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Quarterly Client Letter – 2024 Q1
Created: April 1, 2024
Categories: Behavioral Finance, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: Reflections on strong Q1 markets, and the importance of avoiding stock-picking and market-timing in hot and cold markets; also includes an homage to the late Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman.
Financial Quick Takes: Financial Goals – Your Tickets To Ride
Created: March 27, 2024
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Planning, General Audience, Quick-Reference
Description: This "quick take" piece reviews why it's important for investors to have well-crafted personal financial goals driving their overall investment strategies and selections, and how to establish and maintain relevant goals over time.
Protecting Women’s Wealth
Created: March 16, 2024
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Estate Planning, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, General Audience, Prospect-Focused, Wealth Management
Description: This article describes some of the hurdles women face in protecting their wealth, including longevity and earning challenges, as well as ways to build greater financial stability through targeted financial planning.
Bringing Order to Your Investment Universe: A 3-Part Series
Created: February 20, 2024
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Bringing Order to Investing, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, Expenses, Family Wealth, General Audience, Tax Planning
Description: This three-part series walks readers through how to transition from a chaotic collection of assets and accounts into a well-structured investment portfolio. Each part explores the separate planning pieces involved in minimizing the taxable impact of a desired transition, while successfully moving toward a more orderly investment portfolio, and it encourages investors to hire an experienced financial planner to assist them. This series is also available in white paper format, for use as a separate prospecting resource.
Bringing Order to Your Investment Universe: White Paper
Created: February 20, 2024
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Bringing Order to Investing, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, Expenses, Family Wealth, General Audience, Tax Planning, White Paper
Description: This white paper walks readers through how to transition from a chaotic collection of assets and accounts into a well-structured investment portfolio. It explores how to strike an effective balance between minimizing the taxable impact of a desired transition, while successfully moving toward a more orderly investment portfolio, and encourages investors to hire an experienced financial planner to assist them. Each part in this three-part piece is also available in stand-alone format, for use as a drip series.
Evidence-Based Investment Insights Series: 14 Parts (UPDATED 2024)
Created: January 16, 2024
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, Evidence-Based Insights, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, General Audience, Sustainable Investing, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM 2019: This is a series of 14 shorter pieces for explaining evidence-based investment principles in a step-by-step approach. Use the series for drip marketing via e-newsletter, e-mails, mailings or as video script to introduce your investment approach to prospective clients or to review key benefits with existing clients. Collection will download as a zip file containing 14 Word documents. A compiled, 26-page white paper and 8-page report also are available for separate download.
Evidence-Based Investment Insights Series REPORT (UPDATED 2024)
Created: January 16, 2024
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Behavioral Finance, Evidence-Based Insights, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, General Audience, Report, Sustainable Investing, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM 2019: This 8-page report strikes a happy medium between the full, 26-page white paper and the individual installments available in the Evidence-Based Investment Insights series. Compiling key messages from the entire series, this report offers a mid-length, single document overview of evidence-based investing. Share the paper as a printed handout or in PDF form with clients and prospects. Use it as a give-away to collect e-mails on your website or for other similar purposes.
Evidence-Based Investment Insight Series WHITE PAPER (UPDATED 01-24)
Created: January 16, 2024
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Behavioral Finance, Evidence-Based Insights, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Sustainable Investing, UPDATED Content, White Paper
Description: UPDATED FROM 2019: This 26-page white paper compiles the entire Evidence-Based Investment Insights series into a single document you can use to design your own company white paper. Share the paper as a printed handout or in PDF/booklet form with clients and prospects. Use it as a give-away to collect e-mails on your website or for other similar purposes. A set of individual installments for "dripping" the series, and a shorter report version are available for separate download in January 2024.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2023 Q4
Created: January 1, 2024
Categories: Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: Commentary on the strong 2023 annual returns nobody saw coming, along with timeless advice for informing 2024 investment decisions.
4 Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2023
Created: November 15, 2023
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Planning, General Audience, Listicle, Tax Planning, Wealth Management
Description: Share this piece with clients and prospects to offer four financial best practices for year-end 2023. This year's tips cover managing cash reserves, maintaining one's investment portfolio, tax strategies, and time management.
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving/Holidays (2023)
Created: November 3, 2023
Categories: Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings
Description: Use this short message to be in touch with your clients for the U.S. Thanksgiving or the general 2023 holiday season. This piece shares an upbeat message on the value of year-end reflections.
Financial Quick Takes: Compared to What?
Created: October 26, 2023
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Quick-Reference
Description: This piece describes the apples-to-orange comparisons investors tend to make between their well-built, globally diversified investment portfolio versus fleeting hot hands and/or "the market." Readers are encouraged to instead consider fund management and costs in selecting appropriate holdings for their unique portfolio build, and invites them to reach out to you for assistance.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2023 Q3
Created: October 1, 2023
Categories: Breaking News, Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: Reflections on a mixed-bag quarter and how to remain focused on long-term outcomes and personal financial goals instead of reacting to the latest undependable forecasts.
Financial Quick Takes: Wisdom of Crowds vs. Popular Delusions
Created: September 25, 2023
Categories: Article, Behavioral Finance, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Quick-Reference
Description: Are markets wise, as James Surowiecki suggests in "The Wisdom of Crowds"? Or are they delusional, as described in Charles Mackay's "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds"? This quick take summarizes why they can be either or both, and how that shapes your investment recommendations. By creating and sticking with a low-cost, globally diversified portfolio, investors can capitalize on group wisdom and avoid group mania.
Financial Quick Takes: Making Mistakes
Created: September 5, 2023
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Quick-Reference
Description: A quick-take piece emphasizing the difference between avoidable investment mistakes versus random market misfortune. By eliminating avoidable mistakes, investors can also lower, but not entirely eliminate, the possibility of experiencing negative investment outcomes.
A Balanced Look at Stock Buybacks Series REPORT
Created: August 4, 2023
Categories: Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Politics, Report, Stock Buybacks, Tax Planning
Description: Our 3-part series bundled into a full-length report, exploring how and why stock buybacks can help investors, hurt them, or be a neutral event, depending on the particulars.
A Balanced Look at Stock Buybacks — Part 3: Risks Amidst the Rewards
Created: August 4, 2023
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Politics, Stock Buybacks, Tax Planning
Description: Part 3 of a 3-part series exploring how and why stock buybacks can help investors, hurt them, or be a neutral event, depending on the particulars. Part 1 described how stock buybacks generally work, and emphasized the importance of investing in a globally diversified portfolio, rather than chasing or fleeing particular stock buyback opportunities. Part 2 covered how companies may use stock buybacks to strike a balance between sustaining current and future shareholder value. In this, Part 3, we cover how the power of stock buybacks can become weaponized in the wrong hands, and why the government is keeping its eye on them.
A Balanced Look at Stock Buybacks — Part 2: Sustaining Current & Future Value
Created: July 31, 2023
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Stock Buybacks
Description: Part 2 of a 3-part series exploring how and why stock buybacks can help investors, hurt them, or be a neutral event, depending on the particulars. Part 1 described how stock buybacks generally work, and emphasized the importance of investing in a globally diversified portfolio, rather than chasing or fleeing particular stock buyback opportunities. In this, Part 2, we cover how companies may use stock buybacks to strike a balance between sustaining current and future shareholder value. In Part 3, we'll cover how the power of stock buybacks can become weaponized in the wrong hands, and why the government is keeping its eye on them.
A Balanced Look at Stock Buybacks — Part 1: How Do Stock Buybacks Work?
Created: July 31, 2023
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Stock Buybacks, Tax Planning
Description: Part 1 of a 3-part series exploring how and why stock buybacks can help investors, hurt them, or be a neutral event, depending on the particulars. This Part 1 describes how stock buybacks generally work, and emphasizes the importance of investing in a globally diversified portfolio, rather than chasing or fleeing particular stock buyback opportunities. In Part 2, we'll cover how companies may use stock buybacks to strike a balance between sustaining current and future shareholder value. In Part 3, we'll cover how the power of stock buybacks can become weaponized in the wrong hands, and why the government is keeping its eye on them.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2023 Q2
Created: July 3, 2023
Categories: Client Experience, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This quarterly letter celebrates strong quarterly and YTD returns, while encouraging clients to stick with their long-term investment strategy across strong and weak markets. It also includes an homage to the recently passed Nobel laureate Professor Harry Markowitz.
Dividend Stocks – Part 2: Dividend Stocks vs. Total Return Investing
Created: June 28, 2023
Categories: Article, Dividend Stocks, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, General Audience, Retirement Planning
Description: Building a concentrated position in dividend stocks may appeal to some investors as a way to withdraw income from their investment portfolio. In Part 1 of a two-part series, we explored how dividend stocks really work, and why stocking up on them is not our preferred technique for creating a dependable cash flow in retirement. In this Part 2, we cover why we instead prefer a total return approach to building wealth and generating efficient cash flow as needed.
Dividend Stocks – Part 1: How Dividend Stocks Work
Created: June 28, 2023
Categories: Article, Dividend Stocks, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, General Audience, Retirement Planning
Description: Building a concentrated position in dividend stocks may appeal to some investors as a way to withdraw income from their investment portfolio. In this Part 1 of a two-part series, we explore how dividend stocks really work, and why stocking up on them is not our preferred technique for creating a dependable cash flow in retirement. In Part 2, we'll cover why we instead prefer a total return approach to building wealth and generating efficient cash flow as needed.
Unsung Money Mentors: Personal Financial Columnist Sylvia Porter
Created: May 30, 2023
Categories: Article, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Planning, General Audience, Unsung Money Mentors
Description: In a recent piece, "Who Is 'the Media'?" we offered our broad take on “the media,” and how to identify islands of investment insights across the oceans of daily news. In this follow-up, we focus on America’s first personal financial columnist Sylvia Porter (1913–1991), and the impact she made on the global financial press. This piece is also part of our continuing series on Unsung Money Mentors.
Is the Debt Ceiling Bringing You Down?
Created: May 10, 2023
Categories: Breaking News, Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, General Letter/E-Mail, Politics, Scary Market Insights
Description: A client reach-out to reinforce the importance of sticking with a personalized, globally diversified portfolio, regardless of how the debt ceiling crisis plays out.
What Is the Media?
Created: April 27, 2023
Categories: Article, Breaking News, General Audience, Scary Market Insights
Description: While we often take aim at "the media," not all news is harmful. By understanding the different types of media coverage, and their roles in our decision-making processes, investors can better differentiate quality news from harmful distraction.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2023 Q1
Created: April 2, 2023
Categories: Breaking News, Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This quarterly letter reflects on the impact of inflation, interest rate, and banking news in the quarter past, and how, if you’d missed the events in real time, you may not even have known they’d happened. Invest instead according to your investment strategy and individual goals.
Is Social Security Going Bust?
Created: March 26, 2023
Categories: Article, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, General Audience, Politics, Report, Retirement Planning
Description: An analysis of what is projected for Social Security, some of the fixes Congress is exploring to replenish its reserves, and why taking Social Security early just to avoid potential cuts in benefit, is only shifting financial risks rather than eliminating them.
Bank Run News
Created: March 13, 2023
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: A client reach-out to comment on current bank runs, beginning with Silicon Valley Bank.
Unsung Money Mentors: The Legacy Dan Wheeler Left Us
Created: February 28, 2023
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Unsung Money Mentors
Description: In the first of what may become a series of unsung money mentors, we reflect on the legacy the recently passed Dan Wheeler left for the independent, fee-only advisor community in general, and evidence-based investment advisors in particular. The piece covers his influence on the advisor community before and after he joined Dimensional Fund Advisors.
4 Ways to Apply the 80/20 Rule to Your Financial Pursuits
Created: February 5, 2023
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Planning, General Audience, Listicle, Security, Technology
Description: The "80/20 rule" suggests 80% of an outcome is often the result of just 20% of the effort you put into it. In that spirit, this piece offers 4 financial best practices where the 80/20 rule applies. These include staying invested across varied markets, emphasizing asset allocation over stock-picking, having a basic financial plan to guide the way, and freezing your credit report to minimize financial fraud.
Financial & Identity Theft Quick Reference – U.S. Version (UPDATED)
Created: February 5, 2023
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, General Audience, Quick-Reference, Security, Technology, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM SEPTEMBER 2018: Use this quick-reference to help U.S. clients and prospective clients combat financial fraud and identity theft. Design into a front-and-back flyer or poster for rapid reading or to complement the similar, longer report on the same subject.
Financial & Identity Theft Quick Reference – Canadian Version (UPDATED)
Created: February 5, 2023
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, General Audience, Quick-Reference, Security, Technology, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM SEPTEMBER 2018: Use this quick-reference to help CANADIAN clients and prospective clients combat financial fraud and identity theft. Design into a front-and-back flyer or poster for rapid reading or to complement the similar, longer report on the same subject.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2022 Q4
Created: January 4, 2023
Categories: Behavioral Finance, Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, Quarterly Client Letter, Scary Market Insights
Description: This quarterly and year-end client letter looks back on negative returns in 2022, and cautions clients against letting potential pessimism alter their asset allocation decisions. You never know what the near-term future holds, so long-term planning remains advised.
What’s in the SECURE 2.0 Act?
Created: January 3, 2023
Categories: Article, Breaking News, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, General Audience, Report, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning
Description: A five-page overview of key provisions in the newly enacted SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, including updates that impact: (1) savers/investors, (2) employers/plan sponsors, (3) current spending (such as emergency expenses), (4) Roth accounts, (5) RMD requirements, and (6) charitable giving.
When Should You Take Your Social Security?
Created: December 9, 2022
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, General Audience, Listicle, Retirement Planning
Description: This 3-page piece summarizes some of the most common factors that may influence whether to start taking Social Security sooner or later, and emphasizes planning based on manageable factors, rather than hopes or fears that are beyond our control.
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2022
Created: November 11, 2022
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Economics, Estate Planning, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, Fixed Income, General Audience, Listicle, Philanthropy/Giving, Retirement Planning, Risk Management, Tax Planning, Wealth Management
Description: Share this piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for year-end 2022. This year's tips cover cash flow management, tax planning, healthcare coverage, and general financial planning in the context of 2022 events, including higher interest rates, inflation, and market volatility.
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving/Holidays (2022)
Created: November 2, 2022
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings, Philanthropy/Giving
Description: Use this short message to be in touch with your clients for the U.S. Thanksgiving or the general 2022 holiday season. The message shares gratitude and reflects on spreading gratitude on to others.
Back to the Investment Basics: White Paper
Created: October 14, 2022
Categories: Back to the Basics, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Planning, General Audience, Scary Market Insights, White Paper
Description: This nine-page white paper combines our recently published, multipart Investment Basics series into a complete piece covering five investment essentials: how important it is to save (so you have money to invest); how to invest efficiently in broad markets; why to avoid chasing or fleeing rising or falling prices, being patient, and investing according to your personal financial goals.
Back to the Investment Basics: Part 5 — Patience and Personal Persistence
Created: October 12, 2022
Categories: Article, Back to the Basics, Behavioral Finance, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Planning, General Audience, Scary Market Insights
Description: This part 5 is the last installment in our multipart Investment Basics series, and covers two more essentials: being patient and ensuring personal financial goals drive the decision-making. Earlier parts explored the history of investing; how important it is to save (so you have money to invest); how to invest efficiently in broad markets; and why to avoid chasing or fleeing rising or falling prices.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2022 Q3
Created: October 3, 2022
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, Quarterly Client Letter, Scary Market Insights
Description: This quarterly client letter reflects on having entered bear market territory, and why it still makes sense to remain invested in a globally diversified portfolio that reflects each investor's personal financial goals. It references both current commentary as well as historical insights.
Back to the Investment Basics: Part 4 — The Price You Pay Matters
Created: September 27, 2022
Categories: Article, Back to the Basics, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Scary Market Insights
Description: This part 4 in our multipart Investment Basics series covers how stock prices are set. Earlier parts explored the history of investing; how important it is to save (so you have money to invest); and how to invest efficiently in broad markets. Next up (and to wrap), we'll cover investor resolve, and setting personal financial goals.
Back to the Investment Basics: Part 3 — Our Marvelous Markets
Created: September 16, 2022
Categories: Article, Back to the Basics, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Scary Market Insights
Description: Part 3 of a multipart series reminds investors to consider current market events in proper historical context (part 1), while depending on investment basics to move past today's challenges and future unknowns. In part 2, we covered the importance of saving. In this part 3, we cover market returns. In upcoming parts, we'll cover three more investment basics: market pricing, investor resolve, and personal financial goals.
Back to the Investment Basics: Part 2 — First Save, Then Invest
Created: September 6, 2022
Categories: Article, Back to the Basics, Behavioral Finance, General Audience, Scary Market Insights
Description: Part 2 of a multipart series reminds investors to consider current market events in proper historical context (in part 1), while depending on investment basics to move past today's challenges and future unknowns. In this part 2, we covered the importance of saving. In upcoming parts, we'll cover four more investment basics: market returns, market pricing, investor resolve, and personal financial goals.
Back to the Investment Basics: Part 1 — Remembering Summers Past Free Sample (Click on title to download)
Created: August 29, 2022
Categories: Article, Back to the Basics, Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Free Samples, General Audience, Politics
Description: Part 1 of a multipart series reminds investors to consider current market events in proper historical context, while depending on investment basics to move past today's challenges and future unknowns. In upcoming parts, we'll cover five investment basics: saving, market returns, market pricing, investor resolve, and personal financial goals.
Market-Timing Traps and Temptations
Created: August 3, 2022
Categories: Article, Breaking News, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Scary Market Insights
Description: This commentary points to the surprisingly strong July 2022 returns (after awful returns during the first half of the year) to remind investors why market-timing remains ill-advised. As always, markets don't set prices based on whether news is good or bad, but whether it's better or worse than expected.
Our Take On Direct Indexing (UPDATED)
Created: July 30, 2022
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report, Sustainable Investing, Tax Planning, UPDATED Content, White Paper
Description: UPDATED FROM DECEMBER 2021: With the elimination of trading costs and the ability to purchase partial shares, more providers have been offering direct indexing to smaller accounts for relatively modest fees. But just because investors can engage in direct indexing, should they? It depends on the circumstances. This three-part report defines direct indexing, reviews its downsides, and describes its potential useful applications.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2022 Q2
Created: July 4, 2022
Categories: Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, Quarterly Client Letter, Scary Market Insights
Description: This quarterly client letter touches on a series of disorienting conditions in current markets, such as the fact that stocks and bonds are down simultaneously, and reinforces sticking with one's long-term, globally diversified portfolio, including a value tilt when appropriate.
Six Ways a Recession Resembles a Bad Mood
Created: June 14, 2022
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Economics, Financial Planning, General Audience, Listicle, Report, Scary Market Insights
Description: This piece helps your clients and prospective clients put current market and recessionary concerns in perspective by describing six ways a recession resembles a bad mood. For example, they're both difficult to define, best seen in retrospect, and part of life. Besides describing what recessions are and how they work, a main message is that investors can't control the world around them, but they can control how they react to it. And you, as their advisor can assist with that.
Investing in I Bonds
Created: May 4, 2022
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Tax Planning
Description: An overview of what I Bonds are, why currently high interest rates might make them an appealing place to store cash reserves and/or emergency funds, caveats to consider, and how you can help clients incorporate them into their greater investment portfolio.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2022 Q1 Free Sample (Click on title to download)
Created: April 4, 2022
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, Free Samples, Politics, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This quarterly client letter explores the essentials of investment planning amidst current market volatility, aggravated by inflation, interest rates, and economic concerns. It optionally points to the recently completed three-part report on the same.
Interest Rates, Inflation & Investing: Report Version
Created: April 4, 2022
Categories: Alternative Investments, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, General Audience, Interest, Inflation & Investing, Politics, Report, Retirement Planning
Description: A compiled, three-part report that combines our multi-part series covering current concerns about interest rates (part 1), inflation (part 2), and what these influences mean to investors (part 3).
Interest Rates, Inflation & Investing, Part 3
Created: April 1, 2022
Categories: Alternative Investments, Article, Breaking News, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, General Audience, Interest, Inflation & Investing, Politics, Report, Retirement Planning
Description: Part 3 in a 3-part series covering current concerns about interest rates (part 1), inflation (part 2), and what these influences mean to investors (in this part 3).
Interest Rates, Inflation & Investing, Part 2
Created: March 24, 2022
Categories: Article, Breaking News, Economics, General Audience, Interest, Inflation & Investing, Politics, Report
Description: Part 2 in a 3-part series covering current concerns about interest rates (part 1), inflation (in this part 2) and what these influences mean to investors (part 3).
Interest Rates, Inflation & Investing, Part 1
Created: March 16, 2022
Categories: Article, Breaking News, Economics, Fixed Income, General Audience, Interest, Inflation & Investing, Politics, Report
Description: Part 1 in a 3-part series covering current concerns about interest rates (in this part 1), inflation (part 2) and what these influences mean to investors (part 3).
Ukraine
Created: February 24, 2022
Categories: Breaking News, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, General Letter/E-Mail, Politics, Scary Market Insights
Description: A timely client reach-out with timeless reminders to guide investing during the current Russian/Ukraine crisis.
Healing What Hurts: The Essential Role of a Financial Therapist
Created: February 16, 2022
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, Estate Planning, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, General Audience, Report, Wealth Management
Description: This 3-page report describes the value a financial therapist can add to someone’s wealth management team when their own or a family member’s mental health may be interfering with their financial well-being. Points include when and how financial therapy can help, and how to identify an appropriate fit (including how your firm can assist in the selection).
Fighter Planes and Market Turmoil
Created: January 26, 2022
Categories: Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: Use this client reach-out to quell nervous reactions to current market volatility and encourage clients to stick with their existing investment plans.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2021 Q4
Created: January 3, 2022
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Behavioral Finance, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This quarterly client letter explores recent and future market returns in the context of investors' personal financial goals--considering the "parts" and the "whole."
Evidence-Based Investing in Brief
Created: December 16, 2021
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report
Description: "What is evidence-based investing?" This 3-page piece provides a relatively brief, yet substantive response to this essential FAQ. It starts with a two-sentence working definition, and then covers evidence-based investing's roots, reasoning and practical application.
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2021
Created: November 7, 2021
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Estate Planning, Evidence-Based Investing, Family Wealth, General Audience, Listicle, Philanthropy/Giving, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning
Description: Share this piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for year-end 2021. This year's tips cover investment discipline, budgeting, tax-planning, charitable giving, and estate planning considerations in the context of 2021 events. It also optionally references the newly released "Tax Planning in Turbulent Times" report for additional insights.
Tax Planning in Turbulent Times
Created: November 7, 2021
Categories: Estate Planning, Evidence-Based Investing, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, General Audience, Report, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Tax Planning Tools & Techniques
Description: This report combines our earlier 3-part tax planning series into a single, 6-page piece. It pairs well with, and is optionally referenced in the separate piece, "Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2021."
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving/Holidays (2021)
Created: October 26, 2021
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings
Description: Use this short message to be in touch with your clients for the U.S. Thanksgiving or the general 2021 holiday season. The message shares gratitude and reflects on enjoying the meaning already within one another's lives.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2021 Q3
Created: October 4, 2021
Categories: Breaking News, Client-Focused, Family Wealth, Politics, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This Q3 2021 quarterly client letter puts recent market highs and lows in the context of more enduring news and views.
Investment Costs, Part 2: Custodian/Brokerage Costs
Created: September 27, 2021
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Expenses, General Audience, Investment Costs, Prospect-Focused, Report
Description: Part 2 of a 2-part series covering investment costs. Part 1 focuses on fund management fees. Part 2 looks at custodian/brokerage (trading) costs, as well as how a fiduciary, fee-only advisor can help families identify and reduce excessive costs.
Investment Costs, Part 1: Fund Management Fees
Created: September 27, 2021
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Expenses, General Audience, Investment Costs, Prospect-Focused, Report
Description: Part 1 of a 2-part series covering investment costs. Part 1 focuses on fund management fees. Part 2 looks at custodian/brokerage (trading) costs, as well as how a fiduciary, fee-only advisor can help families identify and reduce excessive costs.
Tax Planning Part 3: Tax-Wise Financial Planning
Created: August 31, 2021
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Estate Planning, Evidence-Based Investing, Family Wealth, General Audience, Philanthropy/Giving, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Tax Planning Tools & Techniques, Wealth Management
Description: Part 3 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defined "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explored reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 explores integrating all of the above into broad financial planning.
Tax Planning Part 2: Tax-Wise Investment Techniques
Created: August 12, 2021
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Estate Planning, Evidence-Based Investing, Family Wealth, General Audience, Philanthropy/Giving, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Tax Planning Tools & Techniques
Description: Part 2 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defined "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explores reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 will explore integrating all of the above into broad financial planning techniques.
Tax Planning Part 1: Tools of the Trade
Created: July 27, 2021
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Estate Planning, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, General Audience, Philanthropy/Giving, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Tax Planning Tools & Techniques
Description: Part 1 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defines "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explores reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 will explore integrating all of the above into broad financial planning techniques.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2021 Q2
Created: July 1, 2021
Categories: Breaking News, Client-Focused, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 491-word Q2 2021 quarterly client letter compares recent speculative ventures like FINRA-fined Robinhood’s IPO filing, with the 50th anniversary of index investing.
Inflation Part 2: What We Can Do About It
Created: June 24, 2021
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Breaking News, Economics, General Audience, Inflation, Scary Market Insights
Description: Part 2 of a 2-part series on inflation. Part 1 defined inflation, put current events in greater context, and described the difference between "good" and "bad" inflation. This Part 2 explores why forecasts for inflation remain as fuzzy as ever, and how investors can best prepare for whatever may happen next.
Inflation Part 1: What We Know
Created: June 15, 2021
Categories: Article, Breaking News, Economics, General Audience, Inflation, Scary Market Insights
Description: Part 1 of a 2-part series on inflation. Part 1 defines inflation, puts current events in greater context, and describes the difference between "good" and "bad" inflation. Part 2 explores why forecasts for inflation remain as fuzzy as ever, and how investors can best prepare for whatever may happen next.
