Do You Need an Investment Policy Statement?

Do You Need an Investment Policy Statement?

Yes, you do. How’s that for a succinct answer? But in case you don’t know what an Investment Policy Statement (IPS) is, or how it’s utilized, here’s a brief explanation. An IPS is a written document that basically describes how an investor’s money is to be managed/invested. Every publicly-traded mutual fund and ETF is required…
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Is Gold Still a Good Investment?

Whenever an asset class experiences a large price swing, whether up or down, people naturally try to understand what the causes have been and whether or not the asset class is currently worth buying or the reverse.  Indeed, since the beginning of 2013 we’ve seen the price of gold drop by 25%.  Gold is now…
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Are You an Accredited Investor?

This is a follow up to my blog several weeks ago about crowd funding.  The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) is additionally considering modifying the definition of an accredited investor as part of a proposal to amend the rule that permits the sale of private-placement securities.  Lawmakers want the SEC to expand the definition so…
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Will Boomers Sink Equities During Retirement?

There’s been lots of speculation that Baby Boomers – the wealthiest generation in American history, not to mention one of the largest – have the potential to seriously impact equity returns as they use up their savings during their retirement years.  A newly released Vanguard research paper offers a number of reasons why investors have…
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Is Crowdfunding Safe for Investors?

The success of Twitter’s recent IPO was the culmination of a simplified IPO process aimed at making it easier for smaller companies to raise capital. Under the JOBS Act of 2012 a so-called Emerging Growth Company would be allowed to do the following: Submit a draft registration statement to the SEC for confidential nonpublic review…
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What Is Your Risk Tolerance?

If you have an investment account at a brokerage firm, chances are you’ve encountered a risk tolerance questionnaire.  Such a document purports to determine how comfortable you are with investment risk.  Questions range from the simple – “Are you investing primarily for income or for growth?” – to the sublime – “If you are offered…
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