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.

1Q 2022 AMVR “Cheat Sheets”

Posted on April 3, 2022 by investsense

On the 5-year cheat sheet, only one fund, Dodge & Cox Stock (DODGX), posted positive incremental returns on both nominal and risk-adjusted returns. While DODGX passed the AMVR screen on nominal returns, the fund failed to pass the AMVR screen … Continue reading →

Posted in 401k, Active Management Value Ratio, cost efficient investing, cost-effficiency, ERISA, Fiduciary, fiduciary prudence, fiduciary responsibility, Fiduciary Standard, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

4Q 2021 AMVR “Cheat Sheet”

Posted on January 11, 2022 by investsense

At the end of each calendar quarter, InvestSense publishes the 5 and 10-year Active Management Value Ratio (AMVR) scores of the non-index funds in “Pensions & Investments” annual survey of the most used mutual funds in U.S. defined contribution plans. … Continue reading →

Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Consumer Protection, cost efficient investing, cost-effficiency, DOL fiduciary rule, ERISA, Fiduciary, fiduciary prudence, fiduciary responsibility, Fiduciary Standard, financial planning, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Dangers of “Black Box” Financial Planning/Plans

Posted on November 18, 2021 by investsense

Financial planning, when done properly, can be a valuable process to consumers. So say yes to the process of financial planning. However, when it comes to financial plans, avoid the inherent issues of “black box” financial planning and “canned” financial … Continue reading →

Posted in financial planning, Wealth Management | Tagged | Leave a comment

3Q 2021 Top Ten 401(k) AMVR “Cheat Sheet”

Posted on October 3, 2021 by investsense

Posted on October 3, 2021 by jwatkins When InvestSense prepares a forensic analysis for a 401(k)/403(b) pension plan, a trust, an attorney, or an institutional client, we always do an analysis over five and ten-year time periods to analyze the … Continue reading →

Posted in 401k, Active Management Value Ratio, Closet Index Funds, cost-effficiency, ERISA, Fiduciary, fiduciary prudence, fiduciary responsibility, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Remembering David Swensen: “The Mutual Fund Merry-Go-Round”

Posted on September 14, 2021 by investsense

The late David Swensen was the well-known Chief Investment Officer of Yale University. He was also an outspoken advocate for investor protection. While performing some research for a brief, I ran across this op-ed, “The Mutual Fund Merry-Go-Round,” that David … Continue reading →

Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, Consumer Protection, Investment Advice, Investor Protection, portfolio planning, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent AMVR Twitter and LinkedIn post

Posted on July 28, 2021 by investsense

While the DOL (“fiduciary”) and the SEC (“best interest”) debate their applicable standards, I suggest that cost-efficiency should be a key factor in whatever they decide. Even former SEC chairman Jay Clayton discussed the importance of cost-efficiency re “best interest.” … Continue reading →

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New InvestSense video: “The Active Management Value Ratio 4.0: What Investors and Investment Fiduciaries REALLY Need to Know About Wealth Accumulation and Preservation”

Posted on July 21, 2021 by investsense
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“‘Why’ – Investor Protection Made Simple”

Posted on July 1, 2021 by investsense

By James W. Watkins, III, J.D., CFP Board Emeritus™, AWMA® One of the most rewarding aspects of writing this blog and my books is when someone contacts you and thanks you for the information and advice that you provide. I … Continue reading →

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REAL Wealth Management 2021 – Wrap-Up

Posted on June 11, 2021 by investsense

Over the past few days, I have written posts to discuss what I perceive to be the three true areas of comprehensive wealth management – accumulation, preservation/protection and distribution/transfer. While many financial professionals may claim to be wealth managers, a … Continue reading →

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

REAL Wealth Management 2021 – Wealth Distributions and Transfers

Posted on June 10, 2021 by investsense

Today, we address what I consider to be the third aspect of a genuine wealth management program – distributions and transfers of one’s assets.  Distribution encompasses both transfers made while one is living, inter vivos transfers, and transfers made after … Continue reading →

Posted in Estate Planning, Integrated Estate Planning, Uncategorized, Wealth Distribution, Wealth Management | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment