Letter Of Gratitude & Excitement
Stepping into 2025, SJS is filled with gratitude and excitement as we celebrate our 30th year serving you, our valued clients.
By SJS Founder & CEO Scott J. Savage.
Stepping into 2025, SJS is filled with gratitude and excitement as we celebrate our 30th year serving you, our valued clients.
For three decades, we've had the privilege of being your trusted partner, empowering you to build a better life. While our fundamental commitment to your financial well-being remains unchanged, the way we pursue that mission today bears little resemblance to our methods of just five years ago, let alone when we first opened our doors in 1995. We're proud of our ability to continuously improve our methods to meet your evolving needs.
This milestone year holds special significance as SJS sees promising developments on the horizon. As market dynamics continue to evolve, we're optimistic about opportunities in emerging asset classes and our access to the best managers in these spaces. Through these new opportunities, we aim to continually build on our MarketPlus® Investing strategy. Our experienced team has successfully guided you through good markets and bad, and we're confident in our ability to navigate the future.
An industry-leading investment approach has always been foundational to SJS, along with meeting your daily needs, all the time, every time. We are selectively growing the team, improving systems, and exploring new technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). Just as the internet, years ago, seemed daunting and changed much, AI also offers efficiencies and enhancements to how we work. At the same time, at the top of my worry list is cybersecurity and threats to our information systems. One of the best ways I believe we can fight this growing threat is to know our clients by name and by voice, which reduces the risk that a bad actor can successfully come between us.
As we celebrate our 30th year, we're particularly excited about strengthening our community engagement, charitable initiatives, and expanding our service offerings for clients and their families. We believe that informed clients make better choices. SJS is dedicated to providing you and your family with the insights and resources needed to not only navigate an increasingly complex financial landscape, but to feel a sense of empowerment and greater purpose while doing so.
I would like to conclude with a personal note. As a pioneer in the registered investment advisory (RIA) industry (yes, that means I am an elder!), I’ve watched with concern as many of my competitors have chosen to sell or merge their firms with private equity-backed organizations. In my opinion, these decisions prioritize shareholder returns over long-term client and employee relationships. While these transitions may maximize a RIA owner’s bank account in the short run, it is my opinion that over time it will come at the cost of client satisfaction and employee dedication - which have been pivotal to building a firm like ours. Let me be clear: this is not the future of SJS. We are steadfastly committed to remaining independent and focused on what matters most - working on the same side of the table as you and supporting our dedicated employees and their families, for generations to come.
Cheers to another 30 years of friendship, growth, innovation, and success. At the end of the day, our goal is your peace of mind.
SJS Team at Brookwood Metropark in Toledo, Ohio.
Important Disclosure Information:
There is no guarantee investment strategies will be successful. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Diversification neither assures a profit nor guarantees against a loss in a declining market.
Advisory services are provided by SJS Investment Services, a registered investment advisor (RIA) with the SEC. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. SJS Investment Services does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your legal or tax professionals for specific advice.
Statements contained in this article that are not statements of historical fact are intended to be and are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements include expressed expectations of future events and the assumptions on which the expressed expectations are based. All forward looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on various expectations and assumptions concerning future events and they are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected.
Suggested Reading
40 Years Of Trust
As I approach my 40th anniversary as a financial advisor, I can't help but look back on the road I've traveled.
By Founder & CEO Scott J. Savage.
What is life but a series of transitions?
As I approach my 40th anniversary as a financial advisor, I can't help but look back on the road I've traveled. You have traveled it with me, perhaps for many years. Have I thanked you lately for that early trust? Well, a thank you may be overdue.
Like so many young professionals, I was eager to build a career 40 years ago and provide for my family by taking care of my growing list of clients. And by "taking care," I mean advising. After all, my title was financial advisor.
Along the way, a few wise mentors taught me to listen first. I took their advice, and with every client, I translated what I heard into investment strategies. How many days and nights did I worry as the market rose and fell and rose again? I spent countless hours rebalancing assets and optimizing investment portfolios as the opportunities presented themselves.
