Our Services

Our Mission

Our mission is to develop and maintain long-term client relationships with successful individuals and their families, organizations, and institutions by providing superior client service while attempting to achieve attractive portfolio returns for our clients. Our vision is to be the most sought-after investment consultant team in the region with the establishment of a finely-tuned team of knowledgeable professionals committed to helping you prosper. Our values of honesty, professionalism, and personal fulfillment will govern our recommendations, communications, and dedication to helping you succeed financially.

Investment Objective

As your Financial Advisor, we will begin our relationship by helping you develop an objective for the investment of your assets. After conducting a personal interview with you and analyzing your needs, we will prepare a written objective. This objective may include an analysis of your requirements including need for income, allocation of assets among different types of investments, prohibited investments, and other criteria. All objectives will include a reward objective to be achieved and the time frame within which it should be achieved, as well as a specified amount of risk you are comfortable with over a specified period of time.

Asset Allocation

Once an investment objective has been identified, your asset allocation can be established from among various asset classes including bonds, common and preferred stocks, cash equivalents, mutual funds, and in some cases limited partnerships when appropriate. An asset allocation will change over time--even if there is no change in the investment objective. To help determine an appropriate asset allocation, we rely on the firm’s Asset Allocation Model prepared by the firm’s Investment Strategy Department. In addition, we use information available through our national research correspondents to determine each client’s asset allocation. Of course, asset allocation/investment timing cannot eliminate the risk of fluctuating prices and uncertain returns.

"Top-Down" Approach

We adhere to what is known as a "top down" approach to managing money. This philosophy starts with the belief that the correct allocation for one's assets, for each period of an economic cycle, may determine as much as 90% of the return.* Once that allocation is established, then we can begin to select bonds and/or stocks for a portfolio.

*Source: Brinson, Singer, and Beebower, “Determinants of Portfolio Performance,” Financial Analysts Journal, May/June 1991.

Stock Selection

In addition to Wachovia Securities' original research on hundreds of companies, we use national research recommendations from several prestigious Wall Street correspondent firms—Credit Suisse, Standard & Poor’s, and Dorsey Wright (technical analysis). With this research, we attempt to identify equities suitable for your portfolio. We scrutinize industries that appear to have rapidly rising earnings or "earnings momentum"--when the earnings are increasing usually accompanied by stock-price momentum and price-earnings expansion. These are stocks within an industry that generally tend to rise in price faster than the market as a whole. However, protection of capital dictates a limit to a portfolio’s assets that should be invested in any one industry. Thus, we need to find several different industries with momentum in order to diversify your holdings. The larger the portfolio, the more diversified your portfolio can be; however, at no time would we have more than 25 to 30 stocks in even the largest of portfolios, except those portfolios of mutual funds. We then attempt to find the best stocks for purchase within the industries of momentum. These stocks must have good earnings and price momentum. Additionally, they must be monitored by one of the fundamental research analysts available to us. In addition, the technical charts must look attractive in terms of purchase. Once a stock is selected for purchase, we help you decide three price objectives. The first is a “buy limit,” or a price beyond which the stock is no longer considered a “buy.” Second, we set an “objective,” or the price we hope to achieve within twelve to eighteen months. Last, and the most important is a “stop,” or the sell position if the price declines. For whatever reason that may cause a stock to fall below this sell position, experience and history has taught us that we should take our losses and invest elsewhere.

*Technical analysis is based on the study of historical price movements and past trend patterns. There is no assurance that these movements or trends can or will be duplicated in the future.

Diversification

Diversification is equally important in protecting against downside movement. Within a sizable portfolio, no individual stock position will exceed 5% of the total value of the funds invested.

Monitoring

Of course, once a portfolio is positioned, it will be monitored carefully using some of the latest technology. Quarterly reviews and meetings will be held to reaffirm that your portfolio  is relevant to your investment objectives and tolerance for risk.

Golden Rule

At all times it is important for you to be comfortable with this process. Each of our clients must thoroughly understand their objectives and risk parameter and, most importantly, be long-term oriented. We believe that the best performance comes in the hardest times, and both you and our team must stay the course to achieve outstanding results.

Comprehensive Financial Planning--Personal Financial Review

At the foundation of each long-term relationship with Culpepper Investment Group, is a custom-tailored Financial Review. This valuable tool is designed to provide a detailed analysis of your unique situation and potential ways to improve it.  Andy Culpepper and his team call upon the Wachovia Securities  experienced planning specialists to evaluate each client’s financial data for inadequacies in the areas of insurance, estate planning, college and retirement funding, and cash flow, among others.  Then your unique risk tolerance blends with the resulting recommendations and your Financial Review is presented for approval and implementation.  If your situation doesn't require a comprehensive financial plan, you can select from any of the following areas for a focused report that addresses your specific needs:

• Balance Sheet/Net-Worth Statement

• Income-Tax and Cash-Flow Analysis

• College Education Funding Analysis

• Investment-Allocation Analysis and Recommendations

• Retirement-Income Sufficiency Study

• Retirement-Payout Analysis

• Estate-Planning Analysis

                *Wachovia Securities is not a legal or tax advisor.

