Why Plancorp…and especially why during the tough times?

Having the chance now to look back on the most recent bear market (late 2007 thru early 2009), it's heartening to know that the investment philosophy that we at Plancorp place so much faith in continues, once more, to prove itself. Listed below are some of the things we did to try to keep client portfolios ahead of the market while at the same time offering our support to them during this most difficult period:

Avoided the devastation resulting from owning large positions in some of the markets' most beat up individual stocks and in some of the worst- performing market sectors (e.g. financials).
Stressed, as always, the importance of owning short term, high grade bonds, as well as stocks, in all client portfolios at all times.
Stayed true to our strategy even during the darkest hours of the downturn, and rebalanced client portfolios back to their targets...by continuing to sell bonds and buy equities.
While rebalancing, also engaged in tax loss harvesting where appropriate... allowing us to capture losses on behalf of our clients to be used to offset future gains.
Maintained diversification presence in client portfolios in some of 2008's hardest hit asset classes...and benefitted from significant bounce-back gains in the market in 2009 and early 2010.
Focused on having numerous touches with clients during this difficult period...with phone calls, face-to-face meetings, webinars featuring senior staff members from DFA, Schwab and Vanguard and email blasts focusing on timely topics.