picture of leaves
Advantages
Services
Investment Style
Staff
Fees
Articles
Performance

Home
 
Lyon Capital Management
Articles

With the turmoil in the banking and investment industry in 2008 and 2009 customers want to know how are they protected when they invest with Lyon Capital Management.  Lyon Capital Management does not take custody of client assets.  Customers of Lyon Capital Management establish accounts with a large, reputable, national brokerage firm.  Then Lyon Capital Management is given discretionary authority by the customer to make trades in these accounts. 

These trades are so-called "third party" or arms-length transactions.  This substantially reduces a client's risk.  The customer receives monthly statements from the national brokerage firm in addition to statements from Lyon Capital Management. 

No entity, not Lyon Capital Management or a reputable brokerage firm can prevent market loss – that is loss due to market related factors.  However, customers do have substantial protections against fraud.

Any brokerage firm recommended by Lyon Capital Management for custody of client assets is a member of the SIPC (Security Investor’s Protection Corporation) and as such accounts are insured by the SIPC for up to $500,000 per account for loss due to fraud – that is, some type of occurrence where securities or title to securities are stolen.  Instances where the SIPC has not been able to make investors completely whole (up to these stated limits) are extraordinarily rare.  Here are some statistics about claims made with the SIPC since it’s formation in 1971 through the end of 2007:

  • There have been 317 organization failures handled by the SIPC.
  • Of these failures only .8% were SIPC member institution failures.
  • The number of claims exceeding SIPC limits was only 349.
  • Only .05% of claims were not fully satisfied

In addition to SIPC coverage, additional brokerage insurance is provided through Lloyd’s of London.  This coverage provides protection of securities and cash up to an aggregate of $600 million, and is limited to a combined return to any customer of up to $150 million.  This protection becomes available in the event that SIPC limits are exhausted. 

Lyon Capital Management also monitors the financial health of the brokerage firm we recommend.  The firm must:

  • Custody a substantial level of assets
  • Exhibit strong credit ratings from Moody’s S&P and Fitch
  • Maintain exceptional financial health as measured by standard financial benchmarks

By focusing on investing your assets and not on custody of your assets there is no conflict of interest.  Transactions are arm's length.  And, the risk of fraud is substantially mitigated.

24B Grove Street, Pittsford, NY  14534
Tel: (585) 248-9821
E-Fax: (413) 383-0768