Investment Strategy Overview

Sometimes boring is better. We choose rock solid, versus rock star stocks because that’s how we believe investors win in the long run. The exciting part of the Gardens Dividend Growth Strategy is the stability and consistent income it is designed to produce. It’s a disciplined process that leverages extensive research from the Wells Fargo Investment Institute. Our stock selections come directly from the Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network Diversified Stock Income Plan (D.S.I.P.). While no advisor can provide guarantees of return, we have decades of experience delivering income via growing dividends for the families we serve. We believe our families appreciate recognizing the companies they own and receiving first-class, attentive service from a friendly team of professionals.

Wells Fargo Investment Institute Inc. is a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

Our Process

We begin each family relationship with a thorough understanding of current income needs and long-term legacy planning. Our families are typically managed in-house by our own portfolio managers. We build clients’ portfolios on an individual basis, as opposed to using a predetermined asset allocation formula. Each relationship is managed at the family level and not automated across the board. Within our proprietary Rising Dividend Stock Strategy, we focus exclusively on companies with the potential of growing their dividends. Our advisory fee is transparent and comprehensive, which aligns our interests with yours every step of the way. We keep you informed through meetings, conference calls and emails.

Although affiliated with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, we are a private family practice only working with select families that are the right fit for our services. As such, we have no contractual obligations and are not beholden to any investment products, financial institutions or family of mutual funds. Our decisions are based solely on the best interests of the families we represent.

With a combination of focusing on income and capital appreciation, our advisory strategy is designed to help today’s retirees looking to create income and or invest for the future.

Our portfolio manager uses the Diversified Stock Income Plan (DSIP) list managed by Advice and Research of Wells Fargo Advisors which seeks to find companies by utilizing a discipline philosophy and methodology which focuses on finding companies that:

Are carefully selected based on their potential for consistent annual dividend growth;

Advice and Research believes will provide consistent annual dividend growth over a long-term investment horizon;

Provide a broad list of high-quality, industry-leading companies from which an investor can assemble a well-diversified portfolio;

Through consistent dividend growth, can help investors stay ahead of the wealth-eroding effects of inflation.

The DSIP List (Diversified Stock Income Plan List) focuses on companies that we believe will provide consistent annual dividend growth over a long-term investment horizon. Our objective is to provide a broad list of high quality, industry leading companies from which an investor can assemble a well-diversified portfolio. Through consistent dividend growth, our goal is to help investors stay ahead of the wealth eroding effects of inflation. Wells Fargo Advisors has developed this list to help our clients with their financial goals, however Wells Fargo Advisors also recognizes that every client has a unique investment objective, risk tolerance, and time horizon for their various investments; therefore securities on the DSIP List may not be appropriate for all investors. The PIM program is not appropriate for all investors. Please carefully review the Wells Fargo Advisors advisory disclosure document for a full description of our services. The minimum account size for this program is $50,000.