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Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
ETFs are baskets of securities that track specific indexes, investment styles, industry sectors, regions, countries and commodities. ETFs trade like individual stocks on the major stock exchanges. Using ETFs allows Main Management to create comprehensive investment portfolios with broad diversification at a minimal expense.
ETFs provide:
Diversification >> baskets of individual securities
Transparency >> know what you own, real time pricing
Low expense ratios >> high expense ratios adversely affect performance
Tax efficiency >> minimize effect of capital gains distributions
Liquidity >> volume does not equal liquidity
Realizing that markets, not security selection, produce returns, Main Management lowers individual issue selection risk (Lehman Brothers, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, Valeant) by reducing portfolio turnover and excessive transaction costs that so often fails active stock managers. As investors, we are not looking to find the needle in the haystack, but looking for the right haystack.
The Main Advantage
Why Main Management:
For clients seeking a “sleep well at night” portfolio of core holdings, the firm offers a suite of compelling strategies.
Approach:
All-ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) portfolios preserve the integrity of the sector/asset allocation decisions with transparency, liquidity, and cost efficiency
Perspective:
Investment team brings broad and deep capital markets expertise and the knowledge that comes from investing over many market cycles
Discipline:
Focus on diversification, risk management, and prudent periodic rebalancing helps keep clients on track to meet their goals amid market fluctuations
Partnership:
Relationship management is characterized by proactive communication, transparency and access to key decision makers
Firm Overview
When was your firm founded?
Main Management LLC is a California based Limited Liability Company formed in August 2002. The firm is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is able to transact business throughout the United States.
Where is your firm located?
The headquarters are located in San Francisco, California. We also have sales team members located throughout the US, click here to see who’s in your territory.
How many individuals are part of your firm?
There are currently 19 members of the firm, and a majority of them are partners.
What types of clients do you work with?
We work with family offices, foundations, endowments, high net worth individuals, financial advisors, and company 401K plans.
Do you require a minimum account size or asset level to become a client?
Yes. Please contact us for additional details.
Do your investment professionals speak at industry events?
Our investment professionals are widely quoted by media sources. Main Management has been featured in investment and personal finance publications such as Fortune, Wall Street Journal, Businessweek and The New York Times. We are available to provide media sources with information and quotes on subjects concerning ETFs, Investment Theory, and Money Management.
Do you offer tax and estate planning or advice on insurance in addition to financial planning and portfolio management?
Main Management’s Investment Committee has a strong knowledge of these areas and maintains a tax awareness when managing the respective investment strategies. However, it is recommended that our clients use specialists in each area. Estate planning with a Trust and Estates attorney, tax related matters with a C.P.A., and insurance with a qualified insurance agent and we can provide referrals where relevant.
Investment Process
What is your investment approach?
Main Management constructs customized solutions to help high net worth individuals and institutions achieve their investment objectives. The firm was founded on the philosophy that sectors/indexes are a more efficient way to own equities than single stocks.
The Active, our oldest portfolio, is a U.S. equity sector rotation strategy using Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that aims to identify market sectors that look undervalued relative to their historical mean and to the S&P 500.
The Buy Write, a Global Low Volatility Equity Income solution, writes covered call options against an actively managed, globally diversified equity portfolio to generate income and lower overall portfolio volatility.
The All Asset strategy represents the expression of our most broadly based asset allocation views and can serve as a standalone, turnkey total portfolio solution or be customized to complete a portfolio of existing holdings.
Does your firm pick stocks and bonds?
No, we believe that sector/asset allocation is the dominant driver of long-term portfolio returns. Rigorous fundamental analysis is a key component of identifying value in broad asset classes, sectors or industries. When it comes to the implementation of well-diversified portfolios, we believe that Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) offer tremendous advantages over stock picking approaches in the areas of cost and tax efficiency, transparency, and trading flexibility.
Direct Client Experience
How often will I receive reports from Main Management?
Main Management furnishes a Quarterly Performance Report which includes a detailed analysis of account performance, asset allocation, and positions. In addition clients receive Monthly Account statements from their Custodian TD Ameritrade or Charles Schwab, for example, which includes trade information, cost basis and other details.
How often will I meet with Main Management?
You may have a quarterly update meeting with Main Management. This meeting can be done in person or over the phone. We are available to meet on a more frequent basis by phone if needed.
How is Main Management compensated?
Our fees are based on assets under management.
What are your fees?
Management fees are 0.85% of net assets per annum. Considerations may be given based on the size of the client’s account.
How do I become a client of Main Management?
It is helpful to begin on the telephone or with a face-to-face meeting. This initial contact allows us to begin to understand and analyze your unique financial situation. If a mutual decision is made to move forward, we will e-mail or mail you our ADVII and documents for establishing a business relationship as well as documents for setting up and transferring brokerage accounts, where relevant.
We will oversee the account opening and transfer process, review your current holdings, discuss financial issues relevant to your investments, develop a plan, refine it if necessary, and then implement it. We are also available for answering investment related questions, handling changes in accounts, and other investment matters on an ongoing basis.
An investment advisor disclosure document (ADV-II substitute) and current client references are available upon request.
Our contact information is as follows:
Direct: (415) 217-5800
Toll Free: (866) ETF-XPRT
Info@mainmgt.com
