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Our Philosophy

At SKY Investment Group, we are defined by our independence, driven by rigorous research, and committed to direct-instrument money management. Based in Hartford, Connecticut, our firm was founded on a single, uncompromising principle: our first duty is always to you, our client.

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Independence, Service, Stewardship

Independence is our greatest asset. It lets us act with conviction and answer only to you and your family, shaping how we are structured, what we invest in, and how we serve.

Clients come to SKY for an investment process they can understand. They stay for how we serve them.

Open phone policy. Call during office hours and a member of our staff answers in person, every time.
Daily account reconciliation. Your accounts are reconciled against your custodian's records each day, so dividends arrive as expected.
Daily price monitoring. Price movements are flagged and reviewed the day they happen.
Daily review of deposits and disbursements. Every transaction is checked to confirm it is booked correctly.
Weekly account review. Each week we review performance, consistency with your instructions, and the adequacy of your cash reserves.

Above all, we are fiduciaries, here to guide you and your family across generations in the stewardship of what you have built.

Learn more about our Proprietary Systems

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Equity Management
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Philosophy

Investment Philosophy

At SKY, we invest in equities and bonds based on timeless principles:

Earnings growth drives share prices. Over time a company's earnings lift its stock, so we hold industry leaders built to keep growing, with a preferred horizon of ten years or more.
Dividends are a meaningful source of return. They account for roughly half the total return from common stocks and steady a portfolio in hard markets, so we favor companies that pay and raise them consistently.
Management quality shows in the numbers. We prefer companies with stable or rising margins, run by teams who allocate capital with care.
Price discipline matters. When price runs ahead of value, we wait.
Costs and taxes are worth managing. Commissions, spreads, fees, and taxes all work against the individual investor, so we buy good companies at fair prices and hold them; our turnover averages about 15% a year, against the 100% or more typical of institutional strategies.

“One should never confuse investing with speculation. Investing is what one does with permanent capital to preserve it, grow it and/or generate predictable income. Speculation is something one does with highly discretionary cash flow that one is willing and able to lose.”

— RJ Pye, Associate Portfolio Manager at SKY Investment Group

Business Philosophy

SKY Investment Group is structured to minimize conflicts of interest.

Our firm is independent of any particular custodian of securities. We arrange custody of your securities and trade through the custody and brokerage platform that best suits your particular situation.

We operate on an explicit, advisory-fee-only compensation structure. SKY does not charge commissions and has no hidden charges. We are motivated to reduce your trading expenses and generate the best returns possible, subject to your unique tolerance for risk. Our interests are aligned with yours.

“Between commissions, spreads, fees and taxes, the deck is stacked against the taxable individual investor. The antidote is buying great companies at reasonable prices and holding them for long periods of time.”

— Bob Bingham, Founder of SKY Investment Group

Equity Management Philosophy

Our approach to managing equity portfolios is based on the premise that the ultimate driver of share price appreciation is a company’s underlying earnings growth. Our objective is to acquire companies when they are selling below their intrinsic value and to allow the underlying earnings growth to drive share prices higher.

The companies we hold tend to be highly profitable and financially strong, generating real cash and allocating it well. In our experience, disciplined capital allocators make better long-term investments. As sectors move in and out of favor over a cycle, we add to positions that are temporarily overlooked and lighten those that have grown expensive.

“We prefer to take a 10-year perspective on our holdings. It keeps us focused on identifying stocks with a long-term opportunity for growth and avoiding stocks with short term momentum but long-term price risk.”

— Bob Bingham, CFA®, Founder of SKY Investment Group

Fixed Income Management Philosophy

Bonds complement your equity portfolio, providing income, stability, and at times appreciation. We build each one for your particular need for income, capital preservation, and growth.

A fixed income strategy starts with your income needs and tax situation, set against your time horizon and comfort with risk. From there we shape the portfolio around three things;

  • Your tax situation, and which sectors offer you the best value.
  • Your income needs and tolerance for volatility, which, with prevailing rates, set your target average maturity.
  • Your capital and disbursement requirements, which set your bond durations.

We build from the taxable or tax-free universe, laddering maturities across a span of years so you keep flexibility if rates move sharply, and we adjust the ladder as credit, rates, taxes, and pricing warrant.

“We believe independence is our greatest asset. It allows us to think clearly, act with conviction, and stay accountable only to those who matter most—our clients.”

— Kendall Bolt, CEO of SKY Investment Group

You Deserve to See the Full Picture

Our first step together is a complimentary Full Picture Conversation. We take this time to sit down and map out how each piece of your financial life connects, giving you a clear view of exactly what’s working, what isn’t, and what to do next.

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