Which vitamin program is right for you?

When investing, the approach can be akin to medical treatment. For medical treatment, you should see a qualified doctor and then proceed to the pharmacy for the execution or implementation. Your doctor is qualified to prescribe medication for you given your symptoms, ailments, objectives, and allegries. 

Your pharmacist is able to give you limited advice regarding the medication and is also the one who fills your prescription. They can also give advice regarding over the counter drugs including vitamins.

Similarily, there are different investment approaches a qualified financial advisor may suggest. Your advisor may charge a fee for the advice and prescription and/or also act as the pharmacist and be compensated through the implementation of the program.

Your first and easiest option is to pick a multi-vitamin that caters to your general circumstances. For example, there are everyday vitamins that cater to: seniors, middle-aged individuals, youth, pregnant women, women in menopause and even to just men. This would be similar to completing an investment questionaire and selecting one of four or five pre-established strategic asset allocation investment programs offered by an investment firm. This 'vitamin' is ideal for investors with less than $50,000 of investable assets.

Some pharmacists will suggest one of the above multi-vitamins with an enhanced exposure to a drug (such as calcium, vitiman C etc...) depending on your circumstances. This would be akin to a strategic asset allocation progran with a tilt. The cost is generally slightly more, but available for investors with excess of $50,000.

Some programs will suggest a customized vitamin program where a variety of individual vitamins are selected off-the-shelf to create a vitamin program for your specific needs. This is more expensive than a pre-packaged multi-vitamin off the shelf. Although there is no minimum for this type of account, working with a financial advisor means that additional time is required to select and monitor this type of program and therefore there are minimum charges for accounts under $250,000. This approach is contrary to the strategic asset allocation approach as active management with the client and advisor are required to manage this account.

Finally, it won't be long before you have the ablity to create a customized singular multi-vitamin based on your specific needs. The good news is that this is already available to Assante investors through the Assante Optima Strategy.  However, there is usually a slight additional cost. Generally, there is a minimum of $100,000 for this program.