Anthony Isola

Why is Bernie Sanders Missing the Trend in Financial Services?

Bernie Sanders has accused the financial services industry of being engaged in “the business of fraud;” since this industry comprises about 6% of the U.S. workforce, this is one serious allegation. The good news is it is not true. I need a break from writing about insurance companies and wire houses who often mislead and…

Why Can’t 3.6 Million Teachers Get a Group Discount on their 403(b) Plans?

403(b) plans, which are entrusted with the retirement funds of our nation’s public school teachers, have serious flaws. One of the most obvious defects is the oldest trick in the book: divide and conquer. Companies like Walmart are able to receive massive discounts from their suppliers. The reason for this enormous competitive advantage is they…

Investors Need Abe Lincoln at the Republican Debates

Our current political system puts reality television to shame. The average voter is repulsed and is on the verge of grabbing a pitchfork to storm the Bastille. Individual investors are also paying a steep price for this gross political incompetence. On the birthday of arguably our greatest president, Abe Lincoln, we need to look at this sad situation in much greater detail….

Straight Outta Context

 It is preposterous not to include the impact of fees when deciding upon an investment. This is the main reason most teachers’ 403(b) plans are so horrifying. It is almost impossible to make a positive real return when costs exceed 3-4% on your investments. While this statement comes right out of Captain Obvious’ playbook, a…

Fees Knock and Ping Investment Returns

Money spent on car repairs can be as dubious as investment fees. Both tend to be confusing, deceptive, and often unnecessary. The amount of money spent on unnecessary car repairs is mind boggling. The National Highway Traffic Administration estimates that automotive service consumers are scammed out of tens of billions of dollars every year. This…

Your Former Students are Drowning in Debt!

Student loan marketplace Lendedu says 7 out of 10 students leave college with at least some student debt, and on average with a bill of just less than $30,000. Interestingly, Lendedu found about 92% of students don’t know their current interest rate, and 94% don’t know their repayment term. Additionally, 76% of respondents were unsure…

How to choose an Honest Financial Advisor in Ten Minutes

It’s possible a teacher (or anyone else) can choose a good financial advisor in the first ten minutes of an initial meeting. This simple process will save you time, money and plenty of heartache! Our CEO, Josh Brown, brought up a terrific point in one Monday morning meeting. Josh pointed out that Ritholtz Wealth Management’s…

Some Teachers Need Tough Love

It is easy to blame insurance companies and greedy brokers for the awful state of the 403(b) market. There is no disputing their role in this mess. It would be unfair to say they are the only culprits.  Individual responsibility and poor choices play a large part, as well. It is time to create a…

Class Action Could Mean Trouble for Insurers

Insurance companies often make misleading claims to teachers and the elderly when pitching expensive insurance products. Often these two groups fall victims to these deceptive sales gimmicks. In a recent development, a certified Class Action against insurer ING Group could be a game changer. This is not the first time ING has had legal difficulties…

Today is the Most Difficult Day to Invest

While markets tumble and pundits howl with fear, there is a proven solution to this madness. Create a globally-diversified, low-cost portfolio that will benefit from the completely normal temporary stress that markets routinely endure. I find it amazing that people continue to have the same reaction whenever markets go south. The tired photos of traders holding…