Independent Research
Research that answers only to our clients.
We hold no proprietary funds, earn no commissions and answer to no parent company with products to move. That independence lets our research team evaluate every option on its merits — and recommend only what genuinely fits your goals.
A lot of firms call their research "independent" while still selling house-brand funds or taking payment from the managers they recommend. Ours doesn't work that way. We're an open-architecture firm — free to choose from the full universe of investment options, and structured so nothing but your outcome determines what we recommend.
How our research process works
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No proprietary funds to promote
We don't manufacture our own investment products, so there's no in-house fund competing for a spot in your portfolio against a better outside option.
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Open architecture, by design
Our research team screens managers and strategies across the full market and selects from what's actually best suited to your goals — not from a preset shelf.
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Ongoing due diligence, not a one-time check
Managers we recommend are monitored continuously against their peers and their own stated strategy, and are replaced when they no longer earn their place.
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No commissions or soft-dollar arrangements
We're paid a transparent, asset-based fee — never a commission or rebate tied to which investments we select, so our incentives stay aligned with yours.
Inside our research process.
How We Work
Independence is the starting point. Here's what our research team actually does with it.
- We evaluate managers and strategies across asset classes on performance, risk, fees and consistency of process.
- Because we don't manufacture our own funds, an outside manager never has to compete against an in-house alternative for a spot on the list.
- New candidates are added when they earn a place — not on a fixed rotation.
- Every manager we recommend is tracked continuously against its peers and its own stated strategy.
- A manager who drifts from their strategy or underperforms without a good reason can be removed from recommended lists.
- Findings are documented so decisions can be explained, not just asserted.
- Research findings are translated into recommendations that account for your existing holdings, tax situation and risk tolerance.
- We explain the reasoning behind a recommendation in plain language, not just the recommendation itself.
- You're never presented with a single "approved" fund when better-suited options exist elsewhere.
- When a question falls outside our research team's expertise, we say so and bring in the right specialist.
- We disclose the fees on every option we present, so you can evaluate cost alongside our thinking.
- We revisit past recommendations honestly, including the ones that didn't work out as expected.
About Michi Trust Managers
Michi Trust Managers, N.A. is a nationally chartered trust bank, wholly owned by Michi Financial Holding Company. Michi Financial Holding Company is also the sole owner of Michi Trust Managers Delaware, a Delaware limited-purpose trust company. Both entities provide fiduciary and non-fiduciary services, including trustee, custodial, agency and investment management services, along with personal trust, retirement plan and family office services.
Michi Financial Holding Company and its subsidiaries do not provide legal, tax or accounting advice. Please consult your own advisors to determine how this information applies to your situation.