Dispelling individual bond myths
Many investors will buy mutual funds for the common stock portion of their portfolio but prefer individual bonds for the fixed income portion.
Over the years we have authored these articles to share with our clients and friends. We think they are like an old favorite movie that you will want to see again and again. Please feel free to make copies and share with your friends. Looking for an older article? See our Article Archive.
Ten Things You Should Know About Using a Corporate Trustee
Does your will or trust include the use of a Corporate Trustee? Read through this list and confirm or reconsider the reason, the value and the importance of including a Corporate Trustee in your estate plan.
“I’m Melting, I’m Melting!!!”
The wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz screeched this infamous line at the climax of the movie, and we were all relieved as she evaporated, leaving behind nothing but her black hat. But unlike film viewers, many gold investors won’t be rejoicing when this precious metal starts to melt down.
The Case Against Multiple Investment Advisers
An oft-quoted maxim is, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” While this is generally prudent advice and supports investment diversification, some investors believe it’s wise to have more than one investment consultant.
Roth IRA Conversion: What We're Thinking
Three situations collectively offer a strong chance of a long-term benefit from converting to a Roth IRA.
Gold - What We Are Thinking
During times of extreme uncertainty and fear, investors are drawn to gold. In prior centuries, gold was the globally-accepted source of power and wealth for kings, empires and aristocrats. As children we read stories and watched movies about gold...
Two Ways to Calculate the Rate of Return on a Portfolio
There are two ways to compute the rate of return on a portfolio: TIME-weighted and DOLLAR-weighted. These two methods can produce dramatically different results. Both are correct - they just calculate numbers that have different meanings
Ten Things All Successful Investors Should Know
You should know if your investment advisor is a Fiduciary. A registered investment adviser has a Fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the client. In the words of the U.S. Supreme Court “... to continuously occupy an…
To Wade or Plunge?
Jeff Troutner of TAM Asset Management coined the terms “wade” and “plunge” for investing a sum of capital slowly over time or all at once. The wading approach has historically been known as dollar-cost-averaging. Proponents of wading view plunging as reckless and argue wading is much more sensible for the risk-adverse investor. Proponents of plunging believe that wading reduces returns more often than it increases them.
Have Broad Diversification
The rewards from investing can be captured most consistently by creating a well-diversified portfolio that is engineered to optimize the risk/reward trade-off inherent in the stock market.