CommonSense InvestSense
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CommonSense InvestSense- Upon Further Review-Rethinking the Investment Decision-Making Process April 26, 2022In college, my minor was psychology. My thesis was on heuristics, cognitive biases, and the decision-making process. I have always been fascinated by the way the mind works. Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman’s best seller, “Thinking Fast and Slow,” offers a … Continue reading →investsense
- The Active Management Value Ratio™ 3.0: Investment Returns and Wealth Preservation for Investors and Fiduciaries April 9, 2022Studies have consistently shown that people are more likely to understand and retain information that is conveyed visually rather than verbally or in print. I regularly receive requests for copies of the Powerpoint slides. So for those of you that … Continue reading →investsense
- 1Q 2022 AMVR “Cheat Sheets” April 3, 2022On 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 →investsense
- 4Q 2021 AMVR “Cheat Sheet” January 12, 2022At 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 →investsense
- The Dangers of “Black Box” Financial Planning/Plans November 18, 2021Financial 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 →investsense
- 3Q 2021 Top Ten 401(k) AMVR “Cheat Sheet” October 3, 2021Posted 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 →investsense
- Remembering David Swensen: “The Mutual Fund Merry-Go-Round” September 14, 2021The 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 →investsense
- Recent AMVR Twitter and LinkedIn post July 28, 2021While 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 →investsense
- New InvestSense video: “The Active Management Value Ratio 4.0: What Investors and Investment Fiduciaries REALLY Need to Know About Wealth Accumulation and Preservation” July 21, 2021 investsense
- “‘Why’ – Investor Protection Made Simple” July 1, 2021=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 recently had someone write and tell me that they have … Continue reading →investsense
- Upon Further Review-Rethinking the Investment Decision-Making Process April 26, 2022
Category Archives: Consumer Protection
Upon Further Review-Rethinking the Investment Decision-Making Process
In college, my minor was psychology. My thesis was on heuristics, cognitive biases, and the decision-making process. I have always been fascinated by the way the mind works. Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman’s best seller, “Thinking Fast and Slow,” offers a … Continue reading
Posted in 401k, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, cost efficient investing, cost-effficiency, financial planning, investing, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, investments, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, portfolio construction, wealth management, wealth preservation
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4Q 2021 AMVR “Cheat Sheet”
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 Active Management Value Ratio, costefficiency, fiduciary liability, fiduciary prudence, fiduciary responsibility, investing, investment advice, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, portfolio construction, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Remembering David Swensen: “The Mutual Fund Merry-Go-Round”
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 investing, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, portfolio construction, wealth management, wealth preservation
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REAL Wealth Management 2021 – Accumulation
As promised, over the next few days I will discuss what I believe are the three aspects of real wealth management – accumulation, protection/preservation and distribution. Most of the posts and white papers on wealth management deal with the accumulation … Continue reading
Posted in Absolute Returns, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, Equity Indexed Annuities, Fixed Indexed Annuities, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, portfolio planning, Uncategorized, Variable Annuities, Variable Annuity Abuse, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, 403(b), Absolute Returns, abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment scams, investments, investor protection, portfolio construction, variable annuities, variable annuity abuse, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Full Disclosure: The Art of Reading and Interpreting Mutual Fund Ads
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 401k, 401k Investing, 403(b), abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Advice, asset protection, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, ERISA, Fiduciary, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment losses, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, IRAs, Pension Planning, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, stockbrokers, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Investor, Protect Thyself: The InvestSense Investor Self-Defense Strategy
During his term as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).(1993-2001), Arthur Levitt focused more on investor protection than perhaps any other recent SEC Chairman. His advice from a1999 speech, “Financial Self-Defense: Tips From and SEC Insider,” is still … Continue reading
Posted in Absolute Returns, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, ERISA, Estate Planning, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Standard, Integrated Estate Planning, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investor Protection, IRA, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Distribution, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Advice, asset protection, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, estate planning, Fiduciary, financial planning, integrated estate planning, investing, investment advice, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement distribution planning, stockbrokers, wealth distribution, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Investopedia Top 100 Most Influential Financial Advisor Honor
Honored to be named by Investopedia as one of the Top 100 Financial Advisors for 2019. Unlike a lot of other “top” lists, Investopedia bases its selection largely on criteria such as contributions to online media to educate investors on … Continue reading
Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, Fiduciary, Investor Protection, Life Advice, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Distribution, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged Active Management Value Ratio, Consumer Protection, consumer right, Fiduciary, investment portfolios, investor protection, InvestSense, portfolio construction, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation
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CommonSense InvestSense About…Returns
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 Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment losses, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, portfolio construction, wealth management, wealth preservation
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The “Secret” Morningstar
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 Active Management Value Ratio, asset protection, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment losses, investment portfolios, investment scams, investments, investor protection, InvestSense, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Are Your 401(k) Plan’s Mutual Funds Legally Prudent?
“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 401k, 401k Investing, 403(b), abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, ERISA, Fiduciary, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investments, Pension Planning, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, stockbrokers, wealth management, wealth preservation
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CommonSense InvestSense 