Category Archives: Best Interests

Battle of the Best Interests: Why the Financial Services Industry Opposes a True Fiduciary Standard and Genuine Investor Protection

Posted on June 12, 2023 by investsense

By James W. Watkins, III, J.D., CFP Board Emeritus™, AWMA® Quick Answer – Because mutual fund companies, insurance companies, and broker-dealers that peddle the actively managed mutual funds and annuities they offer cannot meet such a standard. Ask yourself, why … Continue reading →

Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, annuities, Asset Protection, Best Interests, Consumer Protection, cost efficient investing, cost-effficiency, Equity Indexed Annuities, Estate Planning, Fixed Indexed Annuities, investing, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, investments, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Distribution, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1+1=34: A Step-by-Step Guide to Wealth Management and Preservation Using the Active Management Value Ratio

Posted on November 6, 2022 by investsense

In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Jason Zweig discussed the lack of transparency with regard to financial advisers.1 While I agree with his assessment, I believe that he may have actually underestimated the damage resulting from such lack of … Continue reading →

Posted in 401k, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Best Interests, Consumer Protection, cost efficient investing, cost-effficiency, ERISA, Fiduciary, fiduciary prudence, fiduciary responsibility, Fiduciary Standard, investing, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, investments, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Full Disclosure: The Art of Reading and Interpreting Mutual Fund Ads

Posted on November 26, 2019 by investsense

One of the most frequent questions I receive is how to effectively read and interpret mutual fund advertisements. I receive this question not only from individual investors, but from professional investment fiduciaries, such as pension plan sponsors, and securities/ERISA attorneys. … Continue reading →

Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Asset Protection, Best Interest Proposal, Best Interests, Consumer Protection, ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investor Protection, IRA, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, 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

Transparency Is the Best Disinfectant: Four Key Questions Every Investor and 401(k) Plan Participant Should Ask

Posted on September 24, 2017 by investsense

Sunlight is the best disinfectant. – Justice Louis Brandeis The ongoing attempts by the Department of Labor (DOL) and Congress to delay or completely reverse the DOL’s fiduciary rule sends a clear message to pension plan sponsors and plan participants … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Interests, Closet Index Funds, Common Sense, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, DOL fiduciary rule, ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wealth Preservation and Retirement Accounts

Posted on July 14, 2017 by investsense

When I tell people that I am a wealth preservation attorney, they often respond by saying that they do not have enough money to need such services. Then I ask them whether they have a 401(k) account, an IRA or … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Interests, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, Estate Planning, Integrated Estate Planning, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The New DOL Fiduciary Rule – Effective June 9, 2017

Posted on June 7, 2017 by investsense

On June 9, 2017, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new fiduciary rule (Rule), or at least parts of same, go into effect for retirement plans covered by the Employees’ Retirement Income Security Act, commonly known as ERISA. The Rule was … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Interests, Common Sense, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, DOL fiduciary rule, Equity Indexed Annuities, ERISA, Fixed Indexed Annuities, Investment Advice, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, pension plans, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Variable Annuities, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Investor Revolution: A “Best Interests” Checklist for Investors and Fiduciaries

Posted on May 28, 2017 by investsense

The DOL recently announced that it will not seek to delay the effective date of the department’s new fiduciary law. Beginning June 9, 2017, anyone providing advice to pension plans and plan participants will be deemed to be a fiduciary, … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Interests, Closet Index Funds, Common Sense, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, DOL fiduciary rule, ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment