How do you beat inflation without stock picking and market timing? You get exposure to systematic sources of excess return, a.k.a. premiums. This is one of our favorite slides because it highlights the premiums that savvy investors want exposure to, going back to 1927. Get low-cost, diversified, tax-efficient exposure to these factors, take the long view, and you’ve put the odds firmly in your favor.

I attended the CFA Society of Houston’s Rice Wealth Management Symposium entitled “Putting Investors First” this month, where I heard Sharon Carson of J.P. Morgan discuss her Guide to Retirement. Investors often struggle with understanding which aspects of their retirement and investment planning they can actually control. Sharon shared this graphic, which clearly depicts the four areas of planning where you have some measure of control—and the two where you have none.

Prospective clients often ask, “What should I be looking for in an advisor?” Click here to see our response…