Three Advisor Firm Fact Sheet Cover Letter Templates
Created: May 26, 2021
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Alliances, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Prospect-Focused
Description: These three cover letter templates complement our Advisor Firm Fact Sheet (found at https://www.wendyjcook.com/advisor-firm-fact-sheet/), and are available at no added cost to any advisor who purchases this product. Use them to share your custom-branded fact sheet with prospects, clients, and centers of influence (such as attorneys or CPAs). Content-Sharing Library members also can download and adopt these cover letters for use with any firm brochure or fact sheet they’ve created.
Protecting What’s Yours (After You Pass) Part 2
Created: May 17, 2021
Categories: Article, Estate Planning, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, General Audience, Philanthropy/Giving, Protecting What's Yours, Tax Planning, Wealth Management
Description: Share this two-part piece on estate planning basics with clients and prospects. Part 1 is 464 words, and reminds readers how important it is to have a basic will or trust. This part 2, at 1,413 words, offers step-by-step guidance on creating and maintaining an effective estate plan. Both pieces pair well with a 2019 Library piece, "Protecting What's Yours (While You're Alive)."
Protecting What’s Yours (After You Pass) Part 1
Created: April 29, 2021
Categories: Article, Estate Planning, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, General Audience, Philanthropy/Giving, Protecting What's Yours, Tax Planning, Wealth Management
Description: Share this two-part piece on estate planning basics with clients and prospects. Part 1 is 464 words, and reminds readers how important it is to have a basic will or trust. Part 2 (coming soon) will offer step-by-step guidance on creating and maintaining an effective estate plan. Both pieces pair well with a 2019 Library piece, "Protecting What's Yours (While You're Alive)."
Quarterly Client Letter – 2021 Q1
Created: April 1, 2021
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 416-word Q1 2021 quarterly client letter reminds clients why it's just as important to ignore hot hands as cold fears in ever-changeable markets.
Understanding The 2021 Recovery Rebate Stimulus Payments
Created: March 12, 2021
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Family Wealth, Tax Planning
Description: An 864-word overview summarizing how the newly passed American Recovery Act of 2021 Recovery Rebate Stimulus Payments work: Who will receive them, how much they can expect to receive (if anything), and the three ways they may qualify for full or partial payments based on their 2019, 2020, and/or 2021 AGI.
SPACS, NFTs, and Other Jungle Creatures
Created: March 11, 2021
Categories: Alternative Investments, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report, Technology
Description: Use this 1,117-word report to describe some of the latest trading trends to clients and prospects, put the activity in the context of similar historical runs, and explain why long-term investors should avoid the excitement of short-term speculation.
Cryptocurrency: What’s It All About – Part 3
Created: February 21, 2021
Categories: Alternative Investments, Article, Cryptocurrency, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report, Technology
Description: Share this three-part series on cryptocurrency (and related blockchain technology) with clients or prospects to describe the terminology, the risks and benefits of using it, and why trading in it is currently closer to speculating than investing. Part 1 covered understanding cryptocurrency. Part 2 covered the risks and benefits of earning/spending cryptocurrency. This part 3 explores trading in it. Share as a series of articles or videos, or combine all three into a single report.
Cryptocurrency: What’s It All About – Part 2
Created: February 9, 2021
Categories: Alternative Investments, Article, Cryptocurrency, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report, Technology
Description: Share this three-part series on cryptocurrency (and related blockchain technology) with clients or prospects to describe the terminology, the risks and benefits of using it, and why trading in it is currently closer to speculating than investing. Part 1 covered understanding cryptocurrency. This part 2 covers the risks and benefits of earning/spending cryptocurrency. Part 3 will explore trading in it. Share as a series of articles or videos, or combine all three into a single report.
GameStop Client Reach-Out
Created: February 1, 2021
Categories: Article, Breaking News, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, General Letter/E-Mail
Description: Share this 855-word piece with clients and prospects to offer a synopsis (to date) of the unfolding marketing volatility generated by GameStop and similar short-sold stocks, and to remind them of the essential differences between long-term investing versus short-term trading.
Cryptocurrency: What’s It All About – Part 1
Created: January 27, 2021
Categories: Alternative Investments, Article, Cryptocurrency, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report, Technology
Description: Share this three-part series on cryptocurrency (and related blockchain technology) with clients or prospects to describe the terminology, the risks and benefits of using it, and why trading in it is currently closer to speculating than investing. This part 1 covers understanding cryptocurrency. Forthcoming parts cover the risks and benefits of earning/spending cryptocurrency (part 2), and trading in it (part 3). Share as a series of articles or videos, or combine all three into a single report.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2020 Q4
Created: January 4, 2021
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Planning, Politics, Quarterly Client Letter, Tax Planning
Description: This 487-word Q4 2020 quarterly client letter reviews the wild ride 2020 delivered and why it’s important to stay the course through both bear and bull markets. It lists the ways you’ll be helping them do that, in the context of current financial and political news.
An Evidence-Based Approach to ESG Investing: White Paper (UPDATED)
Created: December 21, 2020
Categories: Evidence-Based ESG Investing, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Philanthropy/Giving, Sustainable Investing, UPDATED Content, White Paper
Description: UPDATED FROM JUNE-JULY 2017: This 2,300-word piece combines our UPDATED two-part ESG investing series into a single white paper, providing an informational overview of ESG investing in the context of evidence-based investment strategies. Use this paper (or the parts, in installments) to respond to client and prospect questions about ESG investing.
An Evidence-Based Approach to ESG Investing: Part 1 (UPDATED)
Created: December 21, 2020
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based ESG Investing, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Philanthropy/Giving, Report, Sustainable Investing, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM JUNE-JULY 2017: This 930-word document is part 1 of a 2-part series, providing an UPDATED informational overview of ESG investing in the context of evidence-based investment strategies. Part 1 introduces a few key terms and summarizes how ESG investment priorities may vary depending on individual goals. Use this series to respond to client and prospect questions about ESG investing.
An Evidence-Based Approach to ESG Investing: Part 2 (UPDATED)
Created: December 21, 2020
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based ESG Investing, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Philanthropy/Giving, Report, Sustainable Investing, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM JUNE-JULY 2017: This 1,400-word document is part 2 of a 2-part series, providing an UPDATED informational overview of ESG investing in the context of evidence-based investment strategies. Part 2 explores how to quantify “doing good,” and explores the challenges and opportunities ESG investors face today. Use this series to respond to client and prospect questions about ESG investing.
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2020
Created: November 29, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Financial Best Practice Lists, Financial Planning, General Audience, General Letter/E-Mail, Listicle, Philanthropy/Giving, Risk Management, Tax Planning
Description: Share this 818-word piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for year-end 2020. This year's selection is based on some of the changes that took place in 2020, including charitable giving tax breaks, general tax-planning opportunities, altered lifestyle planning considerations, and more.
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving/Holiday Season (2020)
Created: November 12, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings, Wealth Management
Description: Use this 260-word message to be in touch with your clients for the U.S. Thanksgiving or the general 2020 holiday season. The message expresses gratitude for your client's business, and acknowledges the painful disruption the pandemic has brought to most families' holiday traditions.
Presidential Election Reflection (UPDATED)
Created: November 9, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, General Letter/E-Mail, Politics, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM OCT. 2020: This 426-word client reach-out offers three simple reminders on why it's as important as ever to disconnect your long-term investment activities from late-breaking political news. Updated on Nov. 9 for distribution post- instead of pre-election.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2020 Q3
Created: October 1, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Politics, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 558-word Q3 2020 quarterly client letter reminds clients of why it’s important to ignore distractions that might have detracted from their ability to participate in the market’s recent strong overall returns. Illustrations include chasing FAANG stocks, trying to predict presidential elections, and more.
Lump-Sum Investing vs. Dollar-Cost Averaging — Part 2: Actual Outcomes
Created: September 28, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience
Description: This 650-word document is part two of a two-part series comparing lump-sum investing to dollar-cost averaging. This first part describes why lump-sum investing is generally expected to deliver higher end returns. In part two, we cover why other issues may sometimes make dollar-cost averaging the preferred strategy anyway.
Lump-Sum Investing vs. Dollar-Cost Averaging — Part 1: Raw Returns
Created: September 21, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience
Description: This 610-word document is part one of a two-part series comparing lump-sum investing to dollar-cost averaging. This first part describes why lump-sum investing is generally expected to deliver higher end returns. In part two, we'll cover why other issues may sometimes make dollar-cost averaging the preferred strategy anyway.
“What Is Evidence-Based Investing?” Infographic
Created: August 25, 2020
Categories: Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Infographic, What Is Evidence-Based Investing?
Description: This "What Is Evidence-Based Investing?" infographic illustrates the key differences between evidence-based vs. traditional active investing. Display this high-resolution PDF online, or print it as a 24" x 36" poster to display in your office. This generic, unbranded version is available to Content-Sharing Library members at no added cost. Members and non-members alike also can order a custom-branded version here: https://www.wendyjcook.com/infographic-what-is-ebi/
Finding Your Fiduciary Financial Advisor (UPDATED)
Created: August 18, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Planning, Finding a Fiduciary Advisor, General Audience, Report, UPDATED Content, Wealth Management, White Paper
Description: UPDATED FROM FEB. 2015: This six-page, three-part special report helps investors choose a fiduciary advisor, UPDATED for recent changes under Reg BI. Part 1 describes the broad financial environment and the importance of the fiduciary relationship. Part 2 covers additional qualities to seek, and Part 3 offers tips on how to review an advisor's credentials. Pairs well with the separate, July 2020 Library piece, “What Is Fiduciary Investment Advice?”
What Is Fiduciary Investment Advice, and Why Does It Matter?
Created: July 31, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, Finding a Fiduciary Advisor, General Audience, Report, Wealth Management
Description: Fully independent, fee-only RIA firms can share this 1,500-word report with clients and prospective clients to differentiate comprehensive fiduciary client relationships, vs. "incidental" investment recommendations under Regulation Best Interest (as of June 30, 2020). Pairs well with the separate, August 2020 Library piece, “Finding Your Fiduciary Financial Advisor.”
Quarterly Client Letter – 2020 Q2
Created: July 2, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, Politics, Quarterly Client Letter, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 460-word Q2 2020 quarterly client letter reminds clients of the importance of sticking to plan despite near-term market noise in 2020.
Eight “Best/Worst” Wealth Strategies During the Coronavirus Free Sample (Click on title to download)
Created: June 28, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Alternative Investments, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Planning, Free Samples, General Audience, Listicle, Wealth Management
Description: Share this 833-word document with clients and prospects to cover eight of the most and least effective ways for they can spend their time and energy shoring up their financial well-being in the time of the coronavirus.
Understanding Sequence Risk in Retirement
Created: June 9, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report, Retirement Planning, The "What Is ...?" series
Description: Use this 1,085-word report to introduce sequence risk to clients and prospective clients, especially those in or near retirement. Describes how the sequence in which retirees earn returns early in retirement can impact their lasting wealth, provides an illustration of the same, and suggests ways to manage sequence risk when it occurs. Download includes the report itself in Word, plus an Excel spreadsheet for advisor-only reference.
How To Be Positively Skeptical | Part 4: Check the Facts Before You Act
Created: May 17, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, How To Be Positively Skeptical, Politics
Description: Use this third, 898-word installment of a 4-part series to help clients and prospects strengthen their ability to differentiate solid evidence from bogus claims, especially during the coronavirus crisis. Parts 1-3 described why it's important to be positively skeptical, how our emotions interfere with our reasoning, and what should guide our due diligence. Part 4 describes some of the practical steps involved and wraps with a call to action.
How To Be Positively Skeptical | Part 3: How Do You Do Your Due Diligence?
Created: May 17, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, How To Be Positively Skeptical, Politics
Description: Use this third, 673-word installment of a 4-part series to help clients and prospects strengthen their ability to differentiate solid evidence from bogus claims, especially during the coronavirus crisis. Parts 1 and 2 described why it's important to be positively skeptical, and how our emotions interfere with our reasoning. Part 3 provides five “do’s” and “don’ts” to guide our due diligence, and Part 4 will offer some of the practical steps involved.
How To Be Positively Skeptical | Part 2: Understanding Your Emotions
Created: April 29, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Planning, General Audience, How To Be Positively Skeptical, Technology
Description: Use this second, 844-word installment of a 4-part series to help clients and prospects strengthen their ability to differentiate solid evidence from bogus claims, especially during the coronavirus crisis. Part 1 described why the ability to be "positively skeptical" is important. This part 2 covers how to recognize when emotions are interfering with reason (and what to do about it). Parts 3 & 4 will help readers hone in on their fact-checking skills.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2020 Q1
Created: April 3, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter, Scary Market Insights, Tax Planning
Description: This 652-word Q1 2020 quarterly client letter prepares clients for putting last quarter's returns in perspective. It reviews the activities you're doing on their behalf, encourages them to be in touch if their investment resolve is wavering, and reminds them of the perils of market-timing.
