Equity Investment Corporation (EIC) is a private investment management firm based in Atlanta. EIC works with both inidividuals and institutional clients, like charitable organizations and government entities. As a fee-only firm, EIC generates revenue solely from the advisory fees that clients pay, not third-party commissions for selling or recommending insurance products.
Equity Investment Corp Background
EIC has been in business as a registered investment advisor (RIA) since 1986, specializing in investment advisory services and equity strategies. The firm’s owners are W. Andrew Bruner, R. Terrence Irrgang and Ian T. Zabor. The trio collectively has more than 50 years experience working at EIC.
The team at EIC features a number of accredited professionals, including six chartered financial analysts (CFAs), two certified financial planners (CFPs), five certified investment management analysts (CIMAs) and one certified public accountant (CPA).
Equity Investment Corp Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
EIC’s client base includes individuals and high-net-worth individuals, trusts, corporations, defined benefit and defined contribution plans, Taft-Hartley plans, not-for-profit institutions, foundations, endowments, government entities, insurance companies and mutual funds.
The firm says its minimum account sizes vary based on account type, but it doesn’t specify the exact amounts.
Services Offered by Equity Investment Corp
EIC mainly offers portfolio management and provides the following equity strategies: All-Cap Value, Large-Cap Value and Mid-Cap Value. The firm also offers portfolios that combine its equity strategies. Along with managing Environmental, Social and Governance portfolios (ESG), EIC says it sub-advises a wide range of registered investment advisory organizations and provides discretionary portfolio management for institutional and private investors through separate accounts.
Equity Investment Corp Investment Philosophy
EIC believes the key to long-term investment success is avoiding significant losses, according to its website. "We are not 'benchmark-centric' investors focused on relative returns. Instead, we employ absolute return framework which provides flexibility to go where value leads."
In honoring its value-oriented investment approach, the firm says it emphasizes a strong price-value discipline, value-trap avoidance, accounting and earnings quality due diligence and well-diversified portfolios.
The firm says it utilizes the Russell 3000 and Russell 1000 indices while furthering its investment process through fundamental research and valuation.
Fees Under Equity Investment Corp
EIC’s management fees range from 0.30% to 1% and are exclusive of transaction fees and brokerage commissions. The firm provides investment management services to high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients through separate accounts, but it does not specify the management fees for such services.
EIC’s wrap and unified managed account (UMA) programs also come with fees that aren’t specified in the firm’s brochure. The EIC Value Fund pays the firm annual asset-based fees.
What to Watch Out For
EIC doesn’t have any disclosures of legal or regulatory violations on the Form ADV it filed most recently with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC).
However, the firm does not offer financial planning. If that is a need, consider allowing SmartAsset to find a financial advisor in your area who can provide this service.
It also should be noted that some EIC employees are also representatives of a broker-dealer who distributes the firm's mutual fund to other financial advisors, broker-dealers and financial intermediaries. However, these employees do not receive commissions from direct sales by broker-dealers distributing the EIC fund. And as an SEC-registered advisory firm, EIC has a fiduciary duty to always act in clients' best interests.
If you’d like a better idea of the firm’s minimum account size requirements, it’s likely best to speak with a firm representative.
Opening an Account With Equity Investment Corp
If you're interested in opening an account with EIC, call the firm directly at (404) 239-0111 or send an email to info@eicatlanta.com
All information was accurate as of the writing of this article.
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