The Power of Independence

We founded the Jamison Financial Group to give you Five Star attention, service and advice, while being free to provide an extensive selection of financial products without being beholden to anyone other than you!

In the almost 18 years I spent with my former company, I turned down hundreds of offers to join other big name firms, all for one basic reason. One way or another, each violated my overriding concern: while ALL parties must benefit from any such offer, the most important of these is you.

Most opportunities would have benefited the new firm (new clients) and/or me (big up-front bonus check). However, I did not see you sharing in the benefits of those offers and you are my primary concern. Now don’t think I am naïve. Rather, I believe – down to the bottom of my soul – that my long-term best interests are aligned with fulfilling your long-term best interests. All that would have changed for you under these many previous offers was the name over the door. I am sure you can appreciate that it ultimately took a truly extraordinary opportunity for me to decide to make this change. (Incidentally, I get no up-front check at all from this move!)

The Right Strategic Alliances

In the process of investigating other big Wire Houses, Regional Firms and the Independents, something exciting came to light. Among the independents, I discovered a few firms that practice a business philosophy that aligns with our own…i.e., The essence of a good deal is that it incorporates the goals and interests of all concerned..

At the core of this philosophy is ingrained, “The client comes first.” Everyone involved knows that they are ultimately working for you, and thus the company structure is built around this and around serving you. Sure, there are still rules to be followed in this highly regulated business. But people in these firms go the extra mile give you the attention you deserve.

Why Investors Capital

Investors Capital Corporation (ICC) rose to the top of our short list of independents I liked because they gave us the means to provide you with:

• A comprehensive range of products and services – a wide array of the ‘right stuff’ for us to get you what you need and serve you the way you expect to be cared for.
• First-class trading and reporting – clearing through Pershing, whose statements earned Dalbar’s “Excellent” designation in 2004, placing number 1 out of 31 firms evaluated. We were astounded by the difference. You will be too.
• No investment banking – nor its potential for conflicts of interest. ICC cares only that whatever we provide for you is first rate and maintains a strict due diligence process to achieve this. They don’t care whose name is on them.
• Third Party Research – unbiased, objective – from Standard & Poor’s, Thompson, Market Edge, Pershing and others. You can’t skew your research, even subconsciously, in favor of an Investment Banking client if you have no Research Department or no Investment Bank. ICC provides access to truly independent, third party research.
• Financial Strength – ICC has consistently been one of the top 50 independent firms. It has over 600 advisors, more than 400 branch offices and has invested assets of over 6 billion dollars (as of March 31, 2010). It’s small enough to pay attention to its clients yet big enough to provide the products and services you want and deserve. Pershing belongs to the Bank of New York; a firm with which we know you are already familiar. We feel this team provides the financial depth to do what needs to be done.
• Investors Capital is a member of the Securities Investors Protection Corporation (SIPC). Through SIPC, your account at Investors Capital will be protected up to $500,000 per customer, of which $250,000 may be cash claims. This protects your account if a SIPC firm fails financially and is unable to meet its obligations; however, it does not protect against market value losses.3 The excess of SIPC coverage does not protect against loss due to market fluctuation. 

  In addition to the SIPC protection described above, Pershing provides coverage in excess of SIPC from Lloyd’s of London in conjunction with other insurers.⁴
  The excess of SIPC coverage provides the following protection for assets held in custody by Pershing and its London-based affiliate, Pershing Securities Limited:
   
  *An aggregate loss limit of $1 billion for eligible securities—over all client accounts
  *A per-client loss limit of $1.9 million for cash awaiting reinvestment—within the aggregate loss limit of $1 billion

Last, but not least, thanks to all of you for your on-going support and encouragement during the recent turmoil. We are excited about this opportunity that arose from that situation. We feel you will be too, and I welcome the opportunity to prove it to you.

Sincerely,
Sheila Jamison

3) To obtain more specific information, please visit www.sipc.org
4) Pershing’s excess of SIPC coverage is provided by Lloyd’s of London in conjunction with XL Specialty Insurance Co., Axis Specialty Europe Ltd., Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) PLC and Ironshore Specialty Insurance Co. The current excess of SIPC policy is scheduled to expire on December 10, 2011.