The Philosophy of Capped Losses
Winning by Not Losing
The financial industry is dominated by a culture of speculation. Turn on any financial news channel, and you will hear pundits shouting about the next “hot stock” or urging you to “buy the dip.” For a retiree, this noise is not just distracting; it is dangerous. Richard Goodwin’s advisory services are built on a contrarian yet mathematically superior philosophy for the distribution phase of life: Capped Losses.
The math of loss is punishing. If your portfolio loses 50% of its value, you need a 100% gain just to get back to even. That recovery could take a decade—time that you, as a retiree, simply do not have. Richard believes that avoiding large losses is far more important than chasing speculative gains. Our secured investment advisory focuses on products and strategies that place a contractual floor under your assets. We aim for “singles and doubles” that compound steadily, rather than swinging for home runs and risking a strikeout.
Customized Risk Assessment
We do not believe in “cookie-cutter” portfolios or automated “robo-advisors.” Your retirement is personal, and your investment strategy should be too. Richard begins every advisory relationship with a deep dive into your risk tolerance. But we don’t just ask, “Are you aggressive or conservative?” We ask deeper questions: “If the market dropped 20% tomorrow, how would that change your lifestyle? Would you still travel? Would you sleep at night?”
Based on these honest conversations, we pair you with secured investment products from highly-rated carriers like Humana, Bluecross, Aetna, and others. Richard acts as a curator, filtering the thousands of available financial products down to the few that meet our rigorous standards for safety, solvency, and performance history.
The Role of the Steward
Richard sees himself not just as an advisor, but as a steward of your legacy. With forty-five years of experience, he has seen the dot-com crash, the 2008 financial crisis, and the post-COVID volatility. He has seen firsthand how unhedged portfolios can be decimated, ruining retirement plans overnight. This history drives his passion for “safety-first” planning.
We focus on utilizing Indexed strategies that allow for upside potential while strictly limiting downside risk. This is the “sleep well at night” portfolio. You participate in the growth of the economy, but when the economy falters, your principal is insulated. We explain the trade-offs of every vehicle in plain English—no jargon, no hidden clauses. You will understand exactly what you own, why you own it, and how it protects you.
Behavioral Finance Coaching
One of the greatest values of a seasoned advisor is behavioral coaching. When markets become volatile, human nature urges us to panic and sell at the bottom. Richard serves as the emotional circuit breaker between you and your money. Because your assets are in secured vehicles with capped losses, we can calmly review your plan during market turmoil, showing you that your principal is safe.
This prevents the “buy high, sell low” cycle that destroys so much wealth. By providing a disciplined, defensive framework, Goodwin Insurance & Associates helps you stay the course. We are not trying to beat the S&P 500 every year; we are trying to beat the plan we set out for your life. By prioritizing the return of your money over the return on your money, we ensure that your financial foundation remains unshakable, regardless of the economic climate.