Trustworthy | We are independently owned and privately held. Our primary focus and loyalty is to our clients – not to our employer or any shareholders. We don't have sales contests, cross-sell campaigns, or quotas to meet. We don't manufacture and distribute our own products. We're not pressured or required to sell certain products.
This means we're free to focus on the needs and objectives of our clients and provide suitable strategies in order to help build long-term trusting relationships.
Knowledgeable | We're experienced and qualified. Our Managing Principal, Scott MacKenzie, was previously a Senior Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor at SunTrust Investment Services, where he spent 14 years working with high-net-worth families through a number of economic cycles and market conditions. Scott has obtained advanced professional designations, and he and his staff have complementary skill sets.
Scott has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification, as well as the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation, and he is a member of the Financial Planners Association and the Investment Management Consultants of America.
Capable | We have access to the capabilities and resources of one of the nation’s largest investment firms through our affiliation with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network. Through the acquisition and/or merger of over 50 investment firms, Wells Fargo Advisors now handles over $1.8 trillion in client assets as of September 30, 2021 and is the second largest full-service provider of retail brokerage services in the country. This provides Wells Fargo Advisors tremendous scale, allowing them to develop and invest in industry-leading capabilities and resources. Our relationship provides us with those capabilities and resources we need to best serve our clients.
Understanding | We take the time to first understand you and your family, and then develop a detailed strategy that is designed to help you meet your financial needs and goals. We don't aim to sell the hot product or whatever is paying the highest commission. We keep your needs and goals at the forefront of everything we do, and we'll give you progress reports relative to those goals on an ongoing basis.
Communication | We pride ourselves on honesty, integrity, and straight talk. We feel no question is an “unfair” question, and we vow to answer your questions directly, clearly, and completely. Not only will we update you on changes that need to be made, but we'll also review your performance relative to appropriate benchmarks, and, most importantly, your needs and goals. We're responsive when needs arise, and we'll either address your need promptly or at least update you on the progress. We strive to always make sure your call gets answered by a person, rather than going to voicemail. We also provide our mobile numbers in the event an emergency arises outside of office hours. When desired, we can also collaborate with your CPA, attorney, or other advisors.
Stability | Our Managing Principal, Scott MacKenzie, spent 14 years of his career at the same institution playing the same role with their clients. Although it's unfortunate that a change became necessary, it was critical to the members of PFW Advisors that we position ourselves in a way that puts our clients first, while also being able to maintain that position for the next 25 years or longer.
We've passed on a “big check” to jump to another firm – as many in our industry frequently do – and we even sacrificed our previous incomes to make this a priority. Our reward comes in the form of being able to help our clients realize their full financial potential, so they're able to get what they want out of life, and in doing so, build a practice that we believe is truly unique and special. Rest assured, we believe you shouldn't have to hop from firm to firm to follow your advisor, nor deal with the revolving door of people your account gets re-assigned to. We're in it for the long haul.
Performance | Each of our clients' needs and objectives are unique, and they require customized strategies. We have a process by which we develop a customized allocation taking into account the asset classes available given the client’s situation, and implement it using industry leading managers for each of the strategies. If we can't reasonably expect a manager to outperform its respective benchmark, we may use a passive approach seeking the most cost-effective means to gain exposure to that asset class. We continue to evaluate performance relative to appropriate benchmarks, and the allocation relative to your needs, objectives, and any potential constraints. We provide this to you as frequently as generated by the firm.*
Cost | We charge an extremely competitive, clear, simple, and transparent fee (based on assets under management), designed to eliminate conflicts of interest. We are also very willing to discuss fees relative to our competitors, where sometimes the answers are fuzzy, elusive, or even incomplete.
Capacity | We've been thrilled with those of you that have chosen to become our clients and have made us a success well ahead of schedule. We thank you, and look forward to helping you realize your full financial potential, so you may be able to get what you want out of life.
Although we will continue to be conscious of working with a limited number of clients that assures a very high level of service, we currently have some additional capacity. If you are a client and know someone that may also benefit from working with us, the highest compliment we can receive is a referral. If you are not a client and would like to learn more about us, please give us a call at (404) 848-0950.
*Independent money management and fee based programs may not be appropriate for all investors. Asset allocation and diversification cannot eliminate the risk of fluctuating prices and uncertain returns.