Multipart series
Lump-sum investing and dollar-cost averaging: A 2-part series (UPDATED 09-2024)
September 23, 2024
UPDATED FROM 2020: Part 1 describes why lump-sum investing is generally expected to deliver higher end returns. Part 2 covers 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, Multipart series, Updated content
Young investor’s guide to building a financial future
June 17, 2024
This piece combines into a single article our two-part series exploring the steps young clients may take as they begin investing for the first time. In it, we discuss the importance of avoiding high-interest credit card debt, embracing long-term investing and making the most of tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs. We also cover the value of diversification, strategies to avoid speculative behaviors such as market timing and stock picking, and building a plan based on individual goals.
Categories: Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Wealth management, Young investor's guide
Young investor’s guide to building a financial future—part 2: Investing for your goals
June 17, 2024
Part 2 of a two-part series exploring the steps young clients may take as they begin investing for the first time. In the second and final article of this series, we cover the value of diversification, strategies to avoid speculative behaviors such as market timing and stock picking, and building a plan based on individual goals. The article is a follow-up to part 1, in which we discuss the importance of avoiding high-interest credit card debt, embracing long-term investing and making the most of tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs.
Categories: Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Wealth management, Young investor's guide
Young investor’s guide to building a financial future—part 1: Where do you start?
May 30, 2024
Part 1 of a two-part series exploring the steps young clients may take as they begin investing for the first time. This first article discusses the importance of avoiding high-interest credit card debt, embracing long-term investing and making the most of tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs. In part 2, we’ll cover the value of diversification, strategies to avoid speculative behaviors such as market timing and stock picking, and building a plan based on individual goals.
Categories: Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Wealth management, Young investor's guide
The ABCs of behavioral biases (UPDATED 04-2024)
April 22, 2024
UPDATED FROM SEPT. 2019: This collection of materials includes: (1) a 6,000-word white paper, (2) the same materials broken into a seven-part drip series and (3) a PowerPoint presentation on "The ABCs of Behavioral Biases." From anchoring to FOMO, from hindsight to tracking-error regret, this series covers the most common financial behavioral biases that lead investors astray.
Categories: ABCs of behavioral biases, Advisor role/value, Article, Behavioral finance, Evidence-based investing, General audience, PowerPoint presentation, Updated content, White paper
Bringing order to your investment universe: A 3-part series
February 20, 2024
This three-part series walks readers through how to transition from a chaotic collection of assets and accounts into a well-structured investment portfolio. Each part explores the separate planning pieces involved in minimizing the taxable impact of a desired transition while successfully moving toward a more orderly investment portfolio, and it encourages investors to hire an experienced financial planner to assist them. This series is also available in white paper format for use as a separate prospecting resource.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Bringing order to investing, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, Expenses, Family wealth, General audience, Tax planning
Bringing order to your investment universe: White paper
February 20, 2024
This white paper walks readers through how to transition from a chaotic collection of assets and accounts into a well-structured investment portfolio. It explores how to strike an effective balance between minimizing the taxable impact of a desired transition while successfully moving toward a more orderly investment portfolio, and it encourages investors to hire an experienced financial planner to assist them. Each part in this three-part piece is also available in stand-alone format for use as a drip series.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Bringing order to investing, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, Expenses, Family wealth, General audience, Tax planning, White paper
Evidence-based investment insights series: 14 parts (UPDATED 2024)
January 16, 2024
UPDATED FROM 2019: This is a series of 14 shorter pieces for explaining evidence-based investment principles in a step-by-step approach. Use the series for drip marketing via e-newsletter, emails, mailings or as video script to introduce your investment approach to prospective clients or to review key benefits with existing clients. Collection will download as a zip file containing 14 Word documents. A compiled 26-page white paper and eight-page report also are available for separate download.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Behavioral finance, Evidence-based insights, Evidence-based investing, Fixed income, General audience, Sustainable investing, Updated content
Evidence-based investment insights series: Report (UPDATED 2024)
January 16, 2024
UPDATED FROM 2019: This eight-page report strikes a happy medium between the full 26-page white paper and the individual installments available in the Evidence-Based Investment Insights series. Compiling key messages from the entire series, this report offers a mid-length, single document overview of evidence-based investing. Share the paper as a printed handout or in PDF form with clients and prospects. Use it as a giveaway to collect emails on your website or for other similar purposes.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Behavioral finance, Evidence-based insights, Evidence-based investing, Fixed income, General audience, Report, Sustainable investing, Updated content
Evidence-based investment insight series: White paper (UPDATED 01-2024)
January 16, 2024
UPDATED FROM 2019: This 26-page white paper compiles the entire Evidence-Based Investment Insights series into a single document you can use to design your own company white paper. Share the paper as a printed handout or in PDF/booklet form with clients and prospects. Use it as a giveaway to collect emails on your website or for other similar purposes. A set of individual installments for "dripping" the series and a shorter report version are available for separate download in January 2024.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Behavioral finance, Evidence-based insights, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Sustainable investing, Updated content, White paper
A Balanced Look at Stock Buybacks Series REPORT
August 4, 2023
Our 3-part series bundled into a full-length report, exploring how and why stock buybacks can help investors, hurt them, or be a neutral event, depending on the particulars.
