Category Archives: Investment Advisors

Investor Self-Protection Guide 2019

As a securities/ERISA attorney, Certified Financial Planner® professional and an Accredited Wealth Management Advisor®, I am interested in providing the public with quality financial advice and helping to address the ongoing problem of financial abuse and fraud. One of the … Continue reading

Posted in Asset Protection, Closet Index Funds, Common Sense, Consumer Protection, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Variable Annuities, Variable Annuity Abuse, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Evidence Based Investor

Two excellent posts for investors to consider from my British colleague, Robin Powell, of “The Evidence Based Investor” web site.

Posted in Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, IRA, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Special Report: Empowering Teachers for Retirement Readiness

Let’s get straight to the point – teachers at all levels have gotten, and continue to get, inequitable treatment when it comes to options to allow them to become “retirement ready.” My sister-in-law was an assistant principal in a local … Continue reading

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

CommonSense InvestSense – Account Management 2016

“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 Absolute Returns, Asset Protection, Closet Index Funds, Common Sense, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Variable Annuities, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New eBook Now Available

My new eBook, “CommonSense InvestSense: New Strategies for Accumulating and Preserving Wealth,” is now available at amazon.com.

Posted in Common Sense, Investment Advisors, 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 Distribution, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Three Return “Secrets” to Improved Investment Performance: Interpreting Investment Returns

A 2007 study by Schwab Institutional estimated that approximately 75 percent of investor accounts they studied were unsuitable as being inconsistent with either an investor’s financial goals or financial needs.  While one might expect widespread denial of the study’s findings, … Continue reading

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

Four Things Every Investor and Fiduciary Should Remember-2016

The abundance of investment products and investment information available today can be intimidating and confusing to many investors, both novice and professional. Without question, the most common questions I get from people are how to properly manage their investment portfolios … Continue reading

Posted in Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement Planning, Variable Annuities, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

James W. Watkins, III, quoted in new 401(k) article

I was recently quoted in an article addressing best practices of leading 401(k) plans. The article raises a number of relevant issues regarding providing a meaningful plan to help plan participants accomplish their financial goals. The article, “Is your 401(k) … Continue reading

Posted in Common Sense, ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Outing “closet index” funds

Canada is finally investigating the issue of recommendations and sales of “closet index” funds. The same problem exists in the U.S., but don’t hold your breath expecting U.S. regulators to address the problem. A closet index fund is also referred to … Continue reading

Posted in Asset Protection, ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Warnings About Stable Value Funds

Another excellent article highlighting the issues regarding stable value funds and fundamental fairness issues re windfall profits often taken by SVF issuers. http://www.morningstar.com/advisor/t/67716370/stable-value-funds-a-disclosure-dilemma.htm

Posted in ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment