Laurella, Roundy & Associates: A Deep Dive into Their Wealth Management Approach
Laurella, Roundy & Associates, a prominent wealth management team within Merrill Wealth Management, boasts a rich history and a robust approach to serving their diverse clientele. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, the team manages a substantial $1.8 billion in assets, reflecting their success in navigating the complexities of the financial world. Their team, comprised of four senior partners – Carl Laurella, Jeffry Roundy, Randy Joseph, and Ashly Laurella Pantone – and four dedicated support staff, brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to personalized service. This multi-generational team structure, combined with their varied expertise, allows them to cater to a wide range of clients, from business owners and institutions to high-net-worth individuals and retirees across the nation. Their self-proclaimed tagline, emphasizing a "diverse, multigenerational, highly credentialed advisor partnership," underscores their commitment to providing boutique-level intimacy within a larger firm setting. This personalized approach, coupled with their deep understanding of the market, positions them as a trusted partner for their clients’ financial well-being.
Jeffry Roundy, whose career path transitioned from auditing at Ernst & Young to financial advising, joined Merrill in 1995, becoming a founding member of one of the firm’s earliest wealth management teams. This experience, coupled with the team’s collective expertise, allows them to provide comprehensive financial guidance. Their commitment to client education serves as a cornerstone of their service, recognizing the overwhelming amount of information available in today’s digital age. Roundy emphasizes the importance of filtering through the noise, particularly the emotionally charged algorithms and headlines that often dominate the news cycle. This focus on providing clarity and context empowers their clients to make informed decisions based on sound financial principles rather than reacting to market fluctuations driven by sensationalism. By providing this essential filtering service, they help their clients avoid impulsive decisions and maintain a long-term perspective.
The investment philosophy of Laurella, Roundy & Associates centers on engaging with "best-in-class asset managers" across diverse asset classes. This approach reflects their commitment to seeking out top-tier expertise in managing client portfolios. They tailor each portfolio based on the client’s specific risk tolerance, employing behavioral psychology to understand individual investment preferences and financial goals. This individualized approach allows them to create strategies that align with each client’s unique circumstances and comfort level with risk. The team utilizes separately managed accounts, offering a personalized approach to investment management. They also actively employ tax-loss harvesting strategies throughout the year to minimize tax liabilities and maximize returns. Within fixed income, they frequently incorporate municipal bonds, leveraging the potential for state tax exemptions to further enhance client returns. Recognizing the importance of diversification, they also guide clients toward alternative investments, including private equity, private credit, real estate, and infrastructure. This broad spectrum of investment options allows for a well-rounded portfolio that balances risk and potential for growth.
Looking ahead, Laurella, Roundy & Associates anticipates a number of positive market trends in the coming years. They see resilient corporate earnings as a key driver of market performance. Furthermore, they predict a broadening of market leadership beyond the "Magnificent Seven" mega-cap tech stocks, anticipating a less concentrated market environment. This diversification, they believe, will create opportunities for a wider range of stocks to contribute to overall market growth. They are particularly optimistic about the prospects for small-cap stocks in 2025, anticipating significant growth potential due to their current low valuations and the projected decline in interest rates. As interest rates fall, an easing cycle typically benefits equities, and Roundy anticipates a normalization of the bond market, particularly the yield curve. This anticipated market shift, they believe, presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking strong returns. Their proactive approach to market analysis and their focus on emerging trends position them to capitalize on these potential growth areas.
The prevailing advice from Laurella, Roundy & Associates is to navigate the overwhelming amount of financial information available today with a discerning eye. Roundy emphasizes the importance of sifting through the noise, recognizing that the constant barrage of information can be a significant obstacle for investors. He underscores the difficulty clients often face in contextualizing this information and making sound decisions based on accurate analysis rather than emotional reactions. Their counsel emphasizes the critical need for informed decision-making, emphasizing that managing the overwhelming information flow is paramount to achieving long-term financial success.
Laurella, Roundy & Associates’ commitment to providing clients with a holistic wealth management experience – from portfolio construction and tax strategies to ongoing education and market analysis – solidifies their position as a trusted partner for clients navigating the complexities of the financial landscape. Their client-centric approach, combined with their deep market insights, empowers clients to make informed decisions aligned with their long-term goals. Their emphasis on navigating the “noise” of the current market demonstrates their dedication to helping clients make sound financial decisions.
