"Investing is not a game of perfect, but a game of probabilities. Your job is to tilt the odds in your favor.” Ben Carlson

In This Edition
Ben Carlson
ChooseFi with Paul Merriman
Latest MarketWatch
Latest Podcast
Testimonial

I think Ben Carlson addresses some of the most important topics. The following article gives a terrific view of asset class returns over 90 plus years. All of these asset classes have been an important part of our lives and are competing for our investment dollars.

In the coming weeks we will take the discussion to another level. As in Ben’s quote above I want investors to tilt the odds in your favor. I think it will be interesting to expand his table to include other important asset classes. Big, small , value and growth equity asset classes as well as short, intermediate and long term bonds should be part of the table. Stay tuned!

Juice up your S&P 500 fund for higher returns

I'm super excited to announce that Paul Merriman is coming back to present "21 Investment Questions Every Do-It-Yourself Investor Must Answer" to the group on June 8th, 10am to 12pm (Pacific) via ZOOM!

If you are interested in attending, please complete the anonymous google form so that Paul can customize his presentation based on what attendees are most interested in hearing about. We'll be collecting responses until 5/29, in order to give Paul time to build out his presentation.

Latest MarketWatch- Saving for retirement is easier than most people think — as long as you get two things right

I hear lots of people, young, old and in-between, complaining that they don’t see how they’ll ever be able to afford to retire.

In fact, saving for retirement is easier than most people think, so long as you get just two things right:

Start setting money aside, the sooner the better.
Pay a lot of attention to where you invest that money.
This is the fifth installment of a series of articles I’m calling Boot Camp for Investors 2024. My aim is to give you the most important information and tools you could get from a good financial adviser.

To recap, the first article in Boot Camp 2024 demonstrated that over the past 96 years, investors were far better off in stocks than in bonds.

In the second installment I showed how diversification, even small changes in the makeup of your stock portfolio, can give you millions more dollars in retirement.

The third installment showed historical returns and risks of a variety of combinations of equity asset classes.

And the fourth discussed how to use fixed-income funds to limit the amount of risk you take. Read the article here.

Latest Podcast- Pediheart Podcast #279: Asset Allocation in Your Retirement Accounts

Eleven months a year ⁠Dr. Robert Pass produces a podcast ⁠dedicated to a review of the latest literature and thought leaders in pediatric cardiovascular care. For the last 3 years Rob has finished his podcast series with a focus on personal finance.

It has been an honor to work with Rob on these special podcasts for the last 3 years. This is his podcast from December 2023.

To conclude 2023 we end with noted national authority on personal finance and investing, Mr. Paul Merriman.

Mr. Merriman reviews some basic ideas about asset allocation within a retirement plan such as a 403b, 401k or IRA with the goal of achieving the highest degree of return for level of risk.

He reviews the importance of diversification and also shares with us both a '2 fund' and '4 fund' approach to creating a low cost, efficient and diversified portfolio that has, historically, been associated with good long term returns. Mr. Merriman's work can be seen at: ⁠paulmerriman.com⁠

For those interested learn more about his '2 Fund' solution: ⁠https://www.paulmerriman.com/2-funds-for-life-update-2023⁠

For those interested to learn more about his '4 Fund' solution: ⁠https://www.paulmerriman.com/4-fund-combo⁠

For those interested in target date funds: ⁠https://www.paulmerriman.com/target-date-funds⁠

Finally, for those who did not previously take advantage of Paul's free book, the following is a link to a free PDF of the book: ⁠https://irp.cdn-website.com/6b78c197/files/uploaded/Were-Talking-Millions.pdf⁠

Please note: This episode is not intended to provide specific personal finance advice and is for entertainment purposes only. Please consider speaking with a trusted advisor before making any significant changes to your retirement assets.

Testimonial

"Merriman Foundation is putting out the best content out there! Real tools and advice. Talk as long as you want guys , I'll be listening."

Pediheart Podcast #279: Asset Allocation in Your Retirement Accounts

Best in class ETF Q&A

Call To Action!

Here are a few simple ways to support the financial education work of The Merriman Financial Education Foundation, a registered 501(c)3. In so doing you help better the lives of individuals, families and communities, creating more opportunities for all.

Subscribe to our weekly “Sound Investing” podcast, available on your favorite listening platforms and leave a review. Tell us what you think!
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel, and hit the thumbs up, subscribe, leave a comment and share the link with your social media and friends.
Use our M1 Finance affiliate link to set up a brokerage account and use our portfolio suggestions. If you fund your account with a minimum of $1,000, our foundation will receive a one-time affiliate fee —at no cost to you—which helps support our financial education projects.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
Buy our latest books, We’re Talking Millions! 12 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Retirement and 2 Funds for Life: A quest for simple & effective investing strategies; all the profits help support our work.
Support our mission by making a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation.

In This EditionBen CarlsonChooseFi with Paul MerrimanLatest MarketWatchLatest PodcastTestimonial

In This Edition
Ben Carlson
ChooseFi with Paul Merriman
Latest MarketWatch
Latest Podcast
Testimonial

One good tilt deserves another!