Dividends: Theory and Empirical Evidence

OVERVIEW Building on the concepts presented in our Dividends Are Different article, here we present data and observations highlighting how dividends can protect investors from inflation and market volatility. While this content is relevant to other applications, we focus on it within the context of retirement income. When designing portfolios to provide for retirement, conventional […]

Dividends Are Different

OVERVIEW There has been abundant discussion regarding the utility of dividends. Many investment models rely on factors or other strategies in their attempt to increase returns or reduce volatility. These approaches generally focus on total returns and brush dividends under the rug. Some go further and argue specifically against dividends – occasionally likening dividend advocates […]

Quantifying the Value of Retirement Accounts

This article quantifies the immense value in not having to pay taxes on investment income and rebalancing (i.e., dividends, interest, and capital gains) within retirement accounts.

Retirement Income Generation 101

Introduction to Retirement Income The stakes are high when it comes to retirement income. Unfortunately, salesmanship and conflicts of interest are rampant in the financial services industry. In most cases, the investment advice you receive will be a direct result of the type of financial professional you speak with (e.g., broker vs advisor vs insurance […]

Tail Risk Hedging

Disclaimer: This article discusses unconventional strategies that are not suitable for most investors. Please consult a financial professional with specific expertise in tail hedging and derivatives if you are considering this or related strategies. This article proposes tail risk hedging (TRH) as an alternative model for managing risk in investment portfolios. The standard approach via […]

My “Repackaging” Pet Peeve

Many advisors’ portfolios of various funds, strategies, and managers effectively turn out to be the market portfolio but with significantly higher costs.

Zombie Market Primer

I see multiple symptoms of a dysfunctional market whereby product mechanics have displaced due diligence and resulted in widespread malinvestment.

Foregoing Due Diligence

Robo-advisors and broad market index strategies involves little to no due diligence regarding the price paid (valuation) or asset quality.