Categories: Evidence-based investing, General audience, Politics, Report, Stock buybacks, Tax planning
A Balanced Look at Stock Buybacks — Part 3: Risks Amidst the Rewards
August 4, 2023
Part 3 of a 3-part series exploring how and why stock buybacks can help investors, hurt them, or be a neutral event, depending on the particulars. Part 1 described how stock buybacks generally work, and emphasized the importance of investing in a globally diversified portfolio, rather than chasing or fleeing particular stock buyback opportunities. Part 2 covered how companies may use stock buybacks to strike a balance between sustaining current and future shareholder value. In this, Part 3, we cover how the power of stock buybacks can become weaponized in the wrong hands, and why the government is keeping its eye on them.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Politics, Stock buybacks, Tax planning
A Balanced Look at Stock Buybacks — Part 2: Sustaining Current & Future Value
July 31, 2023
Part 2 of a 3-part series exploring how and why stock buybacks can help investors, hurt them, or be a neutral event, depending on the particulars. Part 1 described how stock buybacks generally work, and emphasized the importance of investing in a globally diversified portfolio, rather than chasing or fleeing particular stock buyback opportunities. In this, Part 2, we cover how companies may use stock buybacks to strike a balance between sustaining current and future shareholder value. In Part 3, we'll cover how the power of stock buybacks can become weaponized in the wrong hands, and why the government is keeping its eye on them.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Stock buybacks
A Balanced Look at Stock Buybacks — Part 1: How Do Stock Buybacks Work?
July 31, 2023
Part 1 of a 3-part series exploring how and why stock buybacks can help investors, hurt them, or be a neutral event, depending on the particulars. This Part 1 describes how stock buybacks generally work, and emphasizes the importance of investing in a globally diversified portfolio, rather than chasing or fleeing particular stock buyback opportunities. In Part 2, we'll cover how companies may use stock buybacks to strike a balance between sustaining current and future shareholder value. In Part 3, we'll cover how the power of stock buybacks can become weaponized in the wrong hands, and why the government is keeping its eye on them.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Stock buybacks, Tax 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
Unsung Money Mentors: Personal Financial Columnist Sylvia Porter
May 30, 2023
In a recent piece, "Who Is 'the Media'?" we offered our broad take on “the media,” and how to identify islands of investment insights across the oceans of daily news. In this follow-up, we focus on America’s first personal financial columnist Sylvia Porter (1913–1991), and the impact she made on the global financial press. This piece is also part of our continuing series on Unsung Money Mentors.
Categories: Article, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, General audience, Unsung money mentors
Unsung Money Mentors: The Legacy Dan Wheeler Left Us
February 28, 2023
In the first of what may become a series of unsung money mentors, we reflect on the legacy the recently passed Dan Wheeler left for the independent, fee-only advisor community in general, and evidence-based investment advisors in particular. The piece covers his influence on the advisor community before and after he joined Dimensional Fund Advisors.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Unsung money mentors
Back to the Investment Basics: White Paper
October 14, 2022
This nine-page white paper combines our recently published, multipart Investment Basics series into a complete piece covering five investment essentials: how important it is to save (so you have money to invest); how to invest efficiently in broad markets; why to avoid chasing or fleeing rising or falling prices, being patient, and investing according to your personal financial goals.
Categories: Back to the basics, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, General audience, Scary market insights, White paper
Back to the Investment Basics: Part 5 — Patience and Personal Persistence
October 12, 2022
This part 5 is the last installment in our multipart Investment Basics series, and covers two more essentials: being patient and ensuring personal financial goals drive the decision-making. Earlier parts explored the history of investing; how important it is to save (so you have money to invest); how to invest efficiently in broad markets; and why to avoid chasing or fleeing rising or falling prices.
Categories: Article, Back to the basics, Behavioral finance, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, General audience, Scary market insights
Back to the Investment Basics: Part 4 — The Price You Pay Matters
September 27, 2022
This part 4 in our multipart Investment Basics series covers how stock prices are set. Earlier parts explored the history of investing; how important it is to save (so you have money to invest); and how to invest efficiently in broad markets. Next up (and to wrap), we'll cover investor resolve, and setting personal financial goals.
Categories: Article, Back to the basics, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Scary market insights
Back to the Investment Basics: Part 3 — Our Marvelous Markets
September 16, 2022
Part 3 of a multipart series reminds investors to consider current market events in proper historical context (part 1), while depending on investment basics to move past today's challenges and future unknowns. In part 2, we covered the importance of saving. In this part 3, we cover market returns. In upcoming parts, we'll cover three more investment basics: market pricing, investor resolve, and personal financial goals.
Categories: Article, Back to the basics, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Scary market insights
Back to the Investment Basics: Part 2 — First Save, Then Invest
September 6, 2022
Part 2 of a multipart series reminds investors to consider current market events in proper historical context (in part 1), while depending on investment basics to move past today's challenges and future unknowns. In this part 2, we covered the importance of saving. In upcoming parts, we'll cover four more investment basics: market returns, market pricing, investor resolve, and personal financial goals.
Categories: Article, Back to the basics, Behavioral finance, General audience, Scary market insights
Back to the Investment Basics: Part 1 — Remembering Summers Past Free Sample (Click on title to download)
August 29, 2022
Part 1 of a multipart series reminds investors to consider current market events in proper historical context, while depending on investment basics to move past today's challenges and future unknowns. In upcoming parts, we'll cover five investment basics: saving, market returns, market pricing, investor resolve, and personal financial goals.
Categories: Article, Back to the basics, Behavioral finance, Breaking news, Economics, Evidence-based investing, Free samples, General audience, Politics
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
Interest Rates, Inflation & Investing, Part 2
March 24, 2022
Part 2 in a 3-part series covering current concerns about interest rates (part 1), inflation (in this part 2) and what these influences mean to investors (part 3).
Categories: Article, Breaking news, Economics, General audience, Interest, inflation & investing, Politics, Report
Interest Rates, Inflation & Investing, Part 1
March 16, 2022
Part 1 in a 3-part series covering current concerns about interest rates (in this part 1), inflation (part 2) and what these influences mean to investors (part 3).
Categories: Article, Breaking news, Economics, Fixed income, General audience, Interest, inflation & investing, Politics, Report
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
Investment Costs, Part 2: Custodian/Brokerage Costs
September 27, 2021
Part 2 of a 2-part series covering investment costs. Part 1 focuses on fund management fees. Part 2 looks at custodian/brokerage (trading) costs, as well as how a fiduciary, fee-only advisor can help families identify and reduce excessive costs.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Expenses, General audience, Investment costs, Prospect-focused, Report
Investment Costs, Part 1: Fund Management Fees
September 27, 2021
Part 1 of a 2-part series covering investment costs. Part 1 focuses on fund management fees. Part 2 looks at custodian/brokerage (trading) costs, as well as how a fiduciary, fee-only advisor can help families identify and reduce excessive costs.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Expenses, General audience, Investment costs, Prospect-focused, Report
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
Inflation Part 2: What We Can Do About It
June 24, 2021
Part 2 of a 2-part series on inflation. Part 1 defined inflation, put current events in greater context, and described the difference between "good" and "bad" inflation. This Part 2 explores why forecasts for inflation remain as fuzzy as ever, and how investors can best prepare for whatever may happen next.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Breaking news, Economics, General audience, Inflation, Scary market insights
Inflation Part 1: What We Know
June 15, 2021
Part 1 of a 2-part series on inflation. Part 1 defines inflation, puts current events in greater context, and describes the difference between "good" and "bad" inflation. Part 2 explores why forecasts for inflation remain as fuzzy as ever, and how investors can best prepare for whatever may happen next.
Categories: Article, Breaking news, Economics, General audience, Inflation, Scary market insights
Protecting What’s Yours (After You Pass) Part 2
May 17, 2021
Share this two-part piece on estate planning basics with clients and prospects. Part 1 is 464 words, and reminds readers how important it is to have a basic will or trust. This part 2, at 1,413 words, offers step-by-step guidance on creating and maintaining an effective estate plan. Both pieces pair well with a 2019 Library piece, "Protecting What's Yours (While You're Alive)."
Categories: Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Protecting what's yours, Tax planning, Wealth management
Protecting What’s Yours (After You Pass) Part 1
April 29, 2021
Share this two-part piece on estate planning basics with clients and prospects. Part 1 is 464 words, and reminds readers how important it is to have a basic will or trust. Part 2 (coming soon) will offer step-by-step guidance on creating and maintaining an effective estate plan. Both pieces pair well with a 2019 Library piece, "Protecting What's Yours (While You're Alive)."
Categories: Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Protecting what's yours, Tax planning, Wealth management
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
“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
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
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
Six Financial Best Practices for 2020
December 8, 2019
Share this 869-word piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for 2020. This year's selection is based on some of the changes that took place in 2019, including TCJA tax tips, zero-commission stock and ETF trading, and more.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Economics, Evidence-based investing, Financial best practice lists, General audience, Listicle, Philanthropy/giving, Security, 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
Protecting What’s Yours (While You’re Alive)
July 25, 2019
Use this 1,300-word article in its entirety or broken into three parts to cover three tools an individual can employ to protect their health and wealth care interests while they are alive: (1) the financial power of attorney, (2) the trusted contact, and (3) the healthcare advance directive (including a living will and healthcare power of attorney). Includes a summary, when each applies, common scenarios and additional tips for each.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Protecting what's yours, Report, Wealth management
The Viability of the Value Premium (Multi-Part Series)
June 16, 2019
This multi-part series segments the full-length 1,765-word report on the viability of the value premium into five shorter, quick-read pieces. It covers the origins of the value premium, historical precedents, additional evidence that the value premium likely remains viable, and the role global diversification plays in managing risks and expected returns. The five parts are bundled into a single zip file for simplified download.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Scary market insights, Viability of value investing
The Viability of the Value Premium (Full Report Version)
June 16, 2019
This 1,765-word document addresses investor concerns that the value premium may be "dead," since value stocks have underperformed growth stocks for approximately the past decade. It covers the origins of the value premium, historical precedents, additional evidence that the value premium likely remains viable, and the role global diversification plays in managing risks and expected returns.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Report, Scary market insights, Viability of value investing
What Is Asset Location? (UPDATED)
May 27, 2019
UPDATED FROM 2013: This 710-word article is part of our ongoing "What Is ...?" series. It defines asset LOCATION, differentiates it from asset ALLOCATION, and provides an overview of both its benefits and challenges. Share this piece with clients or prospects as an article, post, or video script, or for similar purposes.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Tax planning, The "What Is ...?" series, Updated content
What Is Liquidity?
May 14, 2019
This 768-word article is part of our ongoing "What Is ...?" series. It defines liquidity, offers some approachable examples of how it works, and considers it within the context of an overall investment portfolio. Share this piece with clients or prospects as an article, post, or video script, or for similar purposes.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, General audience, Real estate investing, The "What Is ...?" series, Wealth management
Money Management Lingo
March 27, 2019
This 860-word document provides a beginner's guide intro to some of the most common terminology advisors tend to use when introducing prospective and new clients to money management services. For example, it differentiates assets, funds, accounts and custodians -- explaining which roles each play. (Note: Non-U.S. advisors might want to swap out some of the examples with illustrations of their own -- such as referencing your country's tax-advantaged accounts rather than U.S.-based IRAs.)