Wealth Preservation

Backed by the Wachovia Securities estate-planning professionals, Andy Culpepper can offer ways to help reduce or potentially eliminate estate-tax burdens on your family. This is particularly important if your estate’s value exceeds $1,500,000. The Culpepper Investment Group offers comprehensive estate plans to review with your attorney and other professional advisors to help you and your family feel comfortable. Proper estate planning can use lifetime gifts and trusts to potentially minimize or eliminate your estate-tax liability. With access to sophisticated trust services offered through Wachovia National Bank, the Culpepper team can help you address situations such as: • Providing care for an elderly parent or a special-needs child • Succession or liquidation plans for business owners • A trust that directs your assets if you become incapacitated And most important, Mr. Culpepper and his experienced staff will take the time necessary to help you understand your choices and reach the most appropriate decision for your situation.

                *Trust services are offered through Wachovia National Bank, a national banking association (chartered by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wachovia Corporation.

Portfolio Management

At Wachovia Securities, we offer a select group of Financial Advisors the opportunity to manage client portfolios of $100,000 or more through our Private Investment Management (PIM) Program. Andy Culpepper is among these Financial Advisors. Private Investment Management is a customized fee-based portfolio management program for successful individuals and pension fund managers who demand a high level of expertise and personalized service. As a client of Mr. Culpepper, you will meet to establish your investment objectives and guidelines for the management of your portfolio. You’ll receive a quarterly analysis of your account’s performance, and meet with Mr. Culpepper periodically (in person or by phone) for a formal review of your portfolio. Private Investment Management allows you and Culpepper Investment Group to work as a team in monitoring the performance of your portfolio and making sure it stays on track toward meeting your objectives.

Fees for the PIM Program includes advisory services, performance measurement, transaction costs, custody services and trading. Fees are based on the assets in the account and are assessed quarterly. There is a minimum fee of $250 per calendar quarter to maintain this type of account. Fee-based accounts are not designed for excessively traded or inactive accounts, and may not be suitable for all investors. During periods of lower trading activity, your costs might be lower if our compensation was based on commissions. Please carefully review the Wachovia Securities advisory disclosure document for a full description of our services, including fees and expenses. The minimum account size for this program is $50,000.

Asset-Management Services

Culpepper Investment Group can assist you in developing a portfolio that attempts to balances your needs for safety, growth, and current income. In addition to traditional brokerage services, the Culpepper team offers these programs, in which an annual fee, payable quarterly in advance,  is assessed in lieu of traditional brokerage charge, for an investment of $50,000 or more: • Pilot Plus¹ is a monitored brokerage account. The Culpepper Investment Group makes investment recommendations while you make the final decisions. You also receive a written performance report quarterly. • Network² allows you and the Culpepper Investment Group to choose an outside professional investment manager from hundreds of firms nationwide, and the Culpepper team will monitor the manager's performance with you four times a year. • The Masters Program³ allows you to choose a proven manager from a select group of leading managers.

*Fee based accounts are not designed for excessive trading activity or inactive accounts and may not be suitable for all investors.

FundSource

Culpepper Investment Group offers FundSource, a mutual-fund portfolio management program.  This program enables you to construct a customized portfolio of mutual funds from over 2,500 no-load and load mutual funds--all available to you at net asset value (NAV). The FundSource process begins with you and Culpepper Investment Group creating a written investment policy statement that crystallizes your investment objectives and risk tolerance. In addition, you'll be able to determine the optimal asset allocation of the various mutual-fund investment styles that make up your portfolio. Once a quarter, you'll receive comprehensive yet easy-to-read performance reports showing your actual results compared to select indexes. In addition, Culpepper Investment Group will offer recommendations to help you rebalance your fund asset categories as needed. You'll have the firm’s in-house research on the mutual funds in your FundSource portfolio--to keep you informed of important changes. This entire service is provided for an annual fee (billed quarterly in advance), as a percentage of the total value of your FundSource portfolio.

**The mutual funds in our FundSource program are sold by prospectus. Please consider the fund’s investment objectives, risk, charges and expenses of carefully before investing. The prospectus for each fund, which contains this and other information, can be obtained by calling your financial advisor. Read it carefully before you invest.

 
The fees for the FundSource program include advisory services, performance measurement, transaction costs, custody services and trading.. The fees do not cover the fees and expenses of the underlying funds and customary brokerage charges may apply to non-program assets. The standard fee schedule, which is negotiable, is based on account size and an assumed active equity portfolio. There is a minimum quarterly client fee requirement of $75 to maintain this type of account. Please carefully review the Wachovia Securities advisory disclosure document for a full description of our services, including fees and expenses. Fee based accounts are not designed for excessively traded or inactive accounts and may not be suitable for all investors. The minimum account size for this program is $25,000.