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Investment firm offers financial, life advice
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Published: July 5, 2009
Mark Vaughn and his wife used to make their investments themselves on the side.
But after talking to their neighbor, Ted DeLisi, at several events, they decided they liked his approach to planning their future, not just their portfolio.
It paid off for them.
"On our latest statement, we actually had an increase of 9 percent with our investments," Vaughn said. "That was a nice surprise."
Before DeLisi, president of Sovereign Investment Group, starts investing someone's money, he gets them to think about who they are and what their values are.
Instead of focusing on just financial returns, DeLisi and the independent investment managers who work with him at the Main Street firm focus on their client's future goals.
"Live by design," he said, "not by chance. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they step out."
The first step the wealth management firm takes when interviewing potential clients is "Blueprinting" them.
The questionnaire takes 30 to 60 days to complete and forces the clients to take a step back to evaluate their values, faith and future. Part of the assignment leading up to the use of the True Wealth system is writing your own eulogy.
"It pushed you to think of some things you don't think of," Vaughn said. "Helped you to organize some priorities."
Their children's college funds were important to the couple, he said.
Vaughn said planning for their children's future has always been a priority, but the way DeLisi went about it helped them map it out and plan ahead.
"We are kind of busy being parents," he said. "We definitely thought of all the contingencies."
DeLisi said he often tells retiring clients that they are at the half-time mark and it's up to them to decide where their life is going. Before the blueprinting segment is over, DeLisi said he wants to know what the most valuable thing is in a person's life.
"We want to make sure as people invest that they are able to find true happiness," DeLisi said. "Just like if you're building a house. Put a blueprint to it and there is a high likelihood of achieving that."
Most people find the entire process challenging, DeLisi said. It is an in-depth look at their finances and what they find meaningful.
Fellow investment manager Bill Thomson said the approach is definitely different from the one he employed while working for Bank of America.
"Most of the time, companies like Bank of America don't stay in touch with their clients," he said. "I think the difference is the personalized service. We are right here and people like that. They can call us and not get an eight-option automated menu."
Vaughn said it helps to have someone you trust and who is accessible looking out for you.
DeLisi does a good job keeping up with his investors and will occasionally hold events for them, Vaughn said.
"A lot of folks talk about doing the right things, but Ted does those things," he said.
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