Category Archives: Uncategorized

InvestSense 101: Assets Under Management…or Mismanagement? – Separating Fact From Fiction

James W. Watkins, III, J.D., CFP Board Emeritus™, AWMA® The other day I noticed yet another publication announcing their list of top investment advisors.  I always enjoy reviewing such lists, not so much for who is on the list, but rather … Continue reading

Posted in annuities, Asset Protection, Consumer Protection, investing, investments, Investor Protection, Uncategorized, Variable Annuities, 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

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

At What Cost?: Annuities, Cryptocurrency, and 401(k) Plans

For many people, their 401(k) or 403(b) accounts are their primary retirement savings. So, it’s only natural that they want their 401(k) or 403(b) plan to offer investment options that are truly in their best interests and their beneficiaries’ best … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Consumer Protection, cost efficient investing, cost-effficiency, Equity Indexed Annuities, ERISA, Estate Planning, Fiduciary, fiduciary prudence, fiduciary responsibility, Fixed Indexed Annuities, investing, Investment Advice, Investment Fraud, investments, Investor Protection, pension plans, plan sponsor, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, retirement readiness, Uncategorized, Variable Annuities, Variable Annuity Abuse, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“CommonSense InvestSense”- Simplifying Prudent Investing with the Active Management Value Ratio™

Numerous studies have concluded that when it comes to investing, American are functionally financially illiterate. Despite these findings, ERISA, the primary legislation regulating American pension plans does not require that plan participants be provided with any sort of investment education. … Continue reading

Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Consumer Protection, cost efficient investing, cost-effficiency, financial planning, investing, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, investments, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Distribution, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“At What Cost” – Annuities and Cryptocurrency vs. Wealth Preservation and Investor Protection

Annuity peddlers would have the public believe that all God’s children need an annuity. Plan sponsors are now confronted with the potential issues of including annuities and crypto currencies within a 401(k) plan. I believe that both assets are inappropriate … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3Q 2021 Top Ten 401(k) AMVR “Cheat Sheet”

Posted 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

Posted in 401k, Active Management Value Ratio, Closet Index Funds, cost-effficiency, ERISA, Fiduciary, fiduciary prudence, fiduciary responsibility, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent AMVR Twitter and LinkedIn post

While 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

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

New InvestSense video: “The Active Management Value Ratio 4.0: What Investors and Investment Fiduciaries REALLY Need to Know About Wealth Accumulation and Preservation”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

“‘Why’ – Investor Protection Made Simple”

By James W. Watkins, III, J.D., CFP Board Emeritus™, AWMA® 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 … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment