You are paying what?

The pain that is American Fund Investing

Why 401k plans are failing to serve your unique needs

http://theweek.com/article/index/226886/how-401ks-are-failing-millions-of-americans

Paradigm Shift - Time to Harvest Gains

Michael Kitces Blog

Chances are, either you or your neighbor, don't have a financial plan

45% of Americans have "no financial plan whatsoever" - Yikes!

Forbes: Investing with your left brain vs. right brain

Are you a left brain or right brain investor?

Conflicts with how advisors are compensated may impact your Quality of Life

Conflicts of Interests run a muck in Financial Services

Best article yet on DoL mandates and the impact on Small Business 401k plans

The Harsh Compliance Reality Associated with Small Business 401k plans

Diversification remains difficult - or does it?

No need to overcomplicate this, unless you want to pay more and get marginal results

Taxes are just reason #239 to not own mutual funds

Mutual Funds and Taxes - why pay once, when you can pay twice

Why am I different as a Wealth Enabler?

Many in my industry sell themselves as Investment Managers, Wealth Managers, or Financial Planners.

I consider myself a Wealth Enabler.  I enable people to pursue and enjoy their wealth.

Father Mike Renninger once said that he knew of married couples that were much lonelier than he was even though he is obviously single.  Likewise, I know of people that have far less money than most, but are much wealthier based on what they do with their lives and how they live.

So to distinguish myself as an Wealth Enabler, I need to share with my clients and prospects what I believe, promise, and deliver that is different from everyone else.

I believe that wealth is everything that money can't buy.  Money simply allows you to enjoy your wealth to various degrees.  The traditional investing relationship doesn't distinguish between money and wealth.  I imagine a relationship with my clients that has asset allocation tied to a lifetime of fulfillment goals because that is what wealth truly is.

I promise to remove the cost of complexity, complacency, and unnecessary risk to allow my clients to have more wealth to enjoy and to do it with less worry, more trust, and more fulfilling experiences.  I do this through:

• Active management of low-cost, passive investments
• Tireless pursuit of tax efficient opportunities presented
• Customized asset placement and percentage cost averaging strategies

I deliver on my principle of wealth enablement through fulfilling desired experiences by: 

• Serving my clients unique needs uniquely
• Limiting my client base to 84 clients so I may maintain the highest possible service level
• Analyzing their situation, investments, and life goals
• Choreographing an asset allocation and financial plan to allow their goals to be realized

Hopefully, this give you a better view on me and how I think about my clients and their wealth.  I transform the complex, ambiguous world of transactional investing relationships into simple, personal wealth experiences.

Seasonal Performance

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2011/10/a-tale-of-2-seasonal-investors/

Index Outperformance Statistics

http://www.indexingblog.com/2012/03/14/active-vs-passive-the-view-from-standard-poors/

Washington Post: Americans "unprepared" to manage retirement funds

Washington Post - Retirement Funds are more complex than you think

but not so complex that they are worth the cost that most Americans pay.

401k fees about to be unveiled

WSJ: Inspect your 401k fees

If you are a small business owner, or if you contribute to a 401k, you are about to witness how much your 401k has been costing you each year for the "privilege" to participate.

Sure you may have lower taxes today, but at what cost...especially if there isn't a company match.