We use the Gerritz InSights blog to post our latest assessment of market conditions that guide the management of GWM Model Portfolios. Since we know how busy you are, we want to provide you a quick read. To that end we try keep our written comments brief and concise, while making use of various charts and graphs to visually deliver the message of the market. Our Daily Market Snapshot is one such visual. With a mere glance you can instantly assess the daily condition of the market.

Daily Market Snapshot

Understanding the Daily Market Snapshot (pdf file)

Since the year 2000 the market has experienced some serious ups and downs. The good old Buy and Hold investment strategy that worked so well in the 80s and 90s has failed long term investors in the 2000s.  Until the market re-enters another era of steady, stable and reliable returns, it pays to adopt a more active strategy, one that seeks to minimize loses in a down-turn and maximize gains when upside opportunities present themselves. 

Ian Woodward

GWM’s Personal Investment Management style is very well suited for the current market environment. A very important component of our portfolio management methodology is the GWM Market Direction Model (MDM). Ian Woodward, a very savvy independent market analyst, and Chris White of Edgerater Software, joined forces to develop the system we use at Gerritz Wealth Management, Inc. Ian developed his methodology over the past  thirty years and continues to refine it. Chris created the computer code to crunch the numbers, providing us with an elegant interface to our investment analysis program. 

The summer and fall of 2011 proved to be an exceptionally challenged period in the market. The market as measured by the S&P 1500 declined by nearly 20% in August. The market then retraced a good portion of those loses. The market then proceeded to give us another 10% decline in November. The GWM Market Direction Model helped us navigate through this very difficult period, providing us very timely buy and sell signals.

Our Market Direction Model is color coded for a quick and easy read on the market. Disregard the numbers and focus on the colors. Green = Buy, Yellow = Neutral and Red = Sell.









Delivering good returns in a bad market.



Analysis of the business cycle is critical to the investment process. We want to be invested in the right sectors at the right time. Is the economy expanding or contracting? Click on the BUSINESS image to the right to view the very interesting and timely web-site, Calculated Risk. This web-site offers great insight into the current state of the economy. Of particular interest are the numerous graphs depicting home price changes and the current unemployment rate.

GWM investors have a safety net!

With the “New Economy” the investment landscape has been inextricably changed.  No longer can you simply buy a few good no-load mutual funds and hold them for the long-term. It is now necessary to not only know what to invest in, but when to invest. This is now the key to investment success. The GWM  investment style is perfectly suited for today’s  environment.

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Key Features of Folio Ivesting

Gerritz Wealth Management, Inc. does not take custody of your cash or securities. Because the security and safeguarding of your assets are of the utmost importance, GWM recommends that clients place their assets in an independent third party, fully insured, asset custodian.

Folio Institution, a division of FOLIOfn, offers state of the art custodial and brokerage services to investment advisors and their clients. Click on the Folio Client icon below to learn more about the outstanding features offered by Folio Institutional.

First, we are very approachable.

Many investment advisory firms are stuffy and work only with people that have a million or more in assets.  GWM’s minimums begin at just $50,000.

Second, we are not compensated by commissions.

Unlike most advisors, we do not earn any money from the sale of commission based securities products.

Third, we act in a fiduciary capacity.

GWM accepts fiduciary responsibility in the management of your accounts. This means that we are legally compelled to put your interest before our own. Brokers and other commission based advisors are held to a much lesser standard. They are merely required to ascertain whether the investment product they sell you is suitable.

Fourth, we actively manage client portfolios.

GWM strategies adapt to changing markets.  We are not market timers. Rather, we constantly evaluate the current state of the market and adjust portfolio holdings to accommodate the condition at the moment. We employ time proven techniques to guide our investment process whether in bull or bear markets.

Fifth, risk management is at the core of our investment strategies.

GWM adheres to a strict discipline when it comes to protecting client accounts. We have systems in place that cut loses short when our indicators turn negative.

Sixth, we keep you informed.

 With The Gerritz Letter, our monthly newsletter, clients are kept up-to-date about the state of markets and the strategies we are employing. We also use this newsletter as a platform to educate clients about these strategies. The Gerritz Letter affords us the opportunity to share  in-depth analysis and commentary. In our daily/weekly blog, Gerritz InSights, we offer brief comments about markets, financial news, events, etc. that can be read very quickly. A lot can happen throughout the month.

Seventh, we offer superb transparency and account visibility.

