In this podcast Paul starts by recommending, “Episode 285:  A Year In Review" a podcast/video.

In Paul’s review of 2023 returns he compares Chris’ Best In Class ETF recommendations with similar Vanguard ETFs and the average return in each equity asset class.  
He also gives returns for the most popular portfolios including, Ultimate Buy and Hold, 2 Fund U.S., 4 Fund U.S. and 4 Fund WW.
Using an article from Ben Carlson  Paul is able to find even more reasons 2024 should be a very profitable year for investors.Paul discusses his nominee for the #1 Fund Family in America.
He closes with a portion of a letter from Subah Randhawa, President of Western Washington University.

Review of 2023 returns and a prediction for 2024

Weekly podcasts with Paul Merriman. Strategic planning for investing at every stage of life.

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I interviewed Stan Haithcock, the expert I depend on when I have questions about annuities. We will dig into single premium life annuities (SPIA), multiple-year guaranteed annuities (MYGA) and other insurance products that are often over sold and over priced. What is the truth and how can you get what you need at the right price? Join me and Stan as he answers my questions and yours. 
Stan Haithcock, also known as "Stan the Annuity Man" is recognized as one of the top independent annuity agents in the United States. Stan has authored seven books on annuities — all free on his website— and has produced over 1,000 educational videos on YouTube. His goal is to help do-it-yourself investors understand how annuities work and to protect them from costly mistakes.
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Understanding the Pros and Cons of Annuities with Stan Haithcock

Join Christine Benz, Director of Personal Finance and Retirement Planning at Morningstar, for answers to seven of the biggest questions facing those entering or in retirement.

Financial literacy is empowering—yet good, practical education about financial management is too often out of reach for people, especially those with limited incomes. Former BCF Board member Paul Merriman—founder of The Merriman Financial Education Foundation—has dedicated his retirement to providing free education for all ages about how to secure a more stable financial future.
 
On behalf of BCF, every year Paul organizes ⁠free virtual events⁠ with speakers who are nationally renowned experts in their fields in order to help educate our community on how to better plan for our futures. These events target all ages and levels of financial literacy, including youth, first-time investors who are still in the workforce, and those who have just entered retirement.


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Your top retirement questions answered with Christine Benz

Today, we bring you an exclusive conversation between two investment gurus, JL Collins and Paul Merriman. They debate the secrets of building wealth, focusing on investment strategies, index funds, and the potential power of small-cap companies.

If you're looking to sharpen your investment acumen, this episode is full of knowledge and insights!

Join us as we navigate through the crucial aspects of long-term investing, risk management, and the dynamics of the S&P; 500 and Total Stock Market Index Fund.

Paul and JL dissect the importance of diversification, disciplined strategies, and the psychology behind successful investing. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, this episode is packed with valuable tips and strategies for a robust financial future.


Watch the video here

Financial Gurus Collide: JL Collins and Paul Merriman Debate Wealth Strategies

So, you've chosen to be a buy-and-hold investor following one of Paul's Sound Investing portfolios.  Now, the question is, what