Resources

There is a common phrase in the world of finance that ‘you can’t eat risk-adjusted returns’. Most people understand investment returns—making or losing money. Few people understand standard deviation, volatility, and risk-adjusted returns.

Like many thrill-seeking activities, the rush of shooting the rapids unleashes a full panel of “happy chemicals” which heightens our senses and keeps us coming back for more.

In this podcast, in addition to talking about us, I went into some detail regarding benchmarking of managed accounts as well as some thoughts regarding fiduciary outsourcing and benefits to advisors.

It all begins with open and honest communication. I encourage each partner to share any issues or fears they have about managing their finances.

Did you grow up in small community, a close-knit town or (if you can remember it) before the internet was a factor? Back then a word and a handshake were stronger than any contract or service agreement.

You always did what’s right. You never did anything wrong. You are proud to be a lifelong “do bee”. Is this the revenge of the Romper Room “don’t bees”?

To understand the question of how to apply revenue sharing in a 401(k) plan, first we must examine what revenue sharing really is, what form it takes and how it is commonly applied.

This Friday June 9, the DOL Fiduciary Rule—the landmark Obama-era investor protection rule–will go into theoretical effect, with full implementation on Jan. 1, 2018.

Pop Quiz: what three things do you value most in this world? It shouldn’t take long as whatever comes to mind first is probably your truest answer.

As we get closer and closer to the applicability date of the fiduciary rule, the industry is starting to show its cards on how the rule will impact the landscape.

Every twelve months, the award for “Word of the Year” is conferred upon that unique and special assemblage of letters which, in its entirety, best represents “the public discourse and preoccupations of the past year”.

In the sea of sameness set yourself apart and say something different. In an industry full of copycat products and similar solutions (albeit with different color schemes and logos affixed to the top of the proposals and marketing materials) consider offering something uncommon….. real value.

Throughout the years there have been many changes to retirement plan offerings, plan design, plan investment menus, web technology and employee education materials.

Whether or not the rule takes effect as-is or in some changed form, the rule has already made a major impact.

People have that “what if” moment, realizing that if only they had started planning for retirement when they were 20, it could have made a much larger impact on their financial security as they near retirement.

So are investors merely optimistic or have they reached a state of euphoria?