For many years, I thought that my only role was to make sure that clients were compensated for the risks they were taking. It was a high-stakes game I took very seriously, just as we do now. It took years for me to realize how much more there was to this career as a financial advisor and the real value of that role. The time I spent talking with clients, learning about their families and businesses, and helping them navigate the milestones became the most meaningful hours of my day. Especially when we could work through those big and bigger life and business events that come with uncertainty. These meetings became welcome breaks from the unending undulations of the Dow.
As SJS grew, we built a team to manage the investments and all that goes with them. I found myself in the room among very smart people. That allowed me to spend more and more time helping long-time clients I had come to know as they navigated their lives. We had a shared history and earned trust. I steadily listened even more and talked even less as conversations went well beyond seeking to understand financial goals. They moved to deeper conversations about what’s really important in life. I heard countless times, "You’re the only person I can talk to about this." When I say it is my honor, I mean it.
My clients taught me that being an advisor was more about trust than it was about advising. "Adding value," which has always been our company’s mantra, began to manifest through more than just the investment performance. It came through being a trusted advisor.
Life does not stand still, and over the last 10-plus years, "adding value" has transitioned to "adding meaning." Today, when I advise people and institutions, the focus is on family or institutional dynamics, health challenges, life and death, family office issues, philanthropy, and legacy. These are topics that occupy bigger and bigger parts of my day. Many times, the issues are messy and filled with difficult dynamics, ambiguity, and complexity. They are puzzles of intense meaning that ignite a fire in me - a fire to solve, or resolve.
Here I am, 40 years into this career, and I still love my job. It has transitioned from advising about finances to helping people discover and frame their legacy, and, ultimately, what their life is all about. It is an experience that truly goes beyond words.
As I get ready for the next day of my life, I know more transitions are in store. I have a feeling that as I continue to help families and institutions, trust and meaning will remain a part of the mix. So will gratitude.
Thank you for 40 years and your gift of trust.
SJS 20-Year Club: Kirk Ludwig, Kevin Kelly, Meredith Sleet, Scott J. Savage, Jeff Yost.
Important Disclosure Information:
There is no guarantee investment strategies will be successful. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Diversification neither assures a profit nor guarantees against a loss in a declining market.
Advisory services are provided by SJS Investment Services, a registered investment advisor (RIA) with the SEC. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. SJS Investment Services does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your legal or tax professionals for specific advice.
Statements contained in this article that are not statements of historical fact are intended to be and are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements include expressed expectations of future events and the assumptions on which the expressed expectations are based. All forward looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on various expectations and assumptions concerning future events and they are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected.
Suggested Reading
Looking Back On 2021, Looking Ahead To 2022
We asked four SJS Team members across the country to look back on 2021 to describe what they will remember, and to talk about what they are excited about for 2022.
2021 was an exciting year at SJS. We celebrated our 26th anniversary, welcomed three new Team members, and had the pleasure of meeting with many of you in-person more than in 2020.
To offer you an SJS perspective on 2021, we asked four SJS Team Members across the country to look back on 2021 to describe what they will remember, and discuss what they are excited about for 2022. We hope you enjoy reading their individual takes on the past year, and we look forward to seeing you in 2022!
Scott Savage; Founder & CEO; Sylvania, Ohio Office; Founded SJS in July 1995
Thank YOU for another year of partnership! We continue to be grateful and humbled by the faith and trust you place in Team SJS. We will never take your faith and trust for granted.
It is our custom at the end of the year to reflect on the previous 12 months and look forward to a brand new year. What did we learn? What are we worried about? What opportunities can we seize?
2021 will be known as year two of the Coronavirus pandemic. Early in 2020, a friend of mine who understands viruses and pandemics said to me, “COVID is going to be a marathon.” I can only hope that we are in the last painful miles - weary, legs heavy, and closing in on the finish line. In my opinion, we have been in this together, whether we realize it or not.
Ironically, many of the world’s equity markets rose, fueled by accommodating central banks like the Federal Reserve.[1] Global bond markets, plagued by low interest rates and eye-popping inflation, generally disappointed investors.[1]
We continue to evaluate the world’s investable markets that we believe will reward you over the long-term for the risks being assumed. We remain cautiously optimistic that 2022 will see the supply chain disruptions ease, labor shortages abate, inflation slow, and economic growth persist.
Jennifer Smiljanich, CFP®; Managing Director & Senior Advisor; Scottsdale, Arizona Office; Started at SJS in August 2010
One of the things I enjoy about coming to work every day is that I get to really know people: who they are, what they want, and what is important to them. I also am fortunate to have an opportunity to make a difference to you when you call on SJS. Finding a solution to a problem, taking away a worry, listening, showing you whether you are progressing towards a goal, and helping you to live a life that is meaningful to you. So as much as SJS manages investments, all of these other responsibilities are just as important.
Living in our current world has helped bring clarity to many people about what is most important to them. It might not be working in a job that historically has comfortably paid the bills. For some, their work has become more stressful with more to do and fewer hands to help. For others, income may not be as compelling given considerations of health, family dynamics, and fulfillment. This year, I’ve had the opportunity to help several clients review whether they could make a job change, move to part-time work, and even retire early to spend more time with loved ones. Providing guidance to someone who is wrestling with these kinds of decisions is rewarding. We are glad to help co-think the financial and other considerations of these life changes.
There seem to be no lack of pulls on our time. Like you, I find my inbox is always full and the “to do” list is never quite done. I appreciate being able to help you find time in your day to do the things that are important to you. So whether it’s helping you make sure you’ve done everything you need to do before year-end (from charitable giving, to distributions, to contributions), co-thinking options for financing or refinancing a home, figuring out how to get tax documents to your accountant securely, or helping you to consolidate your accounts on MySJS so you can view your financial status in a single place, we are glad to help!
Finally, while many people have been challenged in so many ways in 2021, you have cared. You care about your children and grandchildren. You care about your communities. And you give generously of your time and money to the people and causes you care about. I’ve spent many hours chatting with you about different ways to support the people and causes you care about, whether it’s giving to charities in tax-smart ways, helping support children or grandchildren though 529 plans or gifts, or in Arizona, making use of the state tax credits that support different organizations. As we head into a new calendar year, I am energized to help you potentially accomplish the things that matter to you, so you can focus on living your life to its fullest!
Tom Kelly, CFA; Chief Investment Officer; Chicago, Illinois Office; Started at SJS in June 2018
Reflecting on 2021, I am most struck by the resiliency of the human condition. Amidst continued uncertainty, trials and tribulations, the ups and downs, we are resilient. I was inspired by stories of resiliency of families, communities, and economies. One in particular (perhaps especially captivating after hearing my wife’s stories as a NICU Nurse) is Curtis Means, who was born 132 days premature at just 21 weeks and one day.[2] After round the clock care for nine months by the UAB medical team, Curtis was discharged and eventually named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Most Premature Infant to Survive.[2] Resiliency of a child to fight, medical professionals to care, and a family to love!
In my life this year, one of the biggest accomplishments was the addition of diversified alternatives to our portfolios. While investment performance is not guaranteed, we believe many of the underlying strategies will provide some resiliency against forces of inflation, low-yields, and extended valuations, as well as potentially get stronger during times of market stress. Personally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the blessing of our new baby, Oliver, at the end of the year – hopefully I’m developing resiliency to a little less sleep.
2022 will surely bring new challenges and new opportunities, and I am most focused on ensuring our portfolios are staying up to date with new research and strategies that are MarketPlus worthy. Additionally, I am excited to move into our new office at 55 W. Monroe in downtown Chicago, so next time you are in the Windy City, please stop by and say hi. We can toast to resiliency!
Katie Floyd; Associate Advisor; Sylvania, Ohio Office; Started at SJS in September 2021
After another year of ups and downs, the rollercoaster of 2021 came and went in the blink of an eye. Never knowing what turn the year might take next, I started to evaluate what was most important to me and realized that life was too short to wait for the “sign” to change. So, I stopped measuring my successes by the title of my job and more about how I felt each night before bed. I knew that I wanted to give more back to my community and leave the world a little better than how I found it. And then I found SJS Investment Services.
Starting over is always scary, but I felt the reward would far outweigh the risk. Although I’ve only been here for a few months, I feel like I’ve known my co-workers for years and have comfort that I made the right choice to change my career. At SJS, I feel empowered to explore the unknowns around me and take a chance at something new, and I encourage you to do the same. During my first few months, I’ve been able to meet with some of you and help prepare financial analyses and presentations to help you plan for your future. Additionally, I’ve assisted with marketing efforts and continue to help shape the future of SJS.
Looking to 2022, I’m excited to continue expanding my career with the amazing resources SJS has to offer, as well as getting to know you better, the people who make coming into work worthwhile. There is so much out there for us to discover, and I’m happy that I get to be a part of that journey with you. I hope that this next year brings you nothing but health, wealth, and normalcy, and when you aren’t sure what turn the year will take next, just know that we are here for you.
Important Disclosure Information & Sources:
[1] “SJS Weekly Market Update“. SJS Investment Services, 27-Dec-2021, sjsinvest.com.
[2] “Curtis Means, Alabama boy weighing less than a pound at birth, is world’s most premature surviving baby“. The Associated Press, 10-Nov-2021, al.com.
There is no guarantee investment strategies will be successful. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Diversification neither assures a profit nor guarantees against a loss in a declining market.
Advisory services are provided by SJS Investment Services, a registered investment advisor (RIA) with the SEC. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. SJS Investment Services does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your legal or tax professionals for specific advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.
Hyperlinks to third-party information are provided as a convenience and we disclaim any responsibility for information, services or products found on websites or other information linked hereto.
Suggested Reading
The SJS 100-Year Vision
I am very proud to say that SJS celebrated its 26th anniversary in July 2021. I want SJS to be a 100-year firm, serving multiple generations of your families and organizations.
By SJS Investment Services Founder & CEO Scott Savage.
When I started SJS 26 years ago, I had a big vision to better serve you, the investor and client: you should have a local choice that competes with the major money center Wall Street firms that were full of conflicts of interest that I experienced early in my career. You should be better served by a firm that combines major money center expertise with the small-town values that I grew up with right here in Sylvania, Ohio. Your SJS advisor should sit on the same side of the table as you so our interests would be aligned.
I am very proud to say that SJS celebrated its 26th anniversary in July 2021, and I feel we have achieved that initial vision. Our philosophy, practices, and clients have evolved over the past 26 years, but our fundamental principles have remained the same. We aim to do the right thing for you, all the time, every time. We want to give you the same investment experience that we would provide for our mothers and grandmothers. We want to help you and your family grow financially, and we want to enjoy the journey with you along the way.
I am happy to say that 26 years later, SJS is alive and well. And that is thanks to you, our client. Thank you for the confidence and trust you have placed in us. You have allowed us to continue to reinvest in the business and keep the organization on the leading edge in terms of people, resources, and technology.
And other firms have started to notice too. Over the last year, I have received many calls from other investment firms asking if I would be interested in selling SJS. And I always say no. I have no intention of selling SJS. I strongly believe that the heart of the business leaves at the closing table. The connection I have built with you and the strong sense of purpose in our work are much more important to me than the benefits of selling the business. I still love coming to work every day - maybe even more than 26 years ago - and I don’t want that to change.
I want SJS to be a 100-year firm, serving multiple generations of your family and / or organization. We want to continue growing with you and those that rely on you, helping you evolve as the world continues to change. In order to build a 100-year firm, we have made significant investments in areas including:
Team
In order to serve our over 800 clients, we need a strong team. I believe that people are the most important factor in the longevity of a company, which is why we invest so much in finding the right team members. It has taken a village to build SJS, and it will take an even larger village going forward. Each team member brings their own personality and experiences to SJS, and we work together to provide you with the best experience we can. And our team is growing: we now have team members all across the country, from Sylvania to Naples to Chicago to Phoenix. I am proud of the work we do, and I would stack up the SJS Team with anyone, anywhere, anytime in terms of smarts, experience, and caring.
Technology
26 years ago, I could not have imagined all of the technology we would be using today. I believe that SJS has been able to use technology to provide you with an increasingly better investment experience. Technology is changing rapidly, and in order to keep improving your experience, we invest heavily in areas including financial programs, cybersecurity, high-quality hardware, and tools for safekeeping your data & information.
Client Experience
The more we can improve your experience, the better. Whether speeding up the account opening and management process, providing you with better account access and accountability via your MySJS Portal, and improving your investment experience through evolving research and better implementation practices, we are trying to improve your overall experience each year. We are available via in-person visit, phone, email, or video conference to discuss what you want to talk about in the way that you want to talk about it. We want to be there for you any time you want or need our help.
We approach every day as learners, seeing each day with new eyes, not assuming that we have all of the answers. SJS will continue to evolve, but our fundamental principles will remain the same. Thank you for trusting us and for allowing us to be part of your journey. We hope to serve you and future generations for the next 100 years.
Important Disclosure Information & Sources:
Advisory services are provided by SJS Investment Services, a registered investment advisor (RIA) with the SEC. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.
Hyperlinks to third-party information are provided as a convenience and we disclaim any responsibility for information, services or products found on websites or other information linked hereto.
Suggested Reading
What's Love Got To Do With It?
We love our clients. How that love is delivered by SJS and felt by our clients depends on the Love Language we use.
By SJS Investment Services Founder & CEO Scott Savage.
We love our clients. The loving relationships developed over the decades with business owners, their families, and people leading institutions we serve are hard to distill into words. Why? Because the words used to describe this love are unique to the individual.
How that love is delivered by SJS and felt by our clients depends on the language we use. Author Gary Chapman wrote in 1992 about the 5 different ways that people love to be loved.[1] These “Love Languages” - or different ways people feel loved - is the key to letting them know they are loved.[1]
Some people need words of affirmation that the decisions we are helping them make are right and true. Others like to receive gifts such as flowers, because those gifts make them feel loved. Others just want to spend quality time with their advisor so they can be understood. Still others love when we can do some things to help their child, grandchild, or employee in need. And some people just need a hug to feel loved.
Understanding each client’s Love Language has made all the difference. Here’s the secret I have learned: Knowing which of these Love Languages your loved one responds to can go a long way towards peace and harmony in your life.
Important Disclosure Information & Sources:
[1] “The 5 Love Languages“. Gary Chapman, 1992, 5lovelanguages.com.
Advisory services are provided by SJS Investment Services, a registered investment advisor (RIA) with the SEC. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.
Hyperlinks to third-party information are provided as a convenience and we disclaim any responsibility for information, services or products found on websites or other information linked hereto.
Suggested Reading
Better Together
At SJS, we know a team is only as good as how well its members work together – for you, and for each other. We strive to do both of these things really well.
By SJS Investment Services Founder & CEO Scott Savage.
Have you ever tried to do something really hard alone? How did you feel while doing it? Did you have to do it alone?
Many times throughout my life, I have tried to do hard things alone, such as starting my own business and training for my first Ironman Triathlon. While I feel very grateful for these experiences, I also learned that I much prefer being part of a team as opposed to going alone. While the daily work isn’t necessarily easier, working with a group of people I respect and trust makes all the difference!
