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: investment scams
REAL Wealth Management 2021 – Wrap-Up
Over the past few days, I have written posts to discuss what I perceive to be the three true areas of comprehensive wealth management – accumulation, preservation/protection and distribution/transfer. While many financial professionals may claim to be wealth managers, a … Continue reading
Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, asset protection, financial planning, investing, investment portfolios, investment scams, investments, investor protection, InvestSense, Pension Planning, portfolio construction, retirement distribution planning, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth distribution, wealth management, wealth preservation
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REAL Wealth Management 2021 – Accumulation
As promised, over the next few days I will discuss what I believe are the three aspects of real wealth management – accumulation, protection/preservation and distribution. Most of the posts and white papers on wealth management deal with the accumulation … Continue reading
Posted in Absolute Returns, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, Equity Indexed Annuities, Fixed Indexed Annuities, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, portfolio planning, Uncategorized, Variable Annuities, Variable Annuity Abuse, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, 403(b), Absolute Returns, abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment scams, investments, investor protection, portfolio construction, variable annuities, variable annuity abuse, wealth management, wealth preservation
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The “Secret” Morningstar
I love Morningstar. It is my primary research source. I enjoy the posts of their columnists. But unlike most investors who use Morningstar, I basically ignore their legendary “star” system. Morningstar itself has told investors that their star system is … Continue reading
Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Asset Protection, Closet Index Funds, Common Sense, Consumer Protection, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Standard, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged Active Management Value Ratio, asset protection, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment losses, investment portfolios, investment scams, investments, investor protection, InvestSense, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Setting the Record Straight on Asset Allocation
One of the “dirty little secrets” of the investment industry is to deliberately misrepresent the findings of a study on the importance of asset allocation. The study, commonly referred to as the BHB study after the three gentleman who conducted … Continue reading
Posted in Absolute Returns, Asset Protection, Consumer Protection, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Standard, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, Absolute Returns, abusive practices, Consumer Protection, consumer right, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investment scams, portfolio construction, stockbrokers, wealth management, wealth preservation
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InvestSense’s Comments on SEC “Best Interest” Proposal
The Securities and Exchange Commission is currently seeking public comments on its “Best Interest” (BI) proposal. The proposal would reportedly provide a standard of conduct for anyone providing financial services to the public. The standard would supposedly protect investors from … Continue reading
Posted in Best Interest Proposal, Best Interests, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Standard, Investment Advice, Investor Protection
Tagged abusive practices, Best Interest Proposal, Consumer Protection, consumer right, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Standard, investment advice, investment advisors, investment scams, investor protection, stockbrokers
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Investor Alert: Variable Annuities and Fixed Indexed Annuities
The Department of Labor announced the other day that it was delaying the effectiveness of certain part of their new fiduciary rule for 60 days. This delay was essentially requested by the Trump administration in order to evaluate the fairness … Continue reading
Posted in Asset Protection, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, Equity Indexed Annuities, Estate Planning, Fiduciary, Fixed Indexed Annuities, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investor Protection, IRA, pension plans, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Variable Annuities, Variable Annuity Abuse, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, abusive practices, Advice, black box investment fraud, Consumer Protection, Equity Indexed Annuities, estate planning, Fiduciary, financial planning, Fixed Indexed Annuities, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investment scams, investor protection, IRAs, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, stockbrokers, variable annuities, variable annuity abuse, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Investor Self-Protection Guide 2019
As a securities/ERISA attorney, Certified Financial Planner® professional and an Accredited Wealth Management Advisor®, I am interested in providing the public with quality financial advice and helping to address the ongoing problem of financial abuse and fraud. One of the … Continue reading
Posted in Asset Protection, Closet Index Funds, Common Sense, Consumer Protection, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Variable Annuities, Variable Annuity Abuse, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k Investing, abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Advice, black box investment fraud, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, investment advice, investment advisors, investment scams, investments, investor protection, InvestSense, IRAs, portfolio construction, variable annuities, variable annuity abuse, 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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‘Nuff Said
While I enjoy writing and providing educational information to investors, sometimes you have to defer to others more eloquent than yourself. I openly admit to being a fan of Charles Ellis. As I have mentioned in this blog, I believe … Continue reading
Posted in Asset Protection, Common Sense, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged Active Management Value Ratio, Advice, asset protection, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment portfolios, investment scams, investments, investor protection, InvestSense, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, wealth management
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Wealth Preservation – Avoiding Common Financial “Games”
When people ask me what kind of law I practice, I tell them that I am a wealth preservation attorney. To me, wealth preservation consists of three separate areas of wealth management – accumulation, protection and preservation. Wealth preservation involves … Continue reading
Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Planning, Variable Annuities, Variable Annuity Abuse, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Advice, asset protection, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment losses, investment portfolios, investment scams, investments, investor protection, portfolio construction, retirement distribution planning, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, stockbrokers, variable annuities, variable annuity abuse, wealth management, wealth preservation
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CommonSense InvestSense 