"The investment landscape has changed dramatically, and new strategies are constantly emerging," says Jared Johnson, CFP®, Wealth Manager and Shareholder at Echo Wealth Management. "Our role is to thoughtfully integrate innovative solutions that strengthen portfolios while staying aligned with each client’s long-term plan."

At Echo Wealth Management, alternative investment strategies are never used for complexity’s sake. Instead, they are applied deliberately—to improve portfolio resilience, manage risk, and help clients remain confident during periods of market uncertainty.

Each portfolio is custom-built around a client’s goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, and cash-flow needs. When appropriate, alternative strategies are used alongside traditional investments to expand opportunity, enhance durability, and maintain alignment with long-term objectives.

Structured Notes

Echo Wealth Management has partnered with leading banks for many years to design custom structured notes. These hybrid investments combine bond-like downside protection with equity-linked return potential, allowing clients to participate in market growth while managing risk.

Structured notes can also be designed with tax efficiency in mind. For example, a 13-month structure may qualify for long-term capital gains treatment while offering return potential that exceeds traditional short-term fixed-income options. This flexibility allows strategies to align not just with market conditions, but with a client’s broader tax and planning considerations.

Buffered ETFs

Buffered exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are designed to provide a defined level of downside protection over a set period—typically 12 months—in exchange for a capped upside.

These strategies can be particularly useful for investors who want equity exposure but are concerned about near-term volatility, the risk of poor market timing, or preserving capital as they approach retirement. Buffered ETFs offer a transparent, liquid way to add guardrails around equity exposure while remaining fully invested.

Evergreen Private Equity Strategies

For clients seeking long-term growth beyond public markets, evergreen private equity strategies offer access to a broad universe of private companies—without many of the traditional barriers historically associated with private equity investing.

Unlike traditional private equity funds, which often require large minimum investments, 10–12-year lock-up periods, capital calls, and delayed K-1 tax forms, evergreen private equity strategies are designed to be far more accessible and flexible. These structures typically feature:

• Lower minimum investments
• Monthly investment opportunities
• Quarterly redemption windows
• Simplified tax reporting via Form 1099 instead of K-1s

Over the past 20 years, private equity has outperformed public markets with lower volatility, reflecting the ability of private companies to grow outside the pressures of public market cycles. Today, approximately 87% of U.S. companies with $100 million or more in revenue are private—particularly in high-growth sectors such as technology and healthcare.

"If investors limit themselves only to public markets, they may miss a significant portion of future growth," Jared explains. "Evergreen private equity allows clients to participate in that growth in a more flexible, modern way."

Echo Wealth Management conducts extensive due diligence on these strategies, simplifying what has traditionally been a complex investment category. Client positions are fully integrated into their overall portfolio and viewable directly within the Schwab mobile app—ensuring transparency, ease of access, and ongoing alignment with the client’s broader financial plan.

Putting Strategy Into Practice

In one example, a retired couple was able to maintain their withdrawal strategy throughout the market turbulence of 2022. While both equity and fixed-income markets experienced unusual double-digit declines, a structured note provided income stability and downside protection—allowing the clients to remain focused on their long-term plan rather than reacting to headlines.

In another scenario, clients planning a major purchase—such as a second home or a large renovation—needed access to liquidity without triggering unnecessary tax consequences. In these cases, Echo Wealth Management may employ tailored solutions that allow clients to meet cash needs while continuing to manage their investment portfolio in line with their long-term strategy.

"Our objective is not simply to pursue returns," Jared explains. "It’s to construct portfolios that are resilient, adaptable, and aligned with the life our clients want to live—through all market environments."

📅 Schedule your complimentary Discovery Call with one of our associate wealth managers:
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