How can the combo of S&P 500 and Small Cap Value be less risky than the S&P 500 by itself? Paul Merriman 2022-07-13 | Paul Merriman and Chris Pedersen, Director of Research for The Merriman Financial Education Foundation, address a number of topics and questions: • Is the combination of the S&P 500 and Small Cap Value really more risky than the S&P by itself? • Why the exceptional performance of Chris’ Best In Class (BIC) during the first 6 months of 2022?• If small and value outperformed large and growth, why did the Total Market Index underperformed the S&P 500 by more than 1%?• Are the higher costs of the Avantis Funds likely to pay a higher premium than lower cost Vanguard funds? • A first time investor, who has invested in Avantis Small Cap Value ETF “for life,” wants to know, “Can I plan on leaving it in this fund forever?” • Jeff, a follower of our Foundation’s work, thanks us for our educational material but states that “the past results you spend so much time reviewing” have nothing to do with how he invests. Paul addresses who he thinks is actually keeping Jeff committed to his asset allocation. • Is it better to own mid-cap funds instead of a combination of small- and large-cap funds? Paul and Chris each share their beliefs in response to this common question.Much of this podcast/video is focused on a discussion of DFA and Avantis ETFs. Using both Portfolio Visualizer and Morningstar websites, Chris explains the major factor differences.Chris recommends Rob Burger’s video discussion of Avantis Small-Cap Value. youtube.com/watch?v=MdShSQcScsk Rob Berger, lawyer, investor, podcaster, blogger and author of Retire Before Mom & Dad, is one of our Truth Tellers and we will be writing about him in the coming months. Since 2007, Rob has run the financial blog doughroller.net and contributed to Forbes, US News, AOL, and Business Insider and been featured in HuffPost. For more on Chris’ research results for the first 6 months of 2022, see -paulmerriman.com/how-have-chris-pedersens-best-in-class-recommendations-performedSound Investing Portfolios Chart-paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sound-Investing-Portfolio-Chart.pdf
#5 Fixed Contributions 2024 Update Paul Merriman 2024-03-20 | The video starts with quick reviews of Table J1a Equity Index Returns from Stocks vs. Bonds (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/J1a.pdf), Table A1a (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/(A1a)-UBH%20Tables%20(50-50)%20-%202023%20Returns.pdf) from The Ultimate Buy and Hold Portfolio, Table H2a from Sound Investing Portfolios (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/H2a-soundinvesting.pdf) and Tables B1 (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/FineTuningTableB1.pdf) and B9 from Fine Tuning Your Asset Allocation (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/FineTuningTableB9.pdf). Using the return results from the Fine Tuning Tables Paul compares the impact of investing regularly on a dollar cost average basis from 1970 to 2023. The investment starts with $1000 ($83.33 a month) and is increased by 3% a year. Those results are shown in Tables C1 (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/c1-2024.pdf) and C9 (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/c9-2024.pdf).Click here for the pdf used in this video. irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/FixedContributions2024.pdf
Bootcamp #4 Fine Tuning Your Asset Allocation 2024 Update Paul Merriman 2024-03-13 | Paul’s hope is that the previous video on the Sound Investing Portfolios - youtube.com/watch?v=SRsbRmD3pck&list=PLJHsocwG3Vk-uHKL-zsqyGwFSFLTuI6PI&index=3&t=476s helped do it yourself investors find the right combination of equity asset classes to take advantage of long term equity returns. The goal of the Fine Tuning Your Asset Allocation video is to help investors determine the best combination of equities and fixed income asset classes. Paul started the video by reviewing Table B1- irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/FineTuningTableB1.pdf. This table shows the annual return of the S&P 500, as the equity portfolio to combine with short term and intermediate term bond funds. If an investor has added bonds to the portfolio it is assumed the bonds are going to reduce both risk and return. The table also shows the worst 6, 12, 36 and 60 returns with many combinations of equities and fixed income. It also shows the biggest drawdown for each combination.He then compares the same risk and return results using the U.S. 2 Fund Portfolio (50/50 S&P 500 and small cap value). irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/FineTuningTableB9.pdfHis hope is the investor will be able to compare the results of all the equity portfolios. All those tables can be found here. youtube.com/watch?v=SRsbRmD3pck&list=PLJHsocwG3Vk-uHKL-zsqyGwFSFLTuI6PI&index=3&t=476sPaul will be monitoring the YouTube video and will respond to questions there.DisclosuresData Disclosure Notice - Funds (1970-Present) irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/Data%20Disclosure%20Notice%20-%20Funds%20(1970-Present).pdfData Disclosure Notice - Indexes (1928-Present) irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/Data%20Disclosure%20Notice%20-%20Indexes%20(1928-Present).pdf
Bootcamp #3 Sound Investing Portfolio Performance: 2024 Update Paul Merriman 2024-03-09 | Paul opens the video suggesting that watching the first 2 parts of the Boot Camp Series prior to watching this video should be helpful. Here are links to "Stocks vs. Bonds: The $20 Million Decision” youtu.be/puRKlvGjYC8 and “The Ultimate Buy and Hold Investment.” youtu.be/hBoYWiRtKEwOn this video Paul starts by reviewing the construction of the 9 Sound Investing Portfolios on table H1a - irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/H1A-Soundinvesting.pdfOn Table H2a he reviews the 54 year returns on a $10,000 in each of the 9 portfolios. The returns do not include taxes but do reflect fund expenses. irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/H2a-soundinvesting.pdfSlide #6 focuses on 4 of the 9 portfolios. The purpose of this slide is to show investors how they might compare portfolios to determine which one or more portfolios will meet their needs. soundinvesting.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/slide6.pngSlide H3a shows the annual returns of all 9 portfolios for the entire 54 year period. The suggestion is to focus first on how the different portfolios performed in the losing years. irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/h3a-soundinvesting.pdfPaul will be monitoring the YouTube video and will respond to questions there.DisclosuresData Disclosure Notice - Funds (1970-Present) irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/Data%20Disclosure%20Notice%20-%20Funds%20(1970-Present).pdfData Disclosure Notice - Indexes (1928-Present) irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/Data%20Disclosure%20Notice%20-%20Indexes%20(1928-Present).pdf
Bootcamp #2 The Ultimate Buy and Hold Update 2024 Paul Merriman 2024-03-09 | Paul recommends new listeners listen to the previous podcast on Equities vs. Bonds (paulmerriman.com/stocks-vs-bonds-the-10-million-decision#gsc.tab=0) prior to this podcast.The purpose of this annual update is to remind investors of the power of equity asset class diversification. Paul makes the case for the 10 equity asset class portfolio that he introduced over 25 years ago. During the presentation he uses Tables A1a (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/(A1a)-UBH%20Tables%20(50-50)%20-%202023%20Returns.pdf) and A2a (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/(A2a)%20UBH%20Tables%20(50-50)%20-%202023%20Returns.pdf)A1a shows the series of portfolios, starting with the S&P 500 on its own, and then the results of adding 9 other asset classes one at a time.In A2a Paul reviews the Ultimate Buy and Hold results to 7 other portfolios that investors may select for better returns with fewer funds and similar volatility.In both cases he shows the results with both annual and monthly rebalancing. On the next podcast Paul will dig into the important differences of the risk and return for all 9 portfolios, including the S&P 500 as the single holding.Paul will be monitoring the YouTube video and will respond to questions there.DisclosuresData Disclosure Notice - Funds (1970-Present)- irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/Data%20Disclosure%20Notice%20-%20Funds%20(1970-Present).pdfData Disclosure Notice - Indexes (1928-Present)irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/Data%20Disclosure%20Notice%20-%20Indexes%20(1928-Present).pdf
Bootcamp #1 Stocks vs Bonds: The $20 Million Decision Paul Merriman 2024-03-08 | This video is the first in the series of 8 to 10 podcasts, videos and articles that will be found under Bootcamp (paulmerriman.com/bootcamp) and Best advice (paulmerriman.com/best-advice.In this podcast Paul discusses the biggest investment decision of an investor's lifetime: Invest in stocks or bonds. He reviews the long term risk and return for both important asset classes. In each case there is a set of 3 tables that reflect the returns from 1928 to 2023. In Tables J1a (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/J1a.pdf) and J2a (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/j2a.pdf) he compares the annualized return for the entire period as well as for all the 15 and 40 year periods. His discussion includes the impact of inflation as well as rebalancing. He also encourages those who have not read "We’re Talking Millions! 12 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Retirement” to download the free pdf. (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/Were-Talking-Millions.pdf)Paul will be monitoring the YouTube video and will respond to questions there.DisclosuresData Disclosure Notice - Funds (1970-Present)- irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/Data%20Disclosure%20Notice%20-%20Funds%20(1970-Present).pdfData Disclosure Notice - Indexes (1928-Present)irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/Data%20Disclosure%20Notice%20-%20Indexes%20(1928-Present).pdf
Chris Pedersen answers your questions: Best in Class, 2 Funds for Life and more! Paul Merriman 2024-02-14 | Join Paul and Chris for this podcast/video they recorded. During the conversation Paul mentions Chris’ free copy of “2 Funds for Life” irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/2-Funds-for-Life-Final.pdf and a fascinating interview with Professor Scott Cederburg on Rational Reminder rationalreminder.ca/podcast/284. Cederburg is an advocate for a lifetime portfolio of all equities. The following are the topics and questions they discussed: 1. What does an investor do if a small cap value fund is not available in their 401(K)? Does a small cap blend fund, that is available, have the same impact as small cap value?2. How do you choose between investing in a higher expense ratio ETF (say Avantis) compared to investing in a low expense ratio small cap value index fund? Would the decision be as simple as going with the lower expense ratio fund? 3. How do taxes impact your recommendations whether the asset class is held in taxable or tax advantaged accounts? Specifically, the S&P 500 fund that has little to no annual taxes vs small cap value which is less tax efficient.4. Are you tempted to invest in individual stocks or actively managed funds? 5. Since small cap value funds can have long periods of underperformance, does that suggest those approaching retirement should avoid small cap value funds?6. How did you react to the March 2020 Market Meltdown and other past major market declines? Did you try to take advantage of the declines as a buying opportunity?7. What about combining 25% each small cap value and S&P 500 fund with 50% target date fund? 8. What’s the best way to move from your present holdings to a 2 Funds for Life Portfolio?9. Where do I find information on how you make your selection of Best In Class ETFs? paulmerriman.com/best-in-class-etfs-update-2023#gsc.tab=0 Here is the page that has links to the articles, podcasts and video. Plus here is a link to Chris’ AAII article on the topic. aaii.com/journal/article/10724-choosing-best-in-class-etfs10. I’m setting up a 50/50 small cap value/target date fund. Would it help to add international small cap value?11. How about using two small cap value ETFs? DFA and Avantis each have similar ETFs but different portfolios. 12. What is the status of Chris’ new white paper on 2 Funds for Life?
