based on your age alone. As your life changes, we revisit the strategy and adjust accordingly.

  • What is Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, and why does it matter?

    Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. is the registered investment adviser through which we offer advisory services. Cambridge is a FINRA/SIPC member firm, which means your accounts are held to established industry standards for oversight and investor protection. The relationship adds a layer of credibility and structure to how we manage client assets.

  • How do you handle communication when the market drops?

    We reach out proactively. Rather than waiting for clients to call us in a panic, we communicate early during periods of volatility — explaining what's happening, what it means for your portfolio, and whether any action is warranted. Most of the time, the right answer is to stay the course, and we help clients understand why.

  • What should I consider when choosing a financial professional in St. Albans or Franklin County?

    Look for someone who is independent, transparent about how they're compensated, and willing to take the time to understand your specific situation before making any recommendations. A local advisor with deep roots in the community — and a track record of multi-generational client relationships — is often a better fit than a national firm that rotates advisors or manages accounts remotely.