Rockbridge Company Update

Last year turned out to be a fantastic year for the US stock market, and also for our investment advisory business.  At Rockbridge, we experienced continued growth in the amount of assets we manage and the number of families who turn to us for advice and portfolio management.  Our annualized growth rate has been 15%, nearly doubling the size of the firm in four years.  

On January 3, 2014, we signed an agreement with Bob Ryan, principal of RJR Associates, to consolidate their individual investment management accounts with those of Rockbridge Investment Management. 

We are excited to be working with Bob again.  Bob and I first worked together more than 30 years ago, which of course means we are both 30 years older than when we first met, but also more experienced and a bit wiser.  Bob has always been an influential mentor and it will be a pleasure to be working closely with him again.  Bob will assume the role of Chief Investment Officer at Rockbridge.  He will also continue as principal of RJR Associates focused on institutional money management. 

Our focus at Rockbridge will be to build on our shared investment philosophy to help individuals and families prudently manage their accumulated wealth.   Wealth management extends beyond a sound investment management strategy to include a deliberate consultative planning process.          

• We begin by identifying the individual’s goals, objectives, and constraints that are incorporated into a prudent investment plan, and retirement spending plan (if appropriate). 
• The next step is to identify issues that involve tax planning, estate planning, charitable gift planning, and risk management (insurance).
• Finally, we work with the client’s current advisors, or tap our network of expert specialists to resolve these issues through regular reviews of each client’s plan.

When we include the accounts we currently manage with the individual clients of RJR Associates, Rockbridge will become one of the largest fee-only independent registered investment advisors in Upstate New York.  Our firm will include nine full-time employees and another five shared/part-time staff.  Below are the individuals who will be joining Rockbridge.  Please visit the “Who We Are” page of our website, www.rockbridgeinvest.com, to view the biographies of our team.

Bob Ryan, Chief Investment Officer
Ted Scallon, Business Development
Doug Burns, Investment Advisor
Matt Ramsey, Investment Advisor
Patti Edwards, Client Relations Manager
Keri Morrison, Client Service Administrator

Rockbridge will now have seven professional investment advisors.  Four are in their 30’s or 40’s, one has yet to reach 30, and only Bob and I are over 50, so we are well positioned to provide continuity to our current clients, and hopefully a generation or two beyond.

We are aware that size brings complexity, but we look forward to the challenge and remain confident that we can maintain our close personal relationships with clients, our attention to detail, and continue to meet the investment and planning needs of our clients as we grow together.u