Category Archives: Wealth Preservation

The Often Overlooked Importance of Dividends

Posted on July 2, 2015 by investsense

I just finished reading an interesting article from Dreyfus regarding the historical impact of dividends on the stock market’s total return. The paper states that since 1926, dividends have accounted for approximately 50 percent of the stock market’s total return. … Continue reading →

Posted in Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Best Investment Advice…Period

Posted on June 5, 2015 by investsense

People that follow me know that “Winning the Loser’s Game” by Charles Ellis is my favorite book on investing. Ellis approaches investing from a different viewpoint that is refreshingly different, and absolutely spot on, than most investment experts. I consider … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interpreting “Marketing” Returns From “Real” Investment Returns

Posted on June 1, 2015 by investsense

I am often asked how to make sense out of the return data that is online. For instance, morningstar.com posts various return data. Some of their return data is adjusted for any front-end load that a fund charges. Morningstar’s return … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Common Sense, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Non-spousal Inherited IRA Traps

Posted on April 6, 2015 by investsense

When people ask me what I do for living, I tell them that I am a wealth preservation counsel. Then they usually say, “oh, you are an estate planner.” No, a wealth preservation counsel. Wealth preservation is more than just … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Integrated Estate Planning, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, IRA, portfolio planning, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Wealth Distribution, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Does Your Financial Advisor Owe You Money?

Posted on January 3, 2015 by investsense

Happy New Year! As I mentioned in my last post, I write for four blogs, including two in connection with my association with the Paladin Registry, a pro-investor organization that provides advice to help investors protect themselves against investment scams … Continue reading →

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

Does Your 401k Owe You Money?

Posted on November 20, 2014 by investsense

In addition to this blog, I also write for the Paladin Registry. I just posted a new article on excessive fees within 401k plans. The article is available at  http://iwd.paladinregistry.com/products/401k-plan-owe-money/

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

Advisor Advertising Disguised as an Award

Posted on August 16, 2014 by investsense

From time to time I run across articles that share my concern about certain issues in the financial planning and investment industries. This article from Russ Thornton, a friend and a colleague, addresses an issue that I have also written … Continue reading →

Posted in Common Sense, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investor Protection, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwing 404(c) Participants (And Sponsors) Under the Bus: ERISA Section 404(c) False Promise of “Sufficient Information”

Posted on June 3, 2014 by investsense

The Supreme Court’s decision in LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates(1) in 2008 started a trend recognizing the need for greater protection of participants in defined contribution pension plans. The LaRue decision signaled the long overdue recognition by the judicial … Continue reading →

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

Put Up or Shut Up!

Posted on May 2, 2014 by investsense

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues to delay action on a proposed universal fiduciary standard that would require anyone providing investment advice to always put a customer’s best interests first. While investment advisers are currently required to put a … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Fraud, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wealth Preservation and Those Pesky 401(k)/403(b)/IRA Beneficiary Forms

Posted on March 9, 2014 by investsense

Everybody hates paperwork. So when employees and investors are asked to fill out all the paperwork associated with 401(k) plans and individual retirement plans (IRAs), most people just enter something without giving it  much thought. When I was a compliance … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Common Sense, ERISA, Investment Advice, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, Life Advice, pension plans, Retirement, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Distribution, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment