Our Team
Thank you for exploring a relationship with us!
Founder and President (214) 725-5263
Founder and President (214) 725-5263
Copiam Wealth Management LLC is an independent, fee-based Registered Investment Advisor serving families, individuals and businesses across the nation.
We combine Nobel Prize-winning research with the Fiduciary Standard to deliver unbiased, cost-efficient and comprehensive wealth management solutions tailored to your unique risk tolerance, circumstances and needs.
Founder and President (214) 725-5263
Founder and President (214) 725-5263
Founder and President (214) 725-5263
Gregory M. Schmitz began his career in May, 2006 as an Investment Advisor at Talis Advisors. In 2014, he left and started Copiam Wealth Management LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser built on the highest legal standard of care in the industry, the Fiduciary Duty.
He is an avid adventurer and loves people, triathlons, golf, reading the bible, and making a difference.
About Us
Your Vision is Our Mission
At our firm, you will enjoy a true "Clients First" experience. As a registered investment advisor (RIA), we have a Fiduciary duty (clients first), or legal requirement, to always act in your best interest, not for our personal gain. This is the highest legal standard of care in the industry. Registered investment advisors are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or State Securities authorities.
Brokers, Banks and Insurance companies, unlike Investment Advisors, only operate from a Suitability standard (company first) and have no legal obligation to act in your best interest nor disclose conflicts of interest. These differing levels of legal responsibility often affect investment selection, costs, quality of service and most of all, trust.
We put client interests first by:
- Tailoring investment portfolios to individual risk tolerance, circumstances, needs and vision;
- Objective, fully independent advice with full disclosure of conflicts of interest;
- Reasonable overall cost and clear disclosure of those costs;
- Eliminating sales loads, 12b-1 fees, high expense ratios and minimizing transaction fees.
Fee-Based Compensation Structure
- Advisor goals always same as client goals.
- Unbiased Investment Selection. We are compensated by our clients, not product commissions that lead to conflicts of interest.
- Fee-only compensation is usually less expensive compared to traditional commission based compensation.
Representatives of Brokers, Banks and Insurance companies are typically compensated directly from products they sell and can legally recommend products not in your best interest to receive higher commissions. Their representatives are transactional, commission driven sales people and their goals often conflict with client goals.
Your Purpose is Our Pursuit: Consultative Wealth Management
Built on family values, we connect families and individuals to holistic, long-term planning that considers the essential areas of investment management, retirement income planning, tax planning, insurance needs, education planning and estate planning.
Our consultative wealth management model is a potent, field-tested way to engage our clients, strengthen the client-advisor relationship and ensure that client needs are fully met.
Beginning with the end in mind creates a steadfast focus, prioritizes what matters most to you and sets forth the timeframe in which it is to be achieved. By listening deeply to your needs, and cultivating healthy and transparent relationships, we will diagnose your starting point, and then seek viable solutions believed to maximize your probability of reaching your vision.
Advanced Portfolio Management Backed by Nobel Prize-winning Research
Our investment philosophy applies 70+ years of rigorous, time-tested academic research conducted by the world’s most respected leaders in investment management and economics.
Harry Markowitz, Nobel Prize in Economics, 1990, Diversification and Portfolio Risk.
William Sharpe, Nobel Prize in Economics, 1990, Single-Factor Asset Pricing Risk/Return Model.
Paul Samuelson, MIT, Nobel Prize in Economics, 1970, Behavior of Securities Prices.
Eugene Fama and Kenneth French, 1993, Multifactor Asset Pricing Model and Value Effect. Improves on the single-factor asset pricing model (CAPM).
Identifies market, size, and “value” as principle drivers of returns. In 2012, the profitability factor was added as another important source of return.
Eugene Fama, University of Chicago, Nobel Prize in Economics, 2013, Asset Pricing Research.
Merton Miller, Harvard University, Nobel Prize in Economics, 1990, Effect of Firms’ Capital Structure and Dividend Policy on their Prices.
Myron Scholes, Stanford University, Nobel Prize in Economics, 1997, Options Valuation Model.
Robert Merton, Harvard University, Nobel Prize in Economics, 1997, Finance Theory and Risk Management, and Options Valuation Model.
Our client portfolios:
- Are scientifically organized around proven sources of higher expected return while limiting portfolio volatility;
- Have a low total cost of ownership and are tailored to meet a wide range of client risk tolerance; and
- Are globally diversified amongst thousands of companies and 40+ countries to protect against economic downturn in single countries or regions.
Our Investment Philosophy and Strategy
Our Investment Strategy is built on the series of evidence-based financial and economic innovations collectively known as Modern Portfolio Theory. Perhaps the most influential innovation related to this body of research is the Multifactor Asset Pricing Model and Value Effect [also known as Fama-French Three Factor Model] that Eugene Fama and Ken French penned in 1992. This paper identifies market, size and “value” as principal drivers of equity returns. Since then, they have revised that model to include two other factors: momentum and profitability. Our method of analysis is based on these five equity factors and two factors pertaining to fixed income which are credit quality and term risk. These factors are further explained in the next section.
Please note that investing in securities involves risk of loss that clients should be prepared to bear.
Our Investment Strategy is guided by but not limited to the following beliefs:
Markets Work. Capital markets are efficient and have a long history of rewarding investors for the capital they supply. Even though market inefficiencies exist in the short term, they are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to consistently exploit. Ultimately, research shows that attempts to exploit these inefficiencies or “pricing mistakes” will most likely reduce expected portfolio return. Philosophically, we see markets as an ally, not an adversary. Rather than attempt to take advantage of market pricing mistakes, we leverage what markets do right – compensate investors. Our portfolios are designed to do just that. COPIAM does not attempt to time the market or utilize market forecasts.
Focus on Risks Worth Taking. Investing involves taking risks. While risk and return are related, not all risks are expected to compensate the investor equivalently. An intentional and disciplined focus should prudently be made on those risk factors expected to highly compensate the investor over long time periods.
Organize Investment Portfolios Around Relevant Investment Factors. Over the long term, research shows that global capital markets efficiently reward investors for the risks they take. The Fama-French Three Factor Model brings applicable academic research to bear with regard to organizing a globally diversified portfolio around factors having higher expected returns over time.
These factors are:
- Equity Premium (Beta): Equities tend to outperform bonds over long time periods.
- Small Cap Premium: Small companies tend to outperform large ones over long time periods.
- Value Premium: Value companies tend to outperform over long time periods.
- Momentum: Companies with strong stock price appreciation tend to continue for a while.
- Profitability Premium: Profitable companies tend to outperform over long time periods.
Factors related to portfolio volatility (risk) reduction are:
- Term Premium: Shorter maturity bonds vs longer ones
- Credit Premium: Higher credit quality vs lower quality
Structure Drives Expected Return. Asset class selection and structure explain over 90% of a portfolio’s performance over time; while individual stock selection, market timing and other techniques combined only explain roughly 8.4%. Source: Ibbotson and Kaplan, “Does Asset Allocation Policy Explain 40%, 90% or 100% of Performance,” Financial Analysts Journal, April 1999. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Diversification is Essential. Diversification reduces uncompensated risk associated with owning individual securities. Avoidable risks include holding too few securities, betting on countries or industries, following market predictions, speculating in areas like interest rate movements, and relying solely on information from third-party analysts or rating services. Diversification does not eliminate the risk of market loss; however, it can position your portfolio to capture global capital market returns that are available. Source: Diversification and Portfolio Risk, Harry Markowitz [Nobel Prize in Economics, 1990].
about Our advisory services
Copiam Wealth Management LLC provides ongoing investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, high net worth clients, small and medium size businesses, institutional clients, estates, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and qualified retirement plans. Our investment strategy provides targeted exposure to well researched, time-tested investment factors believed to position investors for higher expected returns while minimizing portfolio risk through global diversification. Our investment advice is not limited to certain types of investments. Our recommendations may include mutual funds, stocks, bonds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) or other types of investments we believe to be appropriate based on stated client needs and goals. Structured asset class mutual funds offered by Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) or similarly structured funds are commonly recommended.
Our Services
• Investment strategy and plan • Risk tolerance
• Asset allocation and portfolio design • Suitability analysis
• Ongoing portfolio monitoring • Portfolio rebalancing as needed
• Financial planning • Pension consulting services
• Retirement income planning • Educational seminars
Client Tailored Services
Our services are tailored to meet the individual needs of each client. We passionately seek to understand the unique circumstances, goals, objectives, liquidity needs, investment time horizon, risk tolerance and other pertinent needs of each client. With guidance from the advisor, the client then selects the asset allocation best suited for them. Attractive combinations of risk, expected return, costs and tax obligations are also primary considerations in finalizing client asset allocation. Once the client agrees to an implementation plan, the advisor will place the necessary trades to implement their new investment portfolio.
Financial Planning
We also offer financial planning services for individuals and families. If you need help defining your financial goals and the best pathway to reach them, you might consider the benefits of a holistic financial plan. These services are offered on an hourly basis and are separate from the fee schedule for our portfolio management services.
Working With Your Other Professionals
We will work seamlessly with your other financial professionals, or as needed, we will recommend trusted professionals that utilize a team approach to address the financial details in the areas of estate planning, tax planning, asset protection and risk analysis & mitigation. Most advisory services are provided on a discretionary basis, although COPIAM does accept non-discretionary accounts on a case-by-case basis.