PARTNERING TO MEET YOUR
INVESTMENT AND STEWARDSHIP GOALS
SMI Private Client helps investors manage their portfolios prudently, so they can provide for their families and give more generously to fulfill God’s purposes. We believe Christians are stewards of the resources God has entrusted to them. Our job is to help clients manage money in ways that honor Him.
19
Years of Experience
$1.1B+
in Managed Assets
$9M+
in Donations Processed
975+
Private Client Households
SMI Advisory Services information as of 12/31/2024
Private Client Benefits
creating value for you
Professional
Management
Management
Professional Management
- Expert-Driven Investing — Accounts are actively managed by a team including Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs), leveraging our latest research to guide investment decisions.
- Active Management — Portfolios follow the Sound Mind Investing strategies, allowing you to stay invested with confidence while we handle the details.
- Automated Rebalancing — Accounts are regularly adjusted to maintain target allocations.
- Tax-Efficient Asset Location — Investment strategies are placed across account types to improve after-tax returns.
- Tax Loss Harvesting — In taxable accounts, losses are monitored and may be realized to offset gains, deferring tax liability and compounding growth.
- Wash Sale Monitoring — Our trading software tracks transactions across managed accounts to help prevent wash sale violations.
- Security Guarantee — Schwab will cover losses in any of your Schwab accounts due to unauthorized activity (see Schwab’s website for details and responsibilities).
SMI
Sound Mind Investing
Strategies
Strategies
SMI Strategies
ENHANCED STOCK UPGRADING: The Power of Stock Momentum
Stock Upgrading is a strategy based on the observable phenomenon that recent performance tends to persist. This strategy uses Individual Stocks, Mutual Funds and ETFs (collectively, "Securities"). The strategy may invest in US Large-Cap Securities, US Small-Cap Securities, International Securities and/or commodities, depending on Stock Upgrading's current assessment of the momentum within each group. Securities are held as long as they demonstrate superior leadership among their peers. Each month the strategy re-assesses the current holdings and replaces lagging Securities with new leaders.
ENHANCED DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION: Winning by Not Losing
Enhanced DAA (EDAA) is a strategy designed to participate in bull market gains, while striving to reduce losses during bear markets. EDAA owns a variety of ETFs drawn from six broad asset classes. EDAA measures trend/momentum to dynamically shift the portfolio weightings assigned to each potential holding. Broadly speaking, EDAA will always allocate among a variety of stock, bond, and alternative holdings, but the weightings between the specific holdings will vary according to market conditions and their impact on each potential investment vehicle's trend. DAA is an all-weather strategy that has generated impressive back-tested results, in large part via its ability to play good defense during bear markets.
SECTOR ROTATION: High Risk, High Reward
This strategy invests in a small number (normally 5, but up to 10) of stock funds and ETFs focused on specific sectors, like technology or financial services, demonstrating strong recent momentum. It’s a high-risk/high volatility strategy. While its peaks have been higher and its valleys lower than SMI’s other strategies, Sector Rotation has generated impressive long-term returns. The strategy is intended to comprise only a modest portion of your stock allocation.
JUST-THE-BASICS: Simple Excellence
Using index funds, we spread your allocation across the global stock market. Just-the-Basics is designed to match the performance of the market in a tax-efficient manner, so it is well-suited for use in taxable accounts.
BOND UPGRADING: The Power of Bond Momentum
We include bonds to provide safety and stability. This strategy combines a bond index fund base with rotating bond funds that vary in duration, credit rating, and type. Bond Upgrading evaluates its holdings each month and replaces lagging bond funds with those showing greater momentum.
Stewardship
Focus
Focus
Stewardship Focus
- Guided by Stewardship Principles — Our approach aligns with Biblical stewardship principles, helping you manage wealth with wisdom and purpose.
- Fiduciary Commitment — From the beginning, SMI Private Client has chosen to be a fiduciary, putting your financial interests ahead of our own.
- Strategic Giving Support — Extensive experience with Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), donating appreciated assets, and utilizing donor-advised funds to maximize the impact of your charitable giving.
