That opportunity grew especially compelling during the 2000-’02 stock market decline, which disrupted the activities of many large investment firms. By then, Byron was working in the Los Angeles office of U.S. Trust Company, a prominent and storied New York firm that held fiercely to its independence for 150 years until being acquired in 2000. The combination of new ownership and turbulent capital market conditions prompted several reorganizations of the company. It became clear to Byron that he could do a better job for clients on his own. Byron and Lisa launched Live Oak Capital on October 1, 2003, which became West Oak Capital after a lengthy process to trademark the company name. Lisa secured office space for us, set up our computer systems, designed our website and managed our back office activities, while Byron focused on working with clients.
The rapid growth of RIA firms has created an entire industry of businesses designed to support them. In the process of creating our company, we found outside specialists that provide legal work, computer systems, compliance consulting, research, record-keeping, email retention, website hosting, accounting, payroll, insurance, employee benefits and a variety of other back-office services needed to successfully manage and grow our practice. The ability to subcontract with firms that specialize in their unique area of expertise provides West Oak Capital with top notch capabilities and resources, while enabling us to remain focused on managing client portfolios.
Boutique investment firms are attractive places for experienced professionals, and we have been contacted by a fair number of people looking to join our shop. We welcome portfolio managers with solid credentials, relevant experience, an investment philosophy that matches our own, a client-focused mindset and a certain degree of humility. One such person is Jerry Clebanoff, who joined West Oak Capital in 2006. Jerry had a long and productive tenure as Chief Investment Officer at City National Bank, followed by six years at U.S. Trust Company, where he and Byron worked together. In addition to being an experienced and highly capable portfolio manager, Jerry is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, where he teaches Finance courses.
West Oak Capital is a trademark of West Oak Capital, LLC registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark office.
West Oak Capital, LLC 2801 Townsgate Road Suite 112 Westlake Village California 91361
PH. 805.230.8282 FX 805.230.8283
Who looks out for your best interest? We asked ourselves that question, and decided to look at the people we trust to help us with important aspects of our lives: our accountant, attorney, dentist and doctor. These are not big, anonymous institutions with dozens of people answering phones at a remote call center. They are individuals, often working as a sole practitioner or in a small group practice, who take the time to understand our needs. Working with them over time, we gain respect for their ability to look out for our best interests in their professional discipline.
If you want good service, go to a firm where you are an important client. There are a lot of smart, educated people who work on Wall Street, but they have not always done the best job looking out for their clients' best interests. There is nothing quite like building up a practice from scratch to reinforce our appreciation for every one of our clients.
Our Story
We help people and organizations pursue their financial objectives in an uncertain and often risky economic environment. Our work is about more than just numbers. It is about the story behind the numbers. We are protecting people's lifestyle, looking out for family members and supporting charitable interests. We are fortunate to be able to work with notable institutional clients that provide millions of dollars each year in support of programs for education, medical research, the handicapped, children, abused women, hospitals and compassionate animal care. Our management of their investment portfolio helps to make the important work of these charitable organizations possible.
Investment management has long been the bastion of large banks, brokerage firms and insurance companies. However, during the recent twenty years or so, clients have been increasingly attracted to a different type of service model, the independent registered investment advisor (RIA). Operating under a fiduciary standard of care that puts their clients’ best interests first, RIA firms can provide more objective advice, better cost management and more personalized attention to each client’s specific situation.
Byron Snider and his wife, Lisa, worked together at Dimensional Fund Advisors during the early years of that firm’s involvement with the fast-growing RIA community, and they got to see first-hand the benefits provided by those firms. Dimensional Fund Advisors was instrumental in Charles Schwab’s development of its custody platform for RIAs, which blossomed into a hugely successful business for both companies. It was during that time that Byron first began thinking about opening his own firm.
Our first office was in this building.
We moved to new, larger office space and brought Marcia Watkins on board as our Operations Manager in 2008. Marcia brings experience working in office administration for big and small companies, and she has been invaluable helping clients with a wide variety of account administration matters, as well as coordinating our internal compliance, reporting and proxy voting activities. She was referred to us by one of our clients who knew Marcia would be a good fit with our company.
In the course of working with our clients, they often share personal observations, stories and experiences that have been meaningful in their lives. In some cases, those experiences have led them to endorse specific charities. West Oak Capital is pleased to support our local community and charities, including many causes that are important to our clients. We have contributed to:
We also devote our time to community interests. Byron serves as a volunteer instructor at the American Academy of Self Defense in Newbury Park, where he holds the rank of second degree
black belt. In addition to providing martial arts training, the school has been active with fundraisers that support our local Firemen and wildfire victims, American Red Cross and The NephCure Foundation. Jerry serves as a Trustee of the Community Foundation for Oak Park. Lisa serves on the Social Committee at North Ranch Country Club, and Marcia works with the Doberman Pinscher & Little Paws Rescue, a charity that finds new homes for displaced pets.
We make housecalls. Our clients’ time is valuable, so it is often the case that we will meet at their home or office. Of course, we are available by telephone and email to discuss any questions or action items for their accounts. Clients typically authorize us to work with their accountant and attorney to coordinate our activities and provide any information needed to handle their tax and legal work. We prepare quarterly updates on the capital markets, and clients receive trade confirmations and regular account statements directly from Charles Schwab.
We manage each account separately, which gives our clients additional transparency and control over their portfolios. We build the core portion of most client portfolios using individual stocks and bonds, so clients know more precisely the risks and opportunities that are part of their
Lisa, Byron and Jerry designing our new space. Byron and Jerry working in the conference room. Byron in his new office. (click on photos to enlarge)
account. That is an important part of our ability to provide comfort for our clients, particularly during turbulent market conditions. And it is important to us, because the majority of our new clients come to us as referrals from our existing clients.
West Oak Capital is now in its eighth year of serving clients. We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from friends, other professional service firms and our clients who have helped us build our practice. Thank you for letting us tell you “our story,” and we look forward to providing future updates on our progress.
We look forward to hosting a visit with you.
Any links in the West Oak Capital website to other websites are not intended as referrals or endorsements, but are merely provided for convenience and informational purposes. West Oak Capital does not endorse the content of such websites nor the products, services or other items offered through such websites.
