Yesterday we celebrated Independence Day! I hope you all had an opportunity to do something you enjoy.

As a reminder, the reason we celebrate is that 246 years ago on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence after deliberating for two days over the exact wording of the document. That was the official date placed on the Declaration of Independence. The founding fathers signed the document sometime later that summer, and Great Britain only received official notification and a copy of the document in November of 1776. Information traveled a bit slower 250 years ago.

In the midst of everything going on in our world, we can be distracted from the benefits of living in an independent country with the freedoms we enjoy. The benefits of independence include the freedom to worship, to pursue what we feel is best for us, to travel where we want to go, and to own property and assets (just to name a few).

As I reflected on Independence Day, my mind went to the benefits of working with an independent wealth management company. Being independent means that the advisory firm is not owned or controlled by a big bank, insurance company, or investment banking company.

For us, there are three benefits of working with an independent wealth management firm:

• Client Goals Come First – Being independent allows the advisors to truly work for the clients. When working for a big company, client goals can be compromised when corporate goals are pushing to exceed shareholder expectations.
• Effective Decision Making – Not having the confines of a larger corporation gives the leaders of the organization the flexibility to make prudent decisions on behalf of their clients and team members in a timely fashion.
• Motivated for Improvement – When the profits of the operation are not primarily going to a large company, the owner/advisors are financially motivated to continue to improve and expand the services they provide for their clients.

Master’s Advisors has been an independently owned and operated wealth management firm from its onset in 1994. It is a hallmark of who we are and part of our ongoing commitment to keep our clients’ goals and interests in the forefront.

When have you experienced an independently owned business do something remarkable for you?