Solutions & Services

Portfolio & Investment Management

While the needs of every investor are unique, there are several important themes within North American’s investment process.  These ideas are implemented each day by our skilled and experienced investment team.

Investment policy framework.  Rather than focusing on an investment goal that relates to a specific market benchmark, we favor an approach that begins with each individual, family, or institution setting a specific investment policy.  Once we’ve established the policy framework, we gradually structure the investment portfolio keeping in mind important factors including: taxes, legacy holdings, etc.

Risk management. We manage investment risk by continually evaluating long-term market cycles, market sectors, and individual securities.  When appropriate, we use sophisticated financial tools such as hedging to manage specific investment and financial risks. 

Repeatable, disciplined process.  Based on economic and investment analysis, we develop a global economic thesis.  Within this structure we allocate among the investable asset classes to achieve an optimal portfolio risk and diversification profile. 

Pay attention to innovation.  Many emerging products and investment solutions – hedge funds and ETFs, for example – can be used to create sound investment solutions.  We actively and continually evaluate managers and products to find the best investment vehicles available for our clients.

Investment Themes and Outlooks

  • Accelerating pace of globalization fueling competition and driving down corporate costs and prices
  • Rapid growth in emerging economies changes the supply vs. demand balance for commodities and materials
  • Rapidly growing middle class in emerging economies
  • Convergence of content and communications – anything/ anytime/anywhere
  • Adequate supply of clean, reliable and reasonably priced energy & water
  • Aging population needs access to reasonably priced quality healthcare
  • Consumers demand increased focus on quality, value, convenience and well-being