About Cardiff Park Advisors
Cardiff Park Advisors is an independent, fee-only, full-service investment advisor registered with and regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We customize and manage tax efficient stock and bond portfolios, passively structured with index funds and ETFs, that are goal based and globally diversified. Our clients include individuals, trusts, endowments, retirement plan sponsors and business entities. All have direct access to our expertise and advice.
About DFA Funds
Cardiff Park Advisors delivers the advantages of a stable investment strategy, rooted in Nobel prize-winning financial and economic research, and access to institutional index and bond markets. Cardiff Park is among a select group of advisors qualified to provide access to Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), a leader in passive Investment research and fund offerings (Read why DFA is our preferred fund partner). We also recommend index funds and selected ETFs from Vanguard, Fidelity and Schwab as well as individual maturity fixed income securities including CDs, Treasuries, and Corporate and Municipal bonds for laddered maturity portfolios.
How we’re a Different Kind of Index Fund Advisor
Investors want their money to multiply. Unfortunately, the typical investor lacks adequate knowledge about how markets work, or finds it difficult to locate knowledgeable, competent, independent and objective advice for a reasonable price. Truth is, most investors overpay for financial services, not even knowing they are subject to inferior strategies that open the door to unnecessary risk, and mediocre results. Furthermore, advertising campaigns sponsored by the financial services industry too often promote fantasies about how markets work and are riddled with conflicts of interest.
At Cardiff Park Advisors, our advice is unbiased. A fixed retainer is our sole source of compensation. We do not accept fees or commissions on the sale of Investment products. By charging low fixed fees, we help keep the cost of investing under control. Portfolios are transparent and clients may review them at any time. We deliver the kind of service we like to receive: engaged, intelligent and responsive. Trust and long-term client relationships are the bedrock of our business.
Our clients understand the principles of passive and index investing, and are committed to them as a long term buy and hold strategy. We can recommend several popular books on the subject, and additional information can be obtained from the Dimensional Fund Advisors website (http://www.dfaus.com).
John Gorlow, the principal of Cardiff Park Advisors, has over 35 years’ experience working in and consulting with the financial services industry. Prior to forming Cardiff Park, he managed investment advisory engagements for Ernst & Young in San Francisco, and spent 15 years delivering personal investment management services for the private client groups of leading Wall Street brokerage firms including Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers and Oppenheimer.
Cardiff Park Advisors was established in 2003, and the firm was granted registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in May 2006. Cardiff Park is in its 20th year of operation under SEC registration, with approximately $2.2 Billion in assets under management.
Learn More about Our Investment Philosophy
We invite you to explore this site and learn about our investment philosophy, approach, and qualifications. You will be introduced to the underlying quality of our research and advice, and the manner in which we assess your needs, design your portfolio, select investments and monitor your performance. All of our work is in accordance with the Fiduciary Standard of Care brought forward by trust law and Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT).
We’re fans of education, particularly investor education, and there’s a lot to learn on this site. Gain an understanding on how and why passive and index investing works, and why active investing fails to live up to popular expectations. Learn about the hidden risks and high costs of active management. Improve your grasp of Modern Portfolio Theory, the backbone of passive and index investing. Explore the principles of effective diversification, and the gains to be realized from international investing. You will read about the sources of long-term equity returns, the direct relationship between risk and return, and the manner in which risk is priced and rewarded in the marketplace. The case is made as to why passive and index investing is better than active investing at capturing the expected rewards of long-term equity investing. Learn how to temper portfolio risk with fixed income securities and the factors that determine their expected returns. The argument for diversifying into foreign bonds is explained. The pros and cons of buying bond funds versus individual bonds are discussed. You will also find recommendations for books, websites, and educational resources for passive investing.
Learn More About Us
Cardiff Park Advisors is located in Carlsbad, 25 miles north of San Diego. We work with clients throughout the United States. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your financial goals and how we can help you reach them. You may reach us by emailing our principal at jgorlow@cardiffpark.com or calling our office at 760-635-7526.