Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why does CCM focus on managing portfolios for university faculty?
What are the qualifications and professional experiences of your advisors?
Will the advice I receive be unbiased and objective?
What services does your firm provide for clients?
What is the investment philosophy of CCM?
How does CCM protect my privacy?
How does CCM help a client with their existing employer-sponsored retirement plans?
Will CCM continue to manage my portfolio after I retire?
If I ask CCM to manage my portfolio, am I locked in to any length of time?
How would I be charged for the advisory services provided by CCM?
Q: Why does CCM focus on managing portfolios for university faculty?
A: Most university faculty do not have the time or inclination required to effectively manage their investment accounts. Further, we provide a level of continuity for our clients that they would not receive by working with fund providers directly. Educational institutions enjoy special provisions in the Internal Revenue Code that allow universities to adopt retirement plans that are unique in the financial services industry and these plans vary by employer. Almost all of our clients have had prior employers, with different retirement plans. We must consider the combination of the Internal Revenue Code, each employer’s plan rules, and the investment company rules where the funds are currently held. Only then can we know the opportunities available to a client for a given employer. The coordination of these plans with the current employer plans and other assets requires the specialization and experience that we possess.
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Q: What are the qualifications and professional experiences of your advisors?
A: Advisor bios can be found on the Our Team page. Go there >
Q: Will the advice I receive be unbiased and objective?
A: CCM is not compensated by university vendors, so we have complete objectivity in our suggestions for where and how you should invest your university-sponsored plan assets.
Back to topQ: What services does your firm provide for clients?
A: We provide asset management of client investment accounts. This includes both retirement and nonretirement assets. We also provide assistance to our clients in addressing related financial issues such as the best way to pay for their children’s college education or most efficient financing options for large purchases. We would like to play a part in advising our clients on each of their major financial decisions.
Back to topQ: What is the investment philosophy of CCM?
A: Our clients are invested primarily in mutual funds for exposure to the equity markets. Sector funds, exchange traded funds and individual securities are then added to target specific opportunities. Fixed income market exposure is attained by investment in bonds, CD’s and stable value funds of various providers. Our approach is not one of rapid movements in and out of the markets but one where proper selection of asset groups and investment choices with the long term in mind is relied upon.
Back to topQ: How does CCM protect my privacy?
A: Our firm takes great pride in those procedures that we have established to protect our clients’ personal information. These steps are continually critiqued internally at CCM to insure that the policy is effective and that any necessary updates are made in a timely manner. Our policy pertaining to protecting our client’s privacy can be found under the Disclosures page.
Back to topQ: How does CCM help a client with their existing employer-sponsored retirement plans?
A: The firm uses the many investment options made available to our client by the employer. This might include large mutual fund providers such as TIAA-CREF or Fidelity. For clients with retirement assets from previous employers, we find that transitioning these assets to an IRA can be extremely valuable in complementing the constraints imposed on fund selection in current employer plans.
Back to topQ: Will CCM continue to manage my portfolio after I retire?
A: Yes. In fact, many of our clients are already retired. In several respects, the portfolio management of retired clients is more involved due to coordination of income distribution and compliance with IRS rules for those over age 70 1/2. Also, the investment objective of retirees is usually focused on the generation of income, so the transition from worker to retiree normally involves significant adjustments to the portfolio.
Back to topQ: If I ask CCM to manage my portfolio, am I locked in to any length of time?
A: No. Our agreement does not oblige you to continue with our services. We will manage your portfolio as long as it is mutually agreed.
Back to topQ: How would I be charged for the advisory services provided by CCM?
A: Our firm charges a percentage fee based on the value of the assets that we manage. This fee is payable on a quarterly basis. This fee structure is provided in our ADV Part II, which can be found under the Documents page. Most clients prefer that we debit the fee directly from the accounts that we manage, although a few prefer to pay for our services by check.
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