A CARES Act Overview (Updated 4/3/20)
Created: April 1, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Financial Planning, Philanthropy/Giving, Politics, Report, Scary Market Insights, Tax Planning
Description: Share this 1,450-word CARES Act Overview with clients or (slightly modified) with prospects to provide an approachable but relatively substantive summary of critical content within the Act. The overview is organized by audience, such as items applicable to employees, to employers, to businesses, to students, etc. It includes a list of resources referenced, for additional insights. (UPDATED 4/3/20 to reflect SBA clarifications.)
A Coronavirus Round-Up Report
Created: March 27, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Report, Scary Market Insights, Tax Planning
Description: Use this 812-word overview as an additional reach-out to your clients during the coronavirus crisis (or edit for general purposes). It reviews what you, they and the markets can do at this time, and reminds them of the many ways you're supporting them at this time.
A Retirement Plan Sponsor Reach-Out
Created: March 25, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, General Letter/E-Mail, Retirement Plan Sponsor, Retirement Planning, Scary Market Insights
Description: Use this 757-word piece to reach out to retirement plan sponsor clients during the coronavirus crisis. Let them know you're available as always, update them on retirement plan regulatory issues you're keeping an eye on, and summarize best financial practices for themselves and their plan participants.
Taking a New View on Coronavirus
Created: March 13, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Scary Market Insights
Description: Share this 727-word piece as another timely outreach to your clients (or for general audiences with some edits), to help them remain resolute during current COVID-19-fueled crises. The piece acknowledges the current risks being realized, while pointing out that these same risks are likely to generate important insights for seeding future expected social resilience and market growth.
Three Thoughts During Scary Markets Free Sample (Click on title to download)
Created: March 9, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Free Samples, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: As market headlines go from bad to worse, share this 685-word confidence-building reach-out with your clients (or, with modest edits, with a wider audience). Includes a review of the relationship between risk and expected reward, the significance of being prepared in advance for these kinds of downturns, and a reminder that you remain available to provide objective advice.
10 Things To Do Right Now While Markets Are Tanking (UPDATED)
Created: February 28, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Breaking News, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Listicle, Scary Market Insights, Tax Planning, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM MARCH 2018: Use this 1,238-word handout with clients or prospects, to remind them during the current coronavirus-generated crisis of 10 judicious actions to take during scary markets, along with 10 insightful quotes from respected subject matter experts.
How To Be Positively Skeptical | Part 1: The Benefits of Having a Doubt
Created: February 27, 2020
Categories: Article, Behavioral Finance, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, How To Be Positively Skeptical, Politics, Security, Technology
Description: Use this first, 600-word installment of a 4-part series to help clients and prospects strengthen their ability to differentiate solid evidence from bogus claims. Part 1 describes why the ability to be "positively skeptical" is important. Parts 2 - 4 will cover how to recognize when emotions are interfering with reason, and how to hone one's fact-checking skills.
You, Your Investments, and the Coronavirus (UPDATED)
Created: February 24, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Breaking News, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Scary Market Insights, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED 2/24: Use this 677-word client reach-out to remind your clients why they should avoid reacting to breaking news about novel coronavirus, at least as far as their investment portfolio is concerned. With minor modifications, the piece can also be used for general/prospecting purposes.
Three Upside-Down Investment Insights
Created: January 21, 2020
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Listicle
Description: Share this 732-word piece with clients and/or prospects to cover three important, but counterintuitive investment insights: (1) market volatility is the norm, not the exception; (2) market volatility is a "frenemy" to investors; and (3) effective diversification means you'll always be holding some disappointing asset classes.
Quarterly Client Letter — 2019 Q4
Created: January 2, 2020
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Economics, Financial Planning, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: Use this 540-word quarterly client letter to reflect on one- and 10-year retrospectives in the new year, including how and why to separate short-term reactions from long-term strategy.
You, Your Retirement, and the SECURE Act – GENERAL Audience
Created: December 24, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Estate Planning, Financial Planning, General Audience, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning
Description: Use this 1,300-word document to provide a GENERAL AUDIENCE with an overview of what to expect from the newly enacted U.S. SECURE Act -- emphasizing how you might assist them in applying the changes according to their best interests. Refer to separate piece tailored for CLIENT use.
You, Your Retirement, and the SECURE Act – CLIENT Audience
Created: December 24, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client-Focused, Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Politics, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning
Description: Use this 1,300-word document to provide CLIENTS with an overview of what to expect from the newly enacted U.S. SECURE Act -- emphasizing how you will be assisting them in applying the changes according to their best interests. Refer to separate piece revised for GENERAL AUDIENCE use.
Six Financial Best Practices for 2020
Created: December 8, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Best Practice Lists, General Audience, Listicle, Philanthropy/Giving, Security, Wealth Management
Description: Share this 869-word piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for 2020. This year's selection is based on some of the changes that took place in 2019, including TCJA tax tips, zero-commission stock and ETF trading, and more.
Why Safe Harbors Can Be Risky Business
Created: November 21, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, General Audience, Scary Market Insights
Description: Use this 922-word article to remind clients and explain to prospective clients how to balance managing short-term market volatility risks with the long-term risk of inflation. It’s also risky to overweight a portfolio in "safe harbor" investments, and/or flee to the sidelines during turbulent times, just in a different way.
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving/Holiday Season (2019)
Created: November 6, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings
Description: Use this 323-word message to be in touch with your clients for the U.S. Thanksgiving or the general 2019 holiday season, thanking them for their business and wishing them "joie de vivre." The message also includes language for making an optional gift along with the letter, for all or some of your client relationships.
16 Things You Can Do To Prepare for the Next Recession
Created: October 18, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Expenses, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, General Audience, Listicle, Retirement Planning, Scary Market Insights, Wealth Management
Description: 16 things investors can do to truly strengthen their financial well-being, instead of engaging in market-timing in reaction to a potential recession. Share this 783-word overview with clients and prospects.
Quarterly Client Letter — 2019 Q3
Created: October 2, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Politics, Quarterly Client Letter, Scary Market Insights
Description: Use this 442-word quarterly client letter to remind clients to stay the course amidst breaking global news. It explores how reflexes in your brain can play tricks on your financial resolve.
The ABCs of Behavioral Biases (UPDATED)
Created: September 18, 2019
Categories: ABCs of Behavioral Biases, Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, General Audience, PowerPoint Presentation, Quick-Reference, UPDATED Content, White Paper
Description: UPDATED FROM AUG. 2017: This collection of materials includes: (1) a 5,800-word white paper, (2) the same materials broken into a seven-part drip series, and (3) an ALL-NEW PowerPoint presentation on "The ABCs of Behavioral Biases." From anchoring, to hindsight, to tracking-error regret, the series covers 17 of the most common financial behavioral biases that lead investors astray, in alphabetic order.
FAFSA Application Advice for College-Bound Kids
Created: September 6, 2019
Categories: Article, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, General Audience
Description: This 482-word message alerts parents and their college-bound children that there's no time to waste when submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application as soon as October 1 arrives. It describes how FAFSA works, and why time is of the essence.
A Timely Reminder on the Perils of Market Timing
Created: August 25, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: A 735-word client reach-out about the prospect that a trade war with China could lead to a recession. The piece covers four reasons why trying to engage in market-timing in reaction to the unfolding news remains as ill-advised as ever.
What Is Monte Carlo Analysis?
Created: August 23, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Financial Planning, General Audience, Retirement Planning, The "What Is ...?" series
Description: This 1,000-word article in our "What Is ...?" series describes how investors can benefit from a Monte Carlo Analysis, includes caveats on best use, and provides a basic illustration on how it works. An accompanying Monte Carlo Sample pdf file provides the assumptions used in the illustration.
You, Your Financial Well-Being and the Federal Reserve (UPDATED)
Created: August 1, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, General Audience, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM MARCH 2018: This 1,200-word piece puts the U.S. Federal Reserve's ongoing federal funds rate changes (especially the Aug. 1 2019 rate decrease) into sound, financial-planning context. Use this piece to inform prospects or clients about how the Fed operates, as well as what your role is in helping them manage debt, save, invest, and spend wisely through various interest rate climates and regardless of what lies ahead.
Protecting What’s Yours (While You’re Alive)
Created: July 25, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Estate Planning, Family Wealth, Financial Planning, General Audience, Protecting What's Yours, Report, Wealth Management
Description: Use this 1,300-word article in its entirety or broken into three parts to cover three tools an individual can employ to protect their health and wealth care interests while they are alive: (1) the financial power of attorney, (2) the trusted contact, and (3) the healthcare advance directive (including a living will and healthcare power of attorney). Includes a summary, when each applies, common scenarios and additional tips for each.
Quarterly Client Letter — 2019 Q2
Created: July 2, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Behavioral Finance, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: Use this 632-word quarterly client letter for Q2 2019 to describe Daniel Kahneman's research into decision-making "noise," and how it can be employed for improved investing.
The Viability of the Value Premium (Multi-Part Series)
Created: June 16, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Scary Market Insights, Viability of Value Investing
Description: This multi-part series segments the full-length 1,765-word report on the viability of the value premium into five shorter, quick-read pieces. It covers the origins of the value premium, historical precedents, additional evidence that the value premium likely remains viable, and the role global diversification plays in managing risks and expected returns. The five parts are bundled into a single zip file for simplified download.
The Viability of the Value Premium (Full Report Version)
Created: June 16, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report, Scary Market Insights, Viability of Value Investing
Description: This 1,765-word document addresses investor concerns that the value premium may be "dead," since value stocks have underperformed growth stocks for approximately the past decade. It covers the origins of the value premium, historical precedents, additional evidence that the value premium likely remains viable, and the role global diversification plays in managing risks and expected returns.
Good Advice (UPDATED)
Created: May 27, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Planning, General Audience, UPDATED Content, Wealth Management
Description: UPDATED FROM 2016: This 605-word piece reminds your clients and informs prospective clients that the best-interest advice you offer goes well beyond stock-picking tips. It reinforces why a good financial adviser remains relevant even as low-cost funds, automated investing and simplified financial planning are on the rise.
What Is Asset Location? (UPDATED)
Created: May 27, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Tax Planning, The "What Is ...?" series, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM 2013: This 710-word article is part of our ongoing "What Is ...?" series. It defines asset LOCATION, differentiates it from asset ALLOCATION, and provides an overview of both its benefits and challenges. Share this piece with clients or prospects as an article, post, or video script, or for similar purposes.
What Is Liquidity?
Created: May 14, 2019
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based Investing, Financial Planning, General Audience, Real Estate Investing, The "What Is ...?" series, Wealth Management
Description: This 768-word article is part of our ongoing "What Is ...?" series. It defines liquidity, offers some approachable examples of how it works, and considers it within the context of an overall investment portfolio. Share this piece with clients or prospects as an article, post, or video script, or for similar purposes.
Quarterly Client Letter — 2019 Q1
Created: April 1, 2019
Categories: Breaking News, Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter, Wealth Management
Description: This 520-word quarterly client letter reflects on the differences between breaking news and timeless investment tenets, noting in particular the contrast between Q1 performance and recent volatile returns just prior.
Money Management Lingo
Created: March 27, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Financial Planning, General Audience, Real Estate Investing, Tax Planning, The "What Is ...?" series
Description: This 860-word document provides a beginner's guide intro to some of the most common terminology advisors tend to use when introducing prospective and new clients to money management services. For example, it differentiates assets, funds, accounts and custodians -- explaining which roles each play. (Note: Non-U.S. advisors might want to swap out some of the examples with illustrations of their own -- such as referencing your country's tax-advantaged accounts rather than U.S.-based IRAs.)
A Client Referral Reach-Out
Created: March 7, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail
Description: Use this 260-word piece to reach out to clients in an email or postal mailing, reminding them that you warmly welcome their referrals whenever they know of someone who may benefit from a conversation with you or your firm.
A Second Opinion Reach-Out
Created: February 25, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, General Letter/E-Mail, Prospect-Focused, Wealth Management
Description: Use this 525-word piece to reach out to prospects (or, with minor revisions, to clients), encouraging them to schedule a second opinion meeting with you. The piece describes what to expect as well as red flags to avoid when seeking an objective second opinion about their investment portfolio. It could also be re-purposed as a general article.
What Is Asset Allocation?
Created: February 13, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, The "What Is ...?" series
Description: This approximately 750-word piece provides a working definition of asset allocation, to share with clients, prospects and others. It's the latest addition to an accumulating "What Is ...?" series, defining frequently used terminology for those who may not "just know" what it means.
An Homage to John “Jack” Bogle
Created: January 17, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Expenses, General Letter/E-Mail
Description: Use this 340-word note to reach out to clients to celebrate Jack Bogle's life and remind them that you're here to help them pursue their own best pursuits in similar fashion.
Cover Intro for Dimensional 2018 Market Review
Created: January 8, 2019
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, General Letter/E-Mail, Intro to Expert Commentary, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 565-word summary provides an introduction you can use to share Dimensional's 2018 Market Review, with an emphasis on remaining resolute and diversified during volatile markets. You can use the intro to be in touch with your clients or as a prospecting piece for those interested in evidence-based investing.
Quarterly Client Letter — 2018 Q4
Created: January 2, 2019
Categories: Breaking News, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 515-word quarterly client letter offers two talking points on how to consider current market conditions in the context of long-term market performance. "Average" returns aren't the norm, and recency bias is a risk.
Six Financial Best Practices for 2019
Created: December 17, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Estate Planning, Financial Best Practice Lists, Financial Planning, Listicle, Prospect-Focused, Scary Market Insights, Security, Wealth Management
Description: Six financial best practices encouraging investors to ignore market volatility and take practical steps toward enhancing their financial well-being. Use this piece as is to share with prospective clients, or modify it slightly for client use. This piece represents the second in an annual series, potentially pairing well with "Ten Financial Best Practices to Jump-Start Your New Year," published in December 2017.
2018 Year-End Market Volatility Client Reach-Out
Created: December 6, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: Use this 2018 year-end client reach-out to help clients ride out current market volatility. The document contains two versions: (1) a 580-word extended reach-out that includes references to Hans Rosling's new book "Factfulness," and (2) an abbreviated, 330-word reach-out that omits the reference to Rosling's book.
Five Financial Adages for Thriving in Volatile Markets
Created: November 19, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report, Scary Market Insights
Description: This big, meaty, 2,000-word report takes a close look at why so many investors fail to adhere to five widely accepted financial adages (e.g., "buy low, sell high"), ESPECIALLY DURING VOLATILE/DOWN MARKETS. Use this report with clients or prospects -- either as-is, or as a drip communication or video series, sharing one adage at a time, over time.
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving/Holiday Season (2018)
Created: November 11, 2018
Categories: Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings
Description: Use this 280-word message to be in touch with your clients for the U.S. Thanksgiving or the general 2018 holiday season, thanking them for their business and wishing them all the best with a warm and thoughtful reach-out.
Global Diversification: The Antacid for Market Turbulence
Created: October 10, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: A timely 600-word client reach-out to reflect on the October 10, 2018 U.S. stock market tumble. Emphasizing the continued importance of remaining globally diversified according to one's goals and risk tolerances, the message also reminds them of your role as their fiduciary advisor. Ideal for a client email, the piece can also be modified for more general purposes.
Quarterly Client Letter — 2018 Q3
Created: October 1, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Behavioral Finance, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 530-word quarterly client letter offers three reasons investors should avoid the temptation to engage in market-timing by abandoning their existing plans and investments out of concern that the market may be "overpriced" and headed for a fall.
Protecting Your Child from Identity Theft (US Version) Free Sample (Click on title to download)
Created: September 24, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Free Samples, General Audience, Security, Technology
Description: Use this 600-word piece to alert clients and prospects to the growing threat of child identity theft: what it is, why it's happening, how parents can spot and prevent it, and what to do if it happens.
Protecting Your Child from Identity Theft (Canadian Version) Free Sample (Click on title to download)
Created: September 24, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Free Samples, General Audience, Security, Technology
Description: Use this 600-word piece to alert clients and prospects to the growing threat of child identity theft: what it is, why it's happening, how parents can spot and prevent it, and what to do if it happens.
What Is the Yield Curve? (Article)
Created: August 24, 2018
Categories: Article, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, General Audience, Report, The "What Is ...?" series
Description: This 900-word "What Is?" article translates a tricky investment concept -- the yield curve -- to help clients and prospects alike appreciate the role it plays in their fixed income investing. (Look for the separate, Excel spreadsheet also available in the Content-Sharing Library if you need to directly access the Yield Curve diagrams displayed in this piece.)
What Is the Yield Curve? (Diagrams)
Created: August 24, 2018
Categories: Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Excel file, Fixed Income, General Audience, The "What Is ...?" series
Description: An Excel file containing two diagrams -- Figures 1 and 2 -- found within the separate "What Is the Yield Curve?" article, also in the Content-Sharing Library. Download this Excel file if you need to directly access the Yield Curve diagrams displayed in this piece.
Food for Thought: “Reducing the Risk of Black Swans” Book Review
Created: August 6, 2018
Categories: Alternative Investments, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report
Description: This 1,250-word book review of Larry Swedroe's and Kevin Grogan's book, "Reducing the Risk of Black Swans," will be useful for advisors who are introducing some of the newer factors and alternative investment strategies into their evidence-based investment portfolios. Share it with clients or prospects, along with the book itself, or use it as a summary for in-house reference.
Quarterly Client Letter — 2018 Q2
Created: July 3, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Behavioral Finance, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 400-word quarterly client letter reflects on the mixed bag of scary and enticing market news from the quarter, encouraging clients to stay on course with their well-built portfolio to maintain the highest odds of achieving their personal goals.
What Is Correlation (and Why Would You Care)?
Created: May 30, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, The "What Is ...?" series
Description: This 1,000-word "What Is?" article translates a tricky investment term -- correlation -- to help clients and prospects alike appreciate the role it plays in portfolio construction.
New Client Welcome Letter/Email and Fact Sheet
Created: May 8, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Wealth Management
Description: Customize these templates -- a brief letter/email and fact sheet -- to welcome new clients to your firm, remind them of their next scheduled meeting with you, and provide key contact information.
A Focus on Fixed Income (UPDATED)
Created: April 27, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, General Audience, Report, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM SEPTEMBER 2015: This 1,275-word article covers the essential roles fixed income should play in an investor's portfolio, along with some of the basics on how fixed income differs from equity investing. It also reinforces the important role an objective advisor can play in building and managing fixed income investments. Use the piece for e-newsletters, e-mails, handouts and mailings, or to create video script for prospective or existing clients.
Charitable Giving Under the TCJA: An Overview of Sensible Strategies
Created: April 25, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, General Audience, Philanthropy/Giving, Tax Planning
Description: Use this 975-word overview to share four practical ways charitably inclined investors can still receive tax breaks on their charitable giving under the new U.S. Tax Cuts and Job Acts rules. This material can also be paired with the separate, February 2018 Content-Sharing Library piece focusing on Donor Advised Funds (DAFs).
Quarterly Client Letter — 2018 Q1
Created: April 2, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Politics, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 500-word quarterly client letter reflects on the recent uptick in market volatility, encouraging clients to be in touch with you if they need a "pep talk," a shift in their investment plans, or both.
10 Things To Do Right Now While Markets Are (Not Really) Tanking
Created: March 21, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Scary Market Insights, Tax Planning
Description: Use this 1,250-word handout with clients or prospects, to serve as a "safety drill" during calm markets, to help them prepare for staying the course during market downturns. The piece offers 10 judicious actions to take during bear markets, along with 10 insightful quotes from respected subject matter experts. You also can encourage readers to revisit the piece (or use it with a brief intro) the next time markets actually are tanking.
Understanding the Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)
Created: February 25, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, General Audience, Philanthropy/Giving, Tax Planning, Wealth Management, White Paper
Description: Use this 1,300-word white paper to describe to prospects and clients why they may want to consider a DAF for charitable giving under the new 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The paper describes how tax-wise charitable giving has changed, where a DAF might fit in, how they work, and how to differentiate among them. The paper also emphasizes the value of working with a wealth advisor to assist in selection and set-up. This piece also pairs well with the April 2018 piece offering an overview of tax-wise giving under the TCJA.
The Current Market Decline in Context
Created: February 5, 2018
Categories: Breaking News, Client-Focused, Economics, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 430-word message is optimized for reaching out to your clients about the current market decline. It encourages them to stay the course according to their personal plans (unless their own goals have changed). It also reflects on how market drops are normal, and how popular headlines are often designed to grab attention rather than inform readers. The message can be modified to share with prospective clients or for other purposes.
The Vital Role of Rebalancing (UPDATED)
Created: January 26, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM JUNE 2013: Use this 960-word document with clients or prospects to explain how your firm adds value by employing rebalancing as part of an evidence-based strategy. Properly implemented, rebalancing offers a disciplined, cost-effective approach to buying low and selling high and staying on track toward one's personal financial goals.
Cover Intro for Dimensional 2017 Market Review
Created: January 9, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client-Focused, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, General Letter/E-Mail, Intro to Expert Commentary
Description: This 500-word summary provides an introduction you can use to share Dimensional's 2017 Advisor Byline Market Review. You can use it to be in touch with your clients or as a prospecting piece for those interested in evidence-based investing.
Quarterly Client Letter — 2017 Q4
Created: January 1, 2018
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 425-word, fourth quarter client letter reminds clients of the importance of adhering to their Investment Policy Statement using disciplined rebalancing in the context of strong 2017 market returns.
Year-End Reflections on the New U.S. Tax Law
Created: December 21, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Philanthropy/Giving, Tax Planning
Description: Use this 550-word client message to reach out to clients about the U.S. tax law changes, to remind them you're available to assist and to suggest potentially advantageous actions they could take before year-end -- such as increasing charitable contributions or shifting taxable income into 2018.
Ten Financial Best Practices to Jump-Start Your New Year
Created: December 18, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Financial Best Practice Lists, Financial Planning, Listicle, Prospect-Focused, Retirement Planning
Description: Use this 1,050-word list of ten financial best practices for prospecting and public education about basic retirement planning, risk management, estate planning, budgeting, debt management, investing and more. A call to action at the end invites readers to be in touch with you for an exploratory conversation. Tailored for U.S. readers, this piece can be readily revised to apply elsewhere.
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving (2017)
Created: November 9, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings
Description: This 500-word client letter reflects on the true meaning of happiness as you wish your clients a Happy Thanksgiving. Global advisors can modify the letter to use as a general season's greeting to clients.
Quarterly Client Letter — 2017 Q3
Created: October 1, 2017
Categories: Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 330-word, third quarter client letter reminds clients why an evidence-based investment approach remains in their best interests, using an illustration from a Russell quarterly report based on less-dependable advice.
Equifax Breach Commentary
Created: September 18, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, General Audience, General Letter/E-Mail, Security, Technology
Description: Use this 785-word client communication to comment on the recently announced Equifax security breach, offer guidance, and remind them of the timeless "Avoiding Financial Scams and Identity Theft Slams" materials you can share with them (also available in the Content-Sharing Library, under Technology). You may also wish to modify this piece to share with additional audiences.
Hurricane Harvey Texan Client Reach-Out
Created: August 28, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: A 284-word client reach-out for advisors based in Texas, to be in touch with clients about the effects of Hurricane Harvey. (A version for advisors NOT based in Texas also is available as a separate download.)
Hurricane Harvey General Client Reach-Out
Created: August 28, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: A 238-word client reach-out for advisors NOT based in Texas, to be in touch with clients about the effects of Hurricane Harvey. (A Texan advisor version also is available as a separate download.)
Half of a Whole: When You Lose Your Spouse Free Sample (Click on title to download)
Created: July 21, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Estate Planning, Free Samples, General Audience, Wealth Management
Description: This 900-word piece can be used as an article, email or video script to share with clients and prospective clients. It encourages those experiencing grief to hold off on making financial decisions that can wait, and offers supportive guidance to consider. It also encourages couples to complete their estate and advance planning if they've not yet done so.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2017 Q2
Created: July 4, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 440-word, second quarter client letter reminds clients to avoid market-timing and focus instead on asset allocation and rebalancing -- in good markets and bad.
Content from “What Is Evidence-Based Investing?”
Created: June 22, 2017
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, The "What Is ...?" series, What Is Evidence-Based Investing?
Description: Available exclusively to Content-Sharing Library subscribers, this Word document provides the same talking points used in our recently released "What Is Evidence-Based Investing?" infographic/poster for use in other materials.
Introduction to “What Is Evidence-Based Investing?”
Created: June 22, 2017
Categories: Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, General Letter/E-Mail, The "What Is ...?" series, What Is Evidence-Based Investing?
Description: Use this short, introductory message to share our recently released "What Is Evidence-Based Investing?" infographic/poster with clients, prospective clients and others.
“What Is Evidence-Based Investing?” Slideshow
Created: June 22, 2017
Categories: Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, PowerPoint Presentation, The "What Is ...?" series, What Is Evidence-Based Investing?
Description: Designed to complement our recently released "What Is Evidence-Based Investing?" infographic/poster, this PowerPoint slideshow reiterates the same talking points for use in client, prospective client and other presentations.
Misperceptions About Market Corrections: Are You Prepared?
Created: June 4, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, General Letter/E-Mail, Prospect-Focused, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 750-word document can be used in letter, email, article or video script format to help clients and prospects prepare for any future market corrections following the current long stint of relative calm. It encourages readers to ensure their portfolio meets their long-term goals and risk tolerances. Choose from two calls to action at the end, depending on whether you're sharing it with clients or prospects.
Client Reach-Out on Microsoft Ransomware Alert
Created: May 15, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Security, Technology
Description: Use this 245-word email to reach out to clients and alert them to the current global Microsoft ransomware outbreak. The alert encourages them to install any outstanding Microsoft patches on their devices if they've not yet done so. It also references the new materials on financial fraud and identity theft just added to the Content-Sharing Library. These offer you additional ways to add value to your clients' financial well-being.
Prospecting Reach-Out: Client Referral Intro
Created: April 17, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, General Letter/E-Mail, Prospect-Focused
Description: Use this 200-word template to create a personalized letter or e-mail to prospective clients who have been referred to you by one of your current clients ... or modify or excerpt from the template to apply to other prospecting activities. This will be the first of a collection of prospecting templates I'll release over time. I welcome your ongoing suggestions for new ones!
Quarterly Client Letter – 2017 Q1
Created: April 4, 2017
Categories: Breaking News, Client-Focused, Economics, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 525-word, first-quarter client letter summarizes some of the noteworthy market and economic events in Q1 2017 and puts them into the usual "stay the course" context.
An Index Overview | Part 4: Index Investing – Opportunities and Obstacles
Created: March 21, 2017
Categories: An Index Overview, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report
Description: This 1,200-word piece is part four of a four-part series covering indexes and index investing. Part 1 defined indexes in general. Part 2 took a closer look at what index points measure and some of their inherent characteristics. Part 3 explored some of the idiosyncrasies inherent to indexes. This final part 4 explores how indexes are used (and sometimes abused) in index fund investing. Use the series to discuss indexing as a drip series, in a combined report, or as video or podcast scripts.
An Index Overview | Part 3: Index Mechanics – Interesting Idiosyncrasies
Created: March 8, 2017
Categories: An Index Overview, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report
Description: This 1,060-word piece is part three of a four-part series covering indexes and index investing. Part 1 defined indexes in general. Part 2 took a closer look at what index points measure and some of their inherent characteristics. Part 3 explores some of the idiosyncrasies inherent to indexes. The final part 4 will explore how indexes are used (and sometimes abused) in index fund investing. Use the series to discuss indexing as a drip series, in a combined report, or as video or podcast scripts.
An Index Overview | Part 2: A Few Points About Index Points
Created: February 23, 2017
Categories: An Index Overview, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Multipart Series, Report
Description: This 780-word piece is part two of a four-part series covering indexes and index investing. Part 1 defined indexes in general. Part 2 takes a closer look at what index points measure and some of their inherent characteristics. Future parts will look at some of the strategies used to structure indexes, and how they are used (and sometimes abused) in index fund investing. Use the series to discuss indexing as a drip series, in a combined report, or as video or podcast scripts.
An Index Overview | Part 1: Indexes, Defined
Created: February 12, 2017
Categories: An Index Overview, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Multipart Series, Report
Description: This 800-word piece is part one of a four-part series covering indexes and index investing. Part 1 defines indexes in general, summarizes key uses (benchmarking and index fund investing), and explains why milestones like the "Dow 20,000" should not be used to engage in market-timing. Future parts will take a closer look at some of the strengths and weaknesses inherent to indexes and index fund investments. Use the series to discuss indexing as a drip series, in a combined report, or as video or podcast scripts.
Cover Intro for Dimensional 2016 Market Review
Created: January 12, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client-Focused, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-Based Investing, General Letter/E-Mail, Intro to Expert Commentary
Description: This 450-word summary provides an introduction you can use to share Dimensional's 2016 Advisor Byline Market & Economic Review. It's primarily for being in touch with your clients, although it can be modified to serve as a prospecting piece as well.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2016 Q4
Created: January 3, 2017
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Politics, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 425-word, fourth quarter (year-end) client letter acknowledges that 2017 remains an unknown and reminds investors of the durability of what really drives market returns -- which is global human enterprise.
Canadian Tax-Loss Harvesting: Opportunities and Obstacles
Created: December 20, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Expenses, Tax Planning
Description: Modified for Canadian use, this 800-word handout can be used to inform clients about what tax-loss harvesting is, how it can be used (as well as when it may not be appropriate), and how it serves as another way you, as their adviser, seek to add value to their investing. With minor edits, it could also be used as a piece to share with prospective clients. (We published U.S. and Anglicised versions of this piece in October 2017).
Client Cover Letter for Sharing Dimensional Materials
Created: December 7, 2016
Categories: Client-Focused, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-Based Investing, General Letter/E-Mail
Description: This 260-word (single page) cover letter can be used to share one or more recent resources Dimensional Fund Advisors has made available to advisors who are approved to use their fund line-up. Use this letter to remind CLIENTS of the value that Dimensional funds can add to their evidence-based investing. It references Dimensional's WSJ reprint "The Active-Passive Powerhouse," a Pensions & Investments reprint, "Dissecting Dimensional," and Dimensional's book, "35 Quotations." (The Content-Sharing Library also contains a separate letter for sharing these same materials with PROSPECTS.)
Prospect Cover Letter for Sharing Dimensional Materials
Created: December 7, 2016
Categories: Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-Based Investing, General Letter/E-Mail, Prospect-Focused
Description: This 450-word cover letter can be used to share one or more recent resources Dimensional Fund Advisors has made available to advisors who are approved to use their fund line-up. Use this letter as a follow-up to your initial conversation or meeting with a PROSPECT, to promote evidence-based investing as implemented by Dimensional funds. It references Dimensional's WSJ reprint "The Active-Passive Powerhouse," a Pensions & Investments reprint, "Dissecting Dimensional," and Dimensional's book, "35 Quotations." (The Content-Sharing Library also contains a separate letter for sharing these same materials with CLIENTS.)
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving (2016)
Created: November 15, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings
Description: This 350-word client letter thanks your clients for their relationship with you and encourages them to celebrate their other life relationships during the upcoming U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Global advisors can modify the letter to use as a general season's greeting to clients.
Post-Election Reflections: The Morning After
Created: November 9, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Politics, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 470-word client letter is a slightly updated and modified version of the client letter posted yesterday (Nov. 8), now that the U.S. presidential election results are known. Either version can be used to contact clients about the unexpected outcome, encourage them to remain on course with their investment strategy and be in touch with you if they have questions.
Post-Election Reflections
Created: November 8, 2016
Categories: Breaking News, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Politics, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 440-word client letter can be used on Nov. 8 as U.S. presidential election results are announced, or within the next few days following the election. Use it to remind clients you are available to help them stay the course with their carefully constructed investment strategy ... or to assist them in making updates if warranted.
Tax-Loss Harvesting: Opportunities and Obstacles
Created: October 24, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Expenses, Tax Planning
Description: This 800-word handout can be used to inform clients about what tax-loss harvesting is, how it can be used (as well as when it may not be appropriate), and how it serves as another way you, as their adviser, seek to add value to their investing. With minor edits, it could also be used as a piece to share with prospective clients.
Quarterly Client Letter – 2016 Q3
Created: October 4, 2016
Categories: Breaking News, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Expenses, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 480-word, third quarter client letter reflects on a relatively quiet summer, celebrates some recent market milestones and reminds clients that, despite continued domestic and global uncertainties, the best approach is the long-term, evidence-based strategy.
Structured CDs — Buyer Beware!
Created: September 26, 2016
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based Investing, Expenses, Fixed Income, General Audience
Description: This 650-word article describes how structured or market-based CDs aren't the same as traditional Certificates of Deposit, drawing from a recent Wall Street Journal critique of their costs and conflicts of interest. Share with clients or prospects who may be tempted by the "low risk, higher return" promises without considering the complexities involved.
What If Everyone Were a Passive Investor?
Created: September 12, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report
Description: This 1,200-word report explores why we should not have to worry that passive (and evidence-based) investing may become ineffective if too many investors embrace a passive approach. It can be shared with clients and prospects as a timeless discussion, as well as to rebut the recent AllianceBernstein "Road to Serfdom" client note, suggesting that passive investing is "worse than Marxism."
Presidents, Politics and Your Portfolio: Thinking Beyond Stage One
Created: August 27, 2016
Categories: Article, Breaking News, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Politics, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 750-word article can be shared with clients or prospects who may wonder if there is something they should "do" with their investments as the November 8 U.S. presidential election date nears. It encourages them to stay true to their long-term investment strategies by thinking beyond the immediate news.
Parenting Your Wealth in Uncertain Markets
Created: August 12, 2016
Categories: Article, Breaking News, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Politics, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 1,000-word article compares good parenting skills to good wealth management, describing why patience is an investor's greatest virtue. Share with clients and prospects during this summer's unruly political climate or, with minor modifications, it can serve as a timeless piece to address any form of heightened uncertainty.
Intro for “Reflections on Real Estate Investing” Report
Created: July 19, 2016
Categories: Breaking News, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, General Letter/E-Mail, Intro to Expert Commentary, Real Estate Investing, Tax Planning
Description: For advisers who are receiving timely queries about the current (July 2016) sell-off of U.K. Open Ended Property funds, this 200-word cover letter can be used to share the separate "Reflections on Real Estate Investing" report. The report can be used along with this intro, or it can serve as a general, stand-alone piece on real estate investing.
Reflections on Real Estate Investing Report
Created: July 19, 2016
Categories: Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Real Estate Investing, Report, Tax Planning
Description: This 1,300 word report offers a timeless overview of the guiding principles for investing in real estate as part of an effective, globally diversified portfolio. Share the report with clients or prospects to explain how real estate investing may fit into their portfolio (in the form of low-cost, evidence-based REIT funds), and to offer caveats on how to manage the risks involved. [Note: A separate, intro cover letter also is available for advisers who may be receiving queries about the current (July 2016) sell-off of UK Open Ended Property funds.]
Quarterly Client Letter – 2016 Q2
Created: July 4, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 360-word, second quarter client letter reminds clients that the markets' responses in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum illustrate the inherent uncertainty involved in maintaining a disciplined, globally diversified portfolio designed to manage risks and capture expected market returns.
Brexit Vote and Market Outcomes
Created: June 24, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Economics, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 680-word piece can be used to reach out to your clients to remind them that you are there for them and to encourage them to stay the course during the days ahead. With minor modifications, it could be used for a general e-blast, video script or similar content for wider audiences.
On Investing and Entertainment: John Oliver’s Take
Created: June 21, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Expenses, General Letter/E-Mail, Retirement Planning
Description: This 435-word client letter can be used to share John Oliver's recent "Last Week Tonight" popular HBO segment on retirement investing. It summarizes Oliver's key messages and encourages your clients to share the video with others who may find the message appealing -- along with a referral to your firm.
You, the Capital Markets and Your Brexit Fears (Anglicised)
Created: June 15, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Economics, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: For advisors to reach out to clients who are contemplating abandoning their investment plan in the face of Brexit-generated market volatility, this 500-piece letter reiterates the timeless, evidence-based reasons it's important to avoid reacting to breaking news. Assuming the letter is most appropriate for UK audiences, it is edited for Anglicised references and spellings.
Survivorship Bias and Other Tricks of the Trade
Created: June 6, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience
Description: This 700-word article describes survivorship bias in performance analysis -- what it is, how common it is, and why an investor should care about it (as it can lead to overly optimistic return expectations). It wraps by pointing out how evidence-based advisors like you help investors separate biased data from solid results and invites them to be in touch with you to learn more. Use it to reach out to prospects and inform current clients.
Our Mixed Up, Messed Up Relationship with Investment Risk
Created: May 11, 2016
Categories: Article, Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Economics, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Scary Market Insights
Description: As we swing into another summer of global events (such as the Cdn. Fort McMurray wildfire, UK Brexit and US elections), this article presents ways that investors tend to overestimate, underestimate, misunderstand and mistreat investment risks (both return-generating market risks as well as avoidable concentrated ones). Use this 1,000-word piece to explain investment risks to prospects and clients alike. Break each section into a series for video scripts or other uses.
Fixed Income Investing: What To Do in Lieu of Chasing Yield
Created: May 4, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Evidence-Based Investing, Fixed Income, General Audience, Report
Description: As follow-up to the Library's "Investing for Retirement Income" series, this 1,250-word piece explores how investors can optimize their fixed income investing without stretching for junk bond or dividend yields. It covers the role of the yield curve, laddering, using CDs/GICs, managing costs, revisiting asset allocations and (last but not least!) working with an experienced advisor to assist in all of these areas. Use this piece to help prospective and current clients better understand fixed income investing. It also will help explain why your advisor fees are the same when managing fixed income or equities. Managed properly, they both require significant care and expertise.
DOL Fiduciary Ruling Client Reach-Out
Created: April 10, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Retirement Planning
Description: A 525-word client reach-out on the DOL's new fiduciary rule, reflecting on its strengths and weaknesses, inviting them to contact you with any questions, and reinforcing the true fiduciary care you've been providing all along.
April Q1 2016 Client Letter (Guess the Media Source)
Created: April 1, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 445-word, first quarter client letter reinforces the importance of staying invested according to plan. It juxtaposes distracting headlines from the popular press with timeless advice from solid sources such as WSJ's Jason Zweig as well as your own evidence-based investment advice. It also reminds clients that you are there to serve their highest financial interests (in case they've been seeing the news about the DOL's impending fiduciary regulations).
Good Advice
Created: February 11, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Breaking News, Client Experience, General Audience, Scary Market Insights, Wealth Management
Description: This 675-word piece reminds your clients and informs prospective clients that the best-interest advice you have to offer goes well beyond what is often thought of as "advice" (i.e., stock tips and little more). It reinforces why a good financial adviser remains relevant even as low-cost funds, automated investing and simplified financial planning is on the rise, and especially during the turbulent market times we are currently experiencing. As such, this piece can be used as a timely response to current market volatility or as a timeless article for all market climes.
Cover Intro for Dimensional 2015 Year in Review
Created: January 21, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Economics, General Letter/E-Mail, Intro to Expert Commentary, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 540-word summary provides an introduction you can use to share Dimensional's 2015 Advisor Byline Market & Economic Review. The introduction is a little longer than in most years, given the current market climate. It's primarily for being in touch with your clients, although it can be modified to serve as a prospecting piece as well.
Additional China-Oil Response
Created: January 17, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: As the market continues to remain in a state of flux, you may want to send another reach-out to your clients (or an initial one if you've not yet been in touch), reminding them that the best course through volatile markets is an evidence-based course. This 380-word message will help you do that.
Client New Year Greeting-China/Oil Response
Created: January 7, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: Happy New Year! Here is a short, 350-word message you can use to reach out to your clients in light of the market volatility we're experiencing in the opening days of 2016.
January Q4 2015 Client Letter (Peek-a-Boo Markets)
Created: January 4, 2016
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Behavioral Finance, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 420-word year-end client letter observes that 2015 markets were like a game of peek-a-boo with respect to global returns. It reminds clients how "recency" can trick them into making the wrong moves at the wrong time, and why it's important to stay invested in their personalized, evidence-based, globally diversified portfolio.
Giving Thoughts
Created: December 18, 2015
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings, Philanthropy/Giving
Description: Use this 575-word letter or e-mail to send to your clients to thank them for their business, wish them a Happy New Year and share some uplifting information about increased global philanthropy. The piece also reminds them to consider the big picture for both giving and investing,
Reflections on Paris
Created: November 17, 2015
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Holiday Greetings
Description: A short (330-word) message to clients offering them thoughtful reflections on your advisor relationship with them in the wake of the Nov. 13 attacks on Paris. For example: "We aim to do all that we can – even if it may never be everything – to nurture what is good and true in our lives." This also can be used as a Thanksgiving or holiday reach-out, or as video script.
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving-2015
Created: November 7, 2015
Categories: Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings
Description: A 400-word message to send to clients as a Thanksgiving greeting (mail or e-mail), sharing some lighthearted "turkey talk" and expressing gratitude for their business. Each of the Library's annual Thanksgiving messages are timeless, so if you've not yet used messages from years' past, you can choose your favorite among them to send to clients. (Filter by the Holiday category to find them all at https://www.wendyjcook.com/documents/category/holiday/)
Advice That Adds Up During Down Markets
Created: October 14, 2015
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: Here is a 700-word piece you can use to remain in touch with clients who may still be nervous after receiving their third-quarter report during the current down market. It encourages them to stay the course with their carefully planned portfolio, already designed to endure market risks. It reminds them why this is your advice, and how an objective third-party can help them overcome their instinctive reactions to down markets. Use as follow up to your clients' third quarter reports or to reach out to clients or prospects in general. It could also serve as good narrative for a video.
October Q3 2015 Client Letter (Google Hits vs. Long-Term Investing)
Created: October 3, 2015
Categories: Behavioral Finance, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Quarterly Client Letter, Technology
Description: This 470-word article looks at how popular Google results, similar to other forms of headline news, may distract investors from their long-term strategy. It provides salient recent quotes on the importance of remaining disciplined during market uncertainty.
Three Key Investment Strategies Hidden in Plain Sight: #3 — INTERNATIONAL VERSION — Controlling Costs
Created: September 25, 2015
Categories: Article, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, Expenses, General Audience, Three Key Strategies
Description: This 1,375-word piece represents part three of a series covering three essential evidence-based investment strategies: market participation ("being there"), managing market risk (diversification) and controlling costs. THIS UPDATED VERSION EXPLORES CONTROLLING COSTS WITH AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND ILLUSTRATIONS. It also emphasizes the benefits of having an evidence-based advisor to assist. Use the series for drip marketing via e-newsletter, e-mails, mailings or as video script for prospective or existing clients.
Three Key Investment Strategies Hidden in Plain Sight: #3 — Controlling Costs
Created: September 4, 2015
Categories: Article, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, Expenses, General Audience, Three Key Strategies
Description: This 900-word piece represents part three of a series covering three essential evidence-based investment strategies: market participation ("being there"), managing market risk (diversification) and controlling costs. It also emphasizes the benefits of having an evidence-based advisor to assist. Use the series for drip marketing via e-newsletter, e-mails, mailings or as video script for prospective or existing clients.
Client Reach-Out About Bad Market News
Created: August 22, 2015
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: You can use this brief, 450-word piece to reach out to clients and prospects in an e-mail or mail distribution, or it could serve as language for a short video. Created for the August 2015 market decline, but applicable with minor edits to any "bad news" market conditions. The piece reminds clients that it is your role as their advisor to put bad market news in context, that this is exactly what realized market risk looks like, and that they should stick to their existing Investment Policy Statement to reap the market's long-term expected rewards.
Three Key Investment Strategies Hidden in Plain Sight: #2 – Managing Market Risks
Created: August 11, 2015
Categories: Article, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Three Key Strategies
Description: This 700-word piece represents part two of a series covering three essential evidence-based investment strategies: market participation ("being there"), managing market risk (diversification) and controlling costs. It also emphasizes the benefits of having an evidence-based advisor to assist. Use the series for drip marketing via e-newsletter, e-mails, mailings or as video script for prospective or existing clients.
Three Key Investment Strategies Hidden in Plain Sight: #1 – Being There
Created: July 26, 2015
Categories: Article, Behavioral Finance, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Three Key Strategies
Description: This 800-word piece represents part one of a series covering three essential evidence-based investment strategies: market participation ("being there"), managing market risk (diversification) and controlling costs. It also emphasizes the benefits of having an evidence-based advisor to assist. Use the series for drip marketing via e-newsletter, e-mails, mailings or as video script for prospective or existing clients.
July Q2 2015 Client Letter (What We Know Now)
Created: July 3, 2015
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client-Focused, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 400-word letter reminds clients that current market conditions fueled by the Greek debt crisis are an illustration of how and why (1) market risk contributes to future expected returns, and (2) they are probably already best prepared to ride out the risks with their existing, globally diversified portfolio. Use this letter with your quarterly client reports to share a timely message with your clients.
Greece
Created: June 29, 2015
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, General Audience, General Letter/E-Mail
Description: Here is a brief, 375-word piece you can use to reach out to clients and prospects in an e-mail or mail distribution, advising them to the stay the course as the Greek debt crisis unfolds. It advises them on how to consider the event in the context of evidence-based investing and serves as a call to action to be in touch with you for additional assistance.
More Evidence on the Evidence: An Historical Overview of Capital Market Theory
Created: June 27, 2015
Categories: Article, Evidence on the Evidence, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience
Description: This 1,400-word piece complements the recently released "Evidence on the Evidence" piece, which explored how to differentiate academic evidence from less substantive work. This follow-up offers a timeline of the most important academic findings, from MPT to the Three-Factor Model and into the future. It highlights the role you play as an adviser, helping your clients incorporate meaningful evidence into their ongoing investment discipline. Use this pair of pieces to inform clients or prospects about the benefits of evidence-based investing.
The Evidence on the Evidence: How Do You Know What (and Whom) to Heed?
Created: June 10, 2015
Categories: Article, Evidence on the Evidence, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience
Description: This 1,000-word piece explores key differences between robust, peer-reviewed academic evidence and the less substantive information that tends to grab the bigger headlines. It also describes how you, as an evidence-based adviser, help your clients become better investors by understanding why the difference matters. Use the series to inform clients or prospects about the importance of evidence-based investing. This piece pairs well with the complementary article, "More Evidence on the Evidence," which offers an historical overview of landmark studies from MPT to the Three-Factor Model and beyond.
Timeless Tips on Tax-Wise Investing: Part II
Created: May 17, 2015
Categories: Article, Expenses, General Audience, Tax Planning
Description: This 700-word piece represents part two of a two-part series on tax-wise investing, covering year-round, tax-efficient habits investors can adopt for themselves, their tax-managed funds, their portfolio construction (asset location) and their financial team -- overseen by their tax-savvy wealth manager. Use the series to inform clients or prospects about the principles of tax-wise investing and the critical role you play as their tax-wise adviser.
Timeless Tips on Tax-Wise Investing: Part I
Created: May 10, 2015
Categories: Article, Expenses, General Audience, Tax Planning
Description: This 965-word piece represents part one of a two-part series on tax-wise investing, covering year-round, tax-efficient habits investors can adopt for themselves, their tax-managed funds, their portfolio construction (asset location) and their financial team -- overseen by their tax-savvy wealth manager. Use the series to inform clients or prospects about the principles of tax-wise investing and the critical role you play as their tax-wise adviser.
Reflections on Robo-Advice
Created: April 22, 2015
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, General Audience, Report, Technology
Description: This 1,200-word piece offers investors advice on how to assess the recent proliferation of robo-advisors -- differentiating the higher level of care available from dedicated human advisers, emphasizing the continued importance of an evidence-based investment strategy, and summarizing qualities to seek in any form of investment advice a family may be considering. Use the piece to inform clients or prospects or respond to their questions.
April Q1 2015 Client Letter (Relevant/Fiduciary Advice)
Created: April 2, 2015
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client-Focused, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 350-word client letter addresses the timeless relevance of robust advice versus secondary and/or "robo" advice. It describes how the advice you offer complements evidence-based investing and best serves adviser and investor alike. Two versions of the letter are bundled into this downloadable zip file: The US version uses the term, "fiduciary." A global version references transparent, objective advice.
Fifty Years of Warren Buffett’s Wisdom
Created: March 24, 2015
Categories: Client Experience, General Audience, Intro to Expert Commentary
Description: This 900-word piece introduces Warren Buffett's March 2015 release of Berkshire Hathaway's 2014 shareholders' letter, with a sampling of Buffett insights on American enterprise, business management, wealth and investing, capital markets, risk management, ethics and human nature. As a special, 50th "golden anniversary" edition, the letter is a particularly good example of Buffett's timeless wisdom. Use this piece to reach out to clients and prospects in a letter, e-mail or video script of your own.
Helping New Clients Break Up With Their Broker
Created: March 3, 2015
Categories: Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail
Description: Here are two short letters/e-mails (bundled into a single, two-page Word document) to help your new clients “break up” with their broker after they have selected you as their new advisor. The first piece is a cover letter or e-mail to send to new clients, explaining the material; the second is content they can send to their former broker/advisor to ease the transition.
Cover Intro for Dimensional 2014 Year in Review
Created: January 14, 2015
Categories: Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, General Letter/E-Mail, Intro to Expert Commentary
Description: Here's a 375-word letter or e-mail you can use to share Dimensional Fund Advisors' Advisor Byline 2014 Year in Review, now available from Dimensional's log-in site. The lead-in reinforces the importance of remaining globally diversified, of avoiding market-timing in response to near-term "winning" and "losing" asset classes, and to be in touch with you for assistance.
January Q4 2014 Client Letter (Recency & Tracking-Error)
Created: January 4, 2015
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 390-word client letter can be used as a cover letter to accompany your quarterly client reports or as a stand-alone communication. It advises clients to avoid recency and tracking-error regret as they consider 2014 annual returns (when a concentrated large-cap U.S. position outperformed the typical globally diversified strategy).
Larry Swedroe Book Foreword & Prospective Materials Intro Templates
Created: December 7, 2014
Categories: Evidence-Based Investing, Intro to Expert Commentary, Prospect-Focused
Description: This bundle of two pieces provides a 1,100-word foreword for use when ordering custom-foreword versions of Larry Swedroe's book, "Think, Act and Invest Like Warren Buffett." It also includes a similarly themed, 500-word template for introducing general prospecting materials such as white papers, reprints, RFP responses and more -- for individual and institutional prospects.
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving-2014
Created: November 11, 2014
Categories: Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings
Description: This 300-word letter/e-mail is a template you can use to reach out to clients, to send them Thanksgiving greetings. This year's theme focuses on the way you are grateful to your clients for their personal and professional relationship with you. Use the piece as a client letter or e-mail, or modify it for other purposes as appropriate.
Timeless Investment Advice for Timely Market Troubles
Created: October 15, 2014
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, General Audience, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 500-word e-mail can be used to reach out to clients or prospects about today's (October 15, 2014) market drop or repurposed as a follow-up (with minor edits to adjust to whatever happens next in the market). It empathizes with the pain that market drops can cause and reinforces classic themes such as the importance of taking a long-term, evidence-based approach to harnessing market volatility.
October Q3 2014 Client Letter (CAPE ratio)
Created: October 2, 2014
Categories: Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 420-word client letter can be used as a cover letter to accompany your quarterly client reports or as a stand-alone communication. It presents recent media coverage of Shiller and Malkiel's assessments of the CAPE ratio and stock pricing, and why it remains prudent for clients to stick with their long-term globally diversified portfolio.
Market Mania and Investor Resolve … Again
Created: July 31, 2014
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Breaking News, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Scary Market Insights
Description: This 500-word timely client letter can be used to contact clients who may be concerned about the July 31 2014 steep market decline (or modifiable to be used in the days ahead, depending on continued news). Borrowing on language from past periods of market risk, it reinforces the importance of avoiding herd mentality and instead staying the course during times when market risk appears.
July Q2 2014 Client Letter (Wm Sharpe)
Created: July 1, 2014
Categories: Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 375-word client letter can be used as a cover letter to accompany your quarterly client reports or as a stand-alone communication. Based on a SensibleInvesting.tv interview with Nobel laureate William F. Sharpe, it reminds readers that, even as time, technology and terminology march on, some investment essentials remain as strong as ever. (Ties well with recent Evidence-Based Investment Insights series covering the benefits of diversification.)
Heartbleed Security Reach-Out
Created: April 10, 2014
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Technology
Description: This 280-word e-mail alerts your clients that you are aware of and following up on the Heartbleed Security bug announced this week and that you will be in touch promptly should they need to take any action at their end. A Mashable link is provided to help you inform your clients whether their specific account custodian appears to be affected by the breach. (Most of them appear not to be, since brokers/banks don't seem to be using OpenSSL where the breach occurred), The event also serves as a good reminder that they should routinely update their account passwords every 60-90 days.
April Q1 2014 Client Letter (Michael Lewis & HFT)
Created: April 3, 2014
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client-Focused, Quarterly Client Letter, Technology
Description: This 475-word client letter can be used as a cover letter to accompany your quarterly client reports or as a stand-alone communication. It addresses Michael Lewis' March 30th, 2014 "60 Minutes" discussion about his new book on high-frequency traders. The incident is a good lesson on why clients need to be aligned with a fiduciary advisor like you to look out for their interests in a market that is expected to reward patient investors, but that clearly has its dark side.
Portfolio Analysis Offer – for Prospects & Client Referrals
Created: March 27, 2014
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Prospect-Focused
Description: Two letters or e-mails for the price of one! These 350-word calls to action offer a complimentary portfolio analysis to qualified prospects. One version is for sending directly to qualified prospects. The other is to remind your clients that you are available to help others they care about with an objective, confidential portfolio analysis.
The Latest Reasons to Think, Act and Invest Like Warren Buffett
Created: March 5, 2014
Categories: Client Experience, General Audience, Intro to Expert Commentary
Description: This 575-word piece shares some "best-of" quotes ("Buffettisms") related to essential investment strategy from Fortune magazine's preview of Buffett's forthcoming annual shareholder's letter. The piece also can be used as a call to action inviting clients or prospects to be in touch with you for a copy of Larry Swedroe's quick guide: "Think, Act and Invest Like Warren Buffett." (Let me know if you'd like more information about ordering a version of Larry's book with a custom foreword authored by your firm.)
Combating Hidden Trading Costs: Here Be Dragons
Created: February 26, 2014
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Expenses, General Audience, Report
Description: This 1,300-word article serves well as a stand-alone piece or to accompany our broader article, Cost Control: An Investor's Greatest Investment. The broader article provides an overview of various investment costs; this piece explores hidden costs in more detail: bid-ask spreads, market-moving costs and costs of moving to cash. It concludes with a reminder of the value your firm brings in identifying fund managers who effectively manage hidden costs. Use this piece as a brochure or article to introduce your investment strategy to prospective clients or to review key benefits with existing clients.
Evidence-Based Investing vs. Indexing: Making a Good Thing Even Better
Created: February 7, 2014
Categories: Article, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience
Description: This 1,000-word article describes advantages of evidence-based investment management over index fund investing (i.e., investing as applied by Dimensional Fund Advisors and similar fund managers). It positions passive/index fund investing as a good improvement over active management, with evidence-based investing as an even better approach. It does not mention Dimensional or any other fund manager in particular, instead covering broad principles. Use this piece as a brochure or article to introduce your investment strategy to prospective clients or to review key benefits with existing clients.
Cover Intro for Dimensional 2013 Year in Review
Created: January 29, 2014
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client-Focused, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-Based Investing, General Letter/E-Mail, Intro to Expert Commentary, Prospect-Focused
Description: Here's a 230-word letter or e-mail you can use to share Dimensional Fund Advisors' Advisor Byline 2013 Year in Review (assuming you are a Dimensional firm). There is a version directed to clients and another directed to prospective clients, encouraging them to read Dimensional's report and be in touch with you for follow-up. Both versions help remind the reader about the importance of adopting an evidence-based investment strategy.
Cost Control: An Investor’s Greatest Investment
Created: January 19, 2014
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Expenses, General Audience, Report
Description: This 1,200-word article provides (1) an overview of transparent as well as hidden costs of investing and the impact they have on net returns, (2) strategies for minimizing those costs, and (3) the role an experienced, objective advisor plays in cost-effective fund selection, tax-management and investor discipline. The article concludes with a call to action, inviting readers to contact your firm for a complimentary analysis of their existing portfolio. Use this piece as a brochure or article to introduce your investment strategy to prospective clients or to review key benefits with existing clients. For a deeper review of hidden costs, consider also ordering "Combating Hidden Trading Costs: Here Be Dragons."
January Q4 2013 Client Letter
Created: January 5, 2014
Categories: Client-Focused, Evidence-Based Investing, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 350-word (one page) client letter can be used as a cover letter to accompany your quarterly client reports or as a stand-alone communication. It reminds clients that, in the context of great 2013 returns but an uncertain future, it's better to base one's decisions on the durable science of investing than on past performance or attempts to time the market.
2013 Holiday/Year-End Reach-Out Client Letter
Created: December 18, 2013
Categories: Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings
Description: Here's a short & sweet, 200-word letter or e-mail to send to your clients wishing them an uplifting holiday season and new year. Includes a feel-good link to a recent report that the US has regained its standing as the world's most giving nation.
Our Investment Strategy Overview
Created: December 16, 2013
Categories: Article, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience
Description: This 1,400-word article provides a clear overview of our passive/evidence-based investment strategy. It differentiates your investment approach from that taken by most financial providers, without getting overly technical. It emphasizes the benefits and importance of (1) having a strategy to begin with, (2) having the right kind of strategy, and (3) accompanying it with fiduciary advice. Use this piece as a brochure or article to introduce your investment strategy to prospective clients or to review key benefits with existing clients. It also could provide solid talking points for your investment strategy website page (although I wouldn't recommend using the entire piece as a website page -- it's too long for that).
A NEW Tradition: Family Wealth Planning Conversations
Created: December 13, 2013
Categories: Article, General Audience, Wealth Management
Description: This 530-word article invites families to take a fresh look at their family wealth conversations, while encouraging them to think of your firm as a resource to assist them with this and other family wealth management needs. Use this piece as a newsletter article, or it could be readily converted into a direct mailing to clients or prospects.
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving-2013
Created: November 15, 2013
Categories: Client-Focused, General Letter/E-Mail, Holiday Greetings
Description: This 430-word communication is a template you can use to reach out to clients, to send Thanksgiving greetings as well as a meaningful reminder of how an evidence-based investment strategy helps them more fully enjoy the things that matter most during the holiday season: friends, family, interests and expressions of gratitude. Referencing an entertaining anecdote shared by Carl Richards in one of his New York Times blog posts, the template also includes an optional offer to send clients a free copy of Carl's book, The Behavior Gap. Use the piece as a letter or e-mail, or modify it for other purposes as appropriate.
Center of Influence (COI) Reach-Out Letter Template
Created: November 5, 2013
Categories: Alliances, Client Experience, General Letter/E-Mail
Description: This one-page, 250-word letter is a template you can use to reach out to centers of influence and potential strategic alliances such as attorneys, accountants, community leaders and others, introducing them to your firm and inviting them to network with you professionally. Use the piece as a letter or e-mail, or modify it for other purposes as appropriate.
Professor Fama’s Nobel Prize and You
Created: October 14, 2013
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client-Focused, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-Based Investing
Description: This 570-word article celebrates Professor Eugene Fama's receipt of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Economics, and how Fama's work contributes to your clients' personal investment experiences. It also explains how you, as their advisor, add value by translating sometimes conflicting academic evidence (such as Fama’s/Shiller's respective work) into practical application toward achieving individual end goals. Use the piece as a direct client communication or modify/customize for wider use.
UPDATED: Market Mania and Investor Resolve
Created: October 11, 2013
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Breaking News, General Audience, Scary Market Insights
Description: We've updated this piece from an earlier version, created during the last period of steep market decline in June. This updated 800-word version provides calming, historic context and reminders of essential investment tenets for clients who may be second-guessing the current risk levels in their portfolio in light of the government shutdown and related events.
October Q3 2013 Client Letter
Created: October 4, 2013
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Client Experience, Client-Focused, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: This 340-word (one page) client letter can be used as a cover letter to accompany your quarterly client reports or as a stand-alone communication, reminding clients to stick with their disciplined plan in the face of current political and economic uncertainty (government shutdown, debt ceiling, interest rate climate, etc.)
Think Twice Before Sinking Your Wealth Into an IPO
Created: September 23, 2013
Categories: Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience
Description: This 830-word article describes why investors should avoid investing in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) such as Facebook or, more recently (as of Sept. 2013), Twitter's proposed IPO. The article provides evidence on three reasons an investor is best off avoiding purchasing IPOs (or individual stocks in general): (1) stock-picking is a poor strategy to begin with, compared to MPT-based portfolio construction (citing a 2012 Markowitz interview), (2) individual investors tend to fare poorly in the IPO zero-sum loss game, and (3) IPOs have a track record for underperformance.
Avoiding Tracking-Error Regret
Created: August 13, 2013
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Behavioral Finance, General Audience
Description: This 630-word article defines tracking-error regret in approachable terms, and describes that one of your key roles as an advisor is to help your clients recognize and avoid succumbing to it. It defines tracking-error regret that occurs when an investor’s carefully designed portfolio underperforms its common benchmark. It offers a different (better) way to measure financial success — by focusing on personal goals and constructing the portfolio accordingly. It also offers a handy table that summarizes the key tenets of disciplined investing.
Making Sense of Fixed Income
Created: July 18, 2013
Categories: Article, Fixed Income, General Audience
Description: The article briefly describes the current (July 2013) market, in which many investors are panicking and selling off their bond funds, and informs readers that you recommend against succumbing to that trend. It offers four “Guiding Rules” to explain a preferred strategy: (1) The importance of investing according to a personalized plan; (2) An overview of the role fixed income plays; (3) Possible actions that may be appropriate (such as portfolio analysis of non-managed assets, risk-tolerance assessment, and rebalancing opportunities); and (4) The critical importance of staying the course.
“Go With the Flow” Investing
Created: July 11, 2013
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, General Audience
Description: Introducing your investment experience as a point of distinction, this brief introduction compares investing to river rafting, in which it’s important to “go with the flow” rather than struggle upstream. You help your clients accomplish this through planning, education and application of evidence-based investment strategy, combined with portfolio management (including managing for risks, costs and hyperactive trading behaviors).
July 2013 Client Letter
Created: July 2, 2013
Categories: Client Experience, Client-Focused, Quarterly Client Letter
Description: Overview of market conditions in Q2, 2013.
The Art of Asset Location
Created: June 17, 2013
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Client Experience, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience
Description: Remind your clients of this important way you earn your advisory fees, by providing them with: (1) a working definition of asset location, (2) an empirical assessment of the value it can bring, (3) several reasons why it’s best to work with a professional advisor to implement the strategy, and (4) understanding on how and why most investors are missing out on effective asset location … because they’re not working with you!
Assessing Advisory Fees
Created: June 5, 2013
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Expenses, General Audience
Description: Remind clients of the ways you earn your advisory fees, including: (1) Tangible Savings such as helping them stay the course, ensuring low-cost investing and ongoing tax management, (2) Subtle Rewards such as education, account management, wealth coordination and access to Dimensional funds, and (3) Immense Immeasurables, such as freeing their time to pursue their personal interests and ensuring smooth transitions when family money management roles shift.
The S&P 500 Wheel of Fortune
Created: May 17, 2013
Categories: Breaking News, General Audience, General Letter/E-Mail
Description: Purchase this 400-word document to use as timely, appropriate commentary on the S&P 500 Index’s recent (May 2013) all-time market highs. Remind investors that (a) an evidence-based portfolio already is positioned to capture market surges commensurate with the investor's goals and risk tolerances and (b) chasing past returns is counterproductive. The best advice is, as always, to enjoy the returns gained, but stay the course according to personal goals and risk tolerances.
Responding to Active Management News & Analysis Free Sample (Click on title to download)
Created: April 11, 2013
Categories: Breaking News, Evidence-Based Investing, Free Samples, General Audience, General Letter/E-Mail
Description: FIRST PIECE EVER PUBLISHED TO THE CONTENT-SHARING LIBRARY! This 650-word reach-out can be used to respond to miscellaneous active calls to action related to popular market trends, gloomy forecasts or other current or ongoing events. It thanks the individual for sharing the news, and provides them with two guidelines for properly assessing it: (1) Consider the credibility of the source. (2) Even if the source is credible, consider the worth of the news in relation to your recommended, long-term, passively minded investment strategy.