Fountain Strategies, LLC is an independent, fee-only investment advisor registered with the State of California, providing professionals, business owners, military officers, corporate executives, and their families, financial planning and investment management services under an annual retainer fee agreement.  

Why "Fountain"?

Just as a fountain is a satisfying application of water, so can a financial plan be a satisfying application of wealth. Both rely upon design, both add grace to one's life.

 Our fountain has three basins. The top basin would represent resources to fund monthly living expenses; the middle basin would represent resources to fund emergencies and longer term major expenses; the lowest basin would represent retirement resources and eventual bequests. A simple, elegant design.

Why "Strategies"?

There is no "one size fits all" financial plan. Needs, goals, and time horizons differ from family to family, so our plans evolve, strategy by strategy, across a lifetime. One family may intend to die with the last dollar in the checking account; another family may desire to pass on wealth to children and grandchildren. One family may be caring for elders and children; another may face a retirement that lasts longer than their careers. There is a strategy for each situation and several strategies to apply in the course of maturing.         

Why "LLC"?

In California, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) can apply for registration as a Registered Investment Advisor. This allows more than one financial planner to attach to the LLC as Investment Advisor Representative. Continuity is the prime concern governing the way we are organized. We think sharing company values and practices among a few independent, fee-only financial planners enhances continuity for our clients.

Why "Financial Planning"?

If you don't know where you are going, how will you know when you have arrived? If you believe that having a plan "for anything" is better than not having a plan, you will appreciate what we can do as a guide along the financial path of your life.

Why "Investment Management"?

Regarding "Investment," we subscribe to the tenets of Modern Portfolio Theory. We feel that a passive "buy and hold" approach to investing is more satisfying than picking stocks, that risk is the first consideration in building a portfolio (and return is the second consideration), that diversification among asset classes adds value to a portfolio, and that "investment" implies a time horizon of five years or longer. "Management" implies strategies designed to reduce investment costs, "buy low, sell high" and stay within portfolio allocation targets, as well as strategies for regular
reporting to our clients.   

Why Us?