What types of clients does MONTAG serve?

MONTAG — one of Atlanta’s oldest names in investment management — serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, foundations, and other endowed institutions.

Your Atlanta-centric history is apparent from your website; do you serve clients beyond Georgia and the Southeast?

We are indeed proud of our Atlanta heritage. However, MONTAG serves a client base located throughout the United States. Our clients represent over 30 states in the USA.

What types of reports do MONTAG clients receive?

Clients receive monthly statements from their custodian, typically Schwab or Fidelity. In addition, MONTAG prepares and distributes its own quarterly report detailing portfolio holdings, performance, and selected market performance as of the recent quarter’s end. These reports are accompanied by the latest of MONTAG’s Viewpoints, our quarterly newsletter.

Additional custom reports may be prepared from time to time; for example, in preparation for a client meeting.


Do you work with other professionals in your mutual service to clients?

MONTAG regularly works with clients’ CPAs, estate attorneys, and other professionals in a coordinated and collaborative approach to protect and grow our clients’ capital.

What are your privacy policies?

View MONTAG’s latest privacy policy here.

How can I obtain a copy of your ADV?

Request a copy of MONTAG’s latest ADV Part 2 “Brochure” filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission by emailing [email protected].

In what types of securities does MONTAG invest for its clients?

Depending upon a client’s specific investment objectives, MONTAG generally selects individual common stocks, mutual funds, ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) and various taxable and tax-exempt fixed income securities.

Tell me about the “discretionary powers” MONTAG uses in managing client assets?

MONTAG manages portfolios on a discretionary basis, meaning that after a statement of investment objectives is developed for the client’s portfolio, MONTAG will execute the investment objectives without specific consent from the client for each transaction. Individual buy/sell decisions are made and implemented by MONTAG at its own “discretion.”

What do the letters, “CFA®” and other designations in your portfolio managers’ titles mean?

A person who earns the designation of “Chartered Financial Analyst®,” known as a “CFA charterholder,” has completed the CFA® Program administered by the CFA Institute. Visit Our Team page for more information about the members of the MONTAG team and their credentials.

An additional designation among MONTAG portfolio management staff is the Certified Financial Planner, often designated “CFP®.” CFP® designees are recognized as the standard of excellence for competent and ethical personal financial planning.


Does MONTAG sell investment “products” of any kind?

No. We strive to be problem solvers for our clients and to provide competitive investment performance. Clients expect us to find and maintain this balance. We don’t use model portfolios, formulaic decision mechanisms, or restrictive buy lists. We receive no product- or transaction-based compensation.

Does MONTAG vote proxies related to securities held in client accounts?

As a policy and in accordance with MONTAG’s agreement, MONTAG does not vote proxies related to securities held in client accounts. The custodian of the account will normally provide proxy materials directly to the client. Clients may contact MONTAG with questions relating to proxy matters; however, MONTAG does not generally perform detailed research regarding proxy voting options.

Please describe MONTAG’s research process, methods of analysis, and investment strategies.

In accordance with the investment objectives established for the client, MONTAG generally conducts research based upon which it selects individual common stocks, mutual funds, ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), and various taxable and tax-exempt fixed income investments.

In making selections of individual stocks for client portfolios, MONTAG may use a variety of methods of analysis, primarily fundamental and technical analysis. Fundamental analysis involves review of the business and financial information about an issuer such as an initial and ongoing review of the management, products, marketing effort, internal organization, financial structure, and industry and competitive environment in which the company operates. Analysis of such items is systematically applied to alternative companies and industries, with a heavy emphasis on quantitative methods. Factors generally considered include (a) financial strength ratios; (b) price-to-earnings ratios; (c) dividend yields; and (d) growth rate-to-price earnings ratios.

MONTAG also makes use of technical analysis, which involves studying past price patterns and trends in the financial markets to predict the direction of both the overall markets and specific stocks.

For more information on MONTAG’s research process, methods of analysis, and investment strategies, see the firm’s ADV Part 2 Brochure – specifically Item 8 on pages 6 to 7.


What are some risks of loss faced by client portfolios?

While MONTAG seeks to diversify clients’ investment portfolios across various asset classes consistent with their investment objectives in an effort to reduce risk of loss, all investment portfolios are subject to risks. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that client investment portfolios will be able to fully meet their investment objectives and goals, or that investment will not lose money. Among the principal risks faced by client investment portfolios, each more fully-described in MONTAG’s ADV Part 2 Brochure, are the following:

  • Management Risks
  • Risks of Investments in Mutual Funds, ETFs and Other Investment Pools
  • Equity Market Risks
  • Fixed Income Risks
  • Foreign Securities Risks


What fees does MONTAG charge for portfolio management? Do you have an annual minimum fee?

The annual portfolio management fee schedule is based on a percentage of assets under management and is available upon request by email to [email protected]. Our “STANDARD SCHEDULE OF FEES” accompanies each “CONTRACTUAL LETTER OF AGREEMENT” (the legal agreement that employs MONTAG as a client’s Investment Counsel).

How are fees charged to client accounts?

Portfolio management fees are generally payable quarterly, in advance. If management begins after start of a quarter, fees will be prorated accordingly. With client authorization and unless other arrangements are made, fees are normally debited directly from client account(s).

How long are clients contractually obligated to MONTAG?

MONTAG’s “CONTRACTUAL LETTER OF AGREEMENT” is subject to cancellation by either party upon 30 days written notice to the other.

What types of accounts does MONTAG manage?

Among the many types of accounts managed by MONTAG are personal accounts, family accounts, retirement accounts, pension accounts, foundation accounts, and various forms of trust accounts.