CommonSense InvestSense
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CommonSense InvestSense- Remembering David Swensen: “The Mutual Fund Merry-Go-Round” September 14, 2021The late David Swensen was the well-known Chief Investment Officer of Yale University. He was also an outspoken advocate for investor protection. While performing some research for a brief, I ran across this op-ed, “The Mutual Fund Merry-Go-Round,” that David … Continue reading →investsense
- Recent AMVR Twitter and LinkedIn post July 28, 2021While the DOL (“fiduciary”) and the SEC (“best interest”) debate their applicable standards, I suggest that cost-efficiency should be a key factor in whatever they decide. Even former SEC chairman Jay Clayton discussed the importance of cost-efficiency re “best interest.” … Continue reading →investsense
- New InvestSense video: “The Active Management Value Ratio 4.0: What Investors and Investment Fiduciaries REALLY Need to Know About Wealth Accumulation and Preservation” July 21, 2021 investsense
- “‘Why’ – Investor Protection Made Simple” July 1, 2021=One of the most rewarding aspects of writing this blog and my books is when someone contacts you and thanks you for the information and advice that you provide. I recently had someone write and tell me that they have … Continue reading →investsense
- REAL Wealth Management 2021 – Wrap-Up June 11, 2021Over 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 →investsense
- REAL Wealth Management 2021 – Wealth Distributions and Transfers June 10, 2021Today, we address what I consider to be the third aspect of a genuine wealth management program – distributions and transfers of one’s assets. Distribution encompasses both transfers made while one is living, inter vivos transfers, and transfers made after … Continue reading →investsense
- REAL Wealth Management 2021 – Preservation June 9, 2021“Make as much money as you can and keep what you get. That’s the way to become rich.” – Scottish adage When I tell people that I am a wealth preservation attorney, I often get the obligatory inquisitive look, followed … Continue reading →investsense
- REAL Wealth Management 2021 – Accumulation June 8, 2021As 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 →investsense
- REAL Wealth Management-2021 June 6, 2021I 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 →investsense
- Variable Annuities: Reading Between the Marketing Lines April 21, 2021Variable Annuities:Reading Between the Marketing Lines James W. Watkins, III, J.D., CFP®, AWMA®CEO/Managing MemberInvestSense, LLC “Variable annuities are one of the most overhyped, most oversold, and least understood investment products.” A popular investment industry saying is that “annuities are sold, not … Continue reading →investsense
- Remembering David Swensen: “The Mutual Fund Merry-Go-Round” September 14, 2021
Tag Archives: retirement planning
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
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 Investment Portfolios, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Distribution, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation, Wealth Recovery
Tagged 401k Investing, asset protection, financial planning, investing, investment portfolios, investments, Pension Planning, retirement distribution planning, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth distribution, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Investopedia Top 100 Most Influential Financial Advisor Honor
Honored to be named by Investopedia as one of the Top 100 Financial Advisors for 2019. Unlike a lot of other “top” lists, Investopedia bases its selection largely on criteria such as contributions to online media to educate investors on … Continue reading
Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, Fiduciary, Investor Protection, Life Advice, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Distribution, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged Active Management Value Ratio, Consumer Protection, consumer right, Fiduciary, investment portfolios, investor protection, InvestSense, portfolio construction, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation
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One Step to Building More Effective, and Safer, Investment Portfolios
What is the first factor an investor or investment fiduciary, such as a pension plan sponsor, should consider in evaluating an actively managed mutual? Most people’s answer would probably be a fund’s returns or the number of Morningstar “stars” given … Continue reading
Posted in Closet Index Funds, ERISA, Fiduciary, pension plans, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k Investing, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, Fiduciary, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investments, InvestSense, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Are Your 401(k) Plan’s Mutual Funds Legally Prudent?
“You get what you don’t pay for.” – John Bogle Full Disclosure and Total Transparency: I am an attorney. More specifically, I am a wealth preservation attorney and a plaintiff’s securities/ERISA attorney. I primarily offer forensic litigation and consulting services … Continue reading
Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, ERISA, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Standard, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, 403(b), abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, ERISA, Fiduciary, investing, investment advice, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investments, Pension Planning, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, stockbrokers, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Wealth Preservation and Retirement Accounts
When I tell people that I am a wealth preservation attorney, they often respond by saying that they do not have enough money to need such services. Then I ask them whether they have a 401(k) account, an IRA or … Continue reading
Posted in Best Interests, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, Estate Planning, Integrated Estate Planning, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, 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, Active Management Value Ratio, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, financial interests, financial planning, integrated estate planning, investing, investment losses, investment portfolios, investments, IRAs, Pension Planning, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation
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The New DOL Fiduciary Rule – Effective June 9, 2017
On June 9, 2017, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new fiduciary rule (Rule), or at least parts of same, go into effect for retirement plans covered by the Employees’ Retirement Income Security Act, commonly known as ERISA. The Rule was … Continue reading
Posted in Best Interests, Common Sense, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, DOL fiduciary rule, Equity Indexed Annuities, ERISA, Fixed Indexed Annuities, Investment Advice, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, pension plans, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Variable Annuities, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Advice, Consumer Protection, consumer right, ERISA, Fiduciary, financial interests, investor protection, InvestSense, Pension Planning, portfolio construction, retirement distribution planning, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, stockbrokers, variable annuities, variable annuity abuse, wealth management, wealth preservation
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The Investor Revolution: A “Best Interests” Checklist for Investors and Fiduciaries
The DOL recently announced that it will not seek to delay the effective date of the department’s new fiduciary law. Beginning June 9, 2017, anyone providing advice to pension plans and plan participants will be deemed to be a fiduciary, … Continue reading
Posted in Best Interests, Closet Index Funds, Common Sense, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, DOL fiduciary rule, ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, 403(b), Active Management Value Ratio, Advice, Best Interests, Closet Index Funds, Consumer Protection, DOL fiduciary rule, ERISA, Fiduciary, investing, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, IRAs, Pension Planning, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, stockbrokers, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Controlling the Controllable: Factoring Investment Costs Into the Prudence/Suitability Equation
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. – Aldous Huxley In an earlier post, I discussed the benefits of controlling the controllable aspects of investing. Investors cannot control the performance of the markets. Investment fiduciaries are not … Continue reading
Posted in Asset Protection, Closet Index Funds, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k Investing, abusive practices, Active Management Value Ratio, Advice, Closet Index Funds, Fiduciary, investing, investment advisors, investment portfolios, investments, investor protection, IRAs, Pension Planning, Pensions, portfolio construction, retirement plan participants, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation
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