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Financial planning, General audience, Real estate investing, Tax planning, The "What Is ...?" series
What Is Asset Allocation?
February 13, 2019
This approximately 750-word piece provides a working definition of asset allocation, to share with clients, prospects and others. It's the latest addition to an accumulating "What Is ...?" series, defining frequently used terminology for those who may not "just know" what it means.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, The "What Is ...?" series
Six Financial Best Practices for 2019
December 17, 2018
Six financial best practices encouraging investors to ignore market volatility and take practical steps toward enhancing their financial well-being. Use this piece as is to share with prospective clients, or modify it slightly for client use. This piece represents the second in an annual series, potentially pairing well with "Ten Financial Best Practices to Jump-Start Your New Year," published in December 2017.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Estate planning, Financial best practice lists, Financial planning, Listicle, Prospect-focused, Scary market insights, Security, Wealth management
What Is the Yield Curve? (Article)
August 24, 2018
This 900-word "What Is?" article translates a tricky investment concept -- the yield curve -- to help clients and prospects alike appreciate the role it plays in their fixed income investing. (Look for the separate, Excel spreadsheet also available in the Content-Sharing Library if you need to directly access the Yield Curve diagrams displayed in this piece.)
Categories: Article, Economics, Evidence-based investing, Fixed income, General audience, Report, The "What Is ...?" series
What Is the Yield Curve? (Diagrams)
August 24, 2018
An Excel file containing two diagrams -- Figures 1 and 2 -- found within the separate "What Is the Yield Curve?" article, also in the Content-Sharing Library. Download this Excel file if you need to directly access the Yield Curve diagrams displayed in this piece.
Categories: Economics, Evidence-based investing, Excel file, Fixed income, General audience, The "What Is ...?" series
What Is Correlation (and Why Would You Care)?
May 30, 2018
This 1,000-word "What Is?" article translates a tricky investment term -- correlation -- to help clients and prospects alike appreciate the role it plays in portfolio construction.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, 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
Content from “What Is Evidence-Based Investing?”
June 22, 2017
Available exclusively to Content-Sharing Library subscribers, this Word document provides the same talking points used in our recently released "What Is Evidence-Based Investing?" infographic/poster for use in other materials.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, The "What Is ...?" series, What is evidence-based investing?
Introduction to “What Is Evidence-Based Investing?”
June 22, 2017
Use this short, introductory message to share our recently released "What Is Evidence-Based Investing?" infographic/poster with clients, prospective clients and others.
Categories: Evidence-based investing, General audience, General letter/email, The "What Is ...?" series, What is evidence-based investing?
“What Is Evidence-Based Investing?” Slideshow
June 22, 2017
Designed to complement our recently released "What Is Evidence-Based Investing?" infographic/poster, this PowerPoint slideshow reiterates the same talking points for use in client, prospective client and other presentations.
Categories: Evidence-based investing, General audience, PowerPoint presentation, The "What Is ...?" series, What is evidence-based investing?
An Index Overview | Part 4: Index Investing – Opportunities and Obstacles
March 21, 2017
This 1,200-word piece is part four of a four-part series covering indexes and index investing. Part 1 defined indexes in general. Part 2 took a closer look at what index points measure and some of their inherent characteristics. Part 3 explored some of the idiosyncrasies inherent to indexes. This final part 4 explores how indexes are used (and sometimes abused) in index fund investing. Use the series to discuss indexing as a drip series, in a combined report, or as video or podcast scripts.
Categories: An index overview, Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Report
An Index Overview | Part 3: Index Mechanics – Interesting Idiosyncrasies
March 8, 2017
This 1,060-word piece is part three of a four-part series covering indexes and index investing. Part 1 defined indexes in general. Part 2 took a closer look at what index points measure and some of their inherent characteristics. Part 3 explores some of the idiosyncrasies inherent to indexes. The final part 4 will explore how indexes are used (and sometimes abused) in index fund investing. Use the series to discuss indexing as a drip series, in a combined report, or as video or podcast scripts.
