Should I manage my own investments or hire someone?

Managing your own investments is feasible when your financial life is straightforward, but it becomes harder to do well as complexity grows. Most people underestimate how difficult it is to stay disciplined through market volatility while also rebalancing consistently and coordinating portfolio decisions with tax strategy and retirement income planning. CGN Advisors manages client portfolios on an ongoing basis, with a dedicated investment team that monitors portfolios regularly and adjusts as conditions and client circumstances change.

How should I invest my money if I'm approaching retirement?

Approaching retirement, the investment priority shifts from accumulation to preservation and income. That means building a portfolio that can generate reliable withdrawals without being forced to sell assets at a loss during a down market. At CGN Advisors, portfolios for clients near or in retirement are designed with sequence-of-returns risk in mind—typically a mix of stocks for long-term growth and bonds for stability and income.

What should I do with my 401(k) when I retire or change jobs?

When you retire or change jobs, your 401(k) can generally be rolled over to an IRA, left in your former employer’s plan, moved into a new employer’s plan, or cashed out. Each option has different tax implications and flexibility trade-offs. CGN Advisors works through rollover decisions with clients as part of the broader retirement transition planning process, coordinating with your CPA or tax advisor where needed.

How do I stop my portfolio from being too concentrated in company stock?

Reducing concentration in company stock requires a plan for selling shares in a way that manages the tax impact over time. At CGN Advisors, concentration risk is a common issue for clients who receive RSUs or have worked for one employer for many years. The investment team works through a diversification strategy that accounts for vesting schedules, cost basis, and your overall tax situation for the year.

How much does investment management cost at CGN Advisors?

Investment management fees at CGN Advisors start at 1% annually and tier down based on portfolio size. Household accounts can be aggregated to help reach a lower-fee tier. There are no commissions or product-related fees. CGN Advisors is a fee-only firm, so the only compensation comes directly from clients.

How does CGN Advisors handle market volatility?

CGN Advisors handles market volatility by staying focused on each client’s long-term strategy rather than reacting to short-term headlines. Portfolios are built with a mix of stocks and bonds calibrated to each client’s risk tolerance and time horizon, so the plan accounts for volatility from the start. When markets fall sharply, the investment team looks for tax-loss harvesting opportunities and reaches out to clients directly to talk through what the movement means for their plan.

What is the difference between active and passive investing?

Active investing involves selecting specific securities or making tactical portfolio shifts with the goal of outperforming the market. Passive investing tracks a broad index to capture market returns at lower cost. CGN Advisors uses both approaches within client portfolios, combining them based on where each strategy adds value, maintaining broad, low-cost exposure in some areas while using active management selectively in others.

Where can I find an investment manager in Manhattan, Kansas?

CGN Advisors is a fee-only, fiduciary investment management firm based in Manhattan, KS, serving clients locally and nationwide. The investment team is led by Mike Greim, Managing Principal of Investments, who has been in the financial services industry since 1995 and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation. To schedule a consultation, call (785) 340-3434 or reach out through the CGN Advisors website.

Investment Management

Designed for Your Financial Goals

Your investment strategy should reflect the full picture of your life: your goals, your timeline, and your tolerance for risk. At CGN Advisors, we provide globally diversified, low-cost investment portfolios tailored to your unique financial circumstances and aspirations.

Together, we:

Create an Investment Plan

We begin by understanding your full financial picture. Then we design a portfolio with a disciplined mix of stocks and bonds, aligned with your risk tolerance, time horizon, and long-term goals.

Stick to the Plan

Staying invested through market volatility is one of the most important factors in long-term success. We help you stay grounded, focused, and confident, especially when the markets test your patience.

Adjust the Plan

Your life evolves, and your investment strategy should too. We monitor your portfolio throughout the year and adjust as needed. Annual reviews and rebalancing keep your stock/bond mix aligned with your goals, whether that means a 100% stock allocation, 100% bonds, or something in between.

Our Investment Principles

We ground our portfolio construction and management in a clear set of investment principles:

Long-Term Focus

We believe successful investing is built on patience and discipline. Timing the market rarely works, but time in the market does. Our process is designed to help you stay focused on what matters most: your long-term goals.

Disciplined, Research-Driven Process

Our investment decisions are rooted in evidence, not emotion. We use academic research and data-backed strategies to guide portfolio construction and management.

Control Costs

Costs matter. That’s why we focus on low-cost investment solutions, allowing more of your money to stay invested and work for you over time.

