The Fendley Group
At The Fendley Group, we’ve earned our stripes for our ability to address the wealth management and retirement needs of successful clients that span generations and the nation’s geography.
We believe that the sophistication, breadth and depth of our strategies distinguish our practice and the enduring benefits our clients can enjoy.
WHO DO WE SERVE?
Active and retired partners at “Big Four” firms, attorneys, C-suite executives, physicians and others in more than 20 states who face myriad decisions – managing their companies and concentrated stock positions, taking care of their employees, being tax efficient, planning for retirement, and creating meaningful family legacies.
To understand the situations and motivations of each client, we apply our knowledge as CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, CFP® professionals to ask questions meant to provoke thoughtful discussion – not just at the outset of each relationship, but frequently thereafter. Our clients are ambitious men and women, with lives and money in motion. This ongoing dialogue is designed to keep us aware of fast-changing circumstances in their lives and livelihoods.
Rather than skim the surface in talking with clients, we go “deep” with genuine curiosity, care and consideration for “where they came from, where they see themselves today, and where they want to go.”
We are also intentional about educating clients about new opportunities, the markets, and their portfolios – what they own and why. To help clients identify their greatest concerns and most cherished goals, we ask:
“What is your outlook on life and the world?”
“What is the purpose of your wealth (and hard work)?”
“Does retirement mean putting your feet in the sand or your stamp on society?”
To help clients grow and preserve their assets in the most tax-efficient manner, we scrutinize how their wealth is structured, then analyze and explain what we call the probability of “what-if” scenarios for portfolio management and movement.
Having managed our clients’ money and emotions amid the volatility of 2000, 2008, 2020 and 2022, we feel proud that virtually all of them remain with us today. We believe that’s due in large part to our determination to mitigate investment risk as part of a comprehensive, long-term strategy that touches every corner of a client’s financial picture.
Please note: we limit the number of clients we serve. In fact, our highly proactive service model is made possible by our experienced support people whose devotion to expediting matters is only matched by their warmth and enthusiasm.
At The Fendley Group, we are proud of the clients we serve and the manner in which we serve them. They include active and retired partners of "Big Four" firms, attorneys, Fortune 100 executives and other senior-level executives in the financial, pharma, biotech and energy industries, as well as physicians and their practices.
Diverse in their paths to our door, our clients are as analytical as we are – looking to understand the nuances and details of the strategies we build on their behalf. (Many clients sign annual reports and we feel they appreciate our skills in scrutinizing them.)
• For "Big Four" partners, attorneys and senior executives (active and retired), we help each client navigate through a range of specific restrictions and financial decisions. Depending on their firm, clients may face a complex series of decisions regarding their pensions and other areas. With each retirement and pension structured differently, we help clients satisfy strict investment guidelines, make joint and survivor elections.
Each client's strategy is based on a multitude of factors, including their objectives for themselves and their families, risk tolerance, investment timeline, liquidity needs, age, health, pension size, the age of their spouse, and what makes the most sense from a mathematical perspective. For clients with investment restrictions, the diversified portfolio we build may include a blend of several asset classes.
• For CFOs and other senior-level executives at financial, pharma and other publicly traded companies who hold concentrated equity positions, we deliver proactive advice and guidance ahead of deadlines and in accordance with company guidelines. We may suggest that They:
–– Hold the Position. With the possibility that their shares have a low-cost basis and are highly appreciated, we may recommend options strategies to help protect the downside and allow participation in the stock's upside potential.
–– Diversify The Position. If a client cannot defer the sale of low-cost stock or cannot sell due to a restriction. We may recommend entering into a prepaid forward contract (to receive upfront liquidity and maintain ownership.
–– Receive Immediate Liquidity. If shares cannot be sold in the public market, we can help client enter into a prepaid forward contract (to receive upfront liquidity and maintain ownership).
–– Sell Shares Outright. To exercise discipline in reducing or exiting a position, we can help clients enter into a premium forward sale, which allows them to sell shares at a premium to the current market price, over a set period of time.
We also help corporate executives navigate and comply with SEC rules, their company's trading restrictions, and equity reporting requirements – and account for specific stock options, grant dates, and vesting periods. At the end of the day, we never forget that our clients are strapped for time – running companies, auditing them, or taking care of patients. Like them, we make ourselves available days, nights and weekends. We believe that superior wealth management demands nothing less.
*Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Before engaging in the purchase or sale of options, investors should understand the nature of and extent of their rights and obligations and be aware of the risks involved in investing with options. Prior to buying or selling an option, clients must receive the options disclosure document Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. This document is available by contacting your Merrill Financial Advisor.
CFP®, CPFA®
Bringing fresh perspectives to your financial life
The financial decisions you make today can help determine the future you build for yourself and your family. Carving a clear path forward starts with connecting your life and finances. A Merrill advisor provides access to the investing insights of Merrill and banking capabilities of Bank of America to help you make informed decisions as you pursue your goals.
