In this episode we answer emails from Steve, Grant, and Alexi (a/k/a "the Dude"). We discuss investing in managed futures and property and casualty insurance companies, rebalancing mechanisms and fitting those into a portfolio, Grant's various gambling problems with leveraged funds and assorted Metaverse doom-scrolling, and the recent annoying changes with Portfolio Visualizer. And our charitable push for our charity, the Father McKenna Center --get the match!Links:Father McKenna ...

In this final episode of Season Four we discuss the concepts of rebalancing and reallocating in all their glory and go through the planned annual rebalancings for four of the sample portfolios in excruciating detail. We also discuss all of the assets and allocations in the Risk Parity Ultimate portfolio and which ones we actually own in real life.And we go through our weekly portfolio reviews of all eight of the sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio.Additional...

In this episode we answer emails from Judy, Steve and MyContactInfo. We discuss a recent offer by The Financial Quarterback podcast to match donations the the Father McKenna Center (yay!), why you should buy gold ETFs and NOT physical gold, Cartman and Kyle, and the varying value of education depending on the individual.Links:Father McKenna Center Donation Page -- Remember to mention "The Financial Quarterback match" in new donations: Donate - Father McKenna CenterETF Database --...

In this episode we answer emails from Brian, Wendy, and Midas. We discuss the bond fund GOVT and how it fits or doesn't fit in portfolio construction, some basics about IRA conversions and retirement resources (podcasts and groups), and follow up on Episode 340 with a discussion on our pedagogical approach, the pluses and minuses of the Socratic Method and tilting at logical fallacies.And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the seven sample portfolios you can find at ...

In this episode we answer emails from Jeffrey, Justin and Matt. We discuss the concept of "skew" generally and in the context of investing in managed futures, a "station wagon" portfolio similar in macro-allocations to the new OPTRA sample portfolio, and the age old question of whether to pay down debt or invest. (Uncle Frank says "Do Both.")Links:Basic Article About Skew: Right Skewed vs. Left Skewed Distribution (investopedia.com)MFUT Fund Fact Page: Cambria Chesapea...

In this episode we introduce a new sample experimental portfolio, the O.P.T.R.A., which is now also featured on the Portfolios Page at the website. It is a mixture of the latest and greatest ideas in portfolio construction.Links:O.P.T.R.A. backtest: testfol.ioO.P.T.R.A. correlation analysis: testfol.ioMorningstar UPRO: UPRO – Portfolio – ProShares UltraPro S&P500 | MorningstarMorningstar AVGV: AVGV – Portfolio – Avantis All Equity Markets Value ETF | Mornings...

In this episode we answer emails from Marco Esquandolas, Adrian and Paulo. We discuss portfolio advice for a precocious 11-year old, a simple return-stacked portfolio a la Corey Hoffstein and the priority of the Simplicity Principle, and some recent articles about the Fama-French database.Links:Corey Hoffstein Talking About His Return-Stacked Portfolio: Show Us Your Portfolio: Corey Hoffstein (youtube.com)Paulo's Bloomberg Article: A Fight Over Factor Investing Tests a Pilla...

In this episode we answer emails from Steven, Kaleb and Reynolds. We discuss a levered small cap fund (SAA), short-term cash management and related ETFs, and how to compare and use bond funds of differing durations.And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the seven sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio.Additional links:ETF Database -- Ultra Short Term Bond Funds: The Web's Best ETF Screener | ETF Database (etfdb.com)Morningstar Article ...

In this episode we answer emails from Mark, Casey, and Kyle. We discuss transitioning from a drecky complicated Personal Capital/Empower portfolio to a simple risk-parity style portfolio, the song "Anchorage", and Sam Kinison's take on an IUL policy.Links:Father McKenna Center Donation Page: Donate - Father McKenna CenterMark's Portfolio Analysis: Backtest Portfolio Asset Class Allocation (portfoliovisualizer.com)Testfol.io Analysis of Mark's Portfolio: testfol.ioLarr...

In this episode we answer emails from David, Eric from Cincy, and Pete. We discuss Mike Green's recent commentary about index fund trends and whether its a problem, ROAD HOUSE, children, and Larry Swedroe's esoteric personal portfolio.And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the seven sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio.Additional links:Mike Green Interview: Michael Green: Market Efficiency Is Not The Question | Rational Reminder 302...

In this episode we answer emails from Dr. Anonymous, Lance, John and Eli. We discuss how to find a lawyer, extended term bond funds, gold ETFs and how ETFs are constructed.Links: Father McKenna Center Donation Page: Donate - Father McKenna CenterJohn's Gold ETF link: 9 low cost physical Gold ETFs for portfolio parity - SmartMoneyToolboxETF Article: Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF): What it is and How to Invest (investopedia.com)"Authorized Participant" Article: W...

In this episode we answer emails from Stuart, George and MyContactInfo. We discuss a follow-up on another listener's accumulation portfolio, the foibles of trying to predict future interest rates and common fallacious reasoning, levered inverse treasury bond funds and other funds that do well in rising interest rate environments, and a follow up on our target date fund rant episode (#333).Links:Portfolio Visualizer Analysis of UPRO and synthetic alternatives: Backtest Portfolio As...

