SCM Investment Services

Invest Smarter

What We Do

Helping you build a better financial future

Your Investment Health

Professional insights, actionable solutions, and ongoing guidance.

We specialize in choosing appropriate, risk-optimized investments for your 401k, 403b, 457, IRA, Roth, SEP, 529 and your other retirement and investment accounts. We can help your peace of mind by focusing only on those actions that add value and that help your odds of investment success over the long term.

We answer the important questions

  • What funds should I choose in my 401k/403b/IRA plan?
  • Am I invested in quality securities?
  • Is my current portfolio optimal?
  • Am I taking too much or too little risk?
  • Am I diversified?
  • Am I paying too much in fees and commissions?
  • Am I on the right track for retirement?
  • Which 529 plan is right for me?
  • How can we maximize financial aid?
  • How much should we take out in student loans?

How much does it cost?

  • Our starting rate is $350.
  • Fee depends on complexity of project.
  • We offer a 6-month limited engagement for $500.
  • Total cost will be explained and agreed upon in advance.

Portfolio Management

Risk-optimized, globally diversified portfolios using best-in class mutual funds and etfs.

For ongoing investment services we charge one low and fair blended fee that is based on percent of assets under management (AUM). You can see how our fees compare with other advisory firms here.

We focus on what matters

  • Identifying your risk capacity
  • Determining your optimal asset allocation
  • Investment selection
  • Ongoing portfolio monitoring
  • Portfolio rebalancing
  • Behavioral finance advice
  • Asset location strategies
  • Tax loss harvesting
  • Performance reports
  • Biannual check-ins
  • Here when you need us

How much does it cost?

  • 1.00% for first $500k
  • 0.85% for next $500k
  • 0.70% for next $1M
  • 0.55% for next $3M
  • 0.40% for next $5M
  • 0.25% above $10M
The minimum annual fee for ongoing investment management services is $1,000. If we deem this minimum fee to be unreasonable based on client’s total investable assets, we may recommend to client a limited investment engagement instead (see above).

Investor Advocacy

One of our explicit goals is to replace speculation with investment education.

Free Speaking Engagements

We offer free speaking engagements and presentations for groups seeking information about investing, capital markets, and college planning. The content of these presentations will vary depending upon the needs of the attendees. Topics include: evidence-based vs conventional approach to investing; key investment principles; financial science and economic theory; behavioral finance; 529 plans and saving on the cost of college.

Financial Literacy Programs

More than ever, these days individuals and families need to understand basic investment and financial principles. To help promote financial literacy, we enthusiastically volunteer with local and national non-profit programs, including the national public education program Money Smart Week coordinated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the NAPFA Consumer Education Foundation program.

Pro Bono Investment Advisory Services

Our mission is to help individuals and families improve their odds of investment success. We believe that everyone deserves trusted, knowledgeable, and experienced advice when it comes to investing and building wealth, regardless of income, savings, or age. We also understand that not every individual or family is able to pay for investment services. Indeed, it is those who can’t afford investment advice that may need assistance the most when it comes to saving for the future. That’s why we offer free investment health check-ups. We can help you determine how much to save, where to open an account, and the asset allocation that may help improve your odds of investment success.


Our Values

SCM adheres to and advocates for the Fiduciary Standard Best Practices. Our core fiduciary duties include: Serving in the client’s best interest; Acting in utmost good faith; Acting prudently, with the care, skill and judgment of a professional; Avoiding conflicts of interest; Disclosing all material facts; and Controlling investment expenses.

SCM is founded on the following principles:

Honesty and transparency
Advising, not facilitating
Investing, not speculating
Conviction in our philosophy
Confidence in our advice
Commitment to our approach
Empowering you with information
Managing your emotions and biases
Focusing on you
Setting expectations
Filtering out the noise
Not being everything to everyone
 
 

Other Types of Fees

SCM does not get compensated by third parties. We do not and shall not receive any portion of any third-party fees and costs. We are paid exclusively by our clients.

Clients may incur certain charges imposed by custodians and other third parties such as custodial fees, wire transfer and electronic fund fees, and other fees and taxes on securities transactions. Mutual fund and exchange-traded funds also charge internal management fees, which are disclosed in a fund’s prospectus. Such charges and fees are exclusive of and in addition to our fee.

Custodial Fees

We recommend TD Ameritrade Institutional for custody of your investments. TDA is one of the top 3 custodians and maintains a reputation for cutting-edge technology and outstanding client service. However, clients may custody their assets at a custodian of their choice.

Mutual Fund Fees

We use Vanguard and Dimensional funds in our portfolios. Vanguard and Dimensional do not charge load fees, sales charges, redemption fees, or 12b-1 fees. Their expense ratios are among the lowest in the industry, on average lower than 98% of category peers (for Dimensional, that’s .38% vs 1.18%)*.

 

*Morningstar Category Average

Sources: see Appendix.

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