In my opinion, there are really two interpretations of the Shakespeare quote for which I named this company. The quote comes from Troilus and Cressida, Act 3 Scene 3. In the play, Ulysses is speaking to Achilles. Achilles being a great warrior leaves the Greeks at a disadvantage with his hasty exit of the battle, over an insult from Agamemnon. Overwhelmed by pride, he’s feeling isolated and angry.

My wife came up with the idea for the company’s name based on the first interpretation of this quote. That Ulysses (the voice of reason in the play) tried to rally Achilles by comparing what he was going through, to what we all go through. Pain, hardship, obstacles, are all the “nature” that connects us. His hope being that Achilles will rejoin his brothers in arms when hearing these new found words of unity. As much as I hesitate to admit it, my wife is usually right, and I think this interpretation likely is also.

But there's an often overlooked second interpretation of the quote. The second is more of a warning about humanity’s shared failing of valuing novelty over substance. Instead of appealing to his friends camaraderie, he’s trying to bully him into action. He’s essentially saying “don’t be stupid, we all fall for dumb insults. But if you come off the field those same soldiers will forget you. They’ll start to worship a lesser warrior. They’ll be on to the next touch of ‘nature’.”

I’m not sure what the Bard meant, but I really liked the dual meaning. I think they apply perfectly to what we do here. Speaking to the first interpretation; We try to find ways to unite our clients and their portfolios with the world. Finance is often seen as a win/lose scenario, people wrongly assume that for someone to make money, someone else must lose money. But that’s rarely the case. Bad investments cost a great many people, and good ones tend to make large numbers wealthy. If we can align your investment needs, your goals, your tax situation, and your portfolio’s investments, we can change your future. If we can help you make more informed decisions, if we can use pragmatic analysis to consult you in making tough decisions, you’re going to be much better off than going blind. That unity may be a lofty goal, but it’s what enticed me to leave 7 figure salaries at investment banks and start this company.

The second interpretation is also worth keeping in mind. Finance is full of flashy things, and people always think the current market is unique. In many ways it is, but in more ways it usually isn’t. It’s for this reason that transparency is a central pillar here. Nothing is closed for debate. We post our opinions on this site, and if you want our current portfolio weights, just ask. We believe low fees, laser focused risk management, and modest macro tilts in well diversified portfolios - when coupled with meticulous planning and analysis - is the only way to achieve long term success. We don’t gamble here, we invest. And in a world where that line is beginning to blur more than ever, it’s important to be crystal clear on your objectives. And never forget that regardless of the changes in nature, even achilles has his heel. Thanks so much for stopping by.