Everyone deserves the opportunity to invest in building a brighter financial future. A well-optimized stock portfolio can be the key to unlocking an extraordinary retirement and a better life—where future expenses are covered through investment gains rather than labor income. Let us help you take the steps toward achieving your financial goals with confidence and clarity.
Investing is challenging, especially without a finance background. Most investors rely on mutual funds and ETFs to track the market, but that means you’re not maximizing returns. That’s where we can help. Gain expert guidance on building a diversified equity portfolio to reduce risk and maximize returns.
Portfolio Management Consulting
We provide insights on structuring a diversified investment approach, focusing on asset allocation strategies that balance risk and return with quality securities for strong growth and market-aligned risk.
Personalized financial plans to help achieve your goals, including Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, and Estate Planning to protect your assets. Only available in Ontario.
Our Investment Process
Our proprietary fund starts with a pool of about 3,500 U.S. stocks, systematically narrowed down to a curated, manageable selection of quality securities. This process aligns with institutional investor trends and our proprietary criteria, ensuring a refined and confident investment process.
Following the Smart Money
We monitor top-performing funds like BlackRock, Schonfeld, and Berkshire Hathaway to identify stocks favored by leading institutional investors.
Quantitative Models
We leverage machine learning models like LSTM neural networks, advanced math techniques like Hidden Markov models, to find buy opportunities. Combining other models, including stochastics and price variation models, our data-driven approach could greatly enhance returns.
Optimized Asset Allocation
Some stocks deliver high returns but come with substantial risk/volatility, while others achieve similar returns with less risk. We use the efficient frontier to optimize allocations, reducing risk and maximizing returns.
Tailored specifically to you
Collaborate with our Financial Planner to develop a personalized plan, with a detailed explanation of decisions and your approval at each step.
Growth focus
We focus on quality U.S. companies, like Microsoft, Tesla, and Bank of America, that demonstrate strong long-term growth potential. As a long-only research firm, we focus on accumulating high-quality securities for long-term growth.
Risk controlled
We aim to avoid significant losses by managing risk, while capitalizing on opportunities, keeping your investments on the right side of the curve.
Strategic portfolio
We filter thousands of securities using a structured research approach, selecting about 20 securities, including ETFs. With about 50% passive market exposure, we aim to balance focus and stability for optimal growth.
Should I Include Stocks In My Portfolio?
Investors often wonder whether to invest in individual stocks or stick with passive ETFs or mutual funds that track the market. The answer is a resounding yes to including stocks—here’s why.
The efficient frontier identifies the optimal mix of investments to maximize returns for a given level of risk. By aligning your portfolio with this curve, you minimize unnecessary risk while maximizing growth, ensuring your investments are both effective and tailored to your financial goals and risk tolerance.
Here’s how to read the efficient frontier above. The orange square represents the market (S&P 500), which has an annual risk of approximately 18% annual risk (x-axis) and an expected return of around 12% (y-axis). In contrast, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK), plotted just above the S&P 500, exhibits a similar level of risk but has a significantly higher expected return of about 18%. This extra return, achieved without more risk, can make a significant difference over the long term.
With proper optimization, it’s possible to achieve an even higher return—up to the efficient frontier—without increasing risk. For example, a portfolio could deliver an expected return of around 30% while maintaining the same 18% annual risk, simply by combining assets more efficiently. It’s important to remember that the efficient frontier is built using historical data. While we base portfolio construction on forward-looking expectations, past relationships between returns, risk, and correlations still play a key role in shaping how we build and optimize portfolios.
Stocks offer the potential for much higher returns than the market (e.g., S&P 500, shown in shaded blue), providing significant growth opportunities without necessarily significantly increasing risk.
Individual stocks, such as Nvidia Corp (NVDA), can experience significant volatility with daily changes even exceeding 20%, well-constructed portfolios can deliver higher returns while maintaining risk levels similar to the broader market by optimizing the mix of securities.
Annual Stock Returns
Maximum vs. Minimum Daily Returns
Strategic Asset Allocation
Our models calculate the ideal allocation for each security to achieve the perfect balance of risk and return. These include securities that track the market and various industries, that are favored by institutional investors and identified through our structured investment research process.
Market Risk
By leveraging correlation, which measures how securities move relative to each other, we can build a portfolio where investment risks offset each other. This reduces overall risk compared to the market while still targeting higher returns.
Optimal Allocation (21 securities)
Our Team
Alek Karaoulis
Managing Director
Alek earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Thessaloniki. Early in his career, he worked as a food chemist at a food processing company, where he also met his wife. Today, Alek is a partner in an import-export company, working with suppliers in Italy and Bulgaria to bring consumer staples to Greece. He also manages a commercial real estate portfolio, working with his brother, an accomplished building designer and professional civil engineer, on various projects. With over 25 years of market experience—and having even had a Bloomberg Terminal at home—Alek offers a strong understanding of business and market dynamics. A proud father of two, Alek’s eldest daughter just started her journey at the prestigious Athens School of Medicine, with her younger sister following closely in her footsteps. Passionate about both business and family, Alek is always eager to lend his expertise and support to everyone around him.
Hercules, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional in Canada, is dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve their financial goals with confidence and clarity. With over 15 years of experience in finance and a strong client-focused approach, he specializes in financial planning and investment strategies designed to deliver results. His expertise includes investment research identifying trade opportunities through statistical and technical analysis, executing stock and options strategies, and managing risk. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, spending quality time with friends and family, and exploring emerging trends in technology and AI.
How Investment Fees Drain Your Wealth
With the right guidance, you can take control and manage your investments effectively—maximize returns, reduce risk, and eliminate investment management fees entirely. While wealth management firms promote their “low fees”—such as Wealth Simple®’s 0.40% annual fee—the reality is, there’s nothing low about any of them. Over time, they can drain hundreds of thousands, or even over $1 million from your portfolio—not just in fees, but also in lost growth that could have been yours.
Take control of your investments and keep more of your money. Book a free consultation with the Financial Planner today.
Losses from Investment Management Fees
Our Services
We understand that every client’s financial situation is unique, requiring a personalized approach to wealth management.
We offer two key services—Portfolio ManagementConsulting and Financial Planning Services—designed to meet the diverse needs of clients.
We use Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) to help you build personalized portfolios that are independent and tailored to each unique investor profile. These accounts are held and owned by individual clients at familiar institutions, including major Canadian banks. SMAs offer flexibility, like considering your tax situation and investment preferences, without interference from other investors. SMAs allow you to retain flexibility, transparency, ownership and control of your investments, while benefiting from professional management.
We focus on U.S. markets because they offer a proven track record of consistent performance, access to top-performing funds and companies, liquidity, robust disclosures through SEC regulations, and alignment with the investment strategies of leading portfolio managers.
Not in the U.S.? No problem. Canadian ETFs like Vanguard S&P 500 Index (VSP.TO) provide U.S. stock exposure in Canadian dollars, without currency risk.
Institutions prioritize keeping you comfortable, but this limits your financial growth by avoiding the level of risk necessary for achieving higher returns. You also miss out on access to advanced tools and strategies that are reserved for ultra-high-net-worth clients. Don’t forget the high fees.
Focus on the fun stuff.
Keeping up with the markets is a full-time job, and most investors find it challenging. Let us handle it for you, so you can focus on what really matters—like planning your trip to Rome.
Maximum performance.
You aim to maximize returns by incorporating equities into your portfolio and strategically navigating market movements.
You’re always in control of your own money.
Whether you consult with us for investment insights or make decisions independently, you stay in control every step of the way. We provide regular updates, and every decision requires your explicit approval.
Dedication to long-term performance.
Successful investing requires patience and discipline—there are no shortcuts. While some chase short-term gains through IPOs or Crypto, this often jeopardizes long-term success. We prioritize building portfolios for sustainable growth and resilience.
Best tools and models for everyone.
We leverage the same cutting-edge optimization methods used by industry professionals.
Insights from professional investors by analyzing their portfolios (SEC filings).
Proprietary technical analysis models to identify better buy points.
Efficient Frontier asset allocation.
The best time to start investing was yesterday; the second-best time is today.
FAQs
Do you disclose specifics about the investment research process?
No. The strategies and methods of our investment research process are proprietary. These strategies are a result of extensive research and experience. While we can’t disclose specifics, we’re happy to discuss our overall approach and how it aligns with your financial goals.
How often will you review, revise?
The frequency of portfolio reviews and revisions is tailored to your specific needs and the level of service you require. For most clients, quarterly reviews are ideal. We work closely with you to determine a schedule that aligns with your financial goals and evolving circumstances.
What are your fees?
We use a simple annual flat-fee structure. Our fees aren’t based off of AUM or carried interest—ensuring that 100% of your profits stay with you.
Which brokerage do you prefer?
Our preferred brokerage is Interactive Brokers (U.S. and Canada). We could also work with the major Canadian banks.
Do I have to change ownership of my investments?
No.
Will you manage my money for me?
No, not at this time. We currently offer consulting services only and are not registered as a Portfolio Manager. However, this is expected to change soon, with registration likely either in the great State of New York, or the great Province of Ontario.
Are private in-person meetings available?
Yes. At First Canadian Place in Toronto, ON, Canada.