-
Seamless Portfolio Continuity — When one spouse passes away, we assist the surviving spouse with key transitions, including:
- Account title re-registration
- Cost basis step-up on taxable accounts
- Beneficiary updates
- Risk-based investment adjustments
- Privacy & Security Protections — Robust policies and procedures safeguard your personal and financial information.
- Ongoing Account Monitoring — Our team oversees your accounts and assists with contributions, distributions, and other account
- Security Guarantee — Schwab will cover losses in any of your Schwab accounts due to unauthorized activity (see Schwab’s website for details and responsibilities).
Personalized
Portfolios
Portfolios
Personalized Portfolios
- Comprehensive Risk Assessment — We evaluate your risk capacity and tolerance to match you with an appropriate model portfolio.
- Tailored Model Portfolios — Model portfolios are strategically constructed, mixing SMI strategies based on historical correlation, volatility, and performance.
- Customization Options — We can incorporate your preferences to ensure the portfolio reflects your financial objectives.
- Disciplined Portfolio Adjustments — Our team actively monitors and rebalances portfolios as needed to maintain proper investment allocations and risk levels.
- Dedicated Stewardship Advisor — Clients investing $250,000 or more receive personalized guidance from a dedicated Stewardship Advisor.
- Ongoing Reviews & Communication — We provide regular updates and insights to keep you informed.
Transparent
Cost
Cost
Transparent Cost
- Simple, Fee-Only Pricing — Annual management costs are 1.00% for Classic, 0.95% for Select, and 0.85% for Premier, with reduced rates for amounts exceeding $3,000,000.
- Monthly Billing — We serve you first by billing accounts after the end of each month (in arrears) based on the average daily balance.
- Cost-Efficient Funds — When available, we use institutional funds with lower costs to maximize your returns.
- Competitive Costs — Advisory and institutional fund costs are below industry averages, providing excellent value.
- No Trading Commissions — SMI Private Client covers all trading commissions*, assuring no hidden fees.
* SMI Private Client covers all Charles Schwab commissions, but some government fees (such as SEC fees) may apply. Although we almost always avoid them, some mutual funds may charge short-term redemption fees. Health Savings Accounts are established by third-party administrators and may not be eligible for free trades.
Client
Dashboard
Dashboard
Client Dashboard
- View your investment holdings, returns, and financial plan all in one place.
- Monitor portfolio performance by SMI strategy, by account, and by security.
- Access Charles Schwab statements and tax documents.
- Track account activity, including contributions and distributions.
- Schedule services, including contributions and distributions, personal information and beneficiary updates, and opening of new accounts.
- Using the SMI Private Client Mobile App, clients can check balances and transactions, track performance, monitor financial plans, view statements and tax forms, and contact us.
Private Client Tiers
invest with us
Classic
$50,000
minimum investment
minimum investment
- Email Support
1.00%
Annual Management Fee
Select
$250,000
minimum investment
minimum investment
- Dedicated Stewardship Advisor
- Live Phone Support
- MoneyGuide Access & Assistance
- Social Security Claiming Analysis
0.95%
Annual Management Fee
Premier
$1,000,000
minimum investment
minimum investment
- Dedicated Stewardship Advisor
- Live Phone Support
- MoneyGuide Access & Assistance
- Social Security Claiming Analysis
- Reimbursement of Transfer Fees from Prior Custodians*
- Tax Return Analysis & Strategies
*reimbursed via billing credits, up to $750 per household
0.85%
Annual Management Fee
Portfolios below $50,000 are encouraged to consider the
SMI Funds
, which are run by the same SMI Private Client management team.
Choose SMI Private Client
- Diversified portfolio of Sound Mind Investing (SMI) strategies
- Custom allocations to fit your personal circumstances and risk tolerance
- Advanced SMI-focused online reporting tools
- Support in achieving your financial and stewardship goals
- Select & Premier clients work directly with a dedicated Stewardship Advisor
Contact:
If you have questions or would like to speak to someone about SMI Private Client, reach out to us by phone or email.
800-796-4975