Author Archives: investsense

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About investsense

I am an ERISA/securities attormey, CFP Emeritus, and Accredited Wealth Management Advisor. I am also a former securites compliance director, I provide forensic investment analyses to help 401(k)/403(b) plan sponsors and other investment fiduciaries avoid legal liability exposure and protect their financial well-being. I am the creator of the Active Management Value Ratio metric, which analyzes the cost-efficiency of investments for investment fiduciaries and attorneys.

“Hidden” Assets – Potential Liability Implication of the LaRue Decision for Attorneys, Fiduciaries and Their Clients

Posted on November 26, 2013 by investsense

During a recent deposition of an executor, I asked the executor, a bank trust officer, whether the bank had evaluated the defined contribution plan in which the deceased had participated. The trust officer replied that the funds in deceased’s account … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, ERISA, pension plans, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pimento Cheese Sandwiches and Investor Protection

Posted on October 30, 2013 by investsense

Yesterday I was in North Georgia in connection with a possible case. I took the opportunity to have lunch with a high school classmate who now lives in the area. Both the company and the food were excellent, but both … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Variable Annuities, Variable Annuity Abuse, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Financial Planning vs. Financial Plans

Posted on October 9, 2013 by investsense

Many financial planners charge $5,000 or more to develop a retirement plan, or a five-year plan, for you and your family. You will receive a nice, thick brochure with numbers in it. Separate each page carefully. You now have a … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Active Management Value Ratio 2.0 Worksheet

Posted on September 3, 2013 by investsense

I have had a lot of people ask me if could provide a simple worksheet that would allow them to quickly calculate the AMVR. Ask and ye shall receive. I have also provided an example of a completed worksheet. All … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Advice, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why Wall Street and Insurance Industry Oppose a Fiduciary Standard

Posted on August 26, 2013 by investsense

Excellent article from Forbes and author John Wasik on the real reason that Wall Street and the insurance industry are fighting so hard to prevent the establish of a universal fiduciary standard. As usual, a battle of the best interests. … Continue reading →

Posted in Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

CommonSense InvestSense: Accumulating and Preserving Wealth

Posted on August 21, 2013 by investsense

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored – Aldous Huxley Your account is a brokerage account and not an advisory account. Our interests may not always be the same as yours. Please ask us questions to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Matter of Trust and Wealth Preservation

Posted on August 5, 2013 by investsense

As many people know, I have been a very outspoken advocate for a universal fiduciary standard for the financial services industry. As a securities/wealth preservation attorney and a former compliance director, I am well aware of the questionable practices that … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“CommonSense InvestSense™”…Account Management

Posted on June 6, 2013 by investsense

“Don’t gamble. Take all your savings and buy some good stock and hold it ’til it goes up then sell it. If it don’t go up, don’t buy it. Will Rogers If only it were that easy. While no one … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, Retirement, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Special Investor Alert-Questions About New “Barron’s Advisors”

Posted on May 29, 2013 by investsense

In February, 2012 I wrote a post regarding the value of Barron’s “Top 1000 Advisers List,” citing the questionable criteria used and lack of transparency on the calculation process used in preparing the list. Barron’s has just published a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Uncategorized, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“Humble Arithmetic,” Prudence, and Successful Investing

Posted on May 22, 2013 by investsense

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. – Aldous Huxley In 2005, John Bogle, of Vanguard fame, spoke at the 60th anniversary conference of the Financial Analysts Journal. Mr. Bogle’s presentation, entitled “The Relentless Rules of Humble … Continue reading →

Posted in Investment Portfolios, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement Distribution Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment