FAQ

General FAQ


Q:  How long has Niemann been in business?
A:  Niemann has successfully served clients nationwide since 1991. Niemann's principals collectively possess more than 78 years of investment management experience.
Q:  What kind of a money manager is Niemann?
A:  Niemann Capital Management is an active portfolio manager whose dynamic methodology is best described as "tactical asset allocation."
Q:  What are the total assets under management at Niemann?
A:  As of October 31, 2008 our assets under management were approximately one billion.
Q:  What is the difference between active and passive management?
A:  Passive management is like a cookie cutter. Once a passive asset allocation strategy is set, it remains static, regardless of the movements of the market. By contrast, active management is characterized by flexibility and movement. It adapts in direct response to changes in the market.
Q:  What exactly is a separately managed account?
A:  Unlike a mutual fund, where all investors' money is co-mingled or put into one big bucket, a separate account consists of a single investor's assets, which are managed in an individual portfolio.
Q:  What is the minimum amount required to open a Niemann account?
A:  The minimum required to open an account with Niemann is $100,000.
Q:  What type of products does Niemann manage?
A:  Niemann manages three versions of separately managed accounts, i.e., allocation strategies that employ mutual funds and ETFs, variable annuities, and variable universal life products.
Q:  Why do you call your products "strategies"?
A:  At Niemann, we refer to each product as a separate "strategy," based on the specific investment objective of each. These strategies range from conservative to aggressive.
Q:  What actually happens to a client's money within an actively managed strategy at Niemann?
A:  Within our aggressive strategies, Niemann's portfolio managers rotate (or move) a client's money from weakening investment positions to positions they determine are gaining strength. In adverse market conditions, within our conservative strategies, our portfolio managers will rotate a client's money to a defensive or cash position, until they identify and confirm the next emerging investment opportunity.
Q:  What do you charge for your active management?
Q:  What does "net of fees" mean?
A:  Performance net of fees means that we subtract our management fees out of the account first, and then calculate performance, giving a more accurate representation of returns achieved.
Q:  What is a benchmark?
A:  A benchmark is a standard, usually an index, used to evaluate the performance of your account with the performance of a comparable investment category, such as the S&P 500. An appropriate benchmark would be one that closely parallels the strategy you are in. At Niemann, we calculate custom benchmarks for each strategy to give the most accurate comparison possible.
Q:  How do I open an account with Niemann?
Q:  When do I call Niemann and when do I call my Financial Advisor?
A:  Your Financial Advisor is the most familiar with your overall financial plan. When questions arise, it is advisable to contact your Financial Advisor first, and they will contact Niemann as needed.
Q:  What custodians do you work with?
Q:  What is required to sell Niemann Capital Management's products?
Q:  I don't see a specific product in your available strategies.  Will you manage a new product?
Q:  How do I get set up to sell Niemann?