The most crucial aspect of an investment plan is the proper allocation of assets. Brookmont offers investments in four separate asset classes: Equities, Fixed Income, Short-Term Investments, and Real Estate (REITs).

• Equities
  As stock investors, we believe in a tax-sensitive, long-term strategy of behaving like   business owners, not traders. Our portfolio turnover will average around 20% and the vast majority of our trades qualify for long-term capital gains. We are predominately "top-down" investors and focus on important themes in our style of investing. This may include shifts in population demographics, a dramatic change in demand or supply of important commodities, reallocation of government resources, technological improvements, etc.
  
  We offer an Equity Strategy that emphasizes common stocks that distribute above-average dividend income and provide potential capital gains. Stocks are screened by current dividend yield, free cash flow, credit quality, and history of dividend increases.
  
  The holdings include small through large-capitalization stocks and may be domestic or foreign domiciled. The Dividend Equity Strategy is benchmarked against the Dow Jones Dividend Select Index, S&P 500, and Russell 3000 Value Index.

• Fixed Income
  Our philosophy on fixed income is to buy investment grade taxable and tax-free bonds with laddered maturities and hold them until maturity. We maintain a tight restriction on the types of bonds we purchase and refrain from purchasing any bond that carries a credit rating below "A". When a client has an appetite for increased risk, we recommend that they buy longer maturities rather than lower quality. Active fixed income management is also available.

• Short-Term Investments
  Short-term investments may include a combination of money market funds, commercial paper, and short-term brokered CD's that carry FDIC insurance. The purpose for holding short-term investments includes future account distributions, reinvestment of proceeds during favorable market conditions, and for defensive strategies.

• Real Estate
  Real Estate investments are offered through individual REIT holdings and Electronic Traded Funds (ETF's). Brookmont does not offer direct investment in real estate properties.