The Case for Alternative Investments – Part XI

This is a continuation of my recent argument in favor of a different approach to how you, as a consumer of financial advice, and we, as advisors, need to manage your retirement money. Or any money you have for that matter. In 2008, U.S. equities were gutted. 99.8% of all U.S. equity mutual funds had …

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Alternative Investments – Part X(b)

Last week I posted a definitive summary of my argument in favor of including alternative investments in your investment portfolio. If you did not see it, I encourage you to click on the Alternative Investment category to the right and read Part X. However, the chart I included with that posting was hard to understand. …

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The Case for Alternative Investments – Part X

Over the past six weeks or so I’ve attempted to argue that one should employ Alternative Investments in your investment portfolios. This post is to express how I recommend that should be done. I’ve alluded to an organization in Tacoma, Washington with whom I have a contractual relationship. I entered into my agreement with them …

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The Case for Alternative Investments – Part IX

You are perhaps glad I’m now close to the end of this conversation about Alternative Investments. I know I am. This one is intended as a summary, based on a recent letter to my clients. It’s a little long but I encourage you to get to the end. Most of us have been struggling with …

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The Case for Alternative Investments – Part VIII

Over these past few weeks, I’ve been slowly making my case for you to invest some of your money in alternative investments. You’ve had to read and read and read and maybe you’re on track to better understand my thinking. Here is a visual presentation I found recently that re-inforces what I’ve been saying. It …

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The Case for Alternative Investments – Part VII

In the first six parts of this series, I’ve given you some simple definitions that apply when the conversation turns to “alternative investments”. I’ve also given you some examples that you might employ as you become more comfortable with this approach. I’m now going to summarize my position. Basically, the market downturn on 2008 scared …

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The Case for Alternative Investments – Part VI

When I started this series, I began with some definitions to help the reader understand some of the jargon inherent to the discussion. One word I forgot to define is “correlation”. In financial terms, it refers to the extent to which the value of different asset classes (bonds, stocks, gold, etc.) move in relation to …

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The Case for Alternative Investments – Part V

In my last post on this subject, I referenced a small selection of investments that employ "alternative investments" in their portfolio mix. Today, I'm going to describe a stand alone option. Technically, its a hedge fund, and as such, you are required to meet a personal financial threshold before you can buy into it. But …

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The Case for Alternative Investments – Part IV

Are you more than a little worried about where the markets are heading? If you are, and you don’t have millions on the line (that’s most of us) then I’m going to jump ahead and tell you now about three investment options from Purcell Advisory Services, out in Tacoma, Washington. I’m actively putting clients into …

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The Case for Alternative Investments – Part III

The intent behind this series of posts is to give you an idea about “alternative investments”. What they are, how they have performed over the last several years, and whether or not you should begin to employ them in your personal investment portfolios. I think you should, and by the end of this discussion, you …

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