Tag Archives: investments

Put Up or Shut Up!

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

Avoiding Costly “Closet” Index Funds

I am a member of the Paladin Registry, a select group of attorneys and investment advisers dedicated to educate investors so that they can better protect themselves against investment fraud and other questionable activity by the investment industry. You can … Continue reading

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

1 + 1 = 34: The True Impact of Mutual Fund Fees

One of the most common mistakes I see investors make is failing to understand the true cost of investment fees. Many investors dismiss an annual management fee of 1 percent as “just” 1 percent. Just as investment returns compound over … Continue reading

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

The Power of the Informed Investor

“Your account is a brokerage account and not an advisory account. Our interests may not always be the same as yours. Please ask us questions to make sure you under-stand your rights and our obligations to you, including the extent … Continue reading

Posted in Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Variable Annuities, Variable Annuity Abuse, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Active Management Value Ratio 2.0 Worksheet

I have had a lot of people ask me if could provide a simple worksheet that would allow them to quickly calculate the AMVR. Ask and ye shall receive. I have also provided an example of a completed worksheet. All … Continue reading

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

Why Wall Street and Insurance Industry Oppose a Fiduciary Standard

Excellent article from Forbes and author John Wasik on the real reason that Wall Street and the insurance industry are fighting so hard to prevent the establish of a universal fiduciary standard. As usual, a battle of the best interests. … Continue reading

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

CommonSense InvestSense: Accumulating and Preserving Wealth

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored – Aldous Huxley Your account is a brokerage account and not an advisory account. Our interests may not always be the same as yours. Please ask us questions to make … Continue reading

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

A Matter of Trust and Wealth Preservation

As many people know, I have been a very outspoken advocate for a universal fiduciary standard for the financial services industry. As a securities/wealth preservation attorney and a former compliance director, I am well aware of the questionable practices that … Continue reading

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

“CommonSense InvestSense™”…Account Management

“Don’t gamble. Take all your savings and buy some good stock and hold it ’til it goes up then sell it. If it don’t go up, don’t buy it. Will Rogers If only it were that easy. While no one … Continue reading

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

Special Investor Alert-Questions About New “Barron’s Advisors”

In February, 2012 I wrote a post regarding the value of Barron’s “Top 1000 Advisers List,” citing the questionable criteria used and lack of transparency on the calculation process used in preparing the list. Barron’s has just published a new … Continue reading

Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Uncategorized, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments