TOP FINANCIAL ADVISERS
Former scoutmaster and Air Force Academy graduate Ralph Linzmeier is systematic when it comes to finance.
The average net worth of his clients is $4 million to $5 million. Many of them are executives sitting on piles of stock options.
With about $400 million under management, Linzmeier tailors different plans to different clients.
“People want to accomplish a lot, but what happens so many times is they get more aggressive, which leads to a blow-up,” he said.
After seeing people go through enormous success to financial trauma in the market, experience has taught him that the best way to get ahead is with an organized plan, ac-cording to Linzmeier.
Average returns for Linzmeier have been in the neighborhood of 10% a year, which is in line with the broader market’s performance.
Investing mostly for the long term, Linzmeier balances stock and bond portfolios, keeping alternative investments such as hedge funds to a minimum, he said.
The majority of his effort is concentrated in value investing, trying to find “the right space for the right time,” Linz-meier said.
About 15% of what he does falls into more aggressive short-term market trends. But with his primary goal being to protect money, he’ll cut his losses fast.
Linzmeier said he was able to come out ahead of the last bear market by buying into value plays with fixed-income profits.
His performance allowed him to attract a lot of clients, he said.
As an adviser, he said one of his biggest challenges is educating his clients.
And education has been something Linzmeier has pursued in other aspects of his life. He helped found the Serra Catholic Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita.
He is married with four kids.
3. Ralph Linzmeier
– Company: Smith Barney
– Location: Irvine
– Years in business: 25
– Education: finance bachelor’s, Air Force Academy