I was reminded of the importance of teamwork when this past weekend, four members of the SJS team - Lisa Denstorff, Andrew Schaetzke, Michael Savage, Bobby Adusumilli - along with Brad LaClair teamed up to run the Glass City Marathon (for the fourth year in a row). As opposed to each person running the entire marathon alone, they participated in a relay, each running a portion of the 26.2 miles. They ran much faster together than if any one person ran the whole marathon alone.
SJS team members from left to right: Andrew Schaetzke, Michael Savage, Lisa Denstorff, Bobby Adusumilli, Jeff Yost.
One member of the SJS team - Jeff Yost - decided to run the full marathon alone, setting a personal record and we are hopeful will qualify for the famous Boston Marathon. He and fellow SJS team member Meredith Sleet joined the rest of the SJS runners in preparation before and celebration after completing the marathon. This is one of the main benefits of being on a team: doing something better by doing it together, while also having more fun. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” – Henry Ford
At SJS, we know a team is only as good as how well its members work together – for you, and for each other. We strive to do both of these things really well. When we say you come first, we achieve it by working together for you. So what are our secrets for achieving success as a team? Here’s our list:
Know your role – All team members know the responsibilities and the expectations of their role.
Support and trust – Team members care about each other and cooperate to get the job done.
Passionate for the cause – The best teams have been there and done that, but still love what they do.
Keep communicating – Teams with open channels of communication function better than those without.
Give even more – The team that has members who put others before self can do more than those with team members who focus on themselves.
You may not realize this, but when you work with SJS, you are working with this kind of team. We tend to be quiet about it; don’t even talk about it, really. It’s just how we work to serve you.
No one person is smarter or better than the collective whole, and the good news is, when you have one of us working on your side, you have all of us, even if you regularly meet or speak with only one or two. We call it ‘bench strength’ – with an emphasis on strength. We don’t fly solo, and neither do you.
Important Disclosure Information & Sources:
There is no guarantee investment strategies will be successful. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Diversification neither assures a profit nor guarantees against a loss in a declining market.
Hyperlinks to third-party information are provided as a convenience and we disclaim any responsibility for information, services or products found on websites or other information linked hereto.
Suggested Reading
The "One" Number That Matters Most
It’s the measurement of how many clients stay with SJS from year to year. Known as client retention, for 2018, our number was a humbling 98%.
By SJS Founder & CEO Scott Savage
Have you ever stopped to think just how much numbers rule our lives?
Numbers help make our streets easier to navigate, save us from speeding tickets, remind us that we’ve been sitting too long and need to move around, and so much more.
In the world of investments, numbers are ever-present and always changing. Numbers saturate the quarterly reports we provide to you, illustrate the ups and downs of the markets, allow us to help you minimize taxable gains – and the list goes on.
Numbers are critical in our daily activities at SJS. Yet to us, ONE number stands out among the many.
What is that number, you ask? It’s the measurement of how many clients stay with SJS from year to year. That number is known as client retention, and our calculations tell us that, for the last year, our number was a humbling 98%.
Our client retention number has been consistently high over the years, meaning few people choose to depart from SJS. But that number makes us happy because it is ONE indicator that tells us we are doing what we say we do – which is putting you first, all the time, and every time.
Our clients tell us that there is a lot more to SJS than portfolio returns. Of course, performance over time matters, but client retention is that ONE indicator that shows how well we are serving clients through the year, and throughout their lives. SJS has been through many bull, bear, and boring markets and countless client life changes. This ONE number demonstrates we’ve been there together.
A high client retention number is indicative of your loyalty, a demonstration we have never taken for granted. Your loyalty allows us to learn how to serve you better, and that can take time. Seldom does life reveal your complete needs over a year or two. And when life happens, we are humbled when one of your first calls is to us.
You know how much we enjoy hearing from you and helping you get to where you are going. Our team is loyal to you, and their loyalty inspires new team members to provide you with the same level of care. Long-term retention, and the loyalty that follows, allows us to be our best for you. Because, when it comes down to it, the ONE number that means the most to us – is YOU.