Todd Schanel, CFA, CPA, CFP® and Jackie Goldstick, CFP®

Like Doctor, Like Advisor: Understanding Your Financial Advisor’s Compensation

Advisor Compensation, Blog, Fee Only, Planning Perspectives, Portfolio ManagementLeave a comment

As much as we would prefer a world where doctors could focus exclusively on addressing our health care questions strictly according to our highest interests, we know that reality is less rosy. Best intentions are often complicated by multiple parties, conflicting incentives and confusing costs. The more informed you are of any undisclosed motivations – who is compensating whom, and how – the better your choices can be when deciding to whom to turn for your family’s quality medical care.

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2016 in Review

Economics, Insights, Investing, Market Research, Market Update, Planning Perspectives, Portfolio ManagementLeave a comment

It’s hard to think all the way back to January 2016, but the year began with a bit of a shock when US stocks had their worst start in history. Then came the Brexit vote in June, when non-US Stocks dropped approximately 7% over a three week period. And then came the US Presidential election, when US stocks dropped approximately 5% in the weeks leading up to the election.
But by the end of the year, those investors who stayed the course saw positive returns across the board.

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Good Advice

Advisor Compensation, Blog, Fee Only, Planning PerspectivesLeave a comment

Good advice is timeless … and timely. Good financial advice never goes out of style; its principles are permanent. Good advice must remain relevant in an ever-changing world. Your financial adviser should be able to help you embrace promising new opportunities and insights while avoiding the false leads and frightening challenges that are as formidable as ever in today’s markets.

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Index Fund Investing: Is it Really That Simple?

Index Fund Investing, InsightsLeave a comment

Index fund investing is as popular as ever. In 2014, Vanguard alone recorded record mutual fund inflows totaling $216 billion.  Investors are catching on to the benefits of index and other passively managed funds – benefits that include lower costs, broader diversification, lower turnover, and greater transparency. But, as Wall Street Journal columnist and author…

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A Primer on the Various Types of Investment Firms

Advisor Compensation, Insights, Investing, Retirement PlanningLeave a comment

In today’s world, there are several different types of investment firms, but with important differences between them that confuse not only consumers but even many investment professionals.  The short article below provides a basic overview of the various types of firms and how they differ. “Brand Name” Brokerage Firms Much investment advice in the U.S.…

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