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A New Approach to Self-Directed Investing

A New Approach to Self-Directed Investing

March 13, 2020

As an investor, you know that access to the appropriate tools and information is a key part of success.   It’s the ability to craft strategies that let you stay in the market throughout volatile periods that results in higher returns over time. The problem for many self-directed investors is that there seems to be only two options – come up with an active management plan on your own or invest with a robo-advisor that offers online access and simplicity, along with a pre-set investment strategy. The downside is that doing the research to build your own strategy is enormously time consuming, but robo-advisors may be limited and inflexible to market conditions.

A Hybrid Solution

We’ve developed a different solution. Our approach combines the convenience and autonomy of an internet-based investment plan, with high-touch access to actual human-based advice and premium, thoughtful tools to create a comprehensive financial plan. It offers a client portal that allows you to link an outside account as well as invest directly with us, so that even accounts held elsewhere can benefit from our advice.  

Your Foundational Plan – The Key to Success

We start with the same one-on-one initial meeting you would get if you signed up for full-service asset management. It’s the only way we know how to do it, and it works.  In-person, over the phone, on the web – however it’s convenient for you, but we believe starting with a conversation, not a questionnaire is critical. This the foundation of our risk tolerance assessment, and we follow it up with an interactive online module.

From there you get access to our monthly video newsletter, invitations to our financial forums, and unlimited support by phone or email. We’re here when you need us. And of course, we perform an in-depth annual review.

Through our decades of experience in asset management, we’ve come to understand that it’s not just about building a retirement account or saving for one goal. A tool that only offers you investment management is only seeing a small part of the picture.  

Pairing the Plan with Technology

We’ve built a robust platform that starts with cash flow and budgeting analysis, to keep your accounts growing through additional savings – in amounts that work for your situation. We also offer financial goal analysis, and because our view of risk management is that you need to also plan for the things that can derail you, we built an insurance tool to help you create a cost-effective insurance plan that covers life, disability and even long-term care.

The two biggest costs you’ll face – education and retirement – we’ve got them covered, too, with an education funding module and a retirement income strategy that blends accumulating retirement funds, optimizing social security and the Income for Life® plan.

We’ve developed this subscription service because we know you want to take control of your financial life – but we also know that the more you can incorporate the experience and expertise of a trusted financial advisor, the more time you’ll have for everything else in your life. 

All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful.

Registered Representative offering securities through First Allied Securities, Inc. a Registered Broker/Dealer Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through First Allied Advisory Services, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. First Allied entities are under separate ownership from any other named entity.

Lifelong Investments, LLC, 155 Passaic Avenue, Suite 310 Fairfield, NJ 07004