Configurators, Returns and Risks, and 2 Thumbs Up Movie Review Paul Merriman 2024-01-17 | Paul, Chris, and Daryl are back together for the first time in 2024. The podcast starts with Chris demonstrating a new and improved Portfolio Configurator (lookerstudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/a941a5d4-0929-45ea-b22e-3bb82dc334ff/page/p_4gwmgvmhdd?s=hqmha3-AK5k), which adds the 2 Funds for Life portfolios (paulmerriman.com/portfolios). Now, investors can see how the equity portion of Sound Investing Portfolios, like the Ultimate Buy and Hold (paulmerriman.com/ultimate-buy-and-hold-strategy) or Four Fund Combos (paulmerriman.com/4-fund-combo), compare to various 2 Funds for Life approaches. Next, they discuss the question "Which backtested portfolio has the highest return per unit of risk, and shouldn't we all be using that one?" Daryl uses Table H2 (soundinvesting.com/2023/04/7-Sound-Investing-Portfolios-50-50-2023.pdf), and Chris uses the 2 Funds for Life Fine Tuning Table to point out various ways investors might define risk and try to find the portfolio with the best return per unit of risk.The podcast closes with some thoughts on 2024, and requests for feedback on the new Portfolio Configurator (lookerstudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/a941a5d4-0929-45ea-b22e-3bb82dc334ff/page/p_4gwmgvmhdd?s=hqmha3-AK5k). Chris, Daryl and Paul also comment on the new documentary, “Turn Off the Noise.” (film.dimensional.com/podcast/login?redirect=%2Fpodcast) This documentary (youtube.com/watch?v=D0l-yIdkZ7Q) is available free through the end of the month.
2 Funds for Life Fine Tuning Table Paul Merriman 2023-12-20 | Paul Merriman and Chris Pedersen introduce the 2 Funds for Life Fine Tuning table (irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/dms3rep/multi/2FFL-FTT.png) and describe how it can be used by investors of all ages to evaluate various combinations of target-date and small-cap value funds. Historically, these combinations have produced higher returns and higher safe withdrawal rates with only modest increases in risk compared to the target-date fund alone. The table provides investors a way to see what these differences have been in the past for target-date funds across their lifetimes when combined with 0% to 50% small-cap value in 10% increments. Paul and Chris also discuss rebalancing approaches and the methodologies used in the backtests. Whether you're a young investor, mid-career, or well into retirement, we think this information will be relevant and hope that it will be life-changing.Listen to the podcast here- paulmerriman.com/2-funds-for-life-fine-tuning-table\
Factor Investing & Investor Behavior Paul Merriman 2023-12-07 | The biggest challenge of educating first time investors is reaching them with our educational materials. One of the best ways to reach young investors is through young podcasters who have loyal audiences of these first time investors. Jose and his podcast, Slow Brew Finance- https://slowbrewfinance.com is a great example. It is available both as an audio and video podcast. During the presentation Paul mentions a table of returns for the S&P, U.S. large cap value, small cap blend and small cap value. Here is the link- paulmerriman.com/historical-returnsTo sign up to Slow and Steady, a bi-monthly email newsletter with bite-sized practical personal finance thoughts and tips slowbrewfinance.com/subscribeThe topics in this interview include:00:00 - Intro 03:04 - Your Own Small Value Portfolio 07:23 - Value and Quality 10:12 - What if Value Doesn't Work Anymore?14:47 - International Diversification19:51 - Momentum23:14 - Size 27:55 - Market Timing via Trend Following 39:13 - The Key to Becoming a Good Investor46:42 - Investor Psychology 55:59 - Outro
The Lifelong Process of Financial Education with Paul Merriman Paul Merriman 2023-10-07 | Paul Merriman is a nationally recognized authority on mutual funds, index investing, and asset allocation. He founded Merriman Wealth Management in 1983, retired from the firm in 2012, and created the Merriman Financial Education Foundation. Everything he does is dedicated to providing investors of all ages with information and tools to make informed decisions for their own best interests. Today, Paul joins the show to reflect on early financial lessons he learned, discuss the current state of financial education, and share the top three decisions everyone must make in their financial lives.TAKEAWAYS———————————00:47 – Jonathan introduces today’s guest, Paul Merriman, who joins the show to share his background in finance and the scarcity mindset he developed while growing up 07:15 – Paul reflects on early experiences that shaped his money story 11:25 – Paul’s career journey 17:22 – The state of financial education today 22:08 – How to make others understand that financial education is a lifelong process 27:46 – The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement and other financial advice 31:25 – Indicators of misleading financial advice 33:46 – A life changing experience 39:39 – The top three decisions everyone must make in their financial lives 45:38 – Paul’s thoughts on the 1% advisor fee 54:30 – One place Paul has visited that had a profound impact on him and the one question Paul would want to know the answer to 58:50 – Jonathan thanks Paul for joining the show and lets listeners know where to connect with himQUOTES———————————“I don’t know why, but I started selling when I was eleven years old. And I kept selling from selling Christmas cards at eleven to selling in the record shop when I was in high school, selling in the clothing store. I have always enjoyed facing the public and I feel like I’ve always had something worthwhile to sell. And so, while others may see selling as a lowly profession, I’ve always found it to be wonderful because really it’s just another form of teaching as far as I’m concerned.” (03:54) (Paul)“It’s amazing how much great information is being laid at the feet of young people. And there’s a lot more of that great information coming. On the other hand, there is an abundance of really bad advice that is available for free. The price is not what it costs to get the education. The price is gonna come when you get the education and those amazing investments don’t work out.” (17:39) (Paul)“We all say that the best strategy is the one that you will use for the rest of your life. Now, you want it to be a good strategy. We don’t want you to be in cryptocurrency for the rest of your life...” (35:40) (Paul) ABOUT MINDFUL MONEY———————————Do you struggle with money? You’re not alone.Money is a means, not an end. It’s a necessity of life for sure, but more money does not always guarantee a “good life”. Money enables many aspects of modern life, but as a dominant consideration it becomes destructive. The paradox is that more time and energy spent on personal finance does NOT create better outcomes. Unlike many other parts of life, we can’t create better outcomes by being smarter, spending more time, or putting in more effort.Join Mindful Money author and experienced 40-year investor Jonathan DeYoe as he shares stories from artists, authors, entrepreneurs, and other advisors about how they mindfully minimize their need to think about money and get more out of life.If you aren’t happy with your finances, feel like money takes more time that it should, or want to place your financial decisions into the broader context of your life, this show is for you. Each episode will draw the line between the “enough” activities that the academics tell us are additive to family outcomes, and those “little bit more” efforts that take time and sap energy, but do NOT improve outcomes.GUEST RESOURCES——————————— Paul’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmerri...Paul’s Website: paulmerriman.comPaul’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Paul’s Email: info@paulmerriman.comPaul’s Facebook: facebook.com/PaulAMerrimanPaul’s YouTube Channel: / @paulmerrimansoundinvesting Paul’s Twitter: twitter.com/SavvyInvestorPMMINDFUL MONEY RESOURCES———————————Monthly Coaching Membership: https://courses.mindful.money/mindful...Jonathan’s Book – https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Money-...Website - https://mindful.money/Jonathan DeYoe on LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/jonathandeyoeMindful Money on Twitter - twitter.com/MindfulMoney_EdMindful Money on Facebook - http://facebook.com/MindfulMoneyPlanMindful Money on Instagram - http://instagram.com/mindfulmoneyplanMindful Money on YouTube - / mindfulmoney🎙️ Podcast Production by FullCast: fullcast.co/sn
Orange County AAI Paul Merriman 2023-09-19 | On July 22, 2023 Chris Petersen made a 2 hour presentation to over 650 AAII members and our Foundation members. The following is the AAII announcement of Chris’ topics:As investors, we all want to get the best return we can with the least possible risk. We often think of this as an asset allocation problem. Although there is some truth in that, it can only go so far. We still have to take some risk to get a reasonable return, and select specific funds in which to invest. And then, we’re still left with the risk of our emotions and behavior. In this presentation, Mr. Pedersen will discuss how portfolio asset allocation, fund selection, and investor behavior impact the returns we get for the risks we take. He’ll also show some practical approaches to help us all come closer to being best-in-class in all three of these areas.Attend Mr. Pedersen’s discussion and you will learn:How various types of equities and bonds interact to impact risk and rewardAn objective approach to choosing best-in-class funds for equity asset typesThe impact investor behavior has on risk and reward, and ways to mitigate or improve it.Chris Pedersen is Director of Research at The Merriman Financial Education Foundation and creator of the 2 Funds for Life investing approach to augmenting target-date funds. He is an engineer by training, and a new opportunity finder by nature. In his work for the Foundation, he develops and maintains a set of best-in-class exchange-traded fund (ETF) recommendations, the customizable Merriman Aggressive Target Date glidepath calculator and regularly contributes to articles and podcasts. Like the rest of the Merriman Foundation staff, his work is motivated by a genuine desire to learn and help, free of any financial incentives or conflicts of interest.I hope you will forward this presentation to friends and family that are looking for better ways to invest.
