Current market environment performance of dynamic, risk-managed investment solutions.
By Jerry Wagner
Markets have been anything but quiet lately. Policy changes, uncertainty around interest rates, and global tensions continue to push things around—sometimes for good reason, sometimes because headlines demand a reaction. Still, many investors are sticking with the same old traditional strategies: index funds, static allocations, and buy-and-hold approaches.
That might seem fine when everything’s calm. But when markets move this fast, and narratives can turn on a dime, a more responsive approach can make all the difference.
At Flexible Plan Investments (FPI), we were built to be different. From the beginning, we’ve offered actively managed investment strategies designed to adjust to what’s happening in the market—and manage risk when it matters most.
When everything looks the same
Many investment options today are hard to tell apart. That sameness isn’t accidental—it’s designed that way. The financial industry favors scale and simplicity. Investors are often encouraged to choose from a shrinking list of mega firms, all offering similar products packaged under different labels.
And the move to passive indexing has only added to it. One S&P fund performs just like the next. One large-cap fund is mostly indistinguishable from another.
Financial advisers are expected to overcome the sameness with personality and service—while offering portfolios that often behave the same way.
But that’s not how real risk management works. And it’s certainly not how opportunity is captured.
A different kind of investment firm
Since our founding in 1981, we’ve taken a different path. We’ve always aimed to provide investors and advisers with a real alternative to the same old passive strategies.
At the core of that difference is an approach we call dynamic risk management. It’s not just a phrase—it’s the foundation of how we build and manage portfolios.
What makes it dynamic?
Dynamic risk management starts with one simple idea: markets change, so your investment strategy should too.
All of our strategies are actively managed. Some trade daily, others weekly or monthly, and a few less frequently when platform or fund rules require it. But the goal is always the same: to respond to what’s actually happening in the markets, not to follow a rigid schedule or a preset allocation.
Most of our trading is either tactical—adjusting exposure as conditions shift—or rotational—constantly seeking to own the market-leading asset classes. Decisions are grounded in data, not opinions, using price movements, cross-asset relationships, and key economic and technical indicators to guide both timing and direction.
This sets us apart from many asset managers who are primarily strategic, relying solely on traditional diversification (diversification among asset classes) to control risk.
And here’s the problem: traditional diversification sounds comforting, but it has built-in trade-offs. By design, it aims for middle-of-the-road results. That means it almost has to underperform when markets are surging because it spreads exposure across winners and laggards alike.
The bigger issue comes during crises. Time and again, we’ve seen asset classes that were supposed to offset each other all move lower together. Traditional diversification can fall short when investors need it most.
That’s why we combine diversification with adaptability. Our strategies still diversify across asset classes, but we do it tactically—seeking to own each when market conditions support it. Unlike traditional “set-and-forget” portfolios or simple quarterly rebalancing, our strategies are designed to move when the markets do.
Managing risk dynamically doesn’t just help limit losses—it can also create opportunity. By working to protect capital during market downturns, we aim to have more available to invest when markets recover. Over multiple market cycles, that combination of risk management and opportunity capture can make a meaningful difference.
Bringing active management to more investors
Back when we started, separately managed accounts (SMAs) were mostly reserved for institutions and the ultra-wealthy. As a former hedge fund manager, I knew the benefits of institutional-level investment strategies—but I also knew they weren’t reaching everyday investors.
We set out to change that. By embracing technology and automation early, we built SMA solutions with much lower entry points. Today, investors can open accounts with us for as little as $5,000—or even less within a retirement plan account.
Just as important, all of our investment strategies are based on thoroughly researched, rules-driven systems. Every decision is automated within those rules—there’s no room for gut feelings, hunches, or undisciplined trading that can derail long-term results.
We also launched the Quantified Funds to help us build and manage strategies efficiently and affordably. In many cases, depending on platform or account size, we can reduce—or even eliminate—our advisory fee when using these funds in a portfolio.
And with FPI, investors can access three levels of dynamic risk management—something most firms don’t offer:
Most firms’ so-called multi-strategy portfolios simply combine style-box managers or passive allocation approaches. They often avoid—or underweight—tactical, dynamically managed alternative strategies. That leaves investors locked in a “buy-and-hope” mentality: holding positions no matter what’s happening in the market.
We’re different. Our multi-strategy solutions are designed to adapt, to manage risk dynamically, and to give investors a better chance at capturing opportunities when they arise.
Tools, technology, and real service
We’ve also built a suite of financial-services tools designed to help advisers and clients understand their portfolios, evaluate strategies, and stay on track toward their goals:
• Illustration Generator–helps financial advisers model potential strategy outcomes
• Crash Test Analyzer–helps financial advisers stress-test portfolios against various market scenarios
• My Business Analyzer–provides advisers and broker-dealers in-depth reporting on their FPI business
• OnTarget Investing process–helps investors stay focused on their personal investment goals
• OnTarget Monitor–a key part of that process, providing customized benchmarks so investors can track their performance against the goals set at the start of their investment journey
These tools are supported by something we value just as highly: superior service. Our outstanding adviser support team, client service staff, and operations specialists are here to answer questions about accounts, statements, deposits, withdrawals, and more.
And beyond one-on-one support, our website offers a wealth of resources, insights, and tools to help advisers and investors alike make informed decisions.
You deserve more than “the same old, same old”
In a time when the financial industry is leaning into sameness—offering similar solutions under different labels—we’re staying committed to what we’ve always done: offering real alternatives. Responsive strategies. Disciplined, risk-managed investing. Accessible solutions.
We’re not here to outguess the market. We’re here to be ready for it. And we think, in the days ahead, you’ll be glad we are.