A recent study by Vanguard researchers, Dr. Paulo Costa, Ph.D., and Jane Henshaw, has been conducted on the differences in value between human financial planners and the digital advice offerings of “Robo-advisors,” such as Betterment and Wealthfront. The results of this study of man versus machine are stunning to say the least, not only because of its explicit findings in …
The Allianz Scandal Today the SEC announced that it had reached a settlement with Allianz to the tune of a billion-dollar fine and five billion dollars in restitution to victims of a fraudulent portfolio management scheme. In short, three of its senior portfolio managers had glossed over the potential risks of an options trading strategy that was sold to 114 …
When I started working on my Ph.D. back in 2020, the very first class was taught as a crash course in how to read research, understand the framework through which research was conducted, and to draft up a mock version of a study we’d like to perform. My excited first presentation during the culmination of the class was a study …
It has been a common remark over the past few years that taxes seem to have gotten tricky. Whether it be the complex kerfuffle of the child tax credits, the stimulus payments during the pandemic lockdowns, or simply never seeming to get your tax return check from the IRS, no one is happy with taxes as they stand today. However, …
It never fails that investing lives in a perpetual Schrodinger’s Box of reputation. Investments simultaneously are too risky and also the reason billionaires exist. The market is equally “overpriced” and also “losing too much to buy into right now.” Cash is “safe” yet loses a guaranteed percentage of its value every year. On and on, the paradoxes of an investment …
An acute observation in psychology is the effect of stress on human beings. Studies on soldiers during war show that they can handle the stress of combat for only up to about 60 days straight before they reach total psychological catatonia. Even those not in that pinnacle stressful environment can experience anxiety, depression, digestive problems, headaches, muscle tension, heart disease, …
There’s an old expression amongst professionals: “If you think paying for service is expensive, just wait until you see how expensive doing it yourself is.” The premise of the point is simple: Many people do not respect the time, energy, and effort that go into a professional’s services. Not only the service as someone receives it but also the education …
Recently a client raised a question about the assumptions of their financial plan. “It has my income increasing by inflation every year, but in another year I’ll hit the top of my pay band, and raises will stop unless I go into management when I’m not planning on doing.” This was a major red flag for me for a number …
Colorado is a great state. We all know that at a fundamental level, with a high quality of life, high incomes, a beautiful natural landscape, and a vast number of activities and hobbies available for everyone to enjoy. While the lifestyle and recreation are beneficial, there are a couple of other perks to living in Colorado that we probably don’t …
Because of the compliance regulators that be, I have to take the fun out of this by saying that this is satire, intended to make a point. You absolutely should invest your money as appropriate to help fund long term goals, preserve the value of capital, and to compliment a broader financial plan. With that out of the way… Invest …