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.

One Step to Building More Effective, and Safer, Investment Portfolios

Posted on July 27, 2019 by investsense

What is the first factor an investor or investment fiduciary, such as a pension plan sponsor, should consider in evaluating an actively managed mutual? Most people’s answer would probably be a fund’s returns or the number of Morningstar “stars” given … Continue reading →

Posted in Closet Index Funds, ERISA, Fiduciary, pension plans, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

CommonSense InvestSense About…Returns

Posted on July 20, 2019 by investsense

As an attorney that specializes in wealth management/preservation and asset protection, I often see investors who have suffered unnecessary financial losses due to poorly designed and/or poorly managed investment portfolios. This is especially troubling, for as legendary investment expert Benjamin … Continue reading →

Posted in Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, Investment Advice, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sound Investment Advice from Jack Bogle…Again

Posted on May 5, 2019 by investsense

Why write anything? Mr. Bogle says it all. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/vanguard-founder-jack-bogle-apos-194408395.html

Posted in Investment Advice, Investment Portfolios, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Wealth Management | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

How to REALLY Evaluate a Mutual Fund

Posted on March 9, 2019 by investsense

Get what you can and keep what you have – that’s the way to get rich. – Scottish adage I am a securities/ERISA attorney. I am also a wealth preservation attorney. As a wealth preservation attorney, I help people design … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The “Secret” Morningstar

Posted on January 13, 2019 by investsense

I love Morningstar. It is my primary research source. I enjoy the posts of their columnists. But unlike most investors who use Morningstar, I basically ignore their legendary “star” system. Morningstar itself has told investors that their star system is … Continue reading →

Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Asset Protection, Closet Index Funds, Common Sense, Consumer Protection, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Standard, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are Your 401(k) Plan’s Mutual Funds Legally Prudent?

Posted on October 10, 2018 by investsense

“You get what you don’t pay for.” – John Bogle Full Disclosure and Total Transparency: I am an attorney. More specifically, I am a wealth preservation attorney and a plaintiff’s securities/ERISA attorney. I primarily offer forensic litigation and consulting services … Continue reading →

Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, ERISA, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Standard, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Variable Annuities: Estate Planning Saboteurs

Posted on August 23, 2018 by investsense

As a wealth preservation attorney, my practice involves various areas of the law including investment portfolio analysis, asset protection, risk management and estate planning. Three primary wealth saboteurs are investment portfolio mismanagement, tax erosion, and personal liability exposure. I recently … Continue reading →

Posted in Estate Planning, Fiduciary, Integrated Estate Planning, Investment Advice, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement Distribution Planning, Variable Annuities, Variable Annuity Abuse, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Setting the Record Straight on Asset Allocation

Posted on July 21, 2018 by investsense

One of the “dirty little secrets” of the investment industry is to deliberately misrepresent the findings of a study on the importance of asset allocation. The study, commonly referred to as the BHB study after the three gentleman who conducted … Continue reading →

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

InvestSense’s Comments on SEC “Best Interest” Proposal

Posted on July 20, 2018 by investsense

The Securities and Exchange Commission is currently seeking public comments on its “Best Interest” (BI) proposal. The proposal would reportedly provide a standard of conduct for anyone providing financial services to the public.  The standard would supposedly protect investors from … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Interest Proposal, Best Interests, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Standard, Investment Advice, Investor Protection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1+1=33%, or the Myth of the 1% Annual Investment Fee

Posted on July 11, 2018 by investsense

This post is going to be short and sweet, as I keep getting calls and emails from people who wonder why their portfolios are not performing as well as they think they should. In most cases, their portfolios are the … Continue reading →

Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Asset Protection, Closet Index Funds, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized, Variable Annuities, Variable Annuity Abuse, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment