--- title: When In Doubt, Protect It - 5 reasons why SMAs are right for you description: Discover the benefits of Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) and why they may be right for you. Learn how SMAs offer personalized, tax-efficient, and accessible investment options tailored to your needs. image: https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/hubfs/ft-img-men-baloon.jpg --- [![Vineyard Global Advisors](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Vineyard_GlobalAdvisors_logo_transparent.png?width=250&height=87&name=Vineyard_GlobalAdvisors_logo_transparent.png "Vineyard Global Advisors")](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/) - [Home](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com) - [Our Firm](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/our-firm) - [Philosophy](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/our-philosophy) - Strategies - [Strategy Overview](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/strategies) - Equity Alpha - [Quantitative Value](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/quantitative-value) - [Quantitative Growth](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/quantitative-growth) - [Sector Rotation](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/sector-rotation) - [Style Flex](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/style-flex) - [Optimized Equity Alpha](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/optimized-equity-alpha) - [Enhanced S&P 500](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/enhanced-500) - Income - [Russell 3000 Enhanced Dividend](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/russell-3000) - [Dynamic Yield](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/dynamic-yield) - [Risk Managed Income](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/risk-managed-income) - [Global Fixed Income](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/global-fixed-income) - Asset Allocation - [Advantage Plus Series](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/advantage-plus-series) - [Allocation Plus Series](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/allocation-plus-series) - [ETF Advantage Series](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/etf-advantage-series) - Insights - [Market Commentary](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/commentary) - [Quarterly Webinars](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/commentary/tag/webinars) - [In The News](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/tag/in-the-news) - [Blog](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog) - [For Advisors](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/wealth-advisors) - Contact - [Contact Us](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/contact-us) - [Request for Proposal](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/request-for-proposal) ![VGA_Hero](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/hubfs/VGA_Hero.jpg) [Strategy](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/tag/strategy) | 4 min read # When In Doubt, Protect It - 5 reasons why SMAs are right for you Written by [VGA Investment Team](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/author/vga-investment-team) Apr 16, 2024, 11:14:23 AM ## Separately Managed Accounts ![ft-img-men-baloon](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ft-img-men-baloon.jpg?width=800&height=420&name=ft-img-men-baloon.jpg) The trend of investing in Mutual Funds and ETFs is waning. More and more investors are looking for active and individualized money management. If you are looking to personalize your portfolio to better fit your goals and lifestyle, you are probably looking into a separately managed account. Separately managed accounts, or SMAs, are investment accounts held by individual investors and invested by a professional money manager. These accounts can be personalized based on your financial and tax needs, as well as your personal preferences. Other names for these types of accounts are wrap accounts, private accounts, or individually managed accounts. [![View Our Investment Strategies](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/19651629/dc45f848-cbf6-4a5f-8be6-bcc354664f6a.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/19651629/dc45f848-cbf6-4a5f-8be6-bcc354664f6a) What makes SMAs unique? The key difference is what you own as an investor. With a mutual fund or ETF, you and many other investors own shares of the fund, not the individual stocks or bonds inside the fund. With an SMA, you directly own those stocks or bonds in an account separate from others, giving you flexibility in tailoring strategies to your personal goals, preferences, and tax needs. ![ft-img-sma-chart](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ft-img-sma-chart.jpg?width=1200&height=439&name=ft-img-sma-chart.jpg)JP Morgan In other words, an SMA is not a one-size-fits-all type of vehicle. Instead, it is a shiny car built just for you, with every option you desire. It is yours to own, and it even comes with a money manager to drive for you, striving to keep you safe on the bumpiest roads and deliver you to your planned destination. Read more - [Four Reasons Why SMAs are Great For Investors](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/four-reasons-separately-managed-accounts-are-great-for-investors) SMAs can give you a greater voice in what your portfolio owns and how it is traded or taxed. But are they right for everyone? It was only 10 years ago that the minimum investment to participate in an SMA was $1 million of investable assets or higher. Larger firms like Charles Schwab and Morgan Stanley are working to democratize these types of accounts for investors. We are now seeing minimums as low as $10,000 for an SMA that holds fractional shares of stocks or ETFs. This makes participation so much more accessible. They are no longer just for high-net-worth individuals and are becoming an attractive option for those who are retired or who have more money from a 401k plan to invest.  ## SMAs continue to grow in popularity. > “According to Cerulli Associates, there is about $2 Trillion in > assets in these accounts, up 14.1% from $1.72 Trillion in assets in > 2022, and assets in these accounts are projected to reach 2.9 > Trillion by 2026”. WSJ - 1-9-24 So, the barriers to entry are much lower, but many caution that SMAs still aren’t for everyone. They might be right for you if: - You want to have more input into how your investments are managed, but you don’t have the time, resources, or desire to handle the day-to- day of managing it yourself. - You want your portfolio to reflect your personal values and priorities. - You have specialized or sophisticated needs requiring more personal attention. - You need to diversify a portfolio currently concentrated in specific companies or sectors. - You are in a high tax bracket or are concerned about your exposure to capital gains. There is also the cost to consider. SMAs are, by definition, actively managed, which many believe the average investor should avoid in favor of lower-cost passive mutual funds or ETFs. Average fees depend on many factors, including financial advisor and asset management fees. However, they are very competitive with the average fees associated with participation in mutual funds or ETFs. SMA investors can avoid the sneaky hidden costs of comingled investors in a mutual fund. SMA management fees are competitive with and often less than, the fees charged by advisors using mutual funds or ETFs. Many advisors charge an advisory fee in addition to mutual fund fees, creating many layers of fees. SMA manager fees are often less expensive as they have become more available over the years. The minimums for an SMA are now lower than ever, making them more affordable and easier to access. [![Why Vineyard?](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/19651629/8bfc265a-7b4b-48fd-8d71-bce758fc8c4f.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/19651629/8bfc265a-7b4b-48fd-8d71-bce758fc8c4f) ## Tax Benefits There are very specific tax advantages to investing with a separately managed account. If you are invested in a mutual fund, you can’t control the capital gains distributions - but you can in an SMA. > “Tax loss harvesting is one reason many people are opening SMAs for direct indexing - an investment strategy that involves layering the > underlying securities of an index such as the S&P 500. It lets them sell individual stocks that have declined in value to realize losses so they can offset capital gains and keep more profits.” WSJ - 1-9-24 There are many ways of managing taxes with SMAs: - Sell higher cost shares to limit capital gains. - Avoid capital gains distributions typically paid each year by mutual funds and ETFs. - Offset gains from some securities with losses from others. - Fund accounts with existing securities to avoid selling at a profit and triggering taxes. Investors who seek exposure to several different investment styles should investigate the use of SMAs. Find a wealth manager who has the ability to customize your portfolio and has the experience and flexibility to pivot and adjust as your needs change. SMAs are customized, personalized, tax-efficient, accessible, and affordable, making them an excellent vehicle for your investments. Vineyard Global Advisors portfolios are individually constructed to fit your goals: - Access to institutional caliber platforms. - The deep expertise of VGA's investment professionals is applied directly to your personalized portfolio. - VGA's strategies are designed with risk management in mind - focusing on consistent results over the long term. - A disciplined approach in construction ensures that risk is minimal. [Vineyard Global Advisors](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/strategies) offers 13 fee-only, actively managed, including hedged and long-only investment strategies via separately managed accounts. This includes private credit options for accredited investors. [Contact Us](https://www.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/) to learn more. ![ft-img-bank-baloon](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ft-img-bank-baloon.jpg?width=1200&height=630&name=ft-img-bank-baloon.jpg) | [![View Our Strategies](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/19651629/0f0d02a1-ab92-4994-b098-68cb6f2bae33.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/19651629/0f0d02a1-ab92-4994-b098-68cb6f2bae33) | [![Contact Us Today](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/19651629/542864bc-0da7-4a08-9f27-df9bac129224.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/19651629/542864bc-0da7-4a08-9f27-df9bac129224) | | --- | --- | Investment advisory services are provided through Integrated Advisors Network, LLC (“Integrated”) a registered investment advisor. