"I stopped buying active investments (individual stocks, etc.) when I realized that they monopolized most of my attention. Despite being a small % of my portfolio, I watched them all the time. This is why I went passive and you should too. You can't put a price on mental freedom." Nick Maggiulli, Dollars and Data

In This Edition
Bainbridge Island Financial Literacy Month
How to Avoid the 12 Biggest Investment Mistakes Retirees Make
Latest Podcast
Testimonial

I believe this is the 12th year our foundation has co-sponsored Financial Literacy Month on Bainbridge Island. In the beginning the presentations were live in the library or the auditorium of the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Today they are available to Bainbridge and the rest of the world via the internet.

The following is an invite that has gone to almost every household on the Bainbridge. I hope you will consider joining us. If you know you have questions for Mary Beth, Christine or me, please send me an email with your question. Note "Financial Literacy Question" in your subject line.

The Good, Bad, Ugly and Average Risk and Returns of Small Cap Value, S&P 500 and 2 and 4 Fund Portfolios

Empowering Financial Literacy for a Secure Future

Imagine a future where you feel empowered and in control of your finances—a future where you’re not just surviving but thriving. Financial literacy is the key to unlocking that brighter future. The 2025 Bainbridge Community Foundation Financial Education Series presents a valuable opportunity by offering free resources and insights from renowned experts such as Mary Beth Franklin, Paul Merriman, and Christine Benz, who illuminate the path to financial acumen. During these approachable, expert-led sessions, we’ll explore how small, intentional changes can create a foundation for long-term financial wellness.

Beyond the practical skills, financial literacy brings a sense of control and peace of mind, reducing stress and helping you feel confident about your financial journey. It’s not just about learning to manage money—it’s about creating opportunities, achieving goals, and building a future that aligns with the life you want to live.

From practical strategies for budgeting to tips on saving for retirement and understanding investments, these free workshops are tailored to give you actionable, real-world insights.

Join us to enhance your financial literacy and secure a prosperous future. Read more about each presentation and how to register below.

The Good, Bad, Ugly and Average Risk and Returns of Small Cap Value, S&P 500 and 2 and 4 Fund Portfolios

How to Maximize Social Security Benefits with Mary Beth Franklin
Thursday March 6th, 2025 4:30-6PM PST

Mary Beth's Mission: Deciding when and how to claim your maximum Social Security benefits is one of the most important decisions that retirees will ever make, but the rules are complicated. I understand the rules and my mission is to serve as a trusted resource for both consumers and financial professionals. You probably have a lot of questions. But you only need one answer—the right one for your situation. I can help.

In this presentation, you’ll learn the latest Social Security information on:

The basics of Social Security
Rules and strategies for single people, married couples, surviving spouses, divorced spouses, and ex-spouses
How work affects Social Security benefits
Strategies to increase future benefits

Mary Beth Franklin is one of the country’s leading experts on Social Security. She is also a veteran personal finance journalist with over 40 years writing as a congressional correspondent for United Press International. for consumers at Kiplinger’s and for investment advisors at Investment News. She was recently the host of PBS’ special "Social Security & You.” Among the many awards she has received is the prestigious Jesse H. Neal award for Best Instructional Content for her article, “Demystifying Social Security.”

12 Things Most Investors Don’t Know About Long-Term Investment Success with Paul Merriman
Thursday March 13th, 2025 4:30-6PM PST

Most investors today understand the main factors of long-term investment success. Diversification, low expenses, low taxes, index funds, automated investing are on every list of best practices. But there are a handful of other factors that are misunderstood or are not even considered. Join Paul and he will highlight 12 aspects of investing that can take your investment returns from good to great.

In this presentation you will learn:

Why you can’t trust the performance of mutual funds
Why future returns will be the same as past returns
Why more, not less, diversification is likely to give higher returns
How you really can make higher returns at less risk
The easiest way to make an extra million dollars

Paul Merriman is the founder of The Merriman Financial Education Foundation (2012), author of 8 books including “We’re Talking Millions: 12 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Retirement," host of award winning “Sound Investing” weekly podcast, regular columnist for Marketwatch.com, contributing editor for the Association of Individual Investors Journal, and the 2021 recipient of the American Association of Individual Investor’s James Cloonan Award for “Excellence in Investment Education”

How to Retire: CliffsNotes Edition! With Christine Benz
Thursday March 20th, 2025 4:30-6PM PST

Planning for retirement isn't just a matter of lining up financial resources--though that's a crucial step. It's also crucial to determine what will provide structure, purpose and identity, and relationships when you're no longer working. Christine Benz will discuss key takeaways from her recent book How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement. She'll assess the importance of guaranteed income in retirement, structuring an investment portfolio to support in-retirement cash flows, and thinking through how you'd pay for long-term care, among other topics.

In this presentation, you'll learn:

The value of guaranteed lifetime income sources, especially Social Security, and how to identify your own retirement income style
How to build a portfolio for retirement that will provide stability and long-term growth
How to develop a long-term care plan, regardless of your financial resources

Christine Benz is director of personal finance and retirement planning for Morningstar. She is also author of How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement, and she co-hosts "The Long View" podcast for Morningstar. In 2020, Barron’s named her to its inaugural list of the 100 most influential women in finance; she appeared on the 2021 list as well.

How to Avoid the 12 Biggest Investment Mistakes Retirees Make

March 3, 2025
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

In this time of tumult, it can be difficult to keep focused regarding your retirement strategies. As part of a Bainbridge Community Foundation investment series, Paul Merriman will address the biggest pitfalls for your retirement investments and how you can chart a safer course.

Paul created the Merriman Financial Education Foundation after many years as a financial advisor and wealth management advisor. His goal: to help investors have the information and tools to make informed decisions in their own best interest and to successfully implement retirement savings.

Here’s the link to use at the time of the call: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82524617784?pwd=NXVVeExscTdpd3ZlY05uTEdvaVNuUT09

More details on the BCF series here: Public Education Programs — Bainbridge Community Foundation

Latest Podcast- The Good, Bad, Ugly and Average Risk and Returns of Small Cap Value, S&P 500 and 2 and 4 Fund Portfolios

The purpose of this podcast/video is to help investors understand the likely risk and return parameters of small cap value, S&P 500, 2 Fund Portfolio (50% each SCV/S&P) and 4 Fund Portfolio (25% each SCV/S&P/SCB/LCV). In each case the best, worst, and average 1, 2, 3, 5, 10. 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 year returns are listed. The following tables are discussed:

⁠S&P 500 Historical Risk and Return⁠

⁠US SCV Index Portfolio Historical Risk and Return⁠

US 2 Fund Index Portfolio Historical Risk and Return⁠

⁠US 4 Fund Index Portfolio Historical Risk and Return⁠

Also the risk and return page from the ⁠Sound Portfolios ⁠ is referenced.

Bootcamp 2025 Testimonial

"Paul, Daryl and Chris - you guys are beyond amazing. I have been listening to you guys for the last 4 years and you have been phenomenally consistent in your messaging."

Comment under Sound Investing Boot Camp Video

In This Edition Bainbridge Island Financial Literacy MonthHow to Avoid the 12 Biggest Investment Mistakes Retirees MakeLatest PodcastTestimonial

In This Edition
Bainbridge Island Financial Literacy Month
How to Avoid the 12 Biggest Investment Mistakes Retirees Make
Latest Podcast
Testimonial