The U.S. stock market isn't always king, and it doesn't really matter if it has been historically. Here I'll explain why that's the case and why it's probably a prudent idea for U.S. investors to also own international stocks. Introduction Make no mistake that the U.S. stock market usually dominates the global market in terms of sheer size. At their market … [Read more...] about “Should I Own International Stocks?” Yes. Here’s Why.
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How Much You Should Save by Age 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60
While there's no one-size-fits-all approach for how much one should save by age, here's a general framework to aim for as you progress on your financial journey to retirement. Introduction - Savings Benchmarks by Age Obviously the specific amount of money you need as you get older will depend on your personal circumstances, lifestyle, and expenses. Speaking … [Read more...] about How Much You Should Save by Age 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60
No, There’s Not an “Index Fund Bubble.” Here’s Why.
The term index fund bubble has been thrown around frighteningly often in recent years. In this post I'll explain why there's not one and why the primary fundamental argument itself doesn't make much logical sense. If you've arrived on this page, hopefully you already know that index funds are just investable products like ETFs or mutual funds that track some index, such as … [Read more...] about No, There’s Not an “Index Fund Bubble.” Here’s Why.
The 3 Best Floating Rate Bond ETFs for 2023
Floating rate bonds adjust quickly to interest rate changes. Here we'll check out the best floating rate ETFs for . Video Prefer video? Watch it here: What Are Floating Rate Bonds? Floating rate bonds are debt instruments with variable interest rates, as opposed to a typical bond with a fixed rate. That interest rate is based on some benchmark, which … [Read more...] about The 3 Best Floating Rate Bond ETFs for 2023
“Passive” Investing Is a Myth. Here’s Why.
Make no mistake that I'm a proponent of index investing, buying broadly diversified funds that hold a basket of investments, preferably at a low cost. I've even probably used the term "passive" cavalierly in other posts on this website. But in this one I'll explain why the idea of "passive" investing is a myth. The term "passive" arguably gets thrown around most in … [Read more...] about “Passive” Investing Is a Myth. Here’s Why.
Rental Properties vs. Investing in the Stock Market – An Op-Ed
My LinkedIn feed and YouTube suggestions are full of rental property stuff, presumably because the robots know I browse Zillow sometimes when I’m bored. Seems like a lot of people view and pitch owning rental properties as a passive cash flow machine. When I hear "rental property," I think illiquidity, leverage, concentration, idiosyncratic risk, fees, stress, time, … [Read more...] about Rental Properties vs. Investing in the Stock Market – An Op-Ed
Avantis Files for 6 New ETFs – AVGV, AVDS, AVMG, AVTD, AVTV, AVLC
Avantis filed for 6 new ETFs on March 21, 2023 - AVGV, AVDS, AVMG, AVTD, AVTV, and AVLC. I briefly summarize them here. Avantis clearly provides great factor funds. They're expanding their offering with 6 new ETFs. Most are "fund of funds" products. AVGV - Avantis All Equity Markets Value ETF AVGV, the Avantis All Equity Markets Value ETF, will be a fund of … [Read more...] about Avantis Files for 6 New ETFs – AVGV, AVDS, AVMG, AVTD, AVTV, AVLC
AVGV ETF Review – Avantis All Equity Markets Value ETF
AVGV is a new ETF from Avantis that is a single fund solution for the global stock market investor who wants to go all in on Value stocks. It's not trading yet, but let's review the info we've got so far. If you've arrived here, I'd guess you already know Avantis is one of the best names in the biz for factor funds, that Value has the most robust statistical evidence of … [Read more...] about AVGV ETF Review – Avantis All Equity Markets Value ETF
Return Stacking Explained – Greater Returns With Lower Risk?
Return stacking refers to applying a modest amount of leverage to a diversified investment portfolio of different asset classes in an attempt to ratchet up expected returns while simultaneously potentially lowering or at least maintaining risk. Here we'll look at what return stacking is and when, why, and how to do it. What Is Return Stacking? Return stacking is … [Read more...] about Return Stacking Explained – Greater Returns With Lower Risk?
SGOV vs. BIL – Which ETF for U.S. T-Bills in 2023?
SGOV and BIL are two popular ETFs for U.S. Treasury Bills. Is there a clear choice for ? Let's compare them. Treasury bills, or T-bills for short, are just ultra-short-term bonds from the U.S. government. These short bonds with maturities of less than a year are called bills. T-bills are referenced as the "risk-free asset" because they are backed by the full faith and … [Read more...] about SGOV vs. BIL – Which ETF for U.S. T-Bills in 2023?
RSSB ETF Review – Return Stacked Global Stocks & Bonds ETF
RSSB aims to soon provide a "return stacked" solution for global stocks and bonds in a single ETF. Let's review it. First, it's important to note that as of March 29, 2023, RSSB is not trading yet. The SEC filing happened on February 6, 2023. "Return stacking" - a term that was actually coined by the creators of RSSB - simply refers to layering different sources of … [Read more...] about RSSB ETF Review – Return Stacked Global Stocks & Bonds ETF
AVES ETF Review – Avantis Emerging Markets Value ETF
AVES is a relatively new ETF from Avantis for targeted factor exposure in Emerging Markets. I review it here and compare it to its counterparts that are usually included in the same conversation, AVEM and DGS. Prefer video? Watch it here: If you've arrived on this page, you probably already know that overweighting or tilting with certain risk factors may offer … [Read more...] about AVES ETF Review – Avantis Emerging Markets Value ETF
Fees, Trees, & Forests – Stop Obsessing Over Expense Ratios
One of the core tenets of the Boglehead philosophy is to minimize fees whenever possible. That sounds reasonable enough on the surface, but here I'll explain why it's not so simple and why fees aren't as big of a deal as they're made out to be. Fees Are Relative If you've read any of my stuff on factor investing or specific small cap value funds, for example, … [Read more...] about Fees, Trees, & Forests – Stop Obsessing Over Expense Ratios
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) Explained – Should You Buy?
An Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) is a program by which employees can purchase their employer's stock at a discount, but there are a lot of nuances to consider. Here I review the pros, cons, and some lesser known risks and strategies of ESPP's. What Is an Employee Stock Purchase Plan? As the name suggests, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan - or ESPP for short … [Read more...] about Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) Explained – Should You Buy?
Optimized Portfolio “Best in Class” ETFs List for 2023
Every year the legendary investing author and educator Paul Merriman and his team release their recommendations of "best in class ETFs" for each market segment suggested for his model portfolios, so I figured I'd do the same. Introduction - Read This First Paul Merriman publishes his list of "best in class ETFs" every year for his model portfolios. I've got quite a … [Read more...] about Optimized Portfolio “Best in Class” ETFs List for 2023
Paul Merriman Best in Class ETFs List for 2023
Every year the legendary investing author and educator Paul Merriman and his team release their recommendations of "best in class ETFs" for each market segment suggested for his model portfolios. They usually line up with my own research and suggestions. The list for 2023 is below. Introduction By "best in class," Merriman aims to identify funds with low fees and … [Read more...] about Paul Merriman Best in Class ETFs List for 2023
SARK ETF – The Inverse ARKK ETF To Bet Against Cathie Wood
The SARK ETF allows investors to directly bet against Cathie Wood by aiming to deliver the inverse return of her ARKK ETF. It has returned a whopping 95% in a little over a year. Let's check it out. Prefer video? Watch it here: Cathie Wood is at the helm of ARK Invest, whose flagship fund ARKK - the ARK Innovation ETF - saw record inflows after it returned 153% … [Read more...] about SARK ETF – The Inverse ARKK ETF To Bet Against Cathie Wood
Inverse Cramer ETF (SJIM) – Bet Against Jim’s Stock Picking Advice
Jim Cramer's stock picking advice has historically been pretty terrible. Now you may be able to make money betting against that advice with the inverse Cramer ETF. Inverse Cramer ETF Review Video Prefer video? Watch it here: Inverse Cramer ETF (SJIM) Review Jim Cramer is the loud and obnoxious TV personality yelling at you to buy or sell specific stocks … [Read more...] about Inverse Cramer ETF (SJIM) – Bet Against Jim’s Stock Picking Advice
SGOV ETF Review – Is SGOV a Good Investment for T-Bills in 2023?
SGOV is a relatively new ETF from iShares for 0-3 month U.S. Treasury bonds, called T-bills. But is it a good investment for ? I review it here. SGOV ETF Review Video Prefer video? Watch it here: SGOV ETF Methodology, Yield, and Fees SGOV is the iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF. It launched in mid-2020 and has since quickly amassed nearly $7 billion … [Read more...] about SGOV ETF Review – Is SGOV a Good Investment for T-Bills in 2023?
AOK ETF Review – iShares Core Conservative Allocation ETF
AOK is a conservative ETF from iShares that is part of their line of Core Allocation ETFs, which provide a globally diversified, multi-asset portfolio in a single fund. But is AOK a good investment? I review it here. AOK ETF - What, How, and Why AOK is the iShares Core Conservative Allocation ETF. It is part of iShares' line of asset allocation ETFs called Core … [Read more...] about AOK ETF Review – iShares Core Conservative Allocation ETF
