Category Archives: Uncategorized

1+1=33%, or the Myth of the 1% Annual Investment Fee

Posted on July 11, 2018 by investsense

This post is going to be short and sweet, as I keep getting calls and emails from people who wonder why their portfolios are not performing as well as they think they should. In most cases, their portfolios are the … Continue reading →

Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Asset Protection, Closet Index Funds, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized, Variable Annuities, Variable Annuity Abuse, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Active Management Value Ratio™ 3.0: Investment Returns and Wealth Preservation for Investors and Fiduciaries

Posted on January 17, 2018 by investsense

Studies 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 →

Posted in Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, DOL fiduciary rule, ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

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

Posted on August 28, 2016 by investsense

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

Is Your 401(k) or 403(b) Really Protecting Your Best Interests?

Posted on July 18, 2016 by investsense

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. Aldous Huxley I have seen a number of articles recently online and in the trade publication I receive talking about “retirement readiness,”how to better prepare a plan’s participants for a … Continue reading →

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

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

Posted on July 6, 2016 by investsense

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

More Warnings About Stable Value Funds

Posted on March 11, 2016 by investsense

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

Those “Great” Stable Value Funds Exposed

Posted on March 6, 2016 by investsense

So many 401(k) plans and plan participants have fallen in love with these products without truly understanding how they work, especially how they can benefit the companies offering them at the plan participant’s expense. This Morningstar article by Scott Simon … Continue reading →

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

7 Hidden Fees to Watch Out for in Retirement

Posted on November 21, 2015 by investsense

While I usually only provide original content on this blog, I thought this article from the Motley Fool’s web site was very well done and worth sharing.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Toxic or Terrific: Evidence Based Investing with the Active Management Value Ratio 2.0

Posted on November 3, 2015 by investsense

As an attorney, I put a great deal of emphasis on the value of evidence. Two of the most persuasive pieces of evidence regarding investing have to do with the consistent underperformance of actively managed mutual funds. For instance: The … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment