Category Archives: portfolio planning

The Active Management Value Ratio™- Revealing the Undisclosed Cost of Actively Managed Mutual Funds

Posted on June 25, 2012 by investsense

Despite overwhelming evidence that actively managed mutual funds generally underperform passively managed index funds, the evidence indicates that most investors continue to purchase and hold actively managed funds.  Even when an actively managed fund does outperform its relevant index, the … Continue reading →

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A Simple Step to Better Protect Pension Plan Participants

Posted on April 23, 2012 by investsense

Reviewing the reported trillion dollar losses that investors suffered during the 2000-2002 and 2008 bear markets, I cannot help but wonder how much of those losses were preventable, especially for 401k investors. 401k plans are increasingly opting for participant directed retirement plans … Continue reading →

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Sunlight Is the Best Disinfectant

Posted on March 12, 2012 by investsense

A previous InvestSense white paper discussed one question every investor should ask their financial advisers whenever investment recommendations are provided-“Why?”  The new InvestSense white paper, “Sunlight Is the Best Disinfectant,” provides nineteen more questions that investors should ask to better … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, portfolio planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bigger Than Madoff?

Posted on March 3, 2012 by investsense

The new InvestSense white paper, “Dirty Little Secrets: Protecting Investors and Fiduciaries Against ‘Black Box’ Investment Fraud,” provides information and advice on how to avoid the often subtle and overlooked problem of “black box” asset allocation/ portfolio optimization plans.  Based … Continue reading →

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Special Alert-Barron’s “America’s Top 1000 Financial Advisors”

Posted on February 21, 2012 by investsense

I am, and always have been, a huge fan of Barron’s.  It is a great resource for investors and those having interests in the financial services industry. However, the “America’s Top 100 Financial Advisors” supplement in the February 20, 2012, issue has to … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The One Question Every Investor Should Always Ask

Posted on February 10, 2012 by investsense

This week I had two referrals that prompted this post.  In each case, I was asked to provide a pre-investment suitability analysis for fiduciaries involved in the cases.  One case involved a trust for two children whose parents had died.  … Continue reading →

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New Investor Protection White Paper

Posted on January 4, 2012 by investsense

With the new year comes the renewed debate for a universal fiduciary standard that would protect the public by requiring that anyone providing investment advice to the public must put the customer’s financial interests ahead of those of the adviser.  … Continue reading →

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Best Investment Book Recommendations

Posted on December 22, 2011 by investsense

I’m often asked to recommend the “best” investment book for investors, especially at this time of the year.  Where are a number of helpful investment books available, I always recommend “Winning the Loser’s Game: Timeless Strategies for Successful Investing” by Charles D. Ellis.  Now … Continue reading →

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Breach of Trust

Posted on March 20, 2011 by investsense

Once again, Congress has shown its true colors, as steps have been taken to prevent the implementation of a universal fiduciary standard in the financial services industry.  Despite the clear evidence of recent abuses on Wall Street and studies supporting … Continue reading →

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