Year: 2020
An Evidence-Based Approach to ESG Investing: White Paper (UPDATED)
December 21, 2020
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.
Categories: Evidence-based ESG investing, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Sustainable investing, Updated content, White paper
An Evidence-Based Approach to ESG Investing: Part 1 (UPDATED)
December 21, 2020
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.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based ESG investing, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Report, Sustainable investing, Updated content
An Evidence-Based Approach to ESG Investing: Part 2 (UPDATED)
December 21, 2020
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.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based ESG investing, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Report, Sustainable investing, Updated content
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2020
November 29, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Financial best practice lists, Financial planning, General audience, General letter/email, Listicle, Philanthropy/giving, Risk management, Tax planning
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving/Holiday Season (2020)
November 12, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client experience, Client-focused, General letter/email, Holiday greetings, Wealth management
Presidential Election Reflection (UPDATED)
November 9, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Breaking news, Client-focused, Evidence-based investing, General letter/email, Politics, Updated content
Quarterly Client Letter – 2020 Q3
October 1, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Breaking news, Client-focused, Evidence-based investing, Politics, Quarterly client letter
Lump-Sum Investing vs. Dollar-Cost Averaging — Part 2: Actual Outcomes
September 28, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Behavioral finance, Evidence-based investing, General audience
Lump-Sum Investing vs. Dollar-Cost Averaging — Part 1: Raw Returns
September 21, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Behavioral finance, Evidence-based investing, General audience
“What Is Evidence-Based Investing?” Infographic
August 25, 2020
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://contentlibrary.thewritingcompany.com/infographic-what-is-ebi/
Categories: Evidence-based investing, General audience, Infographic, What is evidence-based investing?
Finding Your Fiduciary Financial Advisor (UPDATED)
August 18, 2020
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?”
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, Finding a fiduciary advisor, General audience, Report, Updated content, Wealth management, White paper
What Is Fiduciary Investment Advice, and Why Does It Matter?
July 31, 2020
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.”
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, Finding a fiduciary advisor, General audience, Report, Wealth management
Quarterly Client Letter – 2020 Q2
July 2, 2020
This 460-word Q2 2020 quarterly client letter reminds clients of the importance of sticking to plan despite near-term market noise in 2020.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client-focused, Economics, Evidence-based investing, Fixed income, Politics, Quarterly client letter, Scary market insights
Eight “Best/Worst” Wealth Strategies During the Coronavirus Free Sample (Click on title to download)
June 28, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Alternative investments, Article, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, Free samples, General audience, Listicle, Wealth management
Understanding Sequence Risk in Retirement
June 9, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Report, Retirement planning, The "What Is ...?" series
How To Be Positively Skeptical | Part 4: Check the Facts Before You Act
May 17, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Behavioral finance, Breaking news, Evidence-based investing, General audience, How to be positively skeptical, Politics
How To Be Positively Skeptical | Part 3: How Do You Do Your Due Diligence?
May 17, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Behavioral finance, Breaking news, Evidence-based investing, General audience, How to be positively skeptical, Politics
How To Be Positively Skeptical | Part 2: Understanding Your Emotions
April 29, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Behavioral finance, Breaking news, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, General audience, How to be positively skeptical, Technology
Quarterly Client Letter – 2020 Q1
April 3, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client experience, Client-focused, Evidence-based investing, Quarterly client letter, Scary market insights, Tax planning
A CARES Act Overview (Updated 4/3/20)
April 1, 2020
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.)
Categories: Advisor role/value, Breaking news, Client-focused, Financial planning, Philanthropy/giving, Politics, Report, Scary market insights, Tax planning
A Coronavirus Round-Up Report
March 27, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Breaking news, Client experience, Client-focused, General letter/email, Report, Scary market insights, Tax planning
A Retirement Plan Sponsor Reach-Out
March 25, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, General letter/email, Retirement plan sponsor, Retirement planning, Scary market insights
Taking a New View on Coronavirus
March 13, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Breaking news, Client-focused, Economics, Evidence-based investing, Scary market insights
Three Thoughts During Scary Markets Free Sample (Click on title to download)
March 9, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Behavioral finance, Breaking news, Client experience, Client-focused, Evidence-based investing, Free samples, General letter/email, Scary market insights
10 Things To Do Right Now While Markets Are Tanking (UPDATED)
February 28, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Breaking news, Economics, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Listicle, Scary market insights, Tax planning, Updated content
How To Be Positively Skeptical | Part 1: The Benefits of Having a Doubt
February 27, 2020
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.
Categories: Article, Behavioral finance, Evidence-based investing, General audience, How to be positively skeptical, Politics, Security, Technology
You, Your Investments, and the Coronavirus (UPDATED)
February 24, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Breaking news, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Scary market insights, Updated content
Three Upside-Down Investment Insights
January 21, 2020
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.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Listicle
Quarterly Client Letter — 2019 Q4
January 2, 2020
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.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client experience, Client-focused, Economics, Financial planning, Quarterly client letter