In a trend showing strong vital signs in the midst of a challenged economy, today’s investor seeks much more from his or her financial advisor than just recommendations regarding which stocks to buy and which to dump. Even when portfolios are healthy, investors seek the kind of intensive care that makes each one feel like the only financial patient in the practice.

Investors opting to work with Marguerite “Meg” McMullen Collins, the president and CEO of New England Research & Management, Inc. (NERM), and her associates receive intensive care aimed at keeping their finances in excellent shape.

“The personalized care and intensive investment management solutions have provided excellent results for our clients’ families,” Collins said. She notes that NERM clients hail from across the United States, and many have been firm clients for more than two decades. “As the firm has grown and remained independent, our primary goal of preserving clients’ wealth and growing assets through many market cycles continues. We emphasize the accomplishment of having the clients’ money outlive them and provide financial comfort to the next generations.”

NERM's approach to client care fits well with the type of clients they seek to serve. The firm’s clients are highly busy people occupied with their work, retirement or traveling. “They prefer having the ability to give the discretionary day-to-day decision-making to the professionals at NERM,” Collins said.

“Most new clients are referred by family members or existing clients,” Collins noted. “They are seeking financial solutions.” By contacting Collins and NERM, they find answers.

“We enjoy finding the right comprehensive financial plans for each individual situation. That allows the client to excel in what they’re good at, while we perform and promptly communicate, reporting back to them with results,” Collins explained. “We know our clients very well. We communicate with them on their terms. We get in front of them and frequently ask, ‘Is there anything we can do for you?’”

In her work with clients, that includes always taking a fiduciary approach. When asked about her thoughts regarding the national discussion of a uniform fiduciary standard governing the activities of all types of financial advisors, Collins answered, “NERM welcomes regulation to protect all investors.”

Collins believes the dually-registered model – in which advisors hold certifications as both broker-dealers and as registered investment advisors – will soon become obsolete. The conflict of interest and compliance issues associated with this model can only become more complex, making holding both certifications too complicated.

She would rather focus on her client’s needs – on things such as retirement, college planning for their children and improving financial literacy across the generations represented by the firm.
“We want to establish a relationship with the next generation to ensure retirement is started during the first employment opportunity, and also to consult with them on many additional life choices from employment, to mortgages and business,” Collins said. “Our team is fiercely tenacious and consistently utilizes our goal-driven, ambitious business experience to provide a positive impact on the lives of clients.”

Learn more about New England Research & Management, Inc., online at www.nerminc.com