Our History

MMI helped pioneer the independent firm movement and is dedicated to the principle of putting Clients first!

Investors today have many options as to who they work with to guide them in their financial decisions.  Understanding the different kinds of financial firms and professionals can help an investor choose an advisor that best matches their needs.

Let's first talk about the firms. 

All financial firms are not the same.  The industry was de-regulated in the 1980's.  Legal barriers that separated banks, investment and insurance companies were eliminated, allowing those businesses the opportunity to cross market their customer base.  Mergers and Acquisitions fueled the growth of institutions that offered all types of financial products and services under one corporate umbrella.  Those products and services were focused on marketing to a broad and diverse customer base, in a quest for sales volume.  To increase profit margins, many institutions replaced maturing specialists with less experienced "customer service representatives".   Product and service offerings were condensed into a limited "menu", which often pushed "proprietary" products to facilitate quick explanation and service.  Advertisements claimed that a single institution could meet all of a client's needs.  Customers were matched with the firm's offerings after minimal information was collected.  A by-product of that strategy was the loss of individually tailored, client centered solutions.  Institutions became "brands"; departments became "profit centers"; customers became "accounts" and investor's real financial security suffered.  The financial debacle of 2007-2008 demonstrated just how serious this problem has become.

In reality, all institutions do some things really well and some things not so well.  Like all businesses, they focus their money and talent into particular areas to develop specialized expertise.  While offering products and services akin to their competitors, many of those offerings will be average at best.  It is just not possible for one company to be all things to all people.

To find the most appropriate solution to a customer's particular need, an advisor must have—

Freedom to choose cost-effective platforms to keep client's investment expenses and fees competitive;

Independence to select the alliance partners who provide necessary services in trading, custody and clearing;

Objectivity to shop a broad menu of product and service offerings, without pressure to market specific company products or meet quotas;

Respect for the value of the Client-Advisor personal relationship in addition to the Client-Firm relationship

MMI has selected non-affiliated companies to provide the above services to protect client's interests.  There are inherent safeguards in using alliance partners who are separately owned and managed, and whose financials are audited by different accounting firms, as well as supervised by regulators.  Important checks and balances are preserved.  Alternatively, when client's assets are held in an "Omnibus" account (held in the name of the firm rather than the client), or when trading, custody and clearing services, not to mention investment banking and research, are all controlled by the same firm, there are few checks and balances.  Transparency is blurred at best and it can open the door to irregularities, which may go undetected, in spite of regulatory supervision.

Now, we'll discuss the advisors.

Not all financial professionals are the same.  Formal education in finance is not required by many firms, and experience can vary widely.  Various titles abound and many consumers do not understand what those titles mean.  Customers do not know who needs to be licensed and for what kinds of activities.  Some advisers have credentials that represent completion of training programs, but few investors have a clear understanding of what training those programs provide and whether the material is relevant.

Don't worry—we are not going to explain all that here! 

We do want you to know that our Advisors: 

Are Career Advisors, each with more than 10 years experience in practice and management

Have earned the comprehensive "CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER"™ certification, or, taught the program

Meet or exceed ongoing Continuing Education in multiple financial disciplines.