The unexpected Gift of Social Distancing The age of social distancing has given me an unexpected gift. I’ve found that I actually have some extra time on my (very clean) hands every day. Aside from the home schooling (math is my strong suit), there’s nothing new that’s been added to my plate. I do mostly...Continue Reading
What is sequence of returns risk, and why is it so important to understand during this bear market? In a March 2020 article for Barron’s, journalist Neal Templin explores the impact this risk may have on retirees and near-retirees. Templin also describes some potential actions investors may take to minimize the potential negative consequences a...Continue Reading
Sequence of returns risk (“SOR”), the risk that markets may go south as retirees begin taking income, is a well-publicized phenomenon. Though, because of its recency, Moshe Milevsky laments that it lacks a true measure or definition. In this report for Jackson he suggests a standardized measure—a sort of Richter scale for SOR that attempts to...Continue Reading
The last five working years and first five in retirement can be fraught with risk for American savers. During this “fragile decade” a bad sequence of returns can have a negative and lasting impact on client portfolios, and threaten the ability to make retirement savings last. For instance, a client who suffers a 33 percent...Continue Reading
Markets reacted terribly to news of the Corona Virus hitting American shores last week. Stocks suffered their largest weekly loss since 2008. Antsy, nervous, excited—whatever you want to call it—folks are on the defensive. Markets are volatile. But where can they, especially retirees, find shelter? Conventional wisdom says that retirees should shoulder less risk by...Continue Reading
The Contingent Deferred Annuity (“CDA”) is a step forward in efforts to creatively meet the income needs of retirees. In the February 2020 issue of Bob Veres’ popular Inside Information newsletter, Bob calls it “One of the most interesting solutions to the SECURE Act requirement that qualified plans offer income guarantee options.” These guarantee options,...Continue Reading
Two Platforms Democratizing Structured Products Retirement Income Journal’s Kerry Pechter writes that structured products in the last few years have been democratized by a couple of different digital players: SIMON and HALO. Both afford advisors and their clients unprecedented access to structured notes which aim to help an investor’s savings while generating equity-like returns. Structured...Continue Reading
Eliminating Commissions Opens Door to Further Innovation No-load annuities appear to be gaining traction among IARs of RIA firms, and journalist Ben Mattlin takes a stab at why in an article for Financial Advisor Magazine. Innovations among a class of next-gen, no-load annuities have reduced cost, introduced simplicity, offered liquidity, made them easier of understand...Continue Reading
In the Thanksgiving edition of Retirement Income Journal, Kerry Pechter assesses the impact of the Schwabitrade deal. In gobbling up TD Ameritrade, Schwab is consolidating power and RIA custody in one behemoth organization, the impact of which promises to be felt in some predictable and unpredictable ways. Pechter draws his particular focus on the how...Continue Reading
Under a photo captioned “Louisville Slugging” Oisin Breen writes about RetireOne’s acquisition of EF Legacy Securities broker-dealer from Edelman Financial Engines. In the “Brooke’s Note” intro to the piece, RIABiz Editor Brooke Southall says of the deal, “Nobody can dispute the beauty of guaranteed income. But in financial advice, such a thing takes the form...Continue Reading
