Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
A. Methods of Analysis
In developing investment strategies for its Clients, Hightower may rely on numerous sources for research and analysis, including financial media companies, third-party research materials, Internet sources, and review of company activities, including annual reports, prospectuses, press releases and research prepared by others. Hightower also subscribes to various professional publications deemed to be consistent and supportive of the Advisor’s investment philosophy.
As noted above, Hightower generally employs a long-term investment strategy for its Clients, as consistent with their financial goals. Hightower will typically hold all or a portion of a security for more than a year, but may hold for shorter periods for the purpose of rebalancing a portfolio or meeting the cash needs of Clients. At times, Hightower may also buy and sell positions that are more short-term in nature, depending on the goals of the Client and/or the fundamentals of the security, sector or asset class.
B. Risk of Loss
Investing in securities involves certain investment risks. Securities may fluctuate in value or lose value. Clients should be prepared to bear the potential risk of loss. Hightower will assist Clients in determining an appropriate strategy based on their tolerance for risk and other factors noted above. However, there is no guarantee that a Client will meet their investment goals.
While the methods of analysis help the Advisor in evaluating a potential investment, it does not guarantee that the investment will increase in value. Assets meeting the investment criteria utilized in these methods of analysis may lose value and may have negative investment performance. The Advisor monitors these economic indicators to determine if adjustments to strategic allocations are appropriate. More details on the Advisor’s review process are included below in Item 13 – Review of Accounts.
The risks associated with a particular strategy are provided to each Client in advance of investing Client accounts. The Advisor will work with each Client to determine their tolerance for risk as part of the portfolio construction process. Following are some of the risks associated with certain components of the Advisor’s strategy:
Market Risks
The value of a Client’s holdings may fluctuate in response to events specific to companies or markets, as well as economic, political, or social events in the U.S. and abroad. This risk is linked to the performance of the overall financial markets.
ETF Risks
The performance of ETFs is subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. The price of the ETFs will fluctuate with the price of the underlying securities that make up the funds. In addition, ETFs have a trading risk based on the loss of cost efficiency if the ETFs are traded actively and a liquidity risk if the ETFs have a large bid-ask spread and low trading volume. The price of an ETF fluctuates based upon the market movements andmay dissociate from the index being tracked by the ETF or the price of the underlying investments. An ETF purchased or sold at one point in the day may have a different price than the same ETF purchased or sold a short time later.
Mutual Fund Risks
The performance of mutual funds is subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. The price of the mutual funds will fluctuate with the value of the underlying securities that make up the funds. The price of a mutual fund is typically set daily therefore a mutual fund purchased at one point in the day will typically have the same price as a mutual fund purchased later that same day.
Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Investing in securities and other investments involve a risk of loss that each Client should understand and be willing to bear. Clients are reminded to discuss these risks with the Advisor.