Cardinal Point Wealth Management

Your Cross-Border Financial Advisor

Contact Us | Client Login
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Our Clients
    • Legal and Compliance
    • Part 3 Form CRS
    • Relationship Disclosure Information
  • What We Do
    • Investment Management
    • Wealth Planning
    • Tax Planning and Preparation
    • Private Wealth Services-U.S.
    • Private Wealth Services-Canada
    • Cross Border Wealth Management, Financial and Tax Planning Advisor
    • Business Management for Athletes
  • Cross-Border Services
    • Cross Border Wealth Management, Financial and Tax Planning Advisor
    • U.S. citizens living in Canada
    • Moving to Canada from the U.S.
    • Canadians Living in the U.S.
    • Moving to the U.S. from Canada
    • Expatriates Living Abroad
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Our Clients
    • Legal and Compliance
    • Part 3 Form CRS
    • Relationship Disclosure Information
  • What We Do
    • Investment Management
    • Wealth Planning
    • Tax Planning and Preparation
    • Private Wealth Services-U.S.
    • Private Wealth Services-Canada
    • Cross Border Wealth Management, Financial and Tax Planning Advisor
    • Business Management for Athletes
  • Cross-Border Services
    • Cross Border Wealth Management, Financial and Tax Planning Advisor
    • U.S. citizens living in Canada
    • Moving to Canada from the U.S.
    • Canadians Living in the U.S.
    • Moving to the U.S. from Canada
    • Expatriates Living Abroad
  • Blog

An Investment Philosophy That Places Clients First

August 15, 2018 By Cardinal Point Wealth

“We’re in a business of trying to do the right thing for the client”

This quote came from David Butler, Co-CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), on a recent interview he did with Bloomberg Radio host Barry Ritholtz. This sentiment is core to what we believe at Cardinal Point Wealth in working with clients like yourself. As you know, we are a Registered Independent Advisory firm, which means that we are always looking out for your best interests. Unlike some major Wall Street or Bay Street Firms or banks whose advisors are sometimes highly encouraged to push their own product, we are able to look across the investment landscape and choose those investment options that we believe are in your best interests.

DFA shares our belief in putting clients first and their investment options reflect that. Because of this, we’ve been incorporating their funds into client portfolios since Cardinal Point’s inception.

We thought you may like to hear firsthand many of the reasons we’ve found working with DFA to be in client’s best interests. The wide-ranging conversation between David and Barry can be found here in podcast and transcript form.

Below is a summary of the points which resonated the most with us:

  • David left Merrill Lynch 24 years ago for DFA when he felt he had found the right investment answer for clients.
  • Early on, DFA decided it did not want to employ pushy commissioned salesmen to sell products to clients.
  • Today, DFA manages over $600 billion worldwide, but does no advertising, preferring to service just those investors who align on investment philosophy.
  • DFA has a rare track record of additional inflows from investors, including positive quarterly inflows, during the 2008-2009 downturns.
  • The firm focuses on educating investors about what to expect from markets and not to over react to good or bad market returns.
  • Many leading academics have helped influence the investment philosophy of DFA, including Nobel Prize winners Gene Fama, Merton Miller and Myron Scholes.
  • Smart Beta is a marketing term you often hear today- but in many ways DFA was the original smart beta firm, launching the first small cap fund in 1981.
  • Ongoing research into factors as well as continually refining the implementation process are keys to success going forward.
  • The firm has not worried about growth goals, instead using the mindset that if they do the right thing and do it well, success will come.

The conversation ended with the sentiment that the original reason the firm was started was to make the client experience great, and wanting clients to feel good about their retirement and feel like they’re going to be OK. We at Cardinal Point couldn’t agree more.

If you have any questions related to your investment positions or anything in the interview above, don’t hesitate to ask us.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: DFA fund advisors, dfa funds, Gene Fama, Merton Miller, Myron Scholes

Articles You Might Like

Dual Canada U.S. citizenship

Dual Tax Residency in a Canadian Context

Estate Planning letter

Communicating Your Estate Plan is a Vital Part of “The Estate Plan”

Gardener Contractor or Employee

Nannies, Housekeepers and Gardeners: U.S. Taxpayer Implications for Household Workers

Discuss your goals with us today
Canada US Investment Management Goals
We can handle all of your Canada-U.S. investment management, tax, estate and financial planning complications
Wealth management strategies fit for you
Cross-Border Financial Management assessment
Our cross-border financial planning team can provide an assessment of your needs based on your unique circumstances

How We Help

  • Cross-Border Financial & Tax Planning
  • Americans Living in Canada
  • Canadians Living in the U.S.
  • Moving to Canada from the U.S.
  • Moving to the U.S. from Canada
  • Expatriates Living Abroad

What We Do

  • Investment Management
  • Wealth Planning
  • Tax Planning & Preparation
  • Private Wealth Services for U.S. Residents
  • Private Wealth Services for Canadian Residents
  • Cross-Border Financial & Tax Planning
  • Business Management for Athletes

Resources

  • Canadians in California
  • Canadians in Texas
  • Canadians in Florida
  • Canadians in Arizona
  • Canadian and U.S. Expat Tax Planning
  • Wealth Management for U.S. Citizens in Canada
  • Calgary Financial Planner
  • Custodian Closed Your Cross-Border Investment Account?

Videos & Social Media

  • Americans in Canada: Investment Basics
  • Americans Selling Canadian Homes Face Tax Issues
  • Does it make financial sense to renounce your U.S. citizenship?
    BrightScope Cardinal Point Twitter Cardinal Point Google Plus Cardinal Point Facebook Cardinal Point LinkedIn Cardinal Point
Copyright © 2023 Cardinal Point Capital Management, ULC. All Rights Reserved.

“Cardinal Point” is the brand under which dedicated professionals within Cardinal Point Capital Management, ULC provide financial, tax and investment advisory, risk management, financial planning and tax services to selected clients. Cardinal Point Capital Management, ULC is a US registered investment advisor and a registered portfolio manager in Canada (ON, QC, MB, SK, NS, NB, AB, BC). Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Cardinal Point and its representatives are properly registered or exempt from registration. This website is solely for informational purposes. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital.