Forget investing, Wall Street is a marketing and sales machine. They've developed a real stinker of a product that at first glimpse appears like the answers to your prayers but really is just one more ...

One of my favorite advertising slogans from childhood was the Wendy’s “where’s the beef?” question regarding competitor (i.e., McDonalds and Burger King) hamburgers. I often hear a similar question ...

As discussed in earlier columns, there are two types of structured-note products — those without a principal guarantee and those that guarantee the return of principal as a worst-case scenario.

The rise of financial engineering in recent years has resulted in the creation of a new class of investment vehicles called structured products. Issued by investment banks, structured products have a ...

Cryptocurrencies often make headlines for their price swings. For example, Bitcoin fell by over 70% from its November 2021 all-time high. To manage this volatility, investors are increasingly using ...

When we build portfolios for our clients, we strive to make complex investment concepts easy to understand. Often, we reference a “Three Bucket” approach to asset allocation. To Be Happy Now, Live ...

When the European Central Bank signalled that its next likely rate move would be upwards, it triggered a sharp shift in interest rate expectations. The euro swaps yield curve dramatically inverted ...

Private banks are stuffing structured products into client portfolios wherever the banks have discretionary authority to purchase these notes on behalf of clients – without explaining the risks and ...

Many fiduciaries have greatly expanded the types of investments they use in portfolios, thanks to the freedom afforded by widespread adoption during the past two decades of both the Uniform Prudent ...

In my work forensically examining investment portfolios on behalf of endowments, foundations and pensions, I have observed an alarming trend. Increasingly, banks serving in a fiduciary capacity, such ...

As the U.S. economy teeters on the brink of a recession, you may be wondering how you can create a retirement income portfolio that will stand the test of time. Like many other pre-retirees or ...