Misleading investors using confusing jargon is a feature, not a bug of financial services.  Introducing: Fee-based financial advice! This is not as bad as the infamous “fee-free” moniker but still misleading at best; unethical at worst.  Investors face a mind-blowing array of bewildering acronyms regarding advisor credentials. Do they need a new designation to ponder?…

Markets can be very scary. China Devalues Its Currency To 7 Yuan To The Dollar And Markets Plunge! – scream the headlines. The media loves throwing kerosene on investors combustible emotions. When markets fall 5% in a week, it’s pretty frightening. Even scarier is not knowing why. We have hundreds of teacher clients and other…

Rule #1: Everything ends. Rule#2: Remember Rule #1. Keep this in mind the next time you find yourself freaking out about the markets. (Or anything else) Recognizing proper perspective about our puny existence is simultaneously shocking, and comforting. Humans have existed a little over one minute in a 24-hour context. That includes everyone from the…

Repetition, not novelty, makes for sound investing advice. Though sometimes it makes me want to rip my face off and scream. Before ordering the anti-psychotic medication, let me explain. Unlike the Earth’s climate, the iron laws of investing don’t change. Saving more than spending, diversifying assets, keeping costs low, knowing the investment time frame, and…