Risk Management

Understanding and managing risk is essential. We tailor your portfolio to align with your capacity for risk and your comfort with market fluctuations, balancing growth potential with downside protection.

Active/Passive Integration

We don’t limit ourselves to a binary choice between active or passive strategies. Instead, we build portfolios that efficiently combine both, allowing us to take advantage of opportunities when they arise while maintaining broad diversification and cost efficiency. This blend of active portfolio decisions with strategic use of both active and passive investments can generate stronger risk-adjusted returns over time.

Personalized Investment Strategies for Your Needs

We offer a range of professionally constructed strategies that fit every investment need, from smaller accounts to large portfolios. Our strategies are designed to provide a cost-effective, efficient solution while considering any special needs, such as municipal bonds or customized investment strategies aligned with your financial plan.

Portfolio Management Fees: Transparent and Fair

Our investment management services are designed to offer flexibility, with fees starting at 1% annually and tiering down based on the size of your portfolio. We may aggregate accounts within your household to help you reach the optimal fee tier.

At CGN Advisors, we believe in complete transparency, ensuring you understand how our fee structure works and what you’ll receive for the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I manage my own investments or hire someone?
Managing your own investments is feasible when your financial life is straightforward, but it becomes harder to do well as complexity grows. Most people underestimate how difficult it is to stay disciplined through market volatility while also rebalancing consistently and coordinating portfolio decisions with tax strategy and retirement income planning. CGN Advisors manages client portfolios on an ongoing basis, with a dedicated investment team that monitors portfolios regularly and adjusts as conditions and client circumstances change.
How should I invest my money if I'm approaching retirement?
Approaching retirement, the investment priority shifts from accumulation to preservation and income. That means building a portfolio that can generate reliable withdrawals without being forced to sell assets at a loss during a down market. At CGN Advisors, portfolios for clients near or in retirement are designed with sequence-of-returns risk in mind—typically a mix of stocks for long-term growth and bonds for stability and income.
What should I do with my 401(k) when I retire or change jobs?
When you retire or change jobs, your 401(k) can generally be rolled over to an IRA, left in your former employer’s plan, moved into a new employer’s plan, or cashed out. Each option has different tax implications and flexibility trade-offs. CGN Advisors works through rollover decisions with clients as part of the broader retirement transition planning process, coordinating with your CPA or tax advisor where needed.
How do I stop my portfolio from being too concentrated in company stock?
Reducing concentration in company stock requires a plan for selling shares in a way that manages the tax impact over time. At CGN Advisors, concentration risk is a common issue for clients who receive RSUs or have worked for one employer for many years. The investment team works through a diversification strategy that accounts for vesting schedules, cost basis, and your overall tax situation for the year.
How much does investment management cost at CGN Advisors?
Investment management fees at CGN Advisors start at 1% annually and tier down based on portfolio size. Household accounts can be aggregated to help reach a lower-fee tier. There are no commissions or product-related fees. CGN Advisors is a fee-only firm, so the only compensation comes directly from clients.
How does CGN Advisors handle market volatility?
CGN Advisors handles market volatility by staying focused on each client’s long-term strategy rather than reacting to short-term headlines. Portfolios are built with a mix of stocks and bonds calibrated to each client’s risk tolerance and time horizon, so the plan accounts for volatility from the start. When markets fall sharply, the investment team looks for tax-loss harvesting opportunities and reaches out to clients directly to talk through what the movement means for their plan.
What is the difference between active and passive investing?
Active investing involves selecting specific securities or making tactical portfolio shifts with the goal of outperforming the market. Passive investing tracks a broad index to capture market returns at lower cost. CGN Advisors uses both approaches within client portfolios, combining them based on where each strategy adds value, maintaining broad, low-cost exposure in some areas while using active management selectively in others.
Where can I find an investment manager in Manhattan, Kansas?
CGN Advisors is a fee-only, fiduciary investment management firm based in Manhattan, KS, serving clients locally and nationwide. The investment team is led by Mike Greim, Managing Principal of Investments, who has been in the financial services industry since 1995 and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation. To schedule a consultation, call (785) 340-3434 or reach out through the CGN Advisors website.

Begin Your Journey Today

Ready to take charge of your financial future? Our independent, Fee-Only, fiduciary approach to investment management is set up so your best interests come first.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you create and manage your investment portfolio and take your journey of financial confidence to the next level.

Schedule a Consultation