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Generate Value ("Alpha") or Discontinue Products
At TFS, we believe that there are inefficiencies in the equity markets that can be exploited to generate value for investors. If our products cannot demonstrate superior risk-adjusted performance relative to
passive investments
, then we will shut them down. Moreover, we encourage you to compare the
alpha
generated by our products to that of other investment products that you may be considering.
Align Interests With Investors
TFS is a firm believer in the benefit of investing in the funds that it manages since it provides the clearest indication that our interest is directly aligned with that of fund shareholders. Our internal policies currently require that at least seventy-five percent of each of the TFS owners' personal liquid assets is invested in the funds managed by TFS.
Build Trust Through Integrity and Higher Fiduciary Standards
Customer trust is the most critical element to the success of our business and, consequently, we embrace the fiduciary responsibility we have to our clients. This philosophy is apparent in all aspects of the organization where TFS seeks to be an industry leader by setting standards that are more stringent than required by law. For example, the mutual funds managed by TFS have adopted a policy of maintaining a majority of
independent
board members to ensure that the best interests of shareholders are served. As another example, TFS does not permit trading in personal investment accounts by owners and portfolio managers unless the trades are pre-cleared by the firm's Chief Compliance Officer.
Educate Through Clear Disclosures and Fee Transparency
In an industry wrought with hidden agendas and poor disclosure, TFS has nothing to hide. Our disclosure documents are written to facilitate client understanding because we believe the key to building a long-term relationship is to establish a good product fit from the start. The funds managed by TFS do not charge
12(b)-1 fees
or any type of
sales loads. TFS discourages these fees and believes that they are a threat to the interests of investors and also inhibit progress in the fund industry by allowing inferior products to survive. In addition, TFS does not participate in
soft-dollar arrangements
with brokerage firms. Although these arrangements are legal and accepted by many of our competitors, TFS believes they do not allow investors to fully understand the costs of owning a mutual fund. Lastly, TFS seeks
best execution
on behalf of its fund clients.
Limit Organizational Growth
While growth is viewed as a positive component of a healthy organization, we recognize that rapid growth for an investment firm can have a detrimental impact on the services it renders. More specifically, rapid growth is generally known to cause a decrease in client service levels and product performance. As a result, we seek to grow conservatively, introducing new products only when the operational infrastructure and strategies are in place to support them. Moreover, we anticipate that we will eventually close some of our funds given the capacity constraints in certain sectors.
Invest Heavily in Research & Development Given the increasingly competitive landscape in the financial services industry, TFS knows that ongoing research and development are critical to our continued success. A large percentage of our human and capital resources are committed each year to research and development to better enable us to produce attractive results.
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