The result of this extensive groundwork is an investment strategy for patient investors who are seeking clarity, understanding and cost control … elegant simplicity.

Generous Giving and Getting

This just in: Money can buy happiness, at least according to Harvard Business School researcher Michael Norton.

Family, Psychology of FinanceGreg BrownNovember 13, 2014charitable giving, Gift Taxes

“Free” Trades Can Cost a Lot

I love free or low-cost service as much as the next guy. But, when it comes to financial services, if it’s “free”, buyer beware.

Fees and Expenses, Finance, InvestmentsGreg BrownNovember 6, 2014investing, passive investing, trading costs

Magic Matters (Especially on a Monday)

It’s not easy to explain Augmented Reality to 4- and 6-year-olds, especially when I’m not even sure exactly how the Magic Leap crew will pull this off.

Personal / FunGreg BrownOctober 27, 2014augmented reality, magic

The High Price of Fool’s Gold

We believe in the shared value of education over ignorance, especially when it comes to managing money for our clients.

Finance, Personal FinanceGreg BrownOctober 23, 2014financial education, financial literacy

Make the Most of 529 Plans for College (Part 2)

Learn how to choose between 529 plans based on what makes sense for you and your family.

College Planning, Finance, Investments, Personal FinanceGreg BrownOctober 9, 2014529 Plans, college, college savings

Making the Most of 529 Plans for College (Part 1)

How do you go about comparing and contrasting the 80+ 529 plans available to you?

College Planning, Finance, InvestmentsGreg BrownOctober 2, 2014529 Plans, college, college savings

Planning for Your Kids’ College Costs?

If you’re planning for your kids’ college costs—and what parent isn’t before the footprint ink is even dry on their birth certificates—read this article for some great tips.

College Planning, Finance, Personal FinanceGreg BrownSeptember 18, 2014529 Plans, college, college savings plans

Back to School on Financial Literacy

Here are some simple financial tips to help you build wealth and manage your money smarter.

Finance, Personal Finance, Psychology of FinanceGreg BrownSeptember 11, 2014Behavioral Finance, financial literacy, kids

How to Avoid Swimming in Sunken Costs

Whether they represent a past mistake, bad luck, or a choice that made perfect sense at the time but no longer does, you are subject to sunken cost fallacy when a holding is no longer serving for your current goals. Learn how to avoid this trap.

Signs of the Market Times, Real and Perceived

Are there signs to tell us if a market correction is imminent, or are they more likely false prophets? Either way, how is an investor advised to respond to such forecasts?

Finance, Investments, Psychology of FinanceGreg BrownAugust 14, 2014Behavioral Finance, biases, dimensional

Mooove Over and Avoid Herd Mentality

Herd mentality is just as applicable in bull markets, as early experience taught me well. Remember the tech stock bubble of the 1990s? As an engineer at Dell in the “second Silicon Valley” of Austin, Texas, I happened to be in hotbed of all the madness…

Finance, Personal Finance, Psychology of FinanceGreg BrownJuly 24, 2014Behavioral Finance, biases

“I Thought So” Syndrome (aka Confirmation Bias)

I’m no more immune to confirmation bias than the next guy. For example, when I left my job at Dell several years ago, I realized I could finally buy an Apple. But, darn the luck, we already had a perfectly good PC at home.

Recency Bias and Fair-Weather Investing

As if the market is also rejoicing at the arrival of fair weather, most asset classes ended this second quarter on a high note. It’s gratifying to see the improved numbers in our financial statements.

Impractical Tactical Asset Management

In past posts, we’ve talked about building your portfolio according to the body of robust academic evidence on how different asset classes are expected to deliver different long-term returns. But what is this “tactical asset management”?

Finance, InvestmentsGreg BrownJune 19, 2014market timing, tactical

Assembling a Diversified Portfolio

Today, we wanted to follow up with a closer look at effective diversification. Rather than reinvent the wheel, we’ll refer you to an excellent overview that already exists in the form of CBS MoneyWatch columnist Larry Swedroe’s post, “How to diversify your investments.”

Finance, InvestmentsGreg BrownJune 12, 2014Diversification

Household Portfolio Management: How Does Your Financial Garden Grow?

Life is often imperfect once reality gets in the way. In this case, a disadvantage of household portfolio management is, well, it’s harder to manage

Finance, InvestmentsGreg BrownJune 5, 2014household portfolio, trading costs

Portfolio Rebalancing — Part 2: Easier Said Than Done (and What To Do About It)

If trading were free, you could precisely rebalance your portfolio daily. In reality, trading incurs transaction fees as well as potential tax liabilities. To strike a happy compromise, you want to have guidelines in place for when and how to rebalance.

InvestmentsGreg BrownMay 22, 2014rebalancing, risk

Portfolio Rebalancing -- Part 1: When’s the Last Time You “Mowed” Your Portfolio?

When we create your portfolio, we do so according to particular percentages defined in your personalized Investment Policy Statement (IPS).

InvestmentsGreg BrownMay 15, 2014rebalancing, risk

Planning for the Play, Inspired by “The Great One” Gretzky

Carl Richards of BehaviorGap.com posted an interesting Tweet recently: “You don’t hire a real financial advisor because you aren’t smart enough. You hire one because you aren’t an objective 3rd party.”

Finance, Investments, Personal FinanceGreg BrownMay 8, 2014

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