FAQs

Three Oaks Partners Investment Counsel (TOPIC) is intentionally structured as a Private Client Group — not an asset-gathering firm. We limit the number of families we serve to approximately 50, ensuring every client receives focused, personalized attention from an experienced investment professional.

Unlike many advisory firms, you work directly with a credentialed investor, not a salesperson or intermediary. We also integrate behavioral finance principles into our process — helping clients recognize and resist emotional decision-making during periods of market stress and uncertainty.

Our approach is built on high-conviction, patient investing combined with disciplined risk management and tax awareness. We use a proprietary scoring system called VARSaQ (Volatility Adjusted Relative Strength and Quality) to evaluate more than 1,500 securities.

Portfolios are constructed using focused "sleeves" — distinct asset groupings blended to align with each client's specific objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon. Importantly, we invest alongside our clients: we personally hold the same public investments we recommend.

Traditional financial planning was often static — a one-time projection that quickly became outdated. At TOPIC, we use dynamic, real-time planning that evolves as your life and the markets change.

Our retirement planning framework is anchored in the Modern Guardrails + War Chest strategy, which coordinates Social Security timing, pension integration, portfolio withdrawals, and tax-efficient sequencing. We test multiple scenarios — including Roth conversions and income layering — to maximize long-term sustainability.

Clients receive ongoing access to IncomeLab, a planning portal where you can review your retirement income plan at any time.

We serve a carefully selected group of pre-retirees, retirees, and successful individuals who are seeking integrated investment management, tax strategy, and retirement income planning.

We also offer the TOPIC First $100K Club for the children, heirs, and referrals of existing clients. We believe the first $100,000 is often the hardest milestone — and that building the right habits early is the foundation for lifelong financial success.

Behavioral finance studies the ways in which psychology and cognitive biases influence financial decisions. The human brain evolved for survival — not for long-term investing — which means our instincts can work against us in the markets.

Common behavioral pitfalls include loss aversion, recency bias, overreaction or underreaction to news, and overconfidence. At TOPIC, we build our investment process to counteract these tendencies and provide real-time coaching to help clients stay the course when emotions run high.

We provide a comprehensive range of wealth management services designed to work together:

• Investment portfolio management
• Retirement income strategy and distribution planning
• Tax-aware investing and multi-year tax planning
• Estate planning coordination
• Alternative investment access
• Behavioral coaching and investor education

Financial planning services are included with asset management — there is no separate planning fee for managed clients.

We define risk broadly: it is not simply volatility or short-term fluctuations. The true risk is failing to meet your financial goals.

This includes running out of income in retirement, paying unnecessary taxes, making poor decisions under pressure, or being so fearful that you underspend and sacrifice quality of life. Our planning and investment process is designed to address all of these dimensions of risk — not just the ones that show up on a brokerage statement.

We use a concept we call "Advanced Hindsight" — preparing clients in advance for the types of market stress that history tells us will eventually occur. Rather than reacting under pressure, we establish pre-defined strategies (including the War Chest reserve and Guardrails framework) so that decision-making during downturns is calm, confident, and based on a plan.

Clients who have a clear plan in place are far less likely to make costly emotional decisions during periods of market volatility.

TOPIC operates with a flexible TeleWealth model, making it easy to meet remotely from anywhere — while also welcoming in-person meetings for clients who prefer them.

We follow a simple philosophy: life is too short to work with people you don't trust or enjoy. We aim to be transparent, straightforward, and genuinely easy to work with. We welcome difficult conversations when they're needed, but we avoid adversarial relationships.

TOPIC began as a friends-and-family investment extension and remains a small, invitation-only Private Client Group — which means the culture of trust and directness is core to everything we do.

We are a fee-only advisory firm. Fees are generally approximately 1% of assets under management, with household pricing and potential reductions on certain allocations. Financial planning services are included at no additional charge for managed clients.

Flat-fee financial planning engagements are also available for clients who are not yet ready to transfer assets — and that planning fee is credited if assets are subsequently brought under management.

We do not earn commissions, receive product incentives, or benefit from any third-party referral arrangements.

Yes. TOPIC acts as a fiduciary 100% of the time — meaning we are legally and ethically obligated to act in your best interest. We have no financial incentive to recommend any particular product, fund, or solution.

Our fee structure is transparent and straightforward, and we are happy to put our fiduciary commitment in writing.

TOPIC was founded by Greg Newman, CFA, who brings more than 25 years of professional investment experience. His background includes senior roles at Northern Trust Company, Northern Trust Asset Management, Sabal Trust Company, and PNC Institutional Asset Management.

The CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation is one of the most rigorous credentials in the investment industry, requiring passage of three levels of examinations and adherence to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

We believe clarity about our scope is just as important as describing what we do offer. TOPIC does not:

• Sell insurance or annuity products
• Provide legal services or draft legal documents
• Prepare or file tax returns

We coordinate closely with your attorneys, CPAs, and other trusted professionals to ensure your overall financial picture is cohesive — but we keep our focus squarely on investment management and financial planning.

We use Charles Schwab as our primary custodian for managed accounts. However, not everything needs to move. Assets such as annuities, insurance policies, or employer-sponsored retirement plans may remain where they are — and we incorporate them into your overall financial plan regardless.

During onboarding, we will review your full financial picture and make recommendations about what to consolidate and what to leave in place.

Our standard minimum for managed assets is $400,000. We work with pre-retirees, retirees, and successful individuals who are looking for a long-term advisory relationship — not a transactional one.

The TOPIC First $100K Club is available by referral only, for the children, heirs, and referred contacts of existing clients. We believe in supporting the next generation of investors from the very beginning.