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.
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