Long-term guideposts during a "poly-crisis" - March 2026

Where to focus your attention in troubled times

by - Thomas Twombly

artist - Daisy Lopez

In a world of breathtaking change that some have recently dubbed “poly-crisis”, it’s very tempting to focus all your attention on the urgent anxieties of the day – and they are plentiful. Doing that, however, entails running the risk of losing sight of critical long-term guideposts. In my experience, such guideposts can mark the difference between success and failure, so deliberately pausing to affirm their value is priceless. In my view, it’s key to leading a principled life of consequence.

We first did this as a team decades ago, in the middle of 2002, during the worst phase of the first of the two major market collapses, along with the “Great Financial Crisis” of 2008 – 2009, that comprised the so-called “lost decade.” In the months following the shock of 9-11, the fear and outrage at the sudden collapse of Enron – then the 5th largest company in the S&P 500 - and the disgust at the corporate fraud and malfeasance that made companies like Worldcom and people like Bernie Evers household names back then, we took such a pause. We invested time, as a team, to clearly define the core principles and beliefs that still make us who we are today.

It was one of the most valuable investments we ever made, and that effort continues to pay dividends. Not only did it help us to endure that miserable period by allowing us to focus on important things we had the ability to control (as we often encourage our clients to do) it also helped us navigate every subsequent crisis by establishing a firm sense of resolve about what we truly hold most important, and why.

Out of those discussions, in particular, came a focus on behaving with absolute integrity and close-knit teamwork. With trust apparently so lacking in the corporate world at the time, and with high-profile “leaders” so focused on their own selfish aims at the expense of others whom they were supposed to serve (sound familiar?) it became clear that we might stand strong by adhering to a different set of principles; core beliefs that support the primacy of true fiduciary relationships and an uncommon commitment to good stewardship.

To this day, we regularly reinforce those principles. As a Registered Investment Advisor, Lucien, Stirling & Gray Advisory Group, Inc. is legally, ethically, and morally bound to act as a fiduciary – always placing the best interests of our clients ahead of our own. We are proud of upholding that responsibility. We are a fiercely independent firm, which means we’re free from undue coercion from a corporate overlord. We answer solely to our clients, and we prefer it that way. We do not sell products, and we do not accept commissions. We serve, and we solve problems, period. The only revenue we derive comes from the advisory fees paid directly to us by our clients. And we take great pains to ensure that those fees are fully and systematically disclosed – in writing.

While we always strive to provide clients with good investment results, we are firmly convinced that investment performance alone will never allow anyone to achieve the results they want. More important by far is appropriate investor behavior, practiced and polished over a lifetime of following a well-defined, well-executed, personal plan. This is where we strive to provide unique value.

In our experience, nothing builds patience, discipline, and faith in the future as effectively as having a clear plan and a trusted advisor alongside you to help keep you on track, accountable, and making sure that important things get done in a prudent, consistent manner.

To make sure we’re always able to keep that commitment, we purposefully limit our clientele to a manageable number of people whom we respect and enjoy, so every client we serve can be comfortable sharing deeply personal information in a relationship of trust, and so they can be confident that we will be there to help them adapt and overcome whatever unexpected changes and financial challenges they face – now, and in the future.

We engage in that systematic process of on-going planning and preparation with clients to relieve anxiety about the future and to mitigate fear of the unknown. And we constantly engage in the same process ourselves, because the example we set by our own behavior is the most important statement we can make about the value of our commitment.

We have grown steadily in the last four years, and at the rate we’re going, we may eventually see the day approaching when we will need and want to stop accepting new clients. However, between now and then, we would much prefer to establish new relationships with the friends and colleagues of our existing clients. We enjoy working with you, and we are certain we’ll enjoy working with people whom you like and admire.

To that end, we will soon be asking you – in our conversations, and at special client appreciation events during this coming year – to introduce us to such people - provided, of course, that you are perfectly comfortable doing so.

We don’t expect – and frankly, we don’t think we deserve – introductions to be made unless you are completely satisfied and happy with the services we are providing to you.

That’s why, as we begin these conversations, we will urge you to tell us, freely and candidly, anything you feel you need, or even just want from us, that we’re not already providing. Your complete satisfaction remains our primary objective.

But if we are serving you in the manner in which you had hoped and expected we would, then – and only then – we will ask you to introduce us to someone you believe should be similarly served.

These are very challenging times for people’s sense of comfort and trust, and many are considering seeking a second opinion about their financial situation, their investment portfolios, their long-term plans, or the nature of the relationship they have (or don’t have) with a trusted advisor.

Thank you again for your continued confidence and trust. Here’s to the hope that the remainder of 2026 will bring all of us health, happiness, and a deep and lasting sense of wellbeing!

Thank you again for all your confidence and trust.

Thomas G. Twombly

President