Index ETF: Time to say Good Bye?

More and more commentators suggest that investors should move out of passive investment vehicles, i.e. index funds, mostly packaged as ETF's. But you should resist the lure of active mnagement and instead review your asset Aalocation.

Know your Fund Manager

An important - and often overlooked - aspect of selecting a fund manager or financial advisers: what is his PERSONAL track record? Who is actually managing the fund (is it a team or is one person responsible for the performance)? Is the fund manager focused on only one fund or does he have a number of funds to look after? Achieving good performance is difficult enough but the additional task of deciding which fund should benefit from the best ideas is nearly insurmountable. Naturally, fund managers and their employees are more interested in boosting the number of assets under management, and their profits/compensation, rather then just achieving best possible performance.

Target Date Funds - spot the Target!

It may well be your pocket that is the target. The concept of Target Date Funds may be plausible but in practive they may well be (1) more expensive than necessary to achieve their stated aim and (2) more a clever marketing concept than a proven investment strategy.

Gold is the ultimate protection

Governments are waging a silent war against Cash. They don't do it openly but sail in the tailwinds of Financial Technology Companies, including Credit Card providers and Banks that do the dirty work for them. Cashless societies open the door to total control of all activities and by implication also total control of the citizens, or maybe one should call them worker ants that are only allowed to finance the more and more absurd spending perpetrated by the Polit-Establisment. Gold is even more unpopular in that Nomenklatura and it is no wonder that there are persistent efforts to make it difficult to buy and hold gold.
Given that it is the ultimate insurance policy against total state control of your wealth careful planning is imperative when purchasing and storing gold.

Sad end to Swiss Bank Secrecy

Switzerland has been created as the result of a tax revolt against its Hapsburg (Austrian) overseers. So it is sad that a proud nation abases itself to become what can only be seen as a tax collector for the USA. Different nation states with different laws and customs were the main factor behind the fantastic cultural and economic development of Europe - in stark contrast to the unitary state of China.Nevermin d that bank secrecy helped any number of persecuted people to escape from Nazi Dictatorship with their lives and the means to start a new life elsewhere!

Credit Suisse said to freeze accounts in search for U.S. assets

Do you know your Asset Allocation?

While picking individual stocks, currencies, bonds or even countries and sectors may be sexy most investors do not know that the decision about asset allocation (stocks/bonds/currencies/real assets) is the most important factor in achieving long-term investment success. Depending on your personal situation this holistic approach should also include real estate and interests in business, either directly or indirectly held.

It all comes down to style in Managed Futures (HedgeWeek)

How many fees does your Fund Manager charge?

News that M&G, one of Britain's largest investment fund providers (and part of Prudential Insurance) charged investors in just one of its funds (the £15.5 Bio Optimal Income Fund) an administration fee of £34 Million last year demonstrates how important it is to keep a close watch on the expenses incurred by your investment portfolio.

Top 40 Wealth Managers in USA

Nice job Barron's Magazine, but pretty useless table, no information on performance, fee structure. So a lot of work but the crucial data is missing. Bigger is not better!

Market Professionals at an advantage

Any Retail Investor, small or of 'high net worth' should watch the activities of investment professionals like a hawk. Market Insiders always have an information advantage that can allow them to charge higher fees or find excuses for under performance. 
The Dirty Little Secret of Finance: Asymmetric Information (Bloomberg)
Information asymmetry: Secrets and agents (The Economist)