April in Wisconsin offers countless opportunities to develop life skills like patience and adaptability.

A single spring day could feature a romp through all four seasons, with a couple of extras like gnat and lake fly seasons rolled in.

The same daily forecast that allows daffodils to bloom can include measurable snow and a wind so brisk it hurts your face.

So, you adjust. You wear layers you can remove when the frost burns off, and boots that won’t wilt in the ensuing mud.

You prepare for any weather on any given day.

Investing is like that too. Days that begin with sunshine and optimism can end with headwinds and dramatic dips. As inflation updates or corporate report nuances swing sentiment, markets react accordingly. Sometimes, they even act inexplicably in their initial runs.

So, we build layers into our portfolios, some conservative allocations designed to protect and some more aggressive positions to take advantage of growth opportunities. We mine sectors and industries for long-term investment opportunities.

Our investment team members understand both the seasons they face as portfolio managers, and the seasons our clients move through as they make their way to and through retirement. That understanding informs the investment decisions they make.

Harry Chapin wrote about the seasons spinning round again and years that keep rolling by. It’s our job and our privilege as investment managers based in Wisconsin to understand and appreciate the swift passage and specific beauty of each fickle season.