Interview | Marc Wishkoff | Senior Managing Director & Head of Business Development
How CCT’s Boutique Status, Personalized Approach Builds Trust with Clients
In this interview, Senior Managing Director and Head of Business Development Marc Wishkoff shares insights into the firm’s commitment to comprehensive wealth management solutions.
How would you describe the Wealth Advisor/Relationship Manager role at Chevy Chase Trust?
At Chevy Chase Trust, relationship managers play a dual role. Our team serves as both advisors and coordinators. We draw on a team of specialists with deep expertise in investments, estate and financial planning, and trust matters. Our job involves understanding clients’ needs, identifying potential issues and bringing in the right specialists to create personalized solutions. This often involves coordinating with both internal teams and external partners, such as accountants or attorneys, to keep everyone on the same page and focused on solving the client’s objectives and goals.
What sets Chevy Chase Trust apart from other firms?
Chevy Chase Trust is truly a unique provider in a crowded industry. We offer national firm expertise in a boutique size, with a transparent investment philosophy and the ability to speak directly to the decision-makers managing your portfolio. We are intentionally not built for scale — a distinctive model that helps us maintain a focus on our clients’ objectives over everything else. As a pioneer in thematic investing, our philosophy, process and portfolios stand out in an increasingly homogenous industry.
Can you tell me more about your unique model?
Because we are privately owned and operated, we have the freedom to ignore the constraints of institutionalized money management and self-serving products. This unbiased approach allows us to provide truly client-centric advice. We’re also boutique in size and nature, and we offer the same level of service for all clients, regardless of how much they invest with us. With decisions made in-house and no bureaucratic layers, we can act quickly to address client needs. Our clients and colleagues avoid dealing with distant departments and resources to solve needs or obtain solutions. Instead, my colleagues and I can walk down the hall to get answers or bring the right team member on board. This streamlined structure helps us stay focused on delivering personalized, high-quality service.
Why do you believe your clients value this approach?
It comes down to trust. Our team is committed to putting clients’ interests first, guided by our fiduciary principles and a dedication to transparent communication. We serve as a trusted advisor our clients can call for any financial matter, even if it’s outside our direct purview. Additionally, clients appreciate knowing their investments are in expert hands, allowing them to focus on their lives. Whether it is financial planning, investment management or personalized attention, we adapt to meet each client’s unique needs.
What are your clients getting that they cannot find at larger institutions?
Our boutique structure and private ownership allow us to concentrate on long-term client objectives instead of quarterly company profits. We are able to allocate resources to handle client matters so that the timing aligns with their financial goals. We also heavily invest in our business and prioritize attracting and retaining experienced talent. In fact, our investment team comprising 21 members boasts an average of 21 years of industry experience. Over the past three years, we have also grown our firm’s employee base by almost 30%1, adding several relationship managers to ensure our clients receive the high-touch service they deserve. This investment in our team ensures that every client receives personalized attention, helping our firm maintain a more than 97% client retention rate2.
As the industry shifts toward passive investing and outsourcing, we remain active managers and differentiate ourselves by partnering directly with clients on their unique goals, leveraging our disciplined process and unwavering focus on long-term, stable growth.
Link to Important Disclosures.
