CommonSense InvestSense
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CommonSense InvestSense- 1+1=34: A Step-by-Step Guide to Wealth Management and Preservation Using the Active Management Value Ratio November 7, 2022In 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 →investsense
- At What Cost?: Annuities, Cryptocurrency, and 401(k) Plans November 4, 2022For many people, their 401or 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 interest. … Continue reading →investsense
- “CommonSense InvestSense”- Simplifying Prudent Investing with the Active Management Value Ratio™ August 24, 2022Numerous 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 →investsense
- “At What Cost” – Annuities and Cryptocurrency vs. Wealth Preservation and Investor Protection August 21, 2022Annuity 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 →investsense
- “The Lie of the Pie” – Mutual Fund Marketing “Trickeration” August 21, 2022The financial services industry likes to use charts…a lot of charts. Attorneys do not like charts. Charts can be confusing and misleading, sometimes deliberately so. One judge told me that after I had argued the connection between charts and “weaseleze,” … Continue reading →investsense
- Upon Further Review-Rethinking the Investment Decision-Making Process April 26, 2022In college, my minor was psychology. My thesis was on heuristics, cognitive biases, and the decision-making process. I have always been fascinated by the way the mind works. Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman’s best seller, “Thinking Fast and Slow,” offers a … Continue reading →investsense
- The Active Management Value Ratio™ 3.0: Investment Returns and Wealth Preservation for Investors and Fiduciaries April 9, 2022Studies 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 →investsense
- 1Q 2022 AMVR “Cheat Sheets” April 3, 2022On the 5-year cheat sheet, only one fund, Dodge & Cox Stock (DODGX), posted positive incremental returns on both nominal and risk-adjusted returns. While DODGX passed the AMVR screen on nominal returns, the fund failed to pass the AMVR screen … Continue reading →investsense
- 4Q 2021 AMVR “Cheat Sheet” January 12, 2022At 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 →investsense
- The Dangers of “Black Box” Financial Planning/Plans November 18, 2021Financial planning, when done properly, can be a valuable process to consumers. So say yes to the process of financial planning. However, when it comes to financial plans, avoid the inherent issues of “black box” financial planning and “canned” financial … Continue reading →investsense
- 1+1=34: A Step-by-Step Guide to Wealth Management and Preservation Using the Active Management Value Ratio November 7, 2022
Tag Archives: 401k
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 401k, 401k Investing, Active Management Value Ratio, Closet Index Funds, financial planning, investment advice, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, IRAs, portfolio construction, retirement distribution planning, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, variable annuities, variable annuity abuse, wealth distribution, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Is Your 401(k) or 403(b) Really Protecting Your Best Interests?
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 401k, 401k Investing, abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Fiduciary, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, Pension Planning, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth management
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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 401k, 401k Investing, asset protection, Fiduciary, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment portfolios, Pension Planning, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth preservation
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The Coming Storm: Fundamental Retirement Fairness for Educators
In the world of pension investments, TIAA-CREF is generally acknowledged as the “600 pound gorilla,” at least with regard to universities and other higher education institutions. So I was somewhat surprised when a colleague sent me an article, written by … Continue reading
Posted in ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, Active Management Value Ratio, Advice, Fiduciary, financial interests, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investments, Pension Planning, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth management
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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 401k, 401k Investing, abusive practices, Fiduciary, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, Pension Planning, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation
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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 401k, 401k Investing, abusive practices, investment advice, investment portfolios, retirement plan participants, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Those “Great” Stable Value Funds Exposed
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 401k, 401k Investing, abusive practices, Fiduciary, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investment scams, investments, investor protection, Pension Planning, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation
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3 Things Every 401(k) Participant and Plan Sponsor Should Know – 2017
As a wealth preservation attorney, one of the primary issues I address is the quality of a client’s investment portfolio. Far too often I see excellent estate planning strategies sabotaged by horribly unsuitable investment portfolios. Since many estate planning strategies … Continue reading
Posted in ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, Active Management Value Ratio, asset protection, Fiduciary, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment losses, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, Pension Planning, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, stockbrokers, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Stable Value Funds and Disclosure Issue Regarding Fees
While I like to post original content for my blog, sometimes I run across articles that just say it as well, sometimes better, than I could. This article from Morningstar presents evidence on Stable value funds that every investor should … Continue reading
Posted in Asset Protection, ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, asset protection, Fiduciary, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, retirement plan participants, wealth management, wealth preservation
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God Bless Charles Ellis
I am often asked what I feel is the best investment book for investors and what one piece of advice I would give investors. Fortunately, the answer to both is the same – read “Winning the Loser’s Game” by Charles … Continue reading
Posted in Asset Protection, ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Advice, asset protection, Fiduciary, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment losses, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, InvestSense, IRAs, Pension Planning, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, stockbrokers, wealth management, wealth preservation
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CommonSense InvestSense 