Investment Disclosures

Nothing in these materials should be construed as offering or disseminating specific investment, tax, or legal advice to any individual without the benefit of direct and specific consultation with an investment advisor representative authorized to offer Columbus Macro services.  Information contained herein shall not constitute an offer or solicitation of any services. 

All investments carry a certain degree of risk, including the possible loss of principal. There are specific risks that apply to investment strategies. These risks should be reviewed carefully before taking any investment action. No system or financial planning strategy can guarantee future results. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results, and the potential for profit is accompanied by the potential of loss.  Therefore, no current or prospective client should assume that future performance or any specific investment strategy or product will be profitable.

Asset allocation, which is driven by complex mathematical models, should not be confused with the much simpler concept of diversification.  While both diversification and asset allocation may help reduce volatility and risk, they do not guarantee future performance.  Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining market.  They are methods used to help manage risk. 

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. They are subject to administrative fees which are explained in detail in each fund prospectus. These fees are incurred in addition to any fees paid for portfolio management or charged by program sponsors.   Investing in ETFs and mutual funds is subject to risk and potential loss of principal. ETFs incur trading and commission costs similar to stocks and frequent trading can negate the lower cost structure of an ETF. There is no assurance or certainty that any investment or strategy will be successful in meeting its objectives.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks and charges, and expenses of the fund carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the fund. Contact your advisor or issuing company to obtain a prospectus which should be read carefully before investing or sending money. You should also review your investment advisory agreement or contact your advisor for details on these fees.  

The return and principal value of bonds fluctuate with changes in market conditions.  If bonds are not held to maturity, they may be worth more or less than the original value.  Bonds and bond funds will decrease in value if interest rates rise.  The yield on high yield bond funds is due, in part, to the volatility and risk of the high yield securities market.  High yield bonds are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds.”  Income from tax free bonds may be subject to local, state, and/or alternative minimum tax. 

Additional risks are associated with international investing such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards.  Emerging markets have heightened risks related to the same factors as well as increased volatility and lower trading volume. 

Small cap stocks may be subject to a higher degree of market risk than large cap stocks, or more established companies’ securities.  Furthermore, the illiquidity of the small cap market may adversely affect the value of an investment so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. 

Non-traditional asset classes as well as non-traditional strategies are subject to risks including stock market risk, credit and interest rate risk, floating rate risk, volatility in commodity prices, liquidity and currency risk.  Some strategies may have direct or indirect exposure to derivatives, which may be more volatile and less liquid than traditional securities. 

As the name implies, leveraged mutual funds and ETFs seek to provide leveraged returns at multiples of the underlying benchmark or index they track. Leveraged funds generally seek to provide a multiple (i.e., 200%, 300%) of the daily return of an index or other benchmark for a single day excluding fees and other expenses. In addition to using leverage, these funds often use derivative products such as swaps, options, and futures contracts to accomplish their objectives. The use of leverage as well as derivative instruments can cause leveraged funds to be more volatile and subject to extreme price movements.

Inverse mutual funds and ETFs, which are sometimes referred to as "short" funds, seek to provide the opposite of the performance of the index or benchmark they track. Inverse funds are often marketed as a way to profit from, or hedge exposure to, downward moving markets. Some inverse funds also use leverage, such that they seek to achieve a return that is a multiple of the opposite performance of the underlying index or benchmark (i.e., -200%, -300%). In addition to leverage, these funds may also use derivative instruments to accomplish their objectives. As such, inverse funds are volatile and provide the potential for significant losses.