When it comes to investing your own money, you shouldn’t have to tradeoff performance for fees or value for trust. Building a portfolio requires time, patience, and the right strategy. A strong, core position in stocks, bonds, and other types of investments can provide you with a sense of security, satisfaction, and a feeling of stability. But, get it wrong, and you end up with feelings of regret, dissatisfaction, and (worst of all) losing money.

This is why we invented iCore, or Intelligent Core, a selection of portfolios representative of the major industries, sectors, and regions within the financial markets built with investors in mind. A strong flexible portfolio begins with a core position of marketable securities such as stocks and bonds. It provides a stable foundation to pursue specific investment goals. An effective core may differ from one investor to the next, but five principles apply to all:

We designed each iCore portfolio based on these interconnecting principles. iCore is designed for investors with a long-term perspective, an appreciation for portfolio diversification, and an interest in keeping their fees and portfolio taxes low, while building broad exposure in multiple asset classes, sectors, and investment products.

Broadly speaking, the notion of building an investment portfolio that is both diversified and comprehensive involves building what many investment professionals call a “Core”.

Traditionally, a Core is made of passively managed securities (e.g. index funds, ETFs, passive mutual funds) and uses a traditional benchmark, usually the S&P 500, to benchmark/compare for performance.

iCore, or Intelligent Core, moves past this approach by expanding how your investments are managed. Our iCore strategies include options for true diversification, ultra-low-fees, and active management by teams of professional portfolio managers.

An intelligent core (iCore) narrows your selection to specific asset classes and sub-classes, while greatly expanding the types of investment products available within each class, all of which are not typically managed actively without much higher fees. The result is a truly diversified investment account that has the potential to help you meet your investment goals and objectives.

Yes. The instruments in which you will invest are marketable securities, which almost always fluctuate in value. Even if you have invested in U.S. government bonds, the market value of the underlying bonds changes in response to various external factors, such as changes in interest rates. Stocks and ETFs also change in value, as do all other types of investments.

Yes. The instruments in which you will invest are marketable securities, which almost always fluctuate in value. Even if you have invested in U.S. government bonds, the market value of the underlying bonds changes in response to various external factors, such as changes in interest rates. Stocks and ETFs also change in value, as do all other types of investments.

Core is designed for long-term growth, which includes capital gains, and cash flow, which originates from dividends and interest. In many mutual funds and ETFs, the portfolio manager will regularly trade stocks or bonds within the portfolio. When these investments are traded, capital gains (or losses) are incurred, which ultimately creates a taxable event on the part of the shareholder.

Core accounts are not traded in this manner. They are intentionally designed to avoid excessive trading, which leads to higher taxes.