True North Advisors

Spring 2013 Market Commentary

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:55:54 +0000

Click on the video below to view True North’s perspectives on key drivers pushing capital markets higher over the last 6-9 months, summarized and presented by Principal and Vice President of Investments, Matt Fitzsimmons:

Wood, Gehlbach Recipients of 2013 Five Star Wealth Manager Award

admin — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:45:00 +0000

April 8, 2013 Dallas, TX. – True North Advisors is pleased to announce that founders, Scott Wood and Mark Gehlbach have been selected to receive the 2013 Five Star Wealth Manager award. Only 4-7% of all wealth managers in the United States are selected for the award, which identifies wealth managers “who deliver quality services to their clients,” according to Five Star Professional, the Minneapolis firm who conducts the program.

Candidates are identified by one of three sources: peer nomination, pre-qualification or firm nomination. Five Star Professional conducts a thorough regulatory review and market-specific research which included a survey to more than 1,494 registered financial services professionals and financial service companies in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area that are registered with FINRA or the SEC. Nominated candidates must be credentialed as an investment advisory representative (IAR), a FINRA registered representative, a CPA or a licensed attorney and have a favorable regulatory and complaint history review as reported by regulatory agencies.

Awards are based on superior one-year and five-year retention rates, non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered, number of client households served and education and professional designations.

About Five Star Professional

The Five Star program is the largest and most widely published award program in North America. Five Star Professional conducts market-specific research throughout the U.S. and Canada to identify service professionals who provide quality services to their clients. Research results undergo a thorough regulatory review. Five Star Professional was founded in 2003 and is based in Minneapolis, MN. For more information, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

Matt Borowski, Wealth Manager

admin — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:39:12 +0000

“Stewardship is the thoughtful and responsible management of my clients’ resources as if they were my own.”

Carrie Beth Young, Business Development

admin — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:36:23 +0000

“Our quest for excellence and pursuit of innovation drive the level of stewardship that each client receives.”

Winter 2012-3 Investment Commentary

admin — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:53:35 +0000

Investors kicked off the New Year the same way they ended 2012 – with gains in their portfolios. Equity investments have screamed higher since mid-November, capping off a terrific rise in 2012 and a solid start to 2013. However, the path traveled hasn’t been easy. Matt Fitzsimmons, True North’s Principal/VP of Investments, gives his perspectives on how 2012 ended and how 2013 is starting off in his most recent commentary…

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Overview of Major Tax Implications of the “2012 ATRA” Bill

admin — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:36:39 +0000

January 3, 2013 – By Mike Anderson, JD, MS, CFP®, Vice President – Financial Planning

Happy New Year! As we begin 2013, we want to wish each and every one of you a wonderful year of continued success, fulfillment, and happiness. As always, we greatly appreciate our relationship with you and your family and if there is anything we can do for you please feel free to give us a call.

As expected, our political leaders came down to the 11th hour (really about the 5AM hour!) to cobble together a bill to avert, or at least stave off, the so called ‘Fiscal Cliff’. While it’s still too early to tell how this will play out over time and impact the economy, the end result was fairly consistent with our thinking throughout the year. In some ways it is not quite what we were hoping for, but in many ways it’s about what we were expecting. Assuming the President signs House Resolution 8 (or the Tax Payer Relief Act of 2012—ATRA for short), what does it exactly mean for you and your Wealth Manager as you begin your tax planning for the year? What will the impact be? In this update we will summarize what we know about the tax changes for 2013 and give you the bottom line on key provisions.

To read the full article, click on this link: Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012

Fall 2012 Investment Commentary

admin — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 02:55:36 +0000

Investors might be surprised that in a year market with volatility, 2012 year to date results have actually been quite strong. Matt Fitzsimmons, True North’s Partner/Director of Research discusses the market environment post-election, the outlook for interest rates, and the “fiscal cliff” being hyped in the press. Click the link below to read Matt’s two-page commentary which highlights opportunities and how True North portfolios are positioned in this context.

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Summer 2012 Investment Commentary

admin — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:41:23 +0000

True North’s Director of Research, Matt Fitzsimmons, writes in the latest newsletter: Investors are making money this year and I suspect that may come as a surprise to some people. The sentiment from clients, managers and our collective network continues to be quite negative. Yet, as I write this, all of the major indices are positive for the year. Reflecting on the last eight months, markets exploded upward in the first quarter, pulled back in the second, and have been pushing higher so far in July and August…(click below to read the full newsletter)

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Spring 2012 Market Commentary (Audio/Slides)

admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:03:37 +0000

In this slide/audio presentation, Matt Fitzsimmons, True North’s Director of Research, provides perspective on the positive start for the equity markets in Q1 of 2012, especially compared to fixed income. He also shares insights into the impact of Fed intervention on returns in the market, fundamentals that potentially fuel market growth, and a long term view of equity returns. He shares some data on what is worrying investors the most in 2012, and then closes with a perspective on the one stock that True North has recommended for client portfolios.

View the Presentation.

Spring 2012 Investment Commentary

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:26:25 +0000

Stocks around the globe kicked off 2012 in rally mode continuing on gains from the end of 2011. Matt Fitzsimmons, True North Advisors’ Director of Research, discusses first quarter returns and the implications for client portfolios in our Spring Investment Commentary. Matt also provides perspective on the extreme optimism for all things related to Apple – including the price of Apple stock. He closes with a few catalysts for further gains in the market as well as perspective from one of True North’s largest investment managers.

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