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Institutional consulting requires a customized and focused strategy for each client. Our sole focus is working as your advocate. Institutional investing presents unique challenges. We believe success is the result of a discipline strategic approach to meeting these challenges. Institutions require independence, objectivity and unbiased advise at all times.  We believe maintaining trust is critical to long term success.

Introduction to Consulting Services

The Cooke Financial Group’s Institutional Consulting Services team assists clients in constructing the framework for institutional investing, recognizing the unique needs and circumstances of each institution. Our institutional team works with endowments, foundations, corporate defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans, and Taft-Hartley plans. Our goal is to formulate investment strategies that may enhance each client’s potential to reach their expected total return and/or income objectives.  We work exclusively on behalf of our Institutional clients. The Cooke Financial Group does not manage any institutional client assets; our clients engage us to offer strategic guidance and to represent their interests throughout the entire investment management process. Our portfolio strategies include investment policy development, risk posture assessment, asset allocation/liability modeling, portfolio risk management, income optimization, third party investment manager search and selection, and performance and attribution reporting capabilities.

Investment Policy Development and Review

We believe the Investment Policy Statement is the single most important step toward investment success for clients. Written statements outline long-term risk/return targets, identify performance goals and evaluation procedures, and define allowable and restricted investments. We engage clients, on an annual basis, to review the Investment Policy Statement to help ensure that the strategy and structure of the plan aligns with the evolving needs of each client. Additionally, our consulting team proactively monitors investments on an ongoing basis to confirm policy compliance.

Asset Allocation Analysis

Studies have shown that asset allocation is the principal determinant of a portfolio’s long-term investment return variance.* Asset Allocation modeling evaluates a wide variety of asset classes and portfolio style combinations to best achieve particular investment goals. Our modeling process analyzes different risk parameters with our client’s investment goals in mind, ultimately forming the basis for a well-conceived risk control plan. Our asset allocation studies assist clients in addressing the following issues:  Analyzes Cash Flow Requirements and Funding Status, Identifies Acceptable Asset Classes for Investment, Develops Expectations for Capital Market Performance, Identifies Efficient Portfolios Of Various Asset Classes,  Evaluates the Risk/Return Tradeoffs and Probabilities of Attaining Goals,  Assists in Selection of Long-Term (Strategic) Asset Mix Policy.

*Source:  Brinson, Singer and Beebower, Determinants of Portfolio Performance, Financial Analysts Journal, May/June 1991 (Note: this study was conducted on large pension plan portfolios).  Asset allocation cannot eliminate the risk of fluctuating prices and uncertain returns.

Investment Manager Search and Selection

Presenting formal recommendations to engage or terminate third party investment managers, The Cooke Financial Group utilizes multiple avenues of investment manager due diligence and research services. With a dedicated manager research group, located in St. Louis, Missouri, we utilize the home office resources of Wells Fargo Advisors to gain the insight and analysis of professional and experienced due diligence personnel.  These individuals are responsible for identifying, screening, and evaluating investment managers for potential inclusion in client portfolios.  Visiting over 1000 managers annually, this group is also responsible for on-going due diligence of the managers. Furthermore, the Cooke Financial Group’s senior consultants conduct due diligence visits with our clients’ investment managers, both at our office as well as conducting on-site visits. We expect the investment managers that are hired by our clients to participate in client meetings, conference calls, and periodic updates with our consulting staff. To avoid any potential or perceived conflict of interest, we do not charge direct or indirect fees nor are we compensated in any way for managers to be included in our proprietary list of recommended managers. We believe objectivity is critical to the success of our clients’ investment plans, and as a result we prepare an annual conflict of interest report for each of our clients.

Performance Evaluation and Reporting

Our portfolio monitoring process is comprehensive and has both qualitative and quantitative components, assisting both our clients and our consultants in identifying areas for improvement, trends in performance, and understanding the underlying performance characteristics. We use risk/return comparisons analysis to evaluate portfolio’s rate of return in relation to the volatility of those returns.  When evaluating portfolio returns, several comparisons are considered:  Index comparisons, Universe Comparisons and Rolling Period Analysis, Benchmark Comparisons, Attribution Analysis, and Fiscal Year and Since Inception Comparisons. In conjunction with a meaningful and thorough Investment Policy Statement, our quarterly performance reporting tools assist our consultants in measuring progress toward each client’s portfolio target return.

Fiduciary Education

As part of our full-service commitment to client advocacy, the Cooke Financial Group is pleased to provide educational sessions to committee and staff members. In the past, we have conducted sessions on topics such as fiduciary responsibility, specific aspects of economy, unique fixed income asset classes such as convertible bonds, and the pros and cons of emerging equity market investing. In addition, we provide investment manager Due Diligence reports, various investment education pieces, economic reviews, and capital market research.

 The Cooke Financial Group and Wells Fargo Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice.

The Cooke Financial Group adheres to the following Investment Management Consultants Association Code of Professional Responsibility listed below: