TradesWave Wealth - Investing

With less education debt and high-demand skills, trades professionals can often start earlier building wealth than other professions.

By consistently investing a portion of your income, managing expenses, and protecting your financial foundation, you can build long-term wealth, achieve financial independence, and create a secure future for yourself and your family.

Learn more about our investment approach below:

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The Wealth Building Package

This package includes:

Your personalized investment strategy with no minimum balance requirement (just a commitment to save consistently).
Setup meeting and Annual Review.
A 1.00% of assets fee that decreases the more you contribute and the more your assets grow.
A self onboarding financial plan with Savology software.
Accounts custody at Altruist with mobile app access.
Monthly email statement
Fees are billed directly from investment/retirement accounts on a quarterly basis. We also have the option of paying directly through debit card.
Advisory services offered through Core Planning, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal. No advice may be rendered unless an advisory agreement is in place.

How We Invest

A clear investment philosophy gives your money direction.

Without it, you’re just guessing. Here is ours:

High Yield Savings/Emergency Fund Cash Reserves:

3-6 months of living expenses is your starting place. Even more is needed when your income is variable. This is necessary before investing.
Be sure to get your full retirement plan match and/or contribute to your pension plan if those are available.

Determine your Portfolio Stock/Bond Allocation
- - Your amount dedicated to risk assets (stocks, equities) is the growth engine with capital appreciation and income that can compound and grow wealth for your future.
  - Your amount dedicated to income assets (bonds, CDs, TIPs,) pay interest and have less growth potential than stocks. This can include cash assets (money market, HYSA) to serve as dry powder for investment but may reduce your overall rate of return.
Choose Core or Core + Satellite Portfolio Strategy

a. Core Investments: A diversified mix of stock and bond investments provide both growth potential and income with very low expenses. The simple but effective Core investment strategy from Vanguard is a great place to start.

b. Satellite Investments: If you want to add focused investments that align with your values, interests, or specific themes in the economy, our weekly wealth builders portfolios are completely optional. Adding these to your mix can mean more expense and your investments will not do what the broad market does (for better or worse). This is known as tracking error.

Investing does NOT have to be cookie-cutter or boring.

A diversified mix of stock and bond investments provide both growth potential and income with very low expenses. The simple but effective Core investment strategy from Vanguard is a great place to start.
Weekly Wealth Builder Models can include satellite positions that compliment your core stock and bond portfolio.

The below tool models this approach.

Per the below chart from Vanguard, we see investors sometimes have to be willing to experience large declines to also earn large gains providing a high average rate of return over time.
The below 70/30 allocation earned an average of 9.2% per year but you had be comfortable losing -30.7% in a given year.
Converting that loss to dollars means a January $100,000 account balance invested 70/30 could have sunk to $69,300 at a given point during a calendar year. Note that losses aren't permanent if you hold AND continually invest into market recoveries.
While less stock exposure can feel better, that can mean lower returns which is a trade off.
Using the $100,000 example above, earning 4% vs. 7% for 20 years = $331,020 vs. $600,915.

What are Satellite Investments?

Explore high-conviction themes without overconcentrating risk (no individual stocks).
Customize portfolios to your interests, values, concerns, opportunities or trends.
Potential for returns beyond what the broad market provides (this also means risk your strategy won't do what the market does as well).

If you decide to add satellite positions, a guideline is to allocate 10% to 30% of the stock/equity portion, depending on your:

Risk tolerance
Time horizon
Level of diversification in core holdings
Interest in actively participating in investment themes

The below tool gives an approximation of what a core + satellite portfolio might look like.

Interests

Campfire Capital - Camping & Outdoors Industry Focused Strategy.
Health & Strength - Companies in fitness, healthcare, sports gear, and wellness—perfect for those who value physical work and personal well-being.
Tool Belt Tech - Invested in the technologies that keep skilled trades moving forward.
Digital Toolbox - A tech-themed basket featuring software, payment processors, and digital service platforms that boost trades business productivity.
Steady Eddy - A defensive portfolio with dividend-paying stocks and consumer staples to provide steady income and stability.
Cash Pipeline - Focus in midstream energy companies that generate income from transporting, storing, and processing gas.
Haulin' - Targets the future of trucking, freight, and logistics.
Gearhead - Invested in the technologies and specialized retail serving car lovers.
RentCheck - Steady cash flow from professionally managed real estate — no tenants required.

Values

Christian Values - Screens out companies conflicting with Christian values.
Environmental, Social, and Governance - Investments aligned with people, planet, and principles.
Red State Capital - Aligned to conservative economic principles such as limited government intervention.
Blue State Capital - Reflects values typically associated with progressive agendas—climate action, social justice, worker rights, healthcare access, etc.
Made In America - U.S. reshoring, manufacturing, and logistics supporting the trades sector and domestic industry.
Heartland Capital - Companies invested in traditional values and rural opportunity.

Concerns

Inflation Fighter - Built to preserve purchasing power and benefit from rising prices.
Hard Asset Shield - A mix of hard assets and real asset investments to preserve purchasing power.
Downturn Defender - Built to weather economic downturns focusing on healthcare, utilities, and consumer staples sectors.
Preppers - For self-reliant investors who believe in readiness and resilience.
Cybersecurity Infrastructure - Investing in the Digital Shield of Tomorrow.

Opportunities

Digital Frontier - A mix of direct and indirect exposure to the crypto ecosystem.
Last Mile Delivery - Infrastructure and innovation that delivers goods from distribution hubs to doorsteps faster and smarter.
AI Edge - Invest in companies leading the development of artificial intelligence.
Factor Focus - Targeting drivers of return like value, size, and quality to build smarter portfolios.
Space & Satellite Innovation - Invest in the future of global connectivity and exploration.
Future Fuel - Clean energy, electric vehicles, and sustainable infrastructure—ideal for investors who see energy as the next frontier.
Robotics & Automation - Focusing on companies driving robotics and automation solutions for highly specialized, precision-driven manufacturing sectors.
NextGen Warehouse - A strong bet on the future of distribution and logistics industry.
Urban Agriculture & Food Innovation - Reimagining agriculture + urban revitalization.

Trends

Global Population & Aging - Invest in Solutions for a Global, Aging Population.
Emerging Middle Class - Investing in the growth of Africa, Latin America, and Asia's middle class.
PET$ - Focused on capturing long-term growth of the pet care segment.
Tiny House, Big Future - Invested in businesses benefiting from tiny house, minimalist living, builders, and alternative housing.
Short Term Stays - Capture the growing demand for vacation rentals, work-from-anywhere flexibility, and travel recovery.
Rehabs & Retrofits - Targets companies benefiting from the booming demand for home renovations, DIY upgrades, and energy-efficient retrofits.

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