Retirement planning
Making best use of your behavioral biases  
May 2, 2024
Many pieces about behavioral biases explore ways in which they harm investors. This piece looks at ways to harness some of them to improve on investors' financial well-being. This piece also references, and pairs well with the recently updated report and series, the "ABCs of Behavioral Biases."
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Behavioral finance, General audience, Retirement planning
Dividend Stocks – Part 2: Dividend Stocks vs. Total Return Investing  
June 28, 2023
Building a concentrated position in dividend stocks may appeal to some investors as a way to withdraw income from their investment portfolio. In Part 1 of a two-part series, we explored how dividend stocks really work, and why stocking up on them is not our preferred technique for creating a dependable cash flow in retirement. In this Part 2, we cover why we instead prefer a total return approach to building wealth and generating efficient cash flow as needed.
Categories: Article, Dividend stocks, Evidence-based investing, Fixed income, General audience, Retirement planning
Dividend Stocks – Part 1: How Dividend Stocks Work  
June 28, 2023
Building a concentrated position in dividend stocks may appeal to some investors as a way to withdraw income from their investment portfolio. In this Part 1 of a two-part series, we explore how dividend stocks really work, and why stocking up on them is not our preferred technique for creating a dependable cash flow in retirement. In Part 2, we'll cover why we instead prefer a total return approach to building wealth and generating efficient cash flow as needed.
Categories: Article, Dividend stocks, Evidence-based investing, Fixed income, General audience, Retirement planning
Is Social Security Going Bust?  
March 26, 2023
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.
Categories: Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Politics, Report, Retirement planning
What’s in the SECURE 2.0 Act?  
January 3, 2023
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.
Categories: Article, Breaking news, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Report, Retirement planning, Tax planning
When Should You Take Your Social Security?  
December 9, 2022
This 3-page piece summarizes some of the most common factors that may influence whether to start taking Social Security sooner or later, and emphasizes planning based on manageable factors, rather than hopes or fears that are beyond our control.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Listicle, Retirement planning
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2022  
November 11, 2022
Share this piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for year-end 2022. This year's tips cover cash flow management, tax planning, healthcare coverage, and general financial planning in the context of 2022 events, including higher interest rates, inflation, and market volatility.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Economics, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, Fixed income, General audience, Listicle, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Risk management, Tax planning, Wealth management
Interest Rates, Inflation & Investing: Report Version  
April 4, 2022
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).
Categories: Alternative investments, Economics, Evidence-based investing, Fixed income, General audience, Interest, inflation & investing, Politics, Report, Retirement planning
Interest Rates, Inflation & Investing, Part 3  
April 1, 2022
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).
Categories: Alternative investments, Article, Breaking news, Economics, Evidence-based investing, Fixed income, General audience, Interest, inflation & investing, Politics, Report, Retirement planning
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2021  
November 7, 2021
Share this piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for year-end 2021. This year's tips cover investment discipline, budgeting, tax-planning, charitable giving, and estate planning considerations in the context of 2021 events. It also optionally references the newly released "Tax Planning in Turbulent Times" report for additional insights.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, General audience, Listicle, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning
Tax Planning in Turbulent Times  
November 7, 2021
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."
Categories: Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Report, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques
Tax Planning Part 3: Tax-Wise Financial Planning  
August 31, 2021
Part 3 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defined "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explored reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 explores integrating all of the above into broad financial planning.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques, Wealth management
Tax Planning Part 2: Tax-Wise Investment Techniques  
August 12, 2021
Part 2 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defined "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explores reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 will explore integrating all of the above into broad financial planning techniques.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques
Tax Planning Part 1: Tools of the Trade  
July 27, 2021
Part 1 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defines "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explores reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 will explore integrating all of the above into broad financial planning techniques.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques
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
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
You, Your Retirement, and the SECURE Act – GENERAL Audience  
December 24, 2019
Use this 1,300-word document to provide a GENERAL AUDIENCE with an overview of what to expect from the newly enacted U.S. SECURE Act -- emphasizing how you might assist them in applying the changes according to their best interests. Refer to separate piece tailored for CLIENT use.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Financial planning, General audience, Retirement planning, Tax planning
You, Your Retirement, and the SECURE Act – CLIENT Audience  
December 24, 2019
Use this 1,300-word document to provide CLIENTS with an overview of what to expect from the newly enacted U.S. SECURE Act -- emphasizing how you will be assisting them in applying the changes according to their best interests. Refer to separate piece revised for GENERAL AUDIENCE use.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client-focused, Estate planning, Financial planning, Politics, Retirement planning, Tax planning
16 Things You Can Do To Prepare for the Next Recession  
October 18, 2019
16 things investors can do to truly strengthen their financial well-being, instead of engaging in market-timing in reaction to a potential recession. Share this 783-word overview with clients and prospects.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Expenses, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Listicle, Retirement planning, Scary market insights, Wealth management
What Is Monte Carlo Analysis?  
August 23, 2019
This 1,000-word article in our "What Is ...?" series describes how investors can benefit from a Monte Carlo Analysis, includes caveats on best use, and provides a basic illustration on how it works. An accompanying Monte Carlo Sample pdf file provides the assumptions used in the illustration.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Financial planning, General audience, Retirement planning, The "What Is ...?" series
Ten Financial Best Practices to Jump-Start Your New Year  
December 18, 2017
Use this 1,050-word list of ten financial best practices for prospecting and public education about basic retirement planning, risk management, estate planning, budgeting, debt management, investing and more. A call to action at the end invites readers to be in touch with you for an exploratory conversation. Tailored for U.S. readers, this piece can be readily revised to apply elsewhere.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Financial best practice lists, Financial planning, Listicle, Prospect-focused, Retirement planning
On Investing and Entertainment: John Oliver’s Take  
June 21, 2016
This 435-word client letter can be used to share John Oliver's recent "Last Week Tonight" popular HBO segment on retirement investing. It summarizes Oliver's key messages and encourages your clients to share the video with others who may find the message appealing -- along with a referral to your firm.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client experience, Client-focused, Expenses, General letter/email, Retirement planning
DOL Fiduciary Ruling Client Reach-Out  
April 10, 2016
A 525-word client reach-out on the DOL's new fiduciary rule, reflecting on its strengths and weaknesses, inviting them to contact you with any questions, and reinforcing the true fiduciary care you've been providing all along.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Breaking news, Client-focused, General letter/email, Retirement planning