News
A message regarding COVID-19
Duncan Williams Asset Management remains open. We are here to serve our clients and to answer any questions during these volatile times. We have activated our Business Continuity Plan and have many of our employees working remotely. For order placement, we encourage our clients to operate under normal business practices. Please call your Duncan Williams Asset Management advisor, and he/she will take the appropriate steps. Should there be any additional disruption for any reason, please be aware that placing orders directly through Schwab or Fidelity is always an option. Please see their contact information below:
Important Update: The COVID-19 virus’s impact on the Financial Markets
Since mid-February, financial markets have been in turmoil. The broader equity market indices have retraced from recent all-time highs by approximately 15-20%. The speed of the decline from all-time highs to bear market territory is unprecedented. However difficult it is to avoid headlines on the COVID-19 virus and the extreme volatility in the energy markets, it is important to view these events within the framework of one’s personal objectives and investment horizon. The markets have experienced these downturns before and we, as advisors, always keep in mind the possibility of these extreme events when helping clients formulate their long-term plans. Historically, the best course of action has been to focus on the facts and separate strategic investing from these headlines.
Doctors, government officials, and businesses are learning more about COVID-19 every day and the public will likely not understand the true cause & effect of this virus for several months, if not years. There is no doubt of the uncertainty created and the ongoing economic fallout, but we believe the markets will ultimately climb this daunting wall of worry and incrementally return to days of normalcy. Although the COVID-19 virus presents a novel challenge, history does provide some insight into not identical but comparable outbreaks. The chart below exemplifies the resiliency of the market when faced with drawdowns from historical viral outbreaks. Without belittling the severity to one’s health, investors should remain focused on the long-term view of their portfolio and asset allocation.
The oil markets have also increased broader market volatility with Saudi Arabia’s recent decision to flood the market with cheap oil with the aim of flexing its muscles and undercutting its competition. This oil glut further exacerbates market uncertainty as the market is a forward-pricing mechanism. The more uncertainty present, the more volatile and difficult it is to find an appropriate valuation. There have been many oil price wars in the past, and the historical impact has also been relatively short-term with an agreement to follow quickly after these sharp moves down.
Regardless of the headlines and historical implications, it is hard to ignore our emotions when our respective account balances are negatively impacted. Similar to the consistent message of long-term investing, the below chart was created by Forbes in hopes of providing an easy to follow description of market cycles. Again, markets have been here before and will likely revisit similar conditions in the future.
Ultimately, the DWAM team is ready to answer any questions about your specific financial situation. Please do not hesitate in reaching out to our office. We can be reached at 901-435-4250, or info@dwassetmgmt.com.
DWAM chosen as the “Best Place To Work”
We are proud to announce that DWAM has been chosen as the “Best Place To Work” winner for companies with 10-20 employees! Best Places to Work recognized companies for the things that make their workplaces stand out from the rest. The Memphis Business Journal partners with national research firm Quantum Workplace to determine Memphis’ Best Places to Work. Way to go team!
Duncan Williams Asset Management Ranks Number 10 on Financial Advisor Magazine’s List of the Fastest Growing RIA Firms
Duncan Williams Asset Management Ranks Number 10 on Financial Advisor Magazine’s List of the Fastest Growing RIA Firms
Annual List Identifies Top 50 Fastest Growing Firms
Memphis, TN. July 31, 2018— Duncan Williams Asset Management is proud to announce its inclusion in Financial Advisor Magazine’s 2018 list of fastest growing Registered Investment Adviser firms in the United States, a nationally recognized ranking of independent wealth management firms. Duncan Williams Asset Management ranked tenth in the nation and first in Tennessee.
The survey, which included 707 total firms, ranked advisors by their percentage of growth in assets under management for year-end 2017, with more than $250 million in assets under management (AUM). Duncan Williams Asset Management ended 2017 with $277.44 million in assets under management and overall growth in assets of 88.86% over the previous year.
Said David Scully, President & Chief Investment Officer, Duncan Williams Asset Management, “We are honored to be included in this year’s list and believe our growth is a testament to our commitment to client service.” To be eligible for ranking, firms must be an independent Registered Investment Adviser and file their own ADV statement with the SEC and provide financial planning and related services to individual clients.
About Duncan Williams Asset Management
Creating, enhancing, and preserving wealth is the focus of Duncan Williams Asset Management (DWAM). Through in-depth knowledge and experience, specialized wealth management advisors help business owners, foundations, non-profits, endowments, and families and individuals clarify their financial goals and develop a tailored strategy to meet their objectives. The firm also serves as a consultant to corporate retirement plans, overseeing investment fund selection and monitoring, and providing fiduciary oversight. In addition, DWAM provides a competitive cash-management program that is FDIC insured.
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Important Disclosures
Financial Advisor Magazine’s (“FA”) 50 Fastest Growing RIAs is an independent listing (“FA Top 50”) produced annually by FA (July 2018). FA is not affiliated with Duncan Williams Asset Management (“DWAM”). FA’s Top 50 is presented as an “elite group,” not a competitive ranking of one to 50. The results are not based upon information or opinions of participating Registered Investment Advisers’ (“RIA’s”) clients. Therefore, inclusion on the FA Top 50 is not representative of any participating RIA’s clients’ experiences. Neither the participating RIAs nor their employees pay a fee to FA in exchange for inclusion in FA Top 50. The FA Top 50 is based on data gathered from RIAs, regulatory disclosures, FA’s research, and/or research conducted on FA’s behalf. The FA indicates that the methodology used to evaluate inclusion on the FA Top 50 is quantifiable and objective and that the participating RIAs had no subjective input in the analysis.
Approximately 707 RIAs were part of the FA’s survey, of which only 50 made the FA Top 50 list. Areas of consideration include assets under management, asset growth, RIA age, and online accessibility. Assets under management and asset growth, are largely determinative as to a surveyed RIA’s inclusion on the FA Top 50 list.
To the best of DWAM’s knowledge, FA does not include RIAs on the FA Top 50 list if the ratings are not statistically valid with respect to any RIA; and there are no facts that would call into question the validity of the inclusion on the FA Top 50 or the appropriateness of DWAM’s advertising the same.
Inclusion on the FA Top 50 is not indicative of DWAM’s future performance, or any future performance pertaining to its clients’ investments, should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that they will experience a certain level of results if DWAM is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services, and should not be construed as a current or past endorsement of DWAM by any of its clients.
SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the Commission nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability.