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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.
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.
Our Take On Direct Indexing (UPDATED)
Created: July 30, 2022
Categories: Article, ESG Investing, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report, 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.
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.
How Do We Choose the Funds We Use? (REPORT)
Created: May 17, 2022
Categories: Advisor Role/Value, Article, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, How Do We Choose Funds We Use, Report, Scary Market Insights, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM November 2015: This 4-page REPORT reminds clients and other investors why your rigorous, multi-step investment selection process is important for looking past today’s unsettling news in pursuit of their greater financial goals. It also reinforces the value you add as their investment advisor. We've also released a separate DRIP SERIES if you'd like to distribute the information as a multipart email or blog post series.
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).
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).
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
An Evidence-Based Approach to ESG Investing: Part 1 (UPDATED)
Created: December 21, 2020
Categories: Article, ESG Investing, Evidence-Based ESG Investing, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Philanthropy/Giving, Report, 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, ESG Investing, Evidence-Based ESG Investing, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Philanthropy/Giving, Report, 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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Evidence-Based Investment Insights Series REPORT (UPDATED)
Created: April 25, 2019
Categories: Behavioral Finance, Evidence-Based Insights, Evidence-Based Investing, General Audience, Report, UPDATED Content
Description: UPDATED FROM 2014: This 8-page report strikes a happy medium between the full, 25-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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.]
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.
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.
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.
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."