 Our premier asset custodian, Folio Institutional, offers GWM clients unparalleled visibility and access to the inter-workings of their accounts through FolioClient. Here is a bullet list of features:

Benefits of Your Folio Client Account Include:

• Independent performance reporting
• Electronic delivery of statements and reports
• Secure online access
• Retirement and qualified plan services
• Tax tools and downloads
• Online proxy voting
• Extended insurance on your securities and cash

Clients seem to really like the fact that the endless streams of paper (statements, confirms, prospectus’s, voting proxies) stops flooding their mail box. Also, all important documents are securely stored in your personal online file cabinet at the FolioClient website.

Click here to view the actual FolioClient website.

Eighth, we provide yearend tax accounting.

All taxable accounts receive fully calculated yearend cost basis reports. Just give the report to your tax preparer. They will appreciate these accountant friendly reports.

Ninth, you get a direct phone line to your Private Investment Manager

Even though your GWM Advisor Associate is very accessible and can provide valuable support, all clients are given direct access to Stephen L. Gerritz, CFP, Private Investment Manager. He prefers to be called Steve by the way.   You are welcome to call his direct line anytime, even if it just to get to know him.

Tenth, we feel we can enhance your quality of life.

We care a great deal about our clients and are thoroughly committed not only their financial well-being, but also their physical and psychological well-being. Our goal is to free them from, what at times, can be the stressful ordeal of making endless financial decisions. Life is short and you should savor every moment.

The Bottom Line:

When the wealth you took your life time to accumulate is at stake, you want an advisor you can trust, someone you can count on. You deserve a trusted advisor that is objective, not someone that merely sells you a product. You deserve someone that puts your interest first and is committed to your long-term success. You need someone that is well educated in financial matters, someone who has earned highly regarded professional credentials. You need a firm that has many years of experience and proven strategies to growth and protect your money.

To determine if and how we can help you, call Stephen at 800-877-1967 to setup an exploratory telephone meeting.

If you prefer, fill in your name, email address and telephone number and we will get in touch with you.

 You are under no obligation.

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Are you retired or about to retire?

Big changes in the economic environment may have you wondering just how secure your future may be. Will you be able to sustain a comfortable life? Will your income keep up with inflation? Having a stable and a secure investment foundation is the key.

The last 10 years has been described as the “Lost Decade” for the “Buy and Hold” investor. Most financial advisors were ill prepared to guide their clients through the extreme ups and downs of the market.  ”Modern Portfolio Theory” and asset allocation strategies that were relied on by so many failed to protect investors. Rebalancing services such as those offered by the likes of “Financial Engines” also proved to be ineffective. Even after delivering such poor performance, the great majority of advisors continue to tout these failed strategies as the road to a secure future.

Retirement Investment Advice in the New Economy

The multitude of investors that made little or no gains in the last 10 years have one thing in common. They did not have an effective risk management strategy in place. We will further address this issue throughout our website. You will see that GWM offers a better way to invest. A way to invest that allows investors to have confidence in their future.

The economy has changed. The new economy presents us with issues and challenges that must be addressed. Investors that adapt will succeed; those that don’t may face a future less bright.

Successful investment strategies must now meet the following criteria:

Large Losses must be avoided.

Warren Buffet adheres to two simple rules… #1 Don’t Lose Money – #2 Don’t Forget Rule #1

GWM has very effective risk management systems in place. To support that fact, our clients would tell you they did not suffer large losses in the 2007-2008 bear market.

Returns must be sufficient to provide for your current and future needs.

With interest rates so low, US Treasuries, CDs and Money Market accounts are of little value. While safe, investing in such instruments over time will cause you to lose purchasing power.  The erosion of the dollar is an ever increasing risk. To grow your nest egg and maintain your purchasing power, a prudent investment plan is absolutely necessary.

GWM makes use of time tested and proven trend following strategies to safely grow client accounts. These very effective strategies strive to capture great returns by participating in the cyclical uptrends that naturally occur in the market and by avoiding the cyclical downtrends.

GWM has nearly 30 years experience in helping clients successfully and safely grow their accounts.

Minimize Stress – Delegate Complexity

The world has become much more complex. Gone are the days of simply buying a good no-load mutual fund and holding it for the long-term. If the last 10 years has taught us anything, it has taught us to stop doing what is not working.  The ever growing complexities have made the ongoing investment decision process difficult and definitely more stressful. Why not make one investment decision instead of many?

GWM Private Investment Management could be the key

After choosing a suitable “GWM Model Portfolio” your highly qualified Private Investment Manager makes all ongoing day to day investment decisions for your benefit. GWM investors are relieved of the stress and rigors of managing their own money. Clients are freed to pursue life’s more important endeavors.

 We encourage you to read the ”How we are Different from our Competitors” section and then contact us for a Free Telephone meeting.