Expected future returns, difference in total market returns, lessons from 1928 to 2023 Paul Merriman 2023-09-13 | Listen to the podcast.- paulmerriman.com/expected-future-returns-difference-in-total-market-returns-lessons-from-1928-to-2023-risk-and-return-and-moreChris Pedersen and Daryl Bahls join Paul to answer questions from investors of all ages.1: I hold a REIT fund in my tax deferred account but have found other funds include REITS. Am I overweighted in REITS and what should I do about it?2: Are all total market index funds created equal? Should there be meaningful differences in returns? Chris compares the returns of 4 total market funds using Portfolio Visualizer.3. I am a 79 year old retiree who wants to use your 2 Funds for Life strategy. How do you recommend I put my portfolio together?4. How would I establish an expected rate of return for the U.S. 4 Fund Portfolio?5. I’m a young investor with a Worldwide All Value Portfolio. As I age should I start to transition to a lower risk equity portfolio?6. The Avantis funds use a quality factor to produce better returns. Why don’t all small cap value funds use the quality factor in their selection of companies?7. How have real returns of equity asset classes compared to theoretical returns?8. I want to carefully build my portfolio to work within my risk limits. My challenge is to decide what period of time represents the kind of losses I’m willing to accept. If I use the information starting in 1928 or in 1970 the loss exposure is very different. Which period should an investor use to match their asset allocation to their risk tolerance?9. Chris, Daryl and Paul discuss the long term implications of the risk and return of a 60% equity and 40% bonds using a combination of equal percentages of the S&P 500 and small cap value.During the presentation Daryl and Chris reference a new 1928-2022 Fine Tuning Table for an equity portfolio of 50/50 S&P 500 and Small Cap Value. paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3-Fund-Fine-Tuning-Table-28-22.pdfDaryl introduces a new table that compares the returns from 1928-1969 with 1970-2023 paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Asset-Class-Index-CAGR-Comparison-1927-2023-1.pdf
AAII Orange County Chapter Q & A Paul Merriman 2023-08-02 | On July 22, 2023 Chris Pedersen gave a 2 hour online presentation to the Orange County Chapter of the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII). The title was “Best In Class Fund Selection and Behavior.” Over 650 people attended the presentation, a record turnout for our presentations. The video will be available in the coming weeks. While Chris answered many questions during his presentation, there were over 60 questions remaining unanswered. In this podcast and several to follow Chris and Paul will try to answer all of the questions. Here are the answers to the first 16 questions:1. Should investors limit their bond holdings to short term bond funds?2, Are CDs a good place to park cash right now?3. Do you think investing in an internationally diversified index fund is a good way to manage currency risk?4. My wife and I are 70 with our portfolio 75% in cash. Is now a good time to invest and should we put it all in now or dollar cost average? Chris mentions a podcast on dollar cost averaging vs lump sum investing by Rob Berger. youtube.com/watch?v=-Z_dIBRqzgY5. Dimensional Small Cap Value Fund appears to have less than a 2% return over the last 16 years. Could that be true?6. For retired investors wouldn’t it be prudent to apply a market timing system that will protect against a big selloff?7. How does your Ultimate Buy and Hold Portfolio compare to your other portfolios in terms of risk and return? Paul mentions Table H1 at this link- paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/7-Sound-Investing-Portfolios-50-50-2023.pdf.8. Would an investor be better served in a target date fund or managing a simple 3 Fund Bogleheads portfolio? Paul mentions H1 here as well.9. Why not put your bond holdings into a diversified stock fund that pays dividends, like the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD)?10. What is average maturity of the short-term bond funds you recommend?11. If I don’t have small cap value available in my 401k, should I substitute a small cap blend fund in my 2 Funds For Life portfolio?12. How does Portfolio Visualizer work on target date funds?13. Your charts show the possibility of an 81% decline. Does that mean the fund could see the value fall from $100,000 to $19,000?14. Please explain the term investment factor.15. Instead of comparing different market factors, how would you compare the returns of different market sectors?16. Would you consider producing a factor regression video/course so do it yourself investors could learn to evaluate funds for themselves?
June Q & A with Paul Merriman, Chris Pedersen and Daryl Bahls Paul Merriman 2023-06-15 | In recent weeks the podcasts, articles and videos focused on what Paul, Chris and Daryl believe are the most important topics their work supports. While they hoped all 8 topics (paulmerriman.com/bootcamp-for-investors-2023) would be equally studied there was one article and video that attracted the most followers. By far the most read Marketwatch article was “These 7 simple portfolios have beat the S&P 500 for over 50 years.” (paulmerriman.com/these-7-simple-portfolios-have-beat-the-sp-500-for-more-than-50-years) On this video Paul, Chris and Daryl address some of the questions that readers, listeners and viewers asked on the topic.Here is a list of questions addressed on the video:How long have you personally been investing in small cap value? All three answer the question.Can VTSAX and VTI (total market funds) be used in place of VFIAX and VOO (S&P 500)?Is adding small cap value to the S&P 500 enough diversification for a 30 year old?One reader made the point that anyone can tell you what you should have done since 1970. Paul asks Daryl what investors knew in 1969 that might have impacted their decision for the next 53 years.Since most brokerages require buying full ETF shares, how should a relatively small investor make their monthly contributions? Paul and Chris discuss the use of M1 (m1finance.8bxp97.net/aXrzb) or Fidelity where partial share purchases can be made with ETFs. A question is raised about the use of small and large cap growth instead of small and large cap blend in building a 4 Fund Portfolio.A 52 year old retired investor has decided to maintain an all equity portfolio for the rest of his life and has chosen the Worldwide All Value Portfolio. The guys discuss the pros and cons of an all equity and all worldwide value portfolio for life.What portfolio should a 72 year old retiree, using the 4% Fixed Distribution Strategy use?Does the likely weaker U.S. economy have an impact on which funds I select for my portfolio?Chris introduces a brand new combination of U.S. and international large cap blend and small cap value. Hint: It is what his daughter has decided to do with her IRA.Here is the list of pages for that cover the 8 topics for the Bootcamp for investors series-Ultimate Buy and Hold Strategy- paulmerriman.com/ultimate-buy-and-hold-strategySound Investing Portfolios Risk and Return History- paulmerriman.com/portfolios-2023-updatesFine-Tuning Your Asset Allocation: paulmerriman.com/fine-tuning-your-asset-allocationFixed Contributions- paulmerriman.com/fixed-contributionsFixed Distributions- paulmerriman.com/fixed-distributions-2023Flexible Distributions- paulmerriman.com/flexible-distributions-2023The Simple Story About 2 Funds for Life- paulmerriman.com/2-funds-for-life-update-2023Selecting the Best in Class ETFs- paulmerriman.com/best-in-class-etfs-update-2023Disclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Smart Financial Steps in Your 20s and 30s! Paul Merriman 2023-05-23 | Paul Merriman, Founder of The Merriman Financial Education Foundation, will discuss how to get how to get started on investing. He will cover the three keys to successful log term investment success, how to tell if you are on course to meet your goals, and how to select the best performing mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETF's). He will also talk about the pros an cons of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing a target date funds.This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategiesDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Saving and Investing with Tom Cock and Paul Merriman Paul Merriman 2023-05-23 | Join Tom Cock, Co-host of Talking Real Money and Regional Director of Apella Wealth, to talk about saving, investing, and planning for ages 40-65. He discusses how to build a low-cost diversified portfolio for your retirement, what key asset classes you must own, and how to avoid costly mistakes as you near retirement. He also shares the best ETFs to invest in.This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
The Simple Story About 2 Funds for Life Paul Merriman 2023-05-10 | This week Chris Pedersen is joined by Paul and Daryl in a video review and update of how he created his "2 Funds for Life” and how it can be used to build a successful lifetime portfolio with just a target date fund and a small cap value fund. For the accompanying podcast Paul decided to discusses ways a parent or grandparent might explain 2 Funds for Life to a young adult. In the discussion Paul suggests using the following tables to make a handful of important decisions.Tables 1-4 from his Follow the Math comments-Table 1- paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Table1.pdfTable 2- paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Table2.pdfTable 3- paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Table3.pdfTable 4- paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Table4.pdfEquity Index Returns (1928-2022) to compare the returns of major equity asset classes- paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1-15-40-Year-Equity-Returns-1928-2022-2.pdfTable B13 to show what happens when you combine a small amount of small cap value with a mostly bond portfolio - paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2-Fine-Tuning-Tables-50-50-2022-B13.pdfTable B14A to show the impact of combining a small amount small cap value with a large cap blend fund - paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/SCV-vs-SP500-Tables-2022B14A.pdfThe goal is to help a young investor understand a target date fund as a good way to build a long term investment portfolio that will allow them to retire with enough for life.The second goal is to show a young investor how a small amount of a small cap value fund, along with a target date fund, will likely help build an investment portfolio that will allow them to retire with almost twice as much annual income and leave much more to their heirs.For the parent or grandparent it will be helpful to watch the videos on Fixed and Flexible Distributions.This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Flexible Distributions Update 2023 Paul Merriman 2023-05-04 | If a retired investor has the ability to use a flexible distribution strategy it will likely produce one of the best financial outcomes in retirement. In this presentation Paul, Chris and Daryl compare the difference in returns and risk between the fixed and flexible distribution strategies.The discussion compares returns and total distributions for two of the 9 sound investing portfolios.In the presentation they make use of the following tables:Table D1.3 Fixed Distribution S&P 500 Equity Portfolio ($30,000/yr) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/D1-3-Fixed-Distribution-Tables-50-50-2023-1.pdfTable D1.5 Fixed Distribution S&P 500 Equity Portfolio ($50,000/yr) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/D1-5-Fixed-Distribution-Tables-50-50-2023.pdfTable E1.3 Flexible Distribution U.S. 4-Fund Equity Portfolio (3%/yr) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/E1-3-Flexible-Distribution-Tables.pdfTable E1.4 Flexible Distribution U.S. 4-Fund Equity Portfolio (4%/yr) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/E1-4-Flexible-Distribution-Tables.pdfTable E1.5 Flexible Distribution U.S. 4-Fund Equity Portfolio (5%/yr) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/E1-5-Flexible-Distribution-Tables.pdfTable E1.6 Flexible Distribution U.S. 4-Fund Equity Portfolio (6%/yr) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/E1-6-Flexible-Distribution-Tables.pdfFor those interested in the historical returns of the 9 portfolios, as well as the complete list of flexible distribution tables:50/50 Sound Investing Portfolio paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/SoundInvestingPortfolios-Asset-Allocations.pdfFlexible distribution tables (50/50 U.S./Intl) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/E1-3-Flexible-Distribution-Tables-50-50-2023.pdfFlexible distribution tables (70/30 U.S./Intl) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/16-Flexible-Distribution-Tables-70-30-2023.pdfQuote about retirees only spending income and not principal:ofdollarsanddata.com/how-do-retirees-actually-spend-their-moneyAcademic paper suggesting Americans spend less in retirement because their self-insuring:https://econweb.ucsd.edu/~itelyuko/nt3a-paper.pdfThis information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Making the Smartest Financial Moves in Retirement Paul Merriman 2023-04-27 | The Merriman Financial Foundation and the Bainbridge Community Foundation were co-sponsors of the 8th Annual Financial Literacy Series. We were thrilled to have Christine Benz, Director of Personal Finance and Retirement Planning at Morningstar join us again this year. During the series there were presentations for investors ages 20-40, 40-65, 65 and beyond, as well as a special presentation on Social Security. Christine was the perfect presenter for those on the cusp or in retirement as she and other experts at Morningstar have been major sources of important research on the topic.This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Fixed Distributions Update 2023 Paul Merriman 2023-04-27 | In this video Paul is joined by Daryl Bahls, Director of Analytics with Merriman Foundation, and Chris Pedersen, Director of Research with Merriman Foundation. The presentation is a discussion of how the series of Fixed Distribution Tables were constructed and how to use them to make the very important decision of how to invest in retirement (choice of equity class allocation as well as fixed income allocation) and how much to take in distributions.For investors who want to get the most from this presentation they should watch the following 4 videos first:Part 1: How to identify the equity asset classes to build a growth based portfolio youtu.be/-m8qq-yM9MMPart 2: How to combine the equity asset classes to match the need for return and risk exposure youtu.be/d-LbYRWu4e0Part 3: How to determine how much should be invested in bonds to meet loss limits. youtu.be/CM1s3GhLrIcPart 4: How would the recommended portfolios have performed assuming dollar cost averaging from 1970 through 2022. youtu.be/BmGgZZInm04This video is Part 5 in the series. The discussion addresses distribution tables that use the S&P 500 as the equity position. Combining the S&P 500 with different percentages of bonds the tables show the impact of taking distributions of 3, 4, 5 and 6 percent plus annual increases for inflation. A second set of tables uses the U.S. 4-Fund Portfolio (25% each of S&P 500, Large Cap Value, Small Cap Blend and Small Cap Value) as the equity holdings.Daryl discusses how the tables were constructed and both Daryl and Chris talk about different ways the tables can be used to test different periods of time. They also discuss how the Merriman Lifetime Investment Calculator might be used for further testing.The presentation references information on 8 different distributions tables:Table D1.3 Fixed Distributions: S&P Equity Portfolio-initial distribution $30,000 paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/D1-3-Fixed-Distribution-Tables-50-50-2023-1.pdfTable D1.4 Fixed Distributions: The same but initial distribution $40,000 paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/D1-4-Fixed-Distribution-Tables-50-50-2023.pdfTable D1.5 Fixed Distributions: The same but initial distribution $50,000 paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/D1-4-Fixed-Distribution-Tables-50-50-2023.pdfTable D1.6 Fixed Distributions: The same but initial distribution $60,000 paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/D1-6-Fixed-Distribution-Tables-50-50-2023.pdfTable D9.3 Fixed Distributions: U.S. 4-Fund Portfolio-initial distribution $30,000 paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/D9-3-Fixed-Distribution-Tables-50-50-2023.pdfTable D9.4 Fixed Distributions: The same but Initial distribution $40,000 paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/D9-4-Fixed-Distribution-Tables-50-50-2023.pdfTable D9.5 Fixed Distributions: The same but initial distribution $50,000 paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/D9-5-Fixed-Distribution-Tables-50-50-2023.pdfTable D9.6 Fixed Distributions: The same but initial distribution $60,000 link paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/D9-6-Fixed-Distribution-Tables-50-50-2023.pdfAlso mentioned: Sound Investing Portfolios link paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/7-Sound-Investing-Portfolios-50-50-2023.pdfACCESS ALL FIXED Distributions strategies for both 50/50 and 70/30 U.S AND INTERNATIONAL Sound Investing Portfolios paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/7-Sound-Investing-Portfolios-50-50-2023.pdfThis information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Fixed Contributions 2023 Update Paul Merriman 2023-04-19 | This podcast/video is the 4th in a series of our series to help do it yourself investors build a lifetime investment strategy. The following are links to the previous three videos youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJHsocwG3Vk_t8EjtG3exAnlFuaqFuDK8. In each case Paul is joined by Chris Pedersen and Daryl Bahls (Director of Research and Director of Analytics with Merriman Financial Education).The Ultimate Buy and Hold Portfolio: paulmerriman.com/ubh2023-video. This presentation addresses 10 equity asset classes that investors can use to build the growth portion of their portfolio. The presentation uses the following tables:Table C1 - Fixed Contributions: S&P 500 Equity Portfolio paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/C1.pdfTable C14 - Fixed Contributions: US 2-Fund Equity Portfolio paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/C14.pdfTable C11 - Fixed Contributions: US All Value Equity Portfolio paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Table-C11.pdfTable C8 - Fixed Contributions: WW 4-Fund Equity Portfolio (50% US/50% Int'l) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/C8.pdfThe Merriman Lifetime Investment Calculator paulmerriman.com/lifetime-investment-calculator2 Funds for Life free pdf paulmerriman.com/millions-downloadsWe’re Talking Millions free pdf paulmerriman.com/millions-downloadsTopics of discussionHow the Fixed Contribution Tables are constructedHow to use the tables to select the best equity portfolioHow the addition of fixed income will impact the accumulation periodThe importance of using a combination of more than one equity asset classThe long term impact of every additional 10% equityThe importance of young investors maintaining good behaviorWhy declining markets helps during early years of investingHow 2 Funds for Life portfolio differs from these Fine Tuning Tables2 ways to evaluate other sequences of returnsThe difference between the last 53 and 95 years of returnsThis information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Fine Tuning Your Asset Allocation 2023 Paul Merriman 2023-04-13 | This video is the third in a series of seven videos that are designed to help do it yourself investors learn how to maximize their return, minimize their risk and increase their peace of mind. It will be beneficial to watch The Ultimate Buy and Hold Portfolio youtu.be/-m8qq-yM9MM and Sound Investing Portfolios: The History of Risk and Return youtu.be/d-LbYRWu4e0 videos before viewing this video.In this video Paul is joined by Daryl Bahls and Chris Pedersen to discuss how the Fine Tuning Your Asset Allocation Tables were built and how they can be used to build a portfolio that combines the appropriate equity portfolio for growth with the appropriate amount of bonds to stabilize the portfolio during severe market declines. While the following link includes Fine Tuning Tables for all 9 portfolios paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2-Fine-Tuning-Tables-50-50-2022.pdf the discussion focuses on tables B1 (S&P 500) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2-Fine-Tuning-Tables-50-50-2022-B1.pdf , B7 (Ultimate Buy and Hold Worldwide Portfolio) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2-Fine-Tuning-Tables-50-50-2022-B7.pdf B8 (WW 4-Fund Equity Portfolio), paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2-Fine-Tuning-Tables-50-50-2022-B8.pdf B9 (U.S 4-Fund Equity Portfolio), B14 (U.S. 2-Fund Equity Portfolio. paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2-Fine-Tuning-Tables-50-50-2022-B9.pdfThe discussion includes:Why the Fine Tuning Tables are important for do it yourself investorsHow the Tables were constructed paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Data-DisclosureUBH-WW.pdfHow the Tables can be used to match combinations of equities and fixed income to determine an investors need for return and risk limitsHow last years bond market collapse impacted investor returnsHow The 10 fund Ultimate Buy and Hold Portfolio and bond combinations risk and return compare with the WW and U.S. 4 Fund Portfolios as well as the U.S. 2-Fund PortfolioWhat could go wrong in the future and why investors may not make as much as the tables suggestDisclaimer:This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Sound Investing Portfolios Risk and Return History Paul Merriman 2023-04-05 | Paul, Chris and Daryl make a presentation on the risks and returns of the 8 Sound Investing Portfolios, as well as the S&P 500. While not necessary it will probably be helpful to watch The Ultimate Buy and Hold video before watching this video. paulmerriman.com/ubh2023-videoFor those wanting to print out the tables you can access the pdfs here. paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/7-Sound-Investing-Portfolios-50-50-2023.pdfThe purpose of this video is to compare the risks and returns of the 8 Sound Investing Portfolio with the S&P 500. Daryl Bahls, Director of Analytics, created the table so the results can be explored in many ways. The tables and discussion review the long term return of $10,000 invested in each of the portfolios. The risks and returns are compared for the entire 53 year period, each of the 5 decades, during the profitable years only and during the losing periods only.The case is made that the S&P 500 makes from 50 to 75 percent less than the other portfolios and is just as risky in all but one case.The discussion includes comments about why some investors will find the S&P 500 the best investment even though it is likely to be the least profitable and how the other 8 portfolios might be selected. It is also suggested that many investors will want to use a combination of several of the portfolios.Other sources of portfolios can be found in the following article. whitecoatinvestor.com/150-portfolios-better-than-yours and portfolioeinstein.com for another 300 + portfolios.Disclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
The Ultimate Buy and Hold 2023 Update Paul Merriman 2023-03-29 | Editors Note: Due to technical problems the tables on this video are not clear but you can see the tables that Paul refers to here. You can also see the original video here with the tables clear- paulmerriman.com/ubh2023-videoTable A1-Ultimate Buy & Hold Equity Portfolio (50% US/50% Int’l) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/UBH-A1.pdfTable A2 – Alternative Equity Portfolio Tables (50% US/50% Int’l) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/UBH-A2.pdfTable A101 – Ultimate Buy & Hold Equity Portfolio (70% US/30% Int’l) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/UBH-A101.pdfTable A102 – Alternative Equity Portfolio Tables (70% US/30% Int’l) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/UBH-102.pdfTable B14A – Fine Tuning Table S&P 500 vs. US SCV Portfolio paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/B14A.pdfFor over 20 years Paul has been updating the results of what he has called the Ultimate Buy and Hold Portfolio. The purpose of showing investors the step by step construction of this portfolio is to help them understand how important each of those steps can be. Starting with the S&P 500 he builds a portfolio of 10 different equity asset classes. The lessons include comparing the risk and return with the 10% addition of each equity asset class. He compares the returns of the Ultimate Buy & Hold Portfolio with 50/50 and 70/30 U.S./Int'l combinations. These tables also compare the risk and return with monthly and annual rebalancing.Then he explores the risk and return using combinations of 2 to 5, rather than 10, equity asset classes.To show how different the short term performance of these asset classes can be, he reviews the annual returns of the S&P 500 with small cap value.This video will be followed with a deeper dive into the results of the Ultimate Buy & Hold as well as 7 other portfolios utilizing fewer funds.Here are the tables that Paul refers to during this presentation-Table A1-Ultimate Buy & Hold Equity Portfolio (50% US/50% Int’l) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/UBH-A1.pdfTable A2 – Alternative Equity Portfolio Tables (50% US/50% Int’l) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/UBH-A2.pdfTable A101 – Ultimate Buy & Hold Equity Portfolio (70% US/30% Int’l) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/UBH-A101.pdfTable A102 – Alternative Equity Portfolio Tables (70% US/30% Int’l) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/UBH-102.pdfTable B14A – Fine Tuning Table S&P 500 vs. US SCV Portfolio paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/B14A.pdfDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Three Keys to Long Term Investment Success Paul Merriman 2023-03-22 | “Three Keys to Long Term Investment Success” was my presentation at the 9th Annual Retiremeet America Conference.For those who wish to watch other presenters here is a link to the entire almost 6 hour video.0:00 Welcome from Tom Cock and Don McDonald13:17 “Financial Fysics” with Don McDonald46:16 “Paying for Retirement” with Tom Cock1:15:00 “The Value of a Financial Plan” with Jason Gentile1:46:00 “Getting Medicare Right” with Kevin Peterson2:15:00 “Planning for Long-Term Care” with Barbara Devereaux2:41:48 “Saving on Taxes in Retirement” with Diana Bacon3:17:00 “Critical Investing in Retirement” with Paul Merriman3:49:00 Investing Q&A with Tom Cock and Paul Merriman4:22:00 “Charitable Giving” with Tayor Cock and Stacie Nemetz4:30:42 “Navigating Turbulent Markets” with Apollo Lupescu5:23:00 “What’s Next?” with Rebecca ChrichtonI would like to encourage our subscribers to also view the presentation by Apollo Lupescu, Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors, on “Navigating Turbulent Markets.” youtube.com/watch?v=GOVUGqq5iZA&t=16242sDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Best-in-Class ETF Recommendations Update Paul Merriman 2023-02-15 | Paul leads off with the news that Chris Pedersen's book 2 Funds for Life is now available as a free PDF to people who sign up for our free newsletter at paulmerriman.com/signup/.Chris Pedersen joins Paul to discuss the 2023 update to his Best-in-Class ETF recommendations. Chris explains the selection process and why the DFA International Value ETF (DFIV) is replacing the iShares EFV fund for the international large-cap blend asset class. They cover the recommended portfolios, the philosophy they are built on, the asset classes they use, and the specific funds they recommend for each asset. Chris and Paul then cover several questions that listeners may have about their next steps or alternatives not covered.Through the discussion, Chris refers to the following tools and website content that are now updated to reflect the new recommendations:The Best-in-Class ETF Recommendations page. -paulmerriman.com/best-in-class-etf-recommendationsThe Best-in-Class ETF Portfolios paulmerriman.com/best-in-class-etf-portfoliosThe Portfolio Configurator - lookerstudio.google.com/s/hqmha3-AK5kThe M1 Pies paulmerriman.com/m1-financeThe Merriman Aggressive Target-Date Glidepath calculator (copy to your Google Drive Account to edit it) -docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tLYy6E_fChCTR_fbMt15aH3ftG3ODBqIdBCORdHfv_c/edit?usp=sharingThe Sound Investing Portfolios Chart - paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sound-Investing-Portfolio-Chart.pdfDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Creating and Executing a Lifetime Investment Strategy Paul Merriman 2023-02-15 | Disclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategiesDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Should You Manage Your Investments Yourself or Hire a Professional? Paul Merriman 2023-02-01 | If you’re looking to get started investing wisely for retirement, or want a refresher course in what’s important, watch this broadcast in which Paul Merriman addresses the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants. He speaks to issues of trust, pointing out that investing following the math is simple. He illustrates the compelling differences small savings in expenses can make over a lifetime and discusses the major decisions every investor needs to consider. While it’s easy to be an investor today, there are many pitfalls to be aware of and Paul explains how you can avoid them.Disclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategiesDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategiesDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Battling the Bear: Thriving in a Bear Market Paul Merriman 2023-01-25 | How will you thrive in a bear market? Paul Merriman joins Tom Cock, co-host of “Talking Real Money,” for this 90-minute live workshop on “How to Manage a Portfolio in a Bear Market,” jointly sponsored by The Merriman Financial Education Foundation and Apella Capital/Wealth. Includes Q&A from the audience. We suggest podcast listeners watch the video for accompanying slides. You will learn: • Why you need true diversification • How to avoid decade-long S&P 500 market crashes • How to create & manage a long-term bond strategy • How to create retirement income without expensive and confusing annuities • The biggest risk to the investor Links:Table B1– Fine Tuning Table: S&P 500 Equity Portfolio- paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Fine-Tuning-Tables-50-50-2022-1.pdfTable D1.4 – Fixed Distributions: S&P 500 Equity Portfolio (Conservative) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/d1.4.pdfTable D1.3 – Fixed Distributions: S&P 500 Equity Portfolio (Very Conservative) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Fixed-Distribution-Tables-50-50-2022.pdfGet your free PDF and/or audio of We’re Talking Millions! 12 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Retirement at: paulmerriman.com/signup– Tom is regional director of Apella Capital: apellawealth.com – Talking Real Money: talkingrealmoney.com– The Merriman Financial Education Foundation: paulmerriman.com/the-merriman-financial-education-foundation– Paul’s website: paulmerriman.comDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategiesDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Short Stories: Life Changing accounts from Sound Investors- Paul Hays Paul Merriman 2023-01-19 | We'd love if you'd share your story in video! For more info, send an email to info@paulmerriman.comDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategiesDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Paul Merriman Financial Education for Every Stage of Life Paul Merriman 2023-01-18 | Join Paul Merriman, Chris Pedersen and Darryl Bahls as they respond to these questions from investors: What can a Do-It-Yourself investor do to prepare his/her spouse/partner for managing retirement investments should the DIY investor die first? Learn how Paul, Chris and Daryl are each personally preparing for their generally disinterested spouses to take over the investments. How can buy-and-hold investors best face information that challenges them to not trust the market? Each of the three discuss how they digest daily news. A listener notes his concern that he hasn’t seen enough data to justify using more than the S&P 500 and asks, Where can I access the data for the earlier period? He says that from 2014 through 2022, the S&P 500 has performed better than the Ultimate Buy and Hold Portfolio. He has been able to track performance into the 1990s for the UBH Portfolio but wants to do his own testing on the period prior to 1990. For investors struggling to trust market returns, Paul suggests investors take a close look at Table B14A paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/SCV-vs-SP500-Fine-Tuning-Table-2022-v0.2.pdf. Investors must expect big differences in asset class short-term returns. Note that the S&P 500 outperforms small-cap value 46% of the time with an average 11% better return in those years. On the other hand, the other 54% of the time, the SCV advantage produced over 16% average outperformance. It should come as no surprise that in 2022, SCV beat the S&P 500 by 8% to 14% depending on the average company size and value discount of the small-cap-value asset class. Does Paul still uses the Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund (VSCSX) for short-term cash needs?Disclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
How to become a better investor (and your kids benefit too!) Paul Merriman 2023-01-11 | In this upbeat conversation with 6AMERS host, Skye Michiels, Paul discusses how to think about money, investing, and teaching financial responsibility to your children, which changes lives and communities. You’ll gain insight into Paul’s personal motivations and influences and the ways financial education and knowledge of sound investing principles can benefit you and your family.According to the group’s notes, at sites.libsyn.com/433404, “The 6AMERS is a group of Compass Realtors dedicated to the betterment of its members through positivity, consistent morning schedules, and creating healthy-selfish habits. As the world grew more isolated during the early days of the pandemic, Skye Michiels and Emily Bossert started a nationwide movement rooted in mutual support and accountability. Now, we're bringing our learnings to you. Whether you're in real estate, the startup world, or just appreciate watching the sunrise, join us each week as we interview thought leaders and unwrap the habits and teachings that made them successful.”Follow the 6AMERS on Instagram- instagram.com/the6amersPaul recommends Joline Godfrey's book Raising Financially Fit Kids- amzn.to/3Wbe0asFor a FREE PDF or AUDIO copy of We're Talking Millions click here- paulmerriman.com/signupDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Sound Investing 101: how to wisely invest with confidence Paul Merriman 2022-12-28 | Thinking about investing but feel overwhelmed and confused? Getting started investing and want to know exactly what to do and why? This is the one video to watch! In this keynote presentation to Rutgers University engineering students, Paul gives a comprehensive view of why and how to invest wisely for a lifetime of “more money with less risk and more peace of mind.” To hear Paul’s answers to subsequent questions by Rutgers engineering students, listen to this podcast- paulmerriman.com/14-commonly-asked-investor-questionsDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Insights into Financial Independence Paul Merriman 2022-12-14 | How to live the best life you can is the main focus of this conversation between Paul Merriman, Chris Pedersen, Daryl Bahls and Craig Appl, volunteer creator of The Merriman Financial Education Lifetime Calculator. Craig discusses the FIRE movement community and his experience at a Chautauqua Conference about financial independence outside Bogotá Colombia earlier this year. Craig addresses the differences between traditional investors and those focused on earlier retirement (high savings, low cost of living, simple investment portfolios) and how to create more happiness in your life.For more about Craig’s Chautauqua experience, read “How To Prepare for Post-Work Life” by Aysha Griffin- paulmerriman.com/how-to-prepare-for-post-work-lifeLinks referenced in the recording:The Chautauqua conference website: fichautauqua.comFinancial Independence Resources:- choosefi.com- JL Collins Stock Series which inspired the book A Simple Path to Wealth jlcollinsnh.com/stock-series (check your local library for availability)- Millennial Revolution: millennial-revolution.comQuit Like a Millionaire- Alan Donegan's Free Extraordinary Life course:- alandonegan.com/extraordinary.html- caniretireyet.com- thehumblepenny.comBooks- A Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins - amzn.to/3YiSaE1- Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin - amzn.to/3hrfGOD- Your Complete Guide to a Successful and Secure Retirement by Larry Swedroe -amzn.to/3j2k4ns- Why Does The Stock Market Go Up? By Brian Feroldi -amzn.to/3W9YVGi- Quit Like a Millionaire by Kristi Shen - amzn.to/3uPEmmQDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
How To Create a Financial Legacy for a Child Paul Merriman 2022-12-07 | Do you want to create a financial legacy for a young person, especially a newborn? This podcast and video explains Paul’s plan for his new granddaughter, which is adaptable by any investor. [Podcast listeners are encouraged to watch the video and/or view the Slides and Tables below]. Paul is joined by Daryl Bahls, Director of Analytics for The Merriman Financial Education Foundation, and Chris Pedersen, Director of Research. Daryl uses “the numbers” to explain possible outcomes and help you assess the variables of a long-term investment plan for the life of a child or grandchild. You will learn: • How to create a fund for your grandchild, child, or other youngster you want to help, which can build a lasting legacy.• How to put some money aside that can compound tax free or tax deferred for the rest of their life and cause them to likely remain true to your original goals.• How this process works, which theoretically is pretty simple. • How to consider the personal and variable outcomes of this method. • How to use the Tables that simulate for variables.Paul turns over presentation to Daryl around 15:00 Chris Pedersen joins in around 45:00Daryl Bahls—Tables: Slides: Fund For A Grandchild—How to create a lasting legacy for your grandchild- paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Fund-for-a-Grandchild-Slides.pdfReturn Tables: Fund For A Grandchild- paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Fund-for-Grandchild-Return-Tables.pdfRead: How $10,000 Will Help My Newborn Granddaughter Have a Better Retirement: paulmerriman.com/how-10000-will-help-my-newborn-granddaughter-have-a-better-retirementDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
The best investment we will ever make! and Q&A Paul Merriman 2022-11-16 | The first part of this broadcast describes the investment strategy Paul and his wife are giving to their latest grandchild. After Paul describes the strategy, Daryl Bahls, Director of Analytics for The Merriman Financial Education Foundation, shares tables that represent the 95-year potential financial implications of this investment.Then, Chris Pedersen, our Director of Research, Daryl and Paul address the following questions:· What’s the best way to compare the risk and return of different combinations of equity asset classes?· How should someone move a major part of their portfolio from bonds to equities? Dollar cost average or make a lump sum investment?· Which is better: the 10-fund portfolio or Chris’ 2 Funds for Life?· What kind of problems are investors having at M1 Finance?· What ETFs is Chris considering when he reviews his picks next year?· What kind of returns should we expect from small-cap-value funds in the future?· How should future returns of a globally diversified total market fund, like Vanguard Total World ETF (VT), be compared to the Worldwide 4 Fund Portfolio?· Why do you recommend different ETFs for taxable and tax-deferred accounts?· What do you plan to do to help investors make the best of their 401k investment choices? See: New Tables by Daryl Bahls:Fund for Granddaughter paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Fund-for-a-Granddaughter.pdfNo-Nonsense Portfolios 'Quilt Chart' (1970 to 2021) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/No-Nonsense-Portfolios-Quilt-Chart-1970-to-2021.pdfSound Investing Portfolios (50-50) - 2022 (color) paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/7-Sound-Investing-Portfolios-50-50-2022-color.pdf(Paul makes reference to Table H1)Get your copy of: 2 Funds for Life—A quest for simple & effective investing strategies by Chris Pedersen at Amazon (amzn.to/3BxTFoM) or other online book sellers.Disclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Back to Basics: 12 simple ways to supercharge your retirement Paul Merriman 2022-11-09 | Paul provides a crash course in beginning investing in this presentation (with slideshow) to professional members of the Youth Business Alliance so they can use these principles and tools to educate and empower their students in financial literacy. This is the video (or podcast) to share with your teenage and older children, family, friends and anyone wanting to understand why and how to invest over the long term. Paul covers the 12 big decisions—each worth about a million dollars—that every saver/investor needs to make to set and stay a course for financing their retirement. These decisions, or steps, are further elaborated in his book, We’re Talking Millions, available for free in pdf and audio at his website. Paul’s goal is get this book into the hands of a million reader/listeners. Even if you’re a seasoned investor, you will find value in reviewing these steps for yourself and those you might share it with to empower them to become a sound investor as well. Get you free pdf or audio book: paulmerriman.com/signupor buy the print, eBook or audio book: amzn.to/2KH36Kr The Youth Business Alliance (youthbizalliance.org) was formed in 2012 and provides a year-long four-part course to high school youth. In the YBA program, students learn soft skills, workforce readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills to prepare them for their career trajectories. In addition, students hear from volunteer guest speakers every week who speak about their life stories and professional careers and field trips to get behind the scenes visits to local businesses.Disclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
20 Minutes to Double Your Lifetime Spending Power Paul Merriman 2022-11-02 | Chris Pedersen, Director of Research for The Merriman Financial Education Foundation, joins Paul Merriman to explain and elaborate on his ideas and tables published as the cover story in the AAII Journal(October 2022), titled, “Double Your Lifetime Purchasing Power in 20 Minutes.”As Chris states in this broadcast, the article particularly pertains to people doing open enrollment, especially if they have an employer-provided 401k program. “For those who invest in defaults of the 401k programs, most typical across the industry, and do that for 40 years of their career, and then do fixed 4% withdrawals in retirement, and you look at all the cash flows in and cash flows out, and the standard investment, which is a target date fund, and then you adjust for inflation and you ask, ‘What was the impact on how much they have to spend over a lifetime?’ It doubles their spending power, even adjusting for inflation, just by investing in a target date fund, which is kind of unbelievable.”Read Chris’ article at: aaii.com/journal/article/21644-double-your-lifetime-purchasing-power-in-20-minutesYou may be asked to enter your name and email for full access. You can join AAII (American Association of Individual Investors) risk-free for a month or become a member for a small fee. The AAII is an independent nonprofit corporation formed in 1978 for the purpose of assisting individuals in becoming effective managers of their own assets through programs of education, information and research.Disclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
How To Rebalance Your Portfolio Paul Merriman 2022-10-19 | Paul Merriman, Chris Pedersen and Daryl Bahls each share his studies and comments about rebalancing a portfolio—how often, how much change before rebalancing, and when does it make sense not to rebalance? They also answer listener/viewer questions and Paul makes a special offer for a free chapter from Larry Swedroe’s book, Your Complete Guide to a Successful & Secure Retirement. (See details in ‘Links’ below).Q&AWhich asset classes should be in taxable accounts and which in tax-advantaged accounts? To answer this oft-asked question, Paul recommends Larry Swedroe’s book, Your Complete Guide to a Successful & Secure Retirement and encourages investors to read Chapter 10 from the book, “The Asset Location Decision." See “More Links” below for details to buy the book and access the free chapter.“Is there a rebalancing bonus?”Chris answers this question and illustrates his answer with the chart, “Is There a Rebalancing Bonus? … Not Much.” See this chart and others mentioned below. paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20221005-Podcast-Charts.pdf“I want to help my 36-year-old daughter establish a retirement portfolio. What do you think of using Vanguard Life Strategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX)?” Chris answers by suggesting a better answer may be a Target Date Fund and shows the Vanguard Target Date Fund Glidepath. See this and other charts and tables mentioned here- paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20221005-Podcast-Charts.pdf“Can I expect to invest in the funds you recommend today and hold them for the rest of my life?” Daryl’s answer is yes, using our 4-Fund portfolio. He shows why by comparing the Total Market Index funds to our “No-Nonsense Portfolios” in Table 1a: “No-Nonsense Portfolios for Sound Investing: Equity Asset Allocation” and Table 2a.1, which shows “Comparison Data,” drawing special attention to our U.S. Only 4-Fund Portfolio over the Total Market Index and S&P 500.Daryl also offers a third Table, “No-Nonsense Portfolio Performance Rankings by Decade (1970-2021). See these and all charts and tables mentioned here- paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20221005-Podcast-Charts.pdf"I feel stuck,” writes Karen. I have found lots of great advice but have been unable to do anything for 2-1/2 years. What do suggest?”All three weigh in on what they recommend Karen do to overcome her fear of investing.“I hold a Vanguard small-cap international fund. Should I expect better rates of return from the Avantis International Small-Cap Value Fund (AVDV)?”Chris offers his thoughts based on historical data.MORE LINKS.Rebalancing: The implications of adding a small amount of small-cap value to a Total Market Index portfolio. See this Table. paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/SCV-vs-SP500-Fine-Tuning-Table-2020.pdfYou can get your copy of Larry Swedroe’s book, Your Complete Guide to a Successful & Secure Retirement at: amzn.to/3gb3noz. If you purchase via our link, it may result in our Foundation receiving a small commission that supports our financial education outreach at no additional cost to you.Read this FREE chapter from Larry’s book, “The Asset Location Decision,” courtesy of Mr. Swedroe and publisher Harriman House. paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Your-Complete-Guide-to-a-Successful-and-Secure-Retirement-2021-Chapter-10.pdfDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
10 Life-Changing Lessons from The Merriman Financial Education Foundation Paul Merriman 2022-10-12 | In this presentation to the Boston Bogleheads® Chapter (Sept. 12, 2022), Paul presents the “10 most important new lessons learned by The Merriman Financial Education Foundation.” The foundation is celebrating its 10-year anniversary of helping the DIY investor make sound investment decisions for a lifetime and become the best advisor to the most important investor on earth…you! Paul also gives an overview of the 12-million-dollar decisions covered in his book, We’re Talking Millions: 12 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Retirement.Stay tuned to about 1:20 for some great questions:• Does Total Market Index or S&P 500 approximate your 4-Fund approach and which has better returns?• Are there target date funds that approximate the 4-funds in the equity portion?• How do you approach international funds in the 4-fund approach?• What is it about small-cap value companies that gives a premium?• Can you define ‘value’?• Is there an advantage to the 4-fund strategy if you’re retired, with a 15-year horizon?• Which of your Best-in-Class ETF recommendations should I follow?• Regarding equities and taxable accounts versus tax-advantage accounts, do you mirror the 4-fund across both types accounts and will I have a large tax liability in the taxable account?Watch the slideshow- paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/10-lessons-from-10-years-Bogleheads-Presentation-pdf-2.pdfAbout The John C. Bogle Center for Financial Literacy (boglecenter.net/):It is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving financial literacy. The Center’s mission is to expand the legacy of John C. Bogle, the founder of Vanguard, by promoting the principles of successful investing and financial well-being through education and community. Bogleheads® is a registered trademark of the John C. Bogle Center for Financial Literacy.The Center envisions a world of well-informed, capable, and empowered investors. Community outreach is achieved through the Bogleheads forum, wiki, and blog, as well as in-person and virtual Bogleheads chapters worldwide.Disclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
