Overview: Every year, Larry Swedroe takes a look back at the investing lessons the markets provided in the past year. In 2011, the markets offered investors a chance to revisit a few remedial courses by teaching lessons it had introduced in prior years. So, this year’s list includes a few reminders that we are just as likely to lose our discipline in good times as we can in bad times. Lesson 1: Ignore All Forecasts — All Crystal Balls Are Cloudy Financial analyst Meredith Whitney made a forecast that caused quite a stir in December 2010, Read more...

Overview: Following are 10 principles we have adopted to help us serve as a trusted advisor.   Act in the best interest of the client We provide advice and recommendations that are in the client’s best interest. Period. Not because we are legally obligated to (although we are). Not because it works well as a business model (it does). Simply because it is right. Our other goals are selected to achieve this guiding principle.   Pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, we follow a fiduciary duty standard of care. This is often ref Read more...

Overview: Co-authors Alan Spector and Keith Lawrence wrote Your Retirement Quest: 10 Secrets for Creating and Living a Fulfilling Retirement based on a decade of research and interviews with more than 200 retirees. The following article, an excerpt from their book, sets the stage for answering important retirement planning questions.   As you make your planning choices, you will be answering many of the key questions most retirees have.   -How will I spend my time? -What will I do to replace the intellectual stimulation, daily structure, Read more...

Overview: It can be hard to hear the best course of action during tough market times may be to do nothing. It can be even harder to repeatedly hear the message as things seem to get worse. But it is a message we would not repeat if we did not truly believe it was in your best interests. The following discusses why our message is not wavering despite market conditions. Stay the course. We repeat that advice again and again. Yet, in the face of a persistent down market, a common refrain from investors has gone something like this: “Yes, that Read more...

Overview: Estate planning documents are often viewed as static documents that are written once and then safely stored. To provide the most value, estate planning documents should be updated as laws change and life events occur.   Four Areas of Estate Planning Many people assume estate planning documents are strictly financial in nature. In reality, having such documents in place also expresses an individual’s personal instructions regarding health care preferences, family care and cherished belongings. The following are all part of the es Read more...