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Vineyard Global Advisors, LLC is a practice group of Integrated. The opinions expressed herein are those of Vineyard Global Advisors and are subject to change without notice. This material is not financial advice or an offer to sell any product. Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed. This document may contain certain information that constitutes “forward-looking statements” which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “expect,” “will,” “hope,” “forecast,” “intend,” “target,” “believe,” and/or comparable terminology. No assurance, representation, or warranty is made by any person that any of Vineyard’s assumptions, expectations, objectives, and/or goals will be achieved. Nothing contained in this document may be relied upon as a guarantee, promise, assurance, or representation as to the future. Vineyard Global Advisors is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. *Investment advisory services offered through Integrated Advisors Network, LLC (“Integrated), a registered investment advisor. Vineyard Global Advisors is a DBA of Integrated.* Investors cannot invest directly in an index. There is no guarantee that the investment objectives will be achieved. Moreover, past performance is not a guarantee or indicator of future results. Does not constitute advice or a recommendation or offer to sell or a solicitation to deal in any security or financial product. It is provided for information purposes only and on the understanding that the recipient has sufficient knowledge and experience to be able to understand and make their own evaluation of the proposals and services described herein, any risks associated therewith and any related legal, tax, accounting or other material considerations. Integrated is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 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A copy of Integrated's and VGA's current written disclosure brochure filed with the SEC which discusses among other things, business practices, services and fees, is available through the SEC's website at: [www.adviserinfo.sec.gov](https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/?utm_campaign=advisor%20blog%20notices&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2anqtz-_vpysuhnv4rc3vj_dwz7lfh1rhhvpg9b9prvrlvy2m14u-a7zh16kobozkhnzfjzjma367) Previous [← How Banking Regulations Have Given Rise to New Opportunities in Private Credit](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/how-banking-regulations-have-given-rise-to-new-opportunities-in-private-credit) Next [Understanding Volatility Drag: The Hidden Impact on Your Investments →](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/understanding-the-volatility-drag) ## You May Also Like These Perspectives on Strategy [![Cover Photo](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Cover%20Photo.png)](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/consistency-over-volitility) [Market Risk](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/tag/market-risk) ### [Consistency Over Volatility](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/consistency-over-volitility) Aug 4, 2026, 9:54:12 AM | 1 min read [![ft-img-skydiver](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/hubfs/ft-img-skydiver.jpg)](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/5-reasons-why-smas-are-your-best-bet-for-retiremen) [Strategy](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/tag/strategy) ### [5 Reasons Why Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) Are Your Best Bet for Retirement](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/5-reasons-why-smas-are-your-best-bet-for-retiremen) Oct 10, 2024, 1:00:00 PM | 3 min read [![ft-img-skydiver](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/hubfs/ft-img-skydiver.jpg)](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/liquid-or-illiquid-investments) [Strategy](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/tag/strategy) ### [Liquid or Illiquid Investments - Which One is Right for You?](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/blog/liquid-or-illiquid-investments) Aug 15, 2024, 12:00:00 PM | 4 min read ### Subscribe to Vineyard Commentary ![Vineyard_GlobalAdvisors_logo_white](https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Vineyard_GlobalAdvisors_logo_white.png?width=200&name=Vineyard_GlobalAdvisors_logo_white.png) 9800 Mt. 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[Call To Action 01](http://crawfordinvestment-8881895.hs-sites.com/) [Call To Action 02](http://crawfordinvestment-8881895.hs-sites.com/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "VideoObject", "caption" : { "@type" : "MediaObject", "contentUrl" : "https://blog.vineyardglobaladvisors.com/media-transcripts/377705931511/en.vtt", "inLanguage" : "en", "name" : "en Captions" }, "contentUrl" : "https://19651629.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na2.net/hubfs/19651629/video_assets/377705931511/inherited/web_optimized.mp4", "dateModified" : "2026-08-04T15:46:10.036Z", "description" : "Consistency Over Volatility video. Describes Vineyard's philosophy about risk management.", "duration" : "PT5M17S", "height" : 1080, "name" : "Consistency Over Volatility", "thumbnailUrl" : "https://api-na2.hubspot.com/filemanager/api/v3/files/thumbnail-redirect/377705931511?portalId=19651629&size=medium", "uploadDate" : "2026-08-04T15:45:47.998Z", "width" : 1920 } ```