The Foundation of a Sensible Investment Strategy.

A famous investor once said, “Investing is simple, but it’s not easy.”

It’s not easy for many reasons, including uncertainty, risk, complexity, emotional biases and time commitment. Despite these challenges, the right investment plan can help build wealth over the long term. The stakes are too high to bet one’s financial future on guesswork.

We believe long term investment success requires a framework based on sound investment principles that have withstood the test of time. We believe these timeless investment principles are the foundation of a sensible investment strategy. They are what allow us to ignore the day-to-day noise and emotional biases that can jeopardize rational thinking and sound investment decision-making.

Summary of Investment Principles

Comprehensive

We believe investors should maintain a comprehensive long-term financial plan that considers multiple aspects of your financial life, assesses risk tolerance and seeks to invest in a diversified mix of quality investments that can be held through the market cycles.

Risk Conscious

A sound investment strategy requires the effective management of risks. This can be achieved by maintaining an appropriate asset allocation, diversifying across different asset types and protecting against various types of risk, such as inflation risk, company-specific risk, longevity risk, reinvestment risk, liquidity risk, market risk, credit risk and concentration risk.

Diversification

Choose investments that are appropriate for your investment objectives and risk tolerance and consider a diversified mix of stocks, bonds and cash equivalents to balance inflation protection, income generation and liquidity needs. For some investors, nontraditional investments such as private investments and alternatives may also have a role.

Quality

The foundation of your portfolio should be allocated to quality investments that have withstood the test of time. Be cautious when considering investments that are new, untested or whose primary attraction is their current popularity. Remember that risk and return are two sides of the same coin.

Strategic

Adjustments to a strategic asset allocation should be made primarily due to changes in your risk tolerance and return objective or income and liquidity needs. Time in the market, proper diversification and periodic rebalancing have proven to be prudent strategies. Thus, investors should focus on a long-term strategy that accounts for life changes while avoiding attempts to time the market. Buy and hold does not mean buy and ignore. Professional, active managers can be utilized to effect changes within a long-term strategy and seek to position portfolios optimally over time.

Tax Aware

The tax impact of investment decisions should be taken into consideration, but it should not be the primary driver of those decisions. The focus should remain on making good investment decisions that align with your overall goals and risk tolerance. Tax-loss harvesting can be a useful tool to help manage taxes, but it should be done in a thoughtful and strategic manner.

This information is general in nature and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not consider any individual personal, financial, or tax considerations. The information contained herein is not intended to be personal, investment, financial, or tax advice or a solicitation to engage in any particular strategy. This information should not be relied upon as a primary basis for an investment decision. Rather, an assessment should be made as to whether the information is appropriate in individual circumstances, and consideration should be given to talking to a financial and tax professional before making an investment decision.

Diversification, asset allocation, and rebalancing strategies are used to help manage risk, but they cannot ensure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market. There can be no assurance that performance will be enhanced, or risk will be reduced for any strategy discussed herein. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Any expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice, and there is no guarantee that any opinion or forward-looking statement will come to pass, and we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information presented.

Equity securities may not increase in price as anticipated or decline in value. Fixed-income securities are subject to increased loss of principal during periods of rising interest rates and are subject to various other risks, including changes in credit quality, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, early redemption, corporate events, tax ramifications, and other factors. Private investments and other alternatives are generally speculative and involve a high degree of risk; therefore, they are intended for experienced and sophisticated long-term investors who can accept such risks.

Mariner is the marketing name for the financial services businesses of Mariner Wealth Advisors, LLC and its subsidiaries. Investment advisory services are provided through the brands Mariner Wealth, Mariner Independent, Mariner Institutional, Mariner Ultra, and Mariner Workplace, each of which is a business name of the registered investment advisory entities of Mariner. For additional information about each of the registered investment advisory entities of Mariner, including fees and services, please contact Mariner or refer to each entity’s Form ADV Part 2A, which is available on the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.