CommonSense InvestSense
<a 
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: Pension Planning
Wealth Preservation and Those Pesky 401(k)/403(b)/IRA Beneficiary Forms
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 401k, 401k Investing, Advice, asset protection, Fiduciary, financial interests, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment portfolios, investor protection, IRAs, Pension Planning, Pensions, retirement distribution planning, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth distribution, wealth management, wealth preservation
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 401k, 401k Investing, abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Advice, asset protection, black box investment fraud, Fiduciary, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investment scams, investments, investor protection, IRAs, Pension Planning, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, stockbrokers, wealth management, wealth preservation
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 401k, 401k Investing, Active Management Value Ratio, Advice, asset protection, financial planning, investing, investment advice, investment portfolios, investments, InvestSense, IRAs, Pension Planning, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation
Leave a comment
Wealth Preservation Saboteurs
“Get what you can and keep what you have; that’s the way to get rich.” Scottish Proverb In a series of earlier posts, I discussed the three planning areas that I believe constitute real wealth management – wealth accumulation, wealth … Continue reading
Posted in Asset Protection, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, asset protection, black box investment fraud, financial planning, investing, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, InvestSense, Pension Planning, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth preservation
Leave a comment
Dividend Investing vs. Variable Annuities
Excellent analysis of problems with variable annuities from the “Seeking Alpha” web site . Only thing missing is discussion of the use of inverse pricing on VA’s annual fees, producing windfall for VA issuer at expense of VA owner. “Seeking … Continue reading
Posted in Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged financial planning, investing, investment portfolios, investment scams, investments, investor protection, Pension Planning, portfolio construction, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation
Leave a comment
CommonSense InvestSense: REAL Wealth Management 2019
I originally ran this series back in 2013. The series has proven to be among the blog’s most popular posts. So we are going to update the original posts and re-run the entire series. Today we address the ongoing “wealth … Continue reading
Posted in Investor Protection, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, asset protection, financial interests, financial planning, investing, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investment scams, investments, IRAs, Pension Planning, portfolio construction, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation
Leave a comment
3 (and a half) Common IRA Mistakes to Avoid
Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) have proven to be a very popular investment option. When set-up properly, IRAs can provide investors with greater flexibility and overall wealth management opportunities than traditional retirement accounts such as 401(k) and 403(b) accounts. That said, … Continue reading
Posted in Asset Protection, Investor Protection, IRA, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged asset protection, financial planning, investments, investor protection, InvestSense, IRAs, Pension Planning, Pensions, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation
Leave a comment
A Simple Step to Better Protect Pension Plan Participants
Reviewing the reported trillion dollar losses that investors suffered during the 2000-2002 and 2008 bear markets, I cannot help but wonder how much of those losses were preventable, especially for 401k investors. 401k plans are increasingly opting for participant directed retirement plans … Continue reading
CommonSense InvestSense 