Paul Merriman Financial Education for Every Stage of Life Paul Merriman 2022-09-14 | Tune in Sept. 17 at noon (eastern time) for a Zoom presentation and Q&A on “The 10 most important new lessons of the past 10 years,” as Paul Merriman addresses the Boston Bogleheads Chapter. See info below.In this broadcast, Paul, founder of The Merriman Financial Education Foundation, Chris Pedersen, Director of Research, and Daryl Bahls, Director of Analytics, answer a variety of questions from our listeners, viewers and readers. See links below.1. Can you compare 3 years of returns of your Vanguard ETF, Vanguard mutual fund and Best-In-Class (BIC) ETF recommendations? Chris answers and discusses the likely reason for the BIC outperformance.2. Would it make sense to get rid of the small-cap blend fund and hold 1/3 each of large-cap blend, large-cap value and small-cap value? (The questioner notes that small-cap blend rarely outperforms small-cap value.) Daryl answers this by discussing his findings by using the 1928-2019 Quilt Chart.3. What are the pros and cons of multi- and single-factor funds? Chris responds.4. Should micro-cap value be considered as a part of a diversified portfolio? Daryl responds.5. Which is more risky, large-cap blend (S&P 500) or large-cap value? Daryl responds.6. How should I manage investments during major declines? Chris and Daryl answer.Mark Your Calendar: Paul invites listeners to a Zoom presentation on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022 at Noon (Eastern Time), sponsored by The Boston Bogleheads Chapter. It’s free and open to the public. As The Merriman Financial Education Foundation is in its 10th year of educating investors, Paul will focus most of the presentation on the "10 most important new lessons of the past 10 years,” followed by Q&As.Here is the zoom link for this meeting:us06web.zoom.us/j/89860498182?pwd=OVFZeWtKNGh2bTVGQUtzeUlPMGlOUT09Meeting ID: 898 6049 8182Passcode: 311045Links:The Merriman Financial Education Foundation: paulmerriman.com/the-merriman-financial-education-foundationVanguard ETF: paulmerriman.com/vanguard-tax-deferred-etf-portfoliosVanguard mutual fund: paulmerriman.com/vanguard-tax-deferred-etf-portfoliosBest-In-Class (BIC) ETF recommendations: paulmerriman.com/best-in-class-etf-recommendations1928-2019 Quilt Charts: paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Sound-Investing-Portfolio-Quilt-Chart-1928-2021-V1.3-1.pdfBoston Bogleheads: bogleheads.org/blog/portfolio/boston-bogleheadsDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
The most important investment decisions Paul Merriman 2022-08-31 | Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation between Rob Berger and Paul Merriman on Rob’s “Financial Freedom Show” (YouTube video channel) as they discuss these important investor topics:Timestamps 0:00 - Welcome to the Financial Freedom Show! 01:01 - Small Cap Value 20:44 - Other consistent funds22:59 - Equity portfolio27:00 - Deciding/4 fund strategy30:13 - Links below/Quilt chart45:19 - Stock vs Bond allocation/Market Timing49:37 - Investing strategies/risk50:50 - Retirement withdrawal strategy53:14 - Challenge55:23 - Glide Path58:18 - Market Timer's strategy with the current market1:00:59 - AVUV over VBR1:08:10 - Measuring value1:10:46 - Paul's Bond Portfolio1:12:35 - REIT's1:13:55 - Tired1:15:21 - What's next for Paul1:18:33 - Bogelheads conference1:19:51 - Links below/Financial FreedomRecorded with a live Zoom audience, they also fielded questions.Some comments on Rob’s video page include:“My two favorite financial experts alive today discussing personal finance together. Perfect! Thank you both for your time, talent and wisdom.”“Rob, for the recent interviews you have done, this is my favorite! Paul is so passionate about his beliefs. I have been listening to Paul's podcast over the last 18 months. He has convinced me of the long term power of tilting your equity portfolio towards small cap value. I added the 10% tilt at the beginning of 2022.”“Great down to earth, easily explained info I can put to good use. Best guest to date!”Links to help investors:This link gives the case for the 10 U.S. and international equity asset classes: paulmerriman.com/ultimate-buy-and-hold-strategyThis link shows 9 different ways to combine the 10 equity asset classes and the 52 year returns for each.paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Sound-Investing-Portfolios.pdfThis link provides data combining each of the 9 equity portfolios along with different percentages of fixed income:paulmerriman.com/fine-tuning-your-asset-allocationThis link shows the impact of using the 9 portfolios and all the combinations of fixed income assuming an initial annual investment of $1,000 with a 3% annual increase on investment:paulmerriman.com/2021-fixed-contributionsThis link shows the impact of using the 9 different equity/fixed income as a source of fixed retirement distributions. Each years distribution is adjusted for inflation. Beginning distributions range from 3 to 6 percent:paulmerriman.com/2021-fixed-distributionsThis link shows the impact of annual distributions based on a percentage of assets, without inflation adjustment. Distributions range from 3 to 6 percent:paulmerriman.com/flexible-distributions-2021This link compares the annual to 20 year returns of 4 major U.S. asset classes:paulmerriman.com/90-years-of-evidence-shows-investor-patience-leads-to-better-returnsThis links to the Merriman Lifetime Investment Calculator. The calculator can be used for investors in both the accumulation and distribution periods of their investment life:paulmerriman.com/lifetime-investment-calculatorDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
The Biggest Financial Mistakes Retirees Make Paul Merriman 2022-08-24 | Paul talks to retirees about the handful of decisions you can make that can either benefit you and your heirs or cost you millions. He covers:· Ways to make or lose .5%· The best combination of equity asset classes· Fixed and flexible distribution strategies· How to best analyze recommended strategies· And other major decisions and topics, like: When to take Social Security? How much and when to spend savings? Spending taxable vs tax deferred vs. tax free? When to pass risk to others? When to get professional help? Elder abuse, and more. This presentation was part of Financial Literacy Month 2022, co-sponsored by the Bainbridge Community Foundation and The Merriman Financial Education Foundation.Links: Slides show: paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Bainbridge-Island-Final.pdf Bainbridge Community Foundation: bainbridgecf.org Paul’s Website: paulmerriman.com Paul’s YouTube Channel: youtube.com/c/PaulMerrimanSoundInvesting/videosGet your free copy of We’re Talking Millions! 12 Ways to Supercharge Your Retirement: In 2020, Paul’s presentation, “My Favorite 12 Vanguard Funds for Retirees,” became one of the most-watched on his YouTube channel. youtube.com/watch?v=L1ltcfD9CpE&t=42sDisclaimer-This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and get our free pdf books- paulmerriman.com/signupWe’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement2-Funds for Life: a quest for simple and effective investing strategies
This new tool helps you invest in specific funds Paul Merriman 2022-08-17 | This video and podcast introduces the "Sound Investing Portfolio Fixed Allocation Configurator.” This new tool helps investors figure out how to implement the portfolios we analyze using different fund families. Chris Pedersen, Director of Research joins Paul Merriman to discuss Chris’ latest investor education project.The process is simple, involving four choices: portfolio strategy (e.g., Ultimate Buy and Hold, Worldwide 4-Fund, All-Value, etc.), account tax status, fixed income percentage, and fund family (e.g., Best-in-Class ETFs, Vanguard Mutual Funds, etc.). Once selected, the configurator shows the required percentage investments in particular funds and several characteristics of the resulting portfolio, such as expense ratio and geographic distribution.Chris suggests this “configurator” could replace the older Custom ETF Calculator (not to be confused with our Lifetime Investment Calculator) and several of our pre-calculated mutual fund and ETF portfolios. He also asks for feedback at info@paulmerriman.com.Together, they answer several listener questions:• Does active management ever make sense? Or are ALL people better off with an index fund-based strategy?• Is the 2 Fund Portfolio (half each S&P 500 and small cap value) really as good as the 10 fund Ultimate Buy and Hold Portfolio?• What advice do you have for a 73-year-old investor who is about to fire their advisor and become a do-it-yourself investor?• Do you suggest reinvesting dividends from your ETFs or do you save them to reinvest in other ETFs?• I am investing money for my mother in several ETFs. What time of day do you suggest making the investment?Here are the links mentioned in the podcast.Portfolio Configurator Preview: bit.ly/3QL77tQLong-Term Bond Returns Study:globalfinancialdata.com/four-centuries-of-stocks-and-bonds-in-retrospectThe Merriman Financial Education Lifetime Investment Calculator: paulmerriman.com/lifetime-investment-calculator
The one asset class you must own Paul Merriman 2022-08-10 | Paul presents, “The #1 Reason I Want Small Cap Value in Your Portfolio” with compelling evidence as to why SCV should be the one asset class you must own. This is further illuminated by the tables and charts shown in the video presentation and available in the slide show and handout. (links below). This presentation was recorded at the “Retiremeet 2022” conference, sponsored annually by our friends at Vestory and billed as “The Northwest’s Premier Retirement Event.”Click here for handout: 7112649.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7112649/HAND OUT Paul Merriman Retiremeet-2022-Final.pdfClick here for the slide show: 7112649.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7112649/PRESENTATION RETIREMEET PAUL MERRIMAN.pdfLearn more about to the event:youtube.com/watch?v=as9D8TDZ0xIView all the event presentations:retiremeet.com/presentationsTo benefit from Vestory’s investment knowledge, sign up for their podcast at talkingrealmoney.com and their free monthly newsletter at realinvestingjournal.com. Call To Action!Here are a few simple ways to support the financial education work of The Merriman Financial Education Foundation, a registered 501(c)3. In so doing you help better the lives of individuals, families and communities, creating more opportunities for all.1. Subscribe to our weekly “Sound Investing” podcast, available on your favorite listening platforms and leave a review. Tell us what you think!2. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel, and hit the thumbs up, subscribe, leave a comment and share the link with your social media and friends. 3. Use our M1 Finance affiliate link to set up a brokerage account and use our portfolio suggestions. If you fund your account with a minimum of $1,000, our foundation will receive a one-time affiliate fee —at no cost to you—which helps support our financial education projects.4. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedInBuy our latest books, We’re Talking Millions! 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement and 2 Funds for Life: A quest for simple & effective investing strategies; all the profits help support our work.5. Support our mission by making a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation. Thank you!
Invest Successfully with Just Two Funds Paul Merriman 2022-08-03 | Are you seeking a simple but effective lifetime investment strategy? In this podcast (paulmerriman.com/invest-successfully-with-just-two-funds) and video, Katie Gatti, host of “Money With Katie,” interviews Chris Pedersen, Director of Research for The Merriman Financial Education Foundation and author of Two Funds For Life – A quest for simple & effective investing strategies. Chris explains:• The Two Funds for Life strategies during accumulation and retirement stages• Addresses criticisms of target date funds• Explains why this two-fund strategy is well justified by deep historical analysis • Why it can be ideal for those looking for a simple but effective lifetime investment strategyFrom Katie’s Notes: The best part about living in 2022 is the fact that you don’t have to know anything about investing to be a successful investor thanks to products like Betterment (and financial technology more broadly). But what if you do want to manage your own investments? Then what?Before I learned about Paul Merriman and Chris Pedersen’s Two Funds for Life strategy, I never really knew what to tell people aside from do your research and best of luck to you, madam.So this week, I’m joined by Chris (who created the Two Funds for Life model) to talk about an amazing 80/20 solution for getting proper, low-cost diversification with only two funds (hence the name). Not only that, but the “rebalancing” is more or less taken care of for you. * * * * *Chris’ Book, Two Funds For Life, provides a deep dive into the subject and is available at Amazon (amzn.to/3BxTFoM) and other online booksellers. For a simple explanation of the Two Funds for Life strategy, read We’re Talking Millions—12 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Retirement. Available at Amazon, Audible, and as a free download on our website. Your purchase helps support our Foundation’s financial education outreach.Amazon print book: amzn.to/2KH36KrAudible: audible.com/pd/Were-Talking-Millions-Audiobook/B094QSQ4QF?asin=B094QSQ4QFFree PDF AND/OR AUDIO BOOK: paulmerriman.com/signupFind out more about The Merriman Financial Education Foundation at: paulmerriman.com/the-merriman-financial-education-foundationKatie Gatti presents a weekly newsletter and blog on personal finance. Visit her site: moneywithkatie.com/. In January 2022, her blog and podcast brand, “Money with Katie,” was acquired by Business Insider's Morning Brew, morningbrew.com/contributor/moneywithkatieRead “Two Funds are better than one” by Katie Gatti at: morningbrew.com/money-scoop/stories/2022/04/19/two-funds-are-better-than-one
150 Portfolios Better Than Yours Paul Merriman 2022-07-27 | Paul addressed the AAII Los Angeles Chapter with “The Inside Story on the ‘150 Portfolios Better Than Yours’,” on June 18, 2022. In 2014, Dr. James Dahle, of White Coat Investor, wrote a column titled, "150 Portfolios Better Than Yours." The article included a link to a list of almost every popular model portfolio, including recommendations from Vanguard, Warren Buffett, Ray Dalio, Betterment, and a host of others. The list is now over 200.In this presentation, Paul compares the range of returns from many of the portfolios, plus his own recommended portfolios (paulmerriman.com/portfolios/). The 52-year returns of the all-equity combinations ranged from less than 10% to over 14%. The study reviews the risks and returns of the portfolios.Paul explores six different risk measurements that can help investors select the best portfolio for their needs. In this presentation you’ll learn:How to select the best equity asset classes to construct the best portfolioHow to build a diversified portfolio of equity asset classesThe best way to compare the long-term returns of your portfolioFor the PowerPoint accompanying this video/podcast, go to: paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/150-Portfolios-Better-Than-Yours-AAII.pdfLearn more about the American Association of Individual Investors at www.aaii.com. AAII members: log into your online AAII Local Chapter Community at https://community.aaii.com. Click here for a direct link to the Los Angeles, CA online chapter community: community.aaii.com/communities/community-home?CommunityKey=2a40c785-42cd-4ce3-8c3f-458a13346a5f
7 Things You Should Be Doing With Your Retirement Portfolio Paul Merriman 2022-07-19 | In this engaging interview, Paul talks with Stan The Annuity Man on his “Fun with Annuities” podcast. (stantheannuityman.com/). They discuss:• The seven big things you need to know about investment• Putting children on a glide path• Avoiding market-timing• Investing is simpleKey Takeaways:• Figure out a way to identify what equity asset classes you should have and figure out how to put them together.• Everyone needs a glide path, and in theory, it starts when a child is born. Parents and grandparents must immediately take steps to put their children on a glide path - all equities while they’re young and more fixed income as they get older.• Don’t panic. If you want to be a successful long-term investor, you have to stay the course. Don’t market time; you might be able to avoid losses short-term, but you will pay the price in the long term.• Investing is simple, but it takes faith in the system. It is easy to set it and forget it if you can keep your hands off the trigger. Winning in investing means thinking defensively, not aggressively.Here are Stan’s notes:Paul Merriman’s 60-year legacy of helping people with their money is unmatched. His “tell the truth” passionate approach should be the benchmark for all financial advisors and is the obvious foundation for the current march to all things fiduciary.Talking to Paul is always a joy to me and a gift to my listeners and viewers. Whether he talks about a specific portfolio or his passion for helping young people be better investors, it’s inspiring, motivating, educational, and uplifting.This podcast was absolute gold and should be replayed repeatedly if you are serious about your money. Paul went over the seven things you need to do right now with your portfolio. Some are no-brainers, and some are new. The good news is that they all are free. Everything on Paul’s site is free. The detailed portfolio recommendations are free. The weekly newsletter and PDF download of his latest book are free. Paul Merriman is a true “financial advice philanthropist.” He truly wants to help you be a better investor.We discussed that young people believe crypto-currency is safer than the S&P 500. How much damage will damage to young people’s financial future? Paul weighs in with his take and possible solution to this crisis.According to Paul, investing has never been easier. Investing has never been more efficient. Paul covers the unfortunate bad news. We also discussed that there are “many very good people who are doing bad things to the people who trust the good people. In other words, some bad advisors are giving bad advice. Paul and I weigh in heavily on this tragic topic.Paul Merriman is a “national treasure.” I am having a ball and celebrating every extra day. Enjoy the podcast."You don’t have to be Warren Buffet to get exceptional returns; you just need to be in the types of asset classes that have historically paid the premium—it’s not about the price you pay, it’s about the value you get." — Paul Merriman.Stan The Annuity Man is one of The Merriman Financial Education Foundation’s Truth Tellers, soon to be featured in our free twice-a-month newsletter. Subscribe now: paulmerriman.com/signup and get your free copy of our latest book We’re Talking Millions — 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement.“Fun With Annuities® Podcast” is part of the wealth of resources available from The Annuity Man® who brings his “brutally factual blend of education and entertainment to the world of annuities.” Learn everything about the annuity category on your terms and time frame, with no sales pitches. Author of 7 books on annuities, The Annuity Man® will explain all annuity types in detail and dive deep into unique contractually guaranteed transfer of risk strategies that can be applied to your specific situation.
Strategies for Financial Success—The Roadmap After Graduation Paul Merriman 2022-06-08 | What are the challenges facing university graduates, and all young people, entering the work force? Paul addresses students at Western Washington University with clear information on how to become well-informed and successful investors over a lifetime. He warns about the role of emotions and importance of creating an informed investment plan to have more than enough, because life rarely goes according to plan. He explains the huge impact of an additional .5% in annual returns over a lifetime, mutual funds and target date funds, and the steps to follow in his book, We’re Talking Millions—12 Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement and the strategy of “5 Years Can Make You A Multi-Millionaire.” This and much more in this podcast/video.Read the article: “Save like mad for five years—retire with millions”: paulmerriman.com/save-like-mad-for-five-years-retire-with-millionsWatch the video: “How A 5 Year Investment Can Make You A Millionaire”: youtube.com/watch?v=MJZsx6XK3TsListen to the podcast, “5 years of investing and you can become a multi-millionaire”:paulmerriman.com/5-years-of-investing-and-you-can-become-a-multi-millionaireGet your free copy of We’re Talking Millions at: paulmerriman.com/signupThis video is part of the educational offerings from The Merriman Financial Education Foundation, a registered 501(c)3. If you found value in this video, here are four ways to support these videos and our foundation: 1) Hit the thumbs up, subscribe and share the link with your social media and friends. 2) Sign up for our biweekly newsletter at PaulMerriman.com 3) Use our M1 Finance affiliate link if you are interested in setting up a brokerage account, using our portfolio suggestions. The Foundation will receive a one-time small fee at no cost to you. m1finance.8bxp97.net/aXrzb 4) Consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation (paulmerriman.com/donate) to support our mission to provide financial education to investors. Thank you!
