INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

At Ascension Capital Advisors, Inc, we provide a highly-individualized portfolio for each client along with the highest level of service available. We put the client’s interests first and develop a strong relationship based upon open lines of communication. We want to stay in constant communication with our clients to ensure that their goals and objectives are consistent with the ever-changing markets. We are readily available for our clients and respond quickly to questions and/or changes to their situations. By meeting quarterly or semi-annually with our clients, we are able to maintain an ongoing dialogue about what they are trying to accomplish. This strong sense of communication enables each client’s goals and objectives to stay in the forefront of our services.

We evaluate each client’s goals in order to create a plan that will prepare each family for both the short-term and long-term future.

“I am more concerned about the return of my capital than the return on my capital”
Will Rogers

Our philosophy of investment management is very similar to that of Will Rogers, though while we realize that our clients care deeply about the return of their capital, we also know that they are interested in a return on their capital as well. As a result, Ascension Capital Advisors implements and follows a strict discipline of designing and implementing a unique asset allocation model for each client’s account. Consequently, our clients’ accounts mirror the structure of large corporate portfolios, utilizing multiple asset classes, multiple styles (of money managers) and multiple money managers. Because we do not believe in making large bets with our clients’ money……

THE ASCENSION CAPITAL ADVISORS DIFFERENCE!

1. Risk Tolerance Analysis
Everything begins and ends by determining each client's comfort level with risk (designed as volatility) and his/her desired rate of return. These “risk vs. return” parameters are identified, discussed and resolved through our Risk Tolerance Analysis (RTA) questionnaire. We walk through this process and assist our clients in completing this questionnaire so that we understand their up and downside investment parameters, ultimately discovering their investment goals and objectives.

2. Individualized Asset Allocation Model
Once risk (defined as volatility) and desired rates of return are identified, we begin to customize an asset allocation model that we believe the client is comfortable with, which will equal or exceed their desired rate of return. Numerous studies have shown that getting the asset allocation right is the most important part of structuring a client’s portfolio, thus ensuring each client's success of reaching their goals and objectives.

3. Diversification!
Once an individualized asset allocation model has been created and agreed upon by our clients, we begin to implement that allocation using the following methods:

1. Multiple Asset Classes —It has been proven by conclusive studies that it is far more prudent to diversify assets across a broad base of asset classes than to invest in only one, or perhaps two, asset classes. Risk is reduced as multiple asset classes are negatively correlated to one another so when one may go up, another may decline — thus achieving a lower degree of volatility to your portfolio. As a result, we diversify across multiple asset classes as well as multiple styles of asset classes.
2. Multiple Styles of Money Managers — Since the foundational strategy of our money management is diversification, we  incorporate that concept to utilize multiple styles of money management. Styles are typically defined as the discipline the individual manager incorporates. Therefore instead of focusing our clients in one or two various styles or disciplines, we employ multiple styles, such as large cap growth and value, small cap growth and value, and international growth and value.
3. Multiple Money Managers —Diversification is also achieved by having multiple money managers who are utilized through the conduit of no-load mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. We employ both active and passive investing styles using multiple mutual and exchange traded funds. This not only lowers the client's risk, but also lowers the overall expenses of the portfolio.

4. Re-balancing
The final, yet most often overlooked, aspect of portfolio management is to keep the client’s portfolio aligned as it was originally intended. Re-balancing back to the target allocation is accomplished by paying attention to the markets on a daily basis as it affects the client's allocation. Once an allocation is out of balance by a 25% variance, and after reviewing the tax consequences associated with making a trade, we will sell the asset class that has done well and we will purchase the asset class that has been performing poorly (thus buying low and selling high). In paying attention to the details of portfolio management, not only is the client’s portfolio realigned but future exposure to greater risk than the client originally intended is abated.

5. Communication
Ascension believes in putting the client’s interests first and a strong client relationship is developed and maintained through open lines of communication. We want to stay in constant communication with you to ensure that your goals and objectives stay consistent with the ever-changing markets. We are readily available to our clients and respond quickly to any questions or changes to your account. We keep you informed through:

• monthly brokerage statements
• on-line access to your account(s)
• weekly market commentaries
• quarterly reporting & assessments of your account performance
• quarterly or semi-annual meetings