Step-by-step Guide for Writing a Killer Essay to Get Into College with a Scholarship in 2017
All selective schools and nearly all scholarships have more qualified candidates than they have admissions slots and available funds. Whatever school you apply to and scholarship you apply for, there will be a list of basic “qualifier” stats. Even if you are far exceeding the minimum qualifications, expect that other candidates are as well. To […]
Read ArticleYour ETF May Be About to Explode: Deutsche Bank
I’m actually going to talk about “ETNs” (exchange traded notes), not “ETFs” (exchange traded funds), but the problem is most people don’t know the difference and use the terms interchangeably! If you aren’t 100% sure what you own, now is the time to find out because a major issuer of ETNs, Deutsche Bank, is having […]
Read Article10 Things You Should Say to Your Financial Advisor
COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR You hired a pro for a reason. His or her time is precious, and so is yours. I always say communication is the absolute most important thing an advisor and client can work on; it takes a little reflection and a lot of practice to optimize. Here are my top […]
Read ArticleTerrorizing Quarterbacks is Just Like Trading
I met a man who I will call John while out for dinner years ago. John asked me what I did for a living. My answer sparked him to tell me that his friend was retiring the following year and would have the majority of his life savings suddenly coming available. His friend, John said, […]
Read ArticleIs Your Bank on Your Side? Wells Fargo Fined $185 Million
Responding to why Wells Fargo had a cross-selling goal of eight, CEO John Stumpf replied in the 2010 annual report, “The answer is, it rhymed with ‘great.’ Perhaps our new cheer should be: ‘Let’s go again, for 10!’” If that doesn’t convey the message strongly enough, I’ll say it more bluntly: Wells Fargo, which is […]
Read ArticleWhat Mentoring and Financial Planning Have in Common
Is there a greater honor than having a significant influence on someone’s life? I don’t think so. Thus, I was honored and touched when my nephew, Wil, named me #3 in a school project focused on the biggest influences of his life — right behind his parents. When I started thinking about writing this article, […]
Read ArticleIs “Pokemon Go” A No-Go for Investors?
The “Pokemon GO” phone app is getting a lot of attention. But is it a viable investment opportunity, or a wild speculation? WorthPointe Chief Investment Officer, Joshua Wilson, weighs in.
Read ArticleHow the New DOL Fiduciary Rules May Help Investors — or Not
For many months, Wall Street brokers have been complaining about how badly they would be hurt by potential new rules that would require them to at least sometimes work just a little more in the best interest of their clients. Naturally, when the Department of Labor recently announced the new rules, it did so with […]
Read ArticleHow to Lose at Investing: Follow Your Gut
Financial Planning magazine reported that its “perceived risk-tolerance level” barometer had dropped 7 points from January to 27.9 in February — the lowest level since its inception. This barometer seeks to measure clients’ (or self-directed investors’) appetite for risk. In looking at the readings over the last 12 months, it’s very easy to understand why […]
Read ArticleWhy Should I Care About Sectors?
The term “sectors” is often thrown around, but what exactly does it mean and why should you care? In short, the economy and financial markets can be broken down into segments called sectors, which are simply large groupings of industries in similar businesses. Each sector can be further broken down into industry groups. For example, […]
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