Greg Aler

All our working lives, we dream of what we’ll do with the money we’ve saved and the newfound free time we’ve earned. Yet, upon reaching retirement, those dreams are sometimes replaced by something different: guilt. What gives? Retirement Account Guilt Happens to Almost Every Retiree Year after year, studies ask retirees about their greatest worry in retirement. The headlines are always the same. Overwhelmingly, retirees are afraid of outliving their assets. Of course, being careful to live within your means is always a good idea. But even if you’re not afraid to touch your retirement accounts,... Continue Reading

Recently, a publication targeted toward financial advisors published an article wondering if advisor fees based on assets under management (AUM) would soon be extinct. In just two sentences, this quote halfway through the article sums up precisely why the AUM model has survived for this long: “It’s so popular because it’s easy, and advisors don’t have to communicate how much money that is; they just say, ‘We charge 1%.’ It doesn’t sound like a lot of money, but it is.” Precisely. We live in a world where stores get our attention by advertising boldfaced discounts: 20% off! 30% off!... Continue Reading

As it turns out, “What Have You Done for Me Lately?” isn’t just a great song by Janet Jackson. It’s also a great question for your financial advisor; one that could provide important insights into the value you’re receiving (or not receiving for your annual fee). Now that you have the song stuck in your head (you’re welcome, by the way), let’s pause to acknowledge the irony that the song dropped on an album called Control in 1986. It’s the perfect playlist for taking back control of your retirement planning. And it begins with the following question: “What Have You Done for Me... Continue Reading

“Set it and forget it,” is the financial industry’s refrain for retirement success; as in, invest in mutual funds, don’t touch the money, and let the magic of compound interest carry you to the retirement of your dreams. There’s just one problem: what if what you’re “forgetting” is how much those mutual funds could cost you over time? A quick history lesson shows us why this is problematic. What a Coincidence! It might be hard to believe this, but there was a time when mutual funds weren’t regarded as the retirement savings vehicle for the masses. In fact, the first modern mutual... Continue Reading

I know it must be hard. Leading 194 countries for the last 125 years. It’s thankless work. Pioneering, revolutionizing and maintaining almost every freedom that the world enjoys. Building the largest and strongest economy that the world has ever seen. A country where you can do anything – regardless of your last name or where you went to school – if you want it bad enough. Yet… You are the butt of endless jokes. Attacked at every turn. Lied about – bullied – and mischaracterized. Blamed for every misfortune. But still… You keep my family fed and protected. You keep us safe. You hold... Continue Reading

Maybe You Shouldn’t Hang Out with Eddie  In this adaptation from Golden Reserve Founder Greg Aler’s new book, Fire Your Financial Advisor, we examine the villainous role Edward Jones has played in creating a retail financial advisor industry that pushes the limits of greed.  When you were in school, your parents probably told you not to hang out with certain kids who weren’t always sticking to the straight and narrow. While you’re now older and wiser, we need to impart one more piece of wisdom. Please, don’t get caught up with that Edward Jones.     Fun fact: both Edward Jones... Continue Reading

“Making investment decisions is simple!” said no one ever. But what if there was a way to see such decisions with unbiased clarity? Behold, The Overnight Test.   In a recent blog post, Carl Richards, the creator of The New York Times’ Sketch Guy column, asked readers to ponder: “What would you do if you purchased stock recommended by a family member years ago and it had only lost money since?”  Despite building a sensible financial plan within the last few years, including a portfolio of low-cost diversified investments, you continued to hold the loser stock. But one night, by some... Continue Reading

Downsizing is one of those ubiquitous practices that goes hand-in-hand with retirement, as if moving into your Golden Years is marked by a literal move into a new home. But if you’re still carrying a mortgage and intend to finance the purchase of your new smaller home, is it a good idea? Let’s take a closer look. What’s the Rationale? There’s a number of good reasons to downsize, including: Trading in acreage or a multi-story property for a smaller, single-level set-up more conducive to aging-in-place; Moving into a home worth less than the one you own now so you can bank the profits to... Continue Reading

How much should you watch or act on information and predictions that you see on financial TV? Mom always told us, “consider the source.” How much should you believe on financial TV? Social Security has moved up the date when they will cut back benefits. Will it affect you? 70% of people will need some kind of long-term care. Are you prepared? How tax planning in retirement is more complex than in your working years. If you have a pension, should you trust that it will be there for the next 30 years? At what point should you see a retirement planner? Is it an age, a level of wealth or something... Continue Reading

Every once in a while, you hear someone say something so succinct and spot-on, you’re darn near convinced you should frame it and hang it on the wall. This one comes courtesy of Morgan Housel, the author of The Psychology of Money and former columnist for The Motley Fool and The Wall Street Journal. In an interview with The Prof G Pod podcast, this is how Morgan summed up the ideal retirement goal for anyone over the age of 40: “The objective is not to get rich; it’s to not get poor.” Talk about a mic drop moment. That one little gem of advice sums up everything you need to know about a... Continue Reading