Categories: An index overview, Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Report
An Index Overview | Part 2: A Few Points About Index Points
February 23, 2017
This 780-word piece is part two of a four-part series covering indexes and index investing. Part 1 defined indexes in general. Part 2 takes a closer look at what index points measure and some of their inherent characteristics. Future parts will look at some of the strategies used to structure indexes, and how they are used (and sometimes abused) in index fund investing. Use the series to discuss indexing as a drip series, in a combined report, or as video or podcast scripts.
Categories: An index overview, Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Multipart series, Report
An Index Overview | Part 1: Indexes, Defined
February 12, 2017
This 800-word piece is part one of a four-part series covering indexes and index investing. Part 1 defines indexes in general, summarizes key uses (benchmarking and index fund investing), and explains why milestones like the "Dow 20,000" should not be used to engage in market-timing. Future parts will take a closer look at some of the strengths and weaknesses inherent to indexes and index fund investments. Use the series to discuss indexing as a drip series, in a combined report, or as video or podcast scripts.
Categories: An index overview, Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Multipart series, Report
Three Key Investment Strategies Hidden in Plain Sight: #3 — INTERNATIONAL VERSION — Controlling Costs
September 25, 2015
This 1,375-word piece represents part three of a series covering three essential evidence-based investment strategies: market participation ("being there"), managing market risk (diversification) and controlling costs. THIS UPDATED VERSION EXPLORES CONTROLLING COSTS WITH AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND ILLUSTRATIONS. It also emphasizes the benefits of having an evidence-based advisor to assist. Use the series for drip marketing via e-newsletter, e-mails, mailings or as video script for prospective or existing clients.
Categories: Article, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, Expenses, General audience, Three key strategies
Three Key Investment Strategies Hidden in Plain Sight: #3 — Controlling Costs
September 4, 2015
This 900-word piece represents part three of a series covering three essential evidence-based investment strategies: market participation ("being there"), managing market risk (diversification) and controlling costs. It also emphasizes the benefits of having an evidence-based advisor to assist. Use the series for drip marketing via e-newsletter, e-mails, mailings or as video script for prospective or existing clients.
Categories: Article, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, Expenses, General audience, Three key strategies
Three Key Investment Strategies Hidden in Plain Sight: #2 – Managing Market Risks
August 11, 2015
This 700-word piece represents part two of a series covering three essential evidence-based investment strategies: market participation ("being there"), managing market risk (diversification) and controlling costs. It also emphasizes the benefits of having an evidence-based advisor to assist. Use the series for drip marketing via e-newsletter, e-mails, mailings or as video script for prospective or existing clients.
Categories: Article, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Three key strategies
Three Key Investment Strategies Hidden in Plain Sight: #1 – Being There
July 26, 2015
This 800-word piece represents part one of a series covering three essential evidence-based investment strategies: market participation ("being there"), managing market risk (diversification) and controlling costs. It also emphasizes the benefits of having an evidence-based advisor to assist. Use the series for drip marketing via e-newsletter, e-mails, mailings or as video script for prospective or existing clients.
Categories: Article, Behavioral finance, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Three key strategies
More Evidence on the Evidence: An Historical Overview of Capital Market Theory
June 27, 2015
This 1,400-word piece complements the recently released "Evidence on the Evidence" piece, which explored how to differentiate academic evidence from less substantive work. This follow-up offers a timeline of the most important academic findings, from MPT to the Three-Factor Model and into the future. It highlights the role you play as an adviser, helping your clients incorporate meaningful evidence into their ongoing investment discipline. Use this pair of pieces to inform clients or prospects about the benefits of evidence-based investing.
Categories: Article, Evidence on the evidence, Evidence-based investing, General audience
The Evidence on the Evidence: How Do You Know What (and Whom) to Heed?
June 10, 2015
This 1,000-word piece explores key differences between robust, peer-reviewed academic evidence and the less substantive information that tends to grab the bigger headlines. It also describes how you, as an evidence-based adviser, help your clients become better investors by understanding why the difference matters. Use the series to inform clients or prospects about the importance of evidence-based investing. This piece pairs well with the complementary article, "More Evidence on the Evidence," which offers an historical overview of landmark studies from MPT to the Three-Factor Model and beyond.
Categories: Article, Evidence on the evidence, Evidence-based investing, General audience