Strategic Advisors is a consulting and investment management platform designed to offer qualified
clients access to best-of-class managers across a broad array of asset categories. An extension of a service we've provided to select
clients for many years, Strategic Advisors is delivered by experienced financial professionals who assist
clients at each stage of investment planning and implementation. The end result is a diversified portfolio of investment
managers who are continuously monitored according to the distinct investment objectives of each client.
Our open architecture approach combines the experience of Brown Brothers Harriman and the expertise of specialty asset class investment managers.
Our intention is to offer strategic advice that is conflict free and customized for each client.
Services Included
Markets Served
Defining Characteristics
Customization
Services Included
- Investment management, asset allocation, and portfolio construction
- Comprehensive fiduciary services, including personalized trust and estate planning
- Open architecture and proprietary investment options
- Guidance on investment vehicles and associated risk management considerations
- Consolidated reporting, including performance measurement
- Custody of securities
Markets Served
- High Net Worth Individuals and Family Offices
- Endowments
- Foundations
- Defined Benefit Pension Plans
- Corporate Operating Funds
Defining Characteristics
Investment Management Experience: BBH has been helping individual and institutional clients meet
their investment objectives for close to 80 years. We are in a unique position to leverage our depth of
expertise in the investment arena, and understand our clients’ many financial issues.
Unique Structure for Offering Open Architecture: BBH integrates best-practices from both the
investment management and the institutional consulting industries. Our manager selection process is based
directly on our experience as an investment manager and our understanding of the resources necessary to become a
consistent performer. The process involves the Strategic Advisors Investment Committee, which is comprised of senior
executives of the firm with extensive backgrounds in equities, fixed income, credit and alternative investments. To supplement
our own experience, we have contracted with an independent institutional investment consultant who provides manager research
and data collection to BBH, and supports our due diligence process. This helps to ensure that our approach is objective and
captures a broad universe of qualified managers.
Investment-Focused Culture: Clients receive portfolio guidance from seasoned investment professionals with extensive portfolio
management experience.
Asset Allocation: We conduct our own extensive analysis of asset class returns and risk, and regularly integrate
this analysis with our outlook for the economy and financial markets. This approach enables us to develop a recommended
combination of assets and managers based on a client’s individual goals and requirements.
Limited Number of Client Relationships: A Strategic Advisors investment consultant is assigned responsibility
for an average of just 15 relationships. Limiting their workload increases the time and attention directed toward each client.
A Leader in Global Custody: BBH’s well-recognized Global Custody service enables us to provide clients with custody of
all assets as well as consolidated reporting. This ensures confidentiality. There is no extra charge for custody.
Customization
The first step for most Strategic Advisors engagements involves a detailed assessment of
the client’s financial and nonfinancial goals and objectives. Our initial assessment of a client portfolio
includes the following considerations:
Financial
- Determination of investment objectives
- Income and liquidity needs
- Return requirements/risk tolerance
- Investment horizon
Non-Financial
- Fiduciary concerns
- Service expectations – client involvement and communication
- Restrictions and custom requirements
- Tolerance for complexity
- Desired pace of change
At the output of this assessment, we draft a written statement of investment policy for each client which
formalizes their broad financial directives and sets out the criteria for measuring success. We then conduct a detailed asset
allocation study. Initially, this analysis helps to achieve agreement on permissible investments and prioritize the introduction
of new asset classes during the transition to a multi-manager approach. The ultimate objective is to identify the least volatile
combination of assets likely to accomplish the target investment return.
For more information, please contact:
New York City
John J. Lee
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
212.493.7708
john.lee@bbh.com |
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G. Scott Clemons
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
212.493.8379
scott.clemons@bbh.com |
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Boston
Seth C. Ward
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
617.772.2271
seth.ward@bbh.com |
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Charlotte
Charles O. Izard
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
704.370.5556
charles.izard@bbh.com |
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Chicago
Edward X. (Trey) Tune
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
312.781.7134
trey.tune@bbh.com |
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Dallas
David C. Sharman
Brown Brothers Harriman Trust Company of Texas
214.303.1864
dave.sharman@bbh.com |
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Palm Beach
John C. Borland
Brown Brothers Harriman Trust Company, N.A.
561.515.0626
jack.borland@bbh.com |
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Philadelphia
Jeffrey J. Idler
Brown Brothers Harriman Trust Company, N.A.
215.587.6311
jeff.idler@bbh.com |