In this episode we answer emails from Jeff, James and Graham. We discuss standard deviations and other metrics and tools at Portfolio Charts, revisit Episode 194 regarding the "Cockroach" portfolio, timing the transfer of a 401k to and IRA for better management options and some reasons for holding on to traditional IRAs and not converting them.And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the seven sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio.Additional...

In this episode we talk about some recent unfavorable changes to Portfolio Visualizer, have a look at a new backtesting tool, and then get back at it with emails from James, Andrew, Phil and Frodo. We discuss how flexible withdrawal strategies improve safe withdrawal rates and how we use them as a fail-safe or backstop to our 3-1-1 plan, options for financing buying a house, a funny Avengers video and transitioning grandma's 19-fund portfolio to something simpler and better.Links:Rob Be...

In this episode we answer emails from Scott, Midas, and Neil. We discuss national debt apocalypse theories, the misuse and cherry-picking involved in bad data analyses and umbrella insurance.And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the seven sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio.Additional links:Reinhardt & Rogoff Book: This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly by Carmen M. Reinhart | GoodreadsMoney For The Rest of ...

In this episode we answer emails from Average Joe, Matt, Kimbrough and Jon. We discuss goooooold, Matt's proposed portfolio, preferred shares fund PFF and how often to look at your portfolio without going insane.But first we discuss a recent article from David Blanchett recognizing that a 5% withdrawal rate ought to be the standard for financial planners and a New York Times article about financial independence and the EconoMe conference.Links:David Blanchett 5% Rule Article: Is t...

In this episode we answer emails from Kimbrough from Anchorage and anonymous Visitors from British Columbia and Denver. We discuss fish hatching and slaughterhouses, long term treasury bond funds, the inherent problems and inefficiencies with many popular but inflexible withdrawal plans, and how we use our flexible 3-1-1 guidelines to match and maximize spending, fixing a cash hoarding problem and why you want a growth/value split in your stock allocations.Links:Security Analysis Podcas...

In this episode we answer emails from Steve, Mark, and Judy. We take a frolic and detour into talking about going to law schools, talk about some Rob Berger videos and bucketeering, robo-advisor things and why they are not very helpful, and better choices.And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the seven sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio.Additional links:Father McKenna Center Spring 2024 Newsletter: Newsletter Spring 2024 - Father...

In this episode we answer emails from Zane, Slim Jim, and Jim Kirk. We discuss recent moves in world gold markets, good and bad mental models of collective action and critical events, including Mimetic Theory and fractal sand pile models, avoiding the physical metals racket, the data and evidence showing that retirees experience inflation at a much lower rate than the CPI (and most financial planners and DIYers get this completely wrong, resulting in bad planning), and the new global p...

In this episode we answer emails from Anderson, Brian and Drew. We entertain ourselves on 4/20 with Anderson's "Uncle Frank" Portfolio and learn something from it, discuss asset swapping for management of retirement accounts with a hat tip to Justin (Risk Parity Chronicles), and discuss the new Global Portfolio analysis and tools from Tyler at Portfolio Charts.And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the seven sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity...

In this episode we answer emails from Kyle, Andrew, Sameer and James. We discuss some portfolio comparisons of levered 60/40 portfolios, interpreting and comparing safe withdrawal rates from various calculators and their practical application in consideration of variable expenses and needs (our 3-1-1 flexible withdrawal plan), the foolish consistencies of DIYer and financial planners who seem to enjoy discouraging retirement spending, and recent articles about Fidelity's spa...

In this episode we answer an email from Ingrid.  We discuss target date funds in depth and why they are not good choices for investors.  We review their history and recent academic research that reveals the truth.  You may not like it, but we hope you can handle it. And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the seven sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio. Additional link: Referenced Academic Paper Revealing The Awful Truth About Target Date...

In this episode we answer emails from Ed, Anderson and Joe.   We discuss assisting aging parents running out of money, Anderson's levered accumulation portfolio and locating the assets, and using the G Fund in a TSP as a short-term bond fund. Links: Portfolio Matrix Used to Analyze Anderson's Portfolio (insert allocations per podcast):  Portfolio Matrix – Portfolio Charts Morningstar Article re G Fund:  How Good Is the Federal Government’s G Fund? | Morningstar Support the Show.

In this episode we answer questions from Dale, Brad and Corey.  We discuss a new paper about US dollar dominance and the common narrative fallacies associated with that issue, using the Rule of 55 for 401(k) withdrawals, the Nicest Guy of FI, and the basics of constructing portfolios with high historical safe withdrawal rates. And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the seven sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio. Additional links: Marketwatch...

In this episode we answer emails from Jon, Eli, and George.  We discuss using the tools at Portfolio Charts, methods of charitable giving to our favorite charity, extreme podcast listening, what to invest in if you are speculating on inflation next year and other gambling problems, and applying the math of Shannon's Demon to show us why we should not let the Simplicity Principle tail wag the Holy Grail principle diversification dog when constructing diversified portfolios. Links: Father...