Intelligent Investing

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Getting to Know Morningstar’s Christine Benz

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Christine Benz Profile Pic

Reading Time: 2 minutes

On today’s Intelligent Money Minute, we interview Morningstar’s director of personal finance, Christine Benz. Recently, Christine Benz was named in Barron’s Top 100 Influential Women for her dedication and impact in the financial industry. During this episode, we take a moment to learn more about who Christine is and what she loves to do in her spare time. Often, we can forget that these thought leaders and innovators are people too. Amidst all the prestigious accolades, Christine Benz is a renowned author, avid traveler (pre-covid), and risotto master. 

We hope you enjoy getting to know Christine Benz more on this more casual episode of Intelligent Money Minute. I don’t know about you, but after this episode I was hungry for some risotto. We like to get to know our guests and hope you do as well. Christine has a wealth of financial knowledge and we’ll be sharing more episodes with her in the near future. We also like to get to know our clients on a personal level, and if you are interested in becoming the next intelligent investor, please visit our website, investedwithyou.com and click on “Get Started.”

Schedule a short discovery call or meeting

We’ll be interviewing Christine on several podcasts regarding retirement strategies, passive investing, and diversification, so be sure to subscribe to our Intelligent Money Minute podcasts.

Christine Benz Bio

Christine Benz is Morningstar’s director of personal finance and author of 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances and the Morningstar Guide to Mutual Funds: 5-Star Strategies for Success. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and Russian/East European studies from the University of Illinois. Christine lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Greg. She is an avid cook, a political junkie, and a long-suffering Chicago Cubs fan. Follow Christine on Twitter.

The Value of a Written Financial Plan

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The Value of a Written Financial Plan

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On today’s Intelligent Money Minute, we interview Larry Swedroe on the value of having a written financial plan. A written financial plan helps one avoid glaring holes that may not be apparent before writing it down. Also, studies show that those with a written financial plan tend to stick it far more than those who don’t. During this episode, Larry gives multiple examples of how some avoided financial disaster with a written financial plan and some who experienced financial disaster due to not having one.

Many people plan more for their summer vacations and weddings than then do their retirement. Studies have shown that people are more committed to a written financial plan. At Intelligent Investing, we guide our retirees into and through retirement, and one of the ways we do that is through creating a comprehensive written financial plan. We review your retirement concerns and risks, and we dive deep into your spending needs, wants, and wishes. Typically, we review the financial plan annually with you and update it as needed for life events as life changes. If you are interested in having an independent professional guide you in creating a comprehensive written plan, please go to  “Get Started.”

Schedule a short discovery call or meeting

We’ll be interviewing Larry on several podcasts regarding markets, passive investing, and diversification, so be sure to subscribe to our Intelligent Money Minute podcasts.

Larry was among the first authors to publish a book that explained the science of investing in layman’s terms, “The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You’ll Ever Need.” He has since authored seven more books.

Larry Swedroe Bio

Since joining the Buckingham Strategic Wealth in 1996, Chief Research Officer Larry Swedroe has spent his time and energy educating investors on the benefits of evidence-based investing.

In his role as chief research officer and as a member of the firm’s Investment Policy Committee and Board of Directors, Larry regularly reviews the findings published in dozens of peer-reviewed financial journals, evaluates the outcomes and uses the result to inform the firm’s formal investment strategy recommendations.

Larry’s dedication to helping others has made him a sought-after national speaker. He has made appearances on national television shows airing on NBC, CNBC, CNN and Bloomberg Personal Finance. Larry is a prolific writer, contributing regularly to multiple outlets, including Advisor Perspectives and ETF.com.

Before joining Buckingham, Larry was vice chairman of Prudential Home Mortgage and senior vice president at Citicorp.

Larry holds an MBA in finance and investment from NYU and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Baruch College.

Sticking to the Plan & Avoiding Behavioral Finance Mistakes

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Sticking to the Plan & Avoiding Behavioral Finance Mistakes

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On this episode of Intelligent Money Minute, we interview Matt Hougan, Chairman of Inside ETFs on sticking to the plan in the midst of fear. Despite being the founder of ETFs.com, Matt isn’t unlike other investors in regards to portfolio concerns. Matt says it himself that he worries about the same things that a lot of people worry about. During this episode, he mentions the 4o year-long bond bull market and equity evaluations as personal concerns. Despite these concerns, Matt stresses the importance of sticking to a long-term investment strategy in the midst of fear. One thing will remain, the potential that humans will misbehave. That’s why it’s critical to not be fearful or greedy in finance.

When we meet with prospective clients, one of the first steps we take is to have prospects take a state-of-the-art risk questionnaire. Our approach uses a Risk Number built upon a Nobel Prize-winning framework, and every client receives a unique risk number. The risk number is a way to understand your willingness to take on risk. We also will discuss your ability to take on risk, your need for risk, and explore what your current portfolio risk is. We’d be happy to setup a complimentary call or meeting. You can book a call or meeting by clicking “Get Started.”

Matt Hougan Bio

Matt Hougan is one of the world’s leading experts on crypto, ETFs, and financial technology. He is Global Head of Research for Bitwise Asset Management, creator of the world’s first cryptocurrency index fund. Hougan is also Chairman of Inside ETFs, the world’s largest ETF conference. He was previously CEO of ETF.com, where he helped build the world’s first ETF data and analytics system. Hougan is co-author of the CFA Institute’s Monograph on ETFs. He’s also a crypto columnist for Forbes, and a three-time member of the Barron’s ETF Roundtable. For more resources from Matt Hougan click here.

 

The Four Horsemen of the Retirement Apocalypse

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Four Horsemen of the Retirement Apocalypse

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On today’s Intelligent Money Minute, we interview Larry Swedroe on the four horsemen of the retirement apocalypse. Larry explains the importance of investors not using historical returns for blindly forecasting the future. On the contrary, Larry explains the need to understand how the returns earned value. During the episode, he goes through misconceptions about equity evaluations, optimistic forecasting, and bond yields. Larry explains in detail the four horsemen of the retirement apocalypse:

  1. Equity evaluations are much higher 
  2. Bond yields are lower 
  3. Longevity risk
  4. Long-term care risk 

As Larry mentioned, the Four Horsemen of the Retirement Apocalypse can seem scary and produce fear in your hearts. As you approach or if you are in retirement, there are some ways to plan for such events. At Intelligent Investing, we minimize financial stress to maximize lives. Our goal is to create a written financial plan and stress test your plan and portfolio for these types of events. We’d love to sit down with you over a complimentary coffee or virtual meeting to discuss how we may serve you and your family. Don’t face retirement alone…let us be your financial accountability partner and we can face the future together.

Schedule a short discovery call or meeting

We’ll be interviewing Larry on several podcasts regarding markets, passive investing, and diversification, so be sure to subscribe to our Intelligent Money Minute podcasts.

Larry was among the first authors to publish a book that explained the science of investing in layman’s terms, “The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You’ll Ever Need.” He has since authored seven more books.

Larry Swedroe Bio

Since joining the Buckingham Strategic Wealth in 1996, Chief Research Officer Larry Swedroe has spent his time and energy educating investors on the benefits of evidence-based investing.

In his role as chief research officer and as a member of the firm’s Investment Policy Committee and Board of Directors, Larry regularly reviews the findings published in dozens of peer-reviewed financial journals, evaluates the outcomes and uses the result to inform the firm’s formal investment strategy recommendations.

Larry’s dedication to helping others has made him a sought-after national speaker. He has made appearances on national television shows airing on NBC, CNBC, CNN and Bloomberg Personal Finance. Larry is a prolific writer, contributing regularly to multiple outlets, including Advisor Perspectives and ETF.com.

Before joining Buckingham, Larry was vice chairman of Prudential Home Mortgage and senior vice president at Citicorp.

Larry holds an MBA in finance and investment from NYU and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Baruch College.

How to Get Started with Cryptocurrency

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How to Get Started with Cryptocurrency

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We asked Matt how someone new to investing can get started with cryptocurrency. Matt explains that strict guide rails are critical to cryptocurrency. He stresses don’t overdo it because cryptocurrency is a highly volatile investment. Even a small amount of crypto can have a dramatic impact on a portfolio. Second, never put all the proverbial eggs in one basket. Matt suggests that an appropriate crypto index fund or even spreading the investment among the top-performing assets may be right for certain investors. Finally, it matters who you partner with within the crypto space. 

At Intelligent Investing, we believe in Diversification– the spreading of risk and reward across various factors and asset classes. Matt highlighted several risks with investing in cryptocurrency and reasons why it should be a very small minority of your portfolio if you decide to include it in your portfolio. 

This podcast is not a recommendation to buy or not to buy cryptocurrency. Before you ever invest in anything, you should perform lots of due diligence and research, especially if the investment is relatively new. You should also consider how investing impacts your overall risk and financial plan. Remember, if you never own enough of any one thing to make a killing in it, then you probably won’t have to worry about owning so much of that thing, that you get killed by it.

Matt Hougan Bio

Matt Hougan is one of the world’s leading experts on crypto, ETFs, and financial technology. He is Global Head of Research for Bitwise Asset Management, creator of the world’s first cryptocurrency index fund. Hougan is also Chairman of Inside ETFs, the world’s largest ETF conference. He was previously CEO of ETF.com, where he helped build the world’s first ETF data and analytics system. Hougan is co-author of the CFA Institute’s Monograph on ETFs. He’s also a crypto columnist for Forbes, and a three-time member of the Barron’s ETF Roundtable. For more resources from Matt Hougan click here.

 

Faith in the Midst of Tragedy: Losing a Child to Mental Illness

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Faith in the Midst of Tragedy: Losing a Child to Mental Illness

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During this episode, Shelly opens up about the mental illness that ailed her late son Jonathan. Around 19 years old, Jonathan Hamilton took an acne medicine that sent him into a clinical depression. Upon further examination, the doctors diagnosed Jonathan with schizophrenia. After seven years with no solutions, a Christian psychiatrist found a combination of medicine that enabled Jonathan to function. During this period,  Jonathan penned beautiful songs published by Majesty Music and began working again. Fifteen years into his illness, a generic version of his medication became available, which removed the insurance coverage of Jonathan’s specialized medicine. Unknown to Ron and Shelly, Jonathan chose to go off the generic medication and tragically took his own life on Mother’s Day. Losing their son rattled Ron and Shelly’s world. In the midst of their tragedy, they remained strong in the faith believing in God’s providential plan for their life. Jonathan left a lasting legacy and a testimony that has touched the lives of many.

As Shelly pointed out in her life verse, the Just shall live by faith. You may be wondering why this episode is on a financial podcast, and the reason is that death and tragedy are all part of life. Many facing trials and tragedies turn to faith, and we hope this has been an encouragement to those who are facing similar trials including mental illness, suicide, or the death of a child. One of Intelligent Investing’s Core Values is Truth, and we believe that speaking the truth in love is a way to show compassion on others. Sometimes the truth hurts or is hard to say, and we hope this episode has been an encouragement to those facing similar tragedies. Be sure to subscribe to our Intelligent Money Minute podcasts to hear our many interviews with Shelly and her family by going to our podcast page.

If you haven’t subscribed to our podcasts, you can go to our podcast page and choose whichever method you want to download them. While you are there, you can go to our blog page and subscribe so you can get our latest Intelligent Insights directly in your inbox.

Shelly Hamilton Bio

Shelly Hamilton, the daughter of Frank Garlock, married Ron Hamilton aka “Patch the Pirate” in 1975. They have managed Majesty Music and written sacred music for children and adults since they joined the ministry in 1978. Shelly currently ministers at Majesty Music as pianist, composer, arranger, and recording producer. In 2013, their son killed himself after years of struggle with mental health issues. The family’s public struggle and acknowledgement of mental health issues has reached people around the world. Most recently her family faces a new challenge: Ron Hamilton’s early onset of dementia. Her insight and music will encourage anyone facing the challenges of life.

In January 2018 Majesty Music announced their third generation of leadership. After years of waiting for God’s timing, Ron and Shelly transitioned the ministry over to their son-in-law Representative Adam Morgan and his wife, Ron and Shelly’s daughter, Megan.

Retirement Madness- How to Avoid Upsets in Retirement

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Topic- Retirement Madness- How to Avoid Upsets in Retirement

As we head towards March Madness this year, we thought we’d share our retirement preparation ideas so you can avoid upsets in your retirement. You will not want to miss our first virtual event on March 5, 2021, so be sure to register using the form below to save your spot.

Retirement Bracketology

According to Wikipedia, bracketology is the process of predicting the field of college basketball participants in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, named as such because it is commonly used to fill in tournament brackets for the postseason. Bracketology also encompasses the process of predicting the winners of each of the brackets. In recent years the concept of bracketology has been applied to areas other than basketball.

In a normal year, the NCAA tournament is played within the four regions of the Midwest, West, South, and East. In our Retirement Madness talk, we’ll discuss the following four topics:

  1. Income vs. Expenses
  2. Risks vs. Rewards
  3. Now vs. Later
  4. Expectations vs. Reality

The NCAA announced in early January the entire 2021 men’s basketball will be played in Indiana, with the majority of the games taking place in Indianapolis. As an added bonus to our talk, if we have time we’ll discuss one more “championship” topic which will be: Men vs. Women. We’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages between men and women when it comes to retirement. 

Be sure to Register for the Event on March 5, 2021

First Friday Networking at Noon (RSVP)

If you'd like to join our next First Friday Networking at Noon event, please RSVP below. We look forward to networking with you soon.

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Faith in the Midst of Trials

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Faith in the Midst of Trials with Shelly Hamilton

Reading Time: 2 minutes

For when I am tried and purified, I shall come forth as gold. These are the words that Ron Hamilton penned as he faced cancer which eventually took his eye. Ron and Shelly Hamilton had only been married three years when they received the news that Ron had cancer in his eye. Initially, the doctors speculated that his cancer could spread further into his brain, which would prohibit any surgical operations. Shelly had to come to grips with the reality that she may lose her husband after only three years of marriage. Thankfully, God had a different plan for Ron and Shelly. The doctors removed Ron’s eye and through that trial was the birth of the Patch the Pirate adventures.

As Shelly points out, God often turns our greatest trials in our lives into the greatest blessings of our lives. At Intelligent Investing, we understand that managing your wealth and finances is a small fraction of your entire life. Our goal is to help be your accountability partner, and advisor, as you face various trials in your life. We’d be honored to have a quick cup of coffee or a call to talk about what is going on in your world, and see if we may be a good fit to assist you as we go through life together.

If you haven’t subscribed to our podcasts, you can go to our podcast page and choose whichever method you want to download them. While you are there, you can go to our blog page and subscribe so you can get our latest Intelligent Insights directly in your inbox.

Shelly Hamilton Bio

Shelly Hamilton, the daughter of Frank Garlock, married Ron Hamilton aka “Patch the Pirate” in 1975. They have managed Majesty Music and written sacred music for children and adults since they joined the ministry in 1978. Shelly currently ministers at Majesty Music as pianist, composer, arranger, and recording producer. In 2013, their son killed himself after years of struggle with mental health issues. The family’s public struggle and acknowledgement of mental health issues has reached people around the world. Most recently her family faces a new challenge: Ron Hamilton’s early onset of dementia. Her insight and music will encourage anyone facing the challenges of life.

In January 2018 Majesty Music announced their third generation of leadership. After years of waiting for God’s timing, Ron and Shelly transitioned the ministry over to their son-in-law Representative Adam Morgan and his wife, Ron and Shelly’s daughter, Megan.