Meet the Partners! An Interview with Marjorie A. Bennett, CFA
May 21, 2020
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
Meet the Partners: An Interview with Marjorie A. Bennett, CFA
Chicago Partners relies on the knowledge and experience of our leaders to provide excellent wealth management advice to our clients. One of our leaders is Partner Marjorie A. Bennett, CFA, the founder of Aegis Capital Management, Inc.
Marjorie joined the Chicago Partners team in 2020, and brings with her a wealth of experience coaching, strategizing, and executing financial plans for her clients. Outside of her role at Chicago Partners, Marjorie teaches financial literacy to residents of Kauai, for which she was presented the 2019 NCEF Pro-Bono Service Award!
We asked Marjorie a couple of questions about her story, wealth management philosophy, and what advice she would give to investors.
Q: How did you get into wealth management?
MB: I have been in the financial services industry since finishing my undergrad in Accounting. I worked in public accounting for one of the Big 8 firms.
After obtaining my CPA, I decided that I did not want to measure the results of decisions anymore. I wanted to be involved in the decisions. So, back to school for an MBA, and then into the world of corporate finance. Eventually I landed at Morgan Stanley Institutional, working on large endowments, foundations, and pensions.
Yet this was other people’s money. I wanted to work with the owner of the wealth, helping someone plan for their retirement, funding grandkids' education, devising giving plans. As a result, I opened my own shop up in the late 1990’s. Hard work, earning a CFA, practicing the fiduciary standard, transparency and word of mouth referrals built my firm over time.
Q: How would you describe your investment and wealth management philosophies?
MB: I am a patient tortoise. There is no free lunch. The markets are very smart, anticipatory animals, and they tend to price risk accordingly. I believe in very long-term strategies and that losing less is worth more than making more.
I am a macro asset allocator. I look for trends and directions in the domestic and global economy and their supporting markets. Risk is managed with asset allocated to broad market sectors and investments are meant to reflect a diversified marketplace. Seeking to maximize after-tax cash flow is key.
As is client confidence. It is important to listen to and deliver what my clients are asking for. Client education is essential, yet once educated, it is important to respect their choices.
Q: What is the number one question you receive from clients, and how do you usually respond?
MB: What do you think the markets will do next?
I smile and say, “I wish I knew! And if I did, I’d be living the lifestyle of the rich and famous in the south of France.” I would then lend my best guess, being genuine about it being a guess no matter how educated it was.
We can only prepare for a direction, not the timing or the magnitude. This pandemic is another reminder of the spectacular nature of the unexpected.
Q: What is the single most important thing for investors to keep in mind?
MB: This is a marathon we are running. Keep your pace, avoid injury and make sure you stay rational and focused on the finish line along the way. Lean on your team when you need to, we are all in this together.
Q: What do you like to do outside of being an investment advisor?
MB: I love the outdoors, particularly here on Kaua’i. I hike, golf, run the beach, swim, and SUP. I enjoy renovating worn down houses with good bones.
I am involved in several community service groups including Rotary and the CASA program. On a pro bono basis, I teach financial literacy to domestic violence survivors and the larger community through the YWCA.
Then there is exploring urban fixes San Francisco, New York, and Barcelona.
Mostly, I value sharing time with my extended family, or my hana’i o’hana, here on Kaua’i.
Q: What are some of your biggest life lessons?
MB: There are no mistakes, only opportunities to learn. Life is short, choose caring, thoughtful people to share your time with. Don’t let fear make choices for you. You can learn best by listening and watching.
Important Disclosure Information
Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC (“CP”), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this commentary will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this commentary serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from CP. Please remember to contact CP, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. CP is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the commentary content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of the CP’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available upon request.
May 21, 2020
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
Meet the Partners: An Interview with Marjorie A. Bennett, CFA
Chicago Partners relies on the knowledge and experience of our leaders to provide excellent wealth management advice to our clients. One of our leaders is Partner Marjorie A. Bennett, CFA, the founder of Aegis Capital Management, Inc.
Marjorie joined the Chicago Partners team in 2020, and brings with her a wealth of experience coaching, strategizing, and executing financial plans for her clients. Outside of her role at Chicago Partners, Marjorie teaches financial literacy to residents of Kauai, for which she was presented the 2019 NCEF Pro-Bono Service Award!
We asked Marjorie a couple of questions about her story, wealth management philosophy, and what advice she would give to investors.
Q: How did you get into wealth management?
MB: I have been in the financial services industry since finishing my undergrad in Accounting. I worked in public accounting for one of the Big 8 firms.
After obtaining my CPA, I decided that I did not want to measure the results of decisions anymore. I wanted to be involved in the decisions. So, back to school for an MBA, and then into the world of corporate finance. Eventually I landed at Morgan Stanley Institutional, working on large endowments, foundations, and pensions.
Yet this was other people’s money. I wanted to work with the owner of the wealth, helping someone plan for their retirement, funding grandkids' education, devising giving plans. As a result, I opened my own shop up in the late 1990’s. Hard work, earning a CFA, practicing the fiduciary standard, transparency and word of mouth referrals built my firm over time.
Q: How would you describe your investment and wealth management philosophies?
MB: I am a patient tortoise. There is no free lunch. The markets are very smart, anticipatory animals, and they tend to price risk accordingly. I believe in very long-term strategies and that losing less is worth more than making more.
I am a macro asset allocator. I look for trends and directions in the domestic and global economy and their supporting markets. Risk is managed with asset allocated to broad market sectors and investments are meant to reflect a diversified marketplace. Seeking to maximize after-tax cash flow is key.
As is client confidence. It is important to listen to and deliver what my clients are asking for. Client education is essential, yet once educated, it is important to respect their choices.
Q: What is the number one question you receive from clients, and how do you usually respond?
MB: What do you think the markets will do next?
I smile and say, “I wish I knew! And if I did, I’d be living the lifestyle of the rich and famous in the south of France.” I would then lend my best guess, being genuine about it being a guess no matter how educated it was.
We can only prepare for a direction, not the timing or the magnitude. This pandemic is another reminder of the spectacular nature of the unexpected.
Q: What is the single most important thing for investors to keep in mind?
MB: This is a marathon we are running. Keep your pace, avoid injury and make sure you stay rational and focused on the finish line along the way. Lean on your team when you need to, we are all in this together.
Q: What do you like to do outside of being an investment advisor?
MB: I love the outdoors, particularly here on Kaua’i. I hike, golf, run the beach, swim, and SUP. I enjoy renovating worn down houses with good bones.
I am involved in several community service groups including Rotary and the CASA program. On a pro bono basis, I teach financial literacy to domestic violence survivors and the larger community through the YWCA.
Then there is exploring urban fixes San Francisco, New York, and Barcelona.
Mostly, I value sharing time with my extended family, or my hana’i o’hana, here on Kaua’i.
Q: What are some of your biggest life lessons?
MB: There are no mistakes, only opportunities to learn. Life is short, choose caring, thoughtful people to share your time with. Don’t let fear make choices for you. You can learn best by listening and watching.
Important Disclosure Information
Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC (“CP”), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this commentary will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this commentary serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from CP. Please remember to contact CP, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. CP is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the commentary content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of the CP’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available upon request.