I’m Drew Sweetman, the founder and CIO of Element Squared Private Wealth. I’d like to take a moment to introduce our firm and our approach to working with clients.

To provide some background, I entered the financial industry in 2010 as a junior advisor at one of the largest financial firms in the country. Over the years, I advanced in my career, becoming one of the youngest partners in the company’s history and later assuming the role of Senior Partner.

My initial eight years in the investment industry exposed me to both its merits and shortcomings. The primary issue afflicting the financial industry is the prevalence of commission-based “advisors” who often prioritize sales over the best interests of their clients. The conflict of interest arises from their compensation structure, which rewards them solely for making sales. This system leaves clients wondering whether recommendations are truly in their best interest.

Furthermore, once a commission-based advisor secures a client, their financial incentive to provide ongoing service diminishes. This systemic issue is not the fault of the advisor but a result of the industry’s framework. Consequently, many clients report that their advisors only reach out when they are attempting to sell something.

Now that you understand the industry’s standard, let’s discuss how we differentiate ourselves:

• Client-Centric Fiduciary: Our #1 goal is your success. As a fiduciary, you can feel comfortable knowing that every recommendation we make is in your best interest.
• Fee Structure: Unlike commission-based models, we employ a flat fee structure. When you do better, we do better. When you do worse, we do worse.
• Active Portfolio Management: We don’t passively select a handful of mutual funds and leave it at that. We actively manage stock portfolios and craft intelligent mutual fund and ETF portfolios, dedicating significant resources to portfolio management and performance.

We are dedicated to offering a better financial advisory experience, free from the conflicts and shortcomings often associated with the industry.

On a personal note, I have two amazing little girls and a beautiful wife at home who I love spending time with as well as a german shepherd named Zelda who keeps us all in line.