Other
Allies
When appropriate, Focus Asset forms alliances with firms
that offer distinct tools to complement our core financial
services. Our focus is on quality rather than quantity,
therefore our list of alliances is not extensive. Rather,
it represents firms that have demonstrated a shared commitment
toward high quality service, resources and values.
Dimensional
Fund Advisors
Our passive asset class investment approach is translated
by Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) into an array of mutual
funds, each of which is rigorously designed to capture
a particular “dimension” or asset class within
a globally diversified portfolio. (DFA is our primary
but not exclusive source for implementing our recommended
investment approach, Focus Asset receives no compensation
from DFA for using its funds nor are we under any obligation
to use them if they do not best meet your particular investment
needs.) Account
Custodians
If you are an individual investor, Focus Asset
provides investment advice, receives Limited Power of
Attorney to submit trade requests on your behalf, and
provides you with regular reports that summarize your
portfolio’s performance. However, you remain in
control of your assets by having them held in accounts
in your name at one or more of our alliance custodians.
Your advisor will assist you in selecting which custodians
make the most sense for your individual or retirement
plan accounts from options such as Fidelity
Brokerage Services, Inc., Charles Schwab & Co.,
TIAA/CREF and
Union Bank of California.
Retirement Plan
Providers
To assist us in delivering high-service, low-cost retirement
plan management guided by our prudent investment philosophy,
Focus Asset has allied itself with a collection of retirement
plan providers, each of whom offer quality administration
based on the latest technological innovations in their
industry. Our current alliances include BenefitStreet,
First
Mercantile Trust and Union
Bank of California.
Trust
Management – Santa
Fe Trust
Santa Fe Trust is an independent trust company that
provides personal trust account administration, working
with us for trust account investment management.
Annuity Management
– AEGON
Focus Asset does not typically recommend annuities as
a cost-effective investment vehicle, but if you already
hold an annuity that is restricted from or cost-prohibitive
to surrender, you may be able to transfer it to an alternative
annuity. AEGON can enable access to Dimensional Fund
Advisor sub-accounts within a no-load, relatively low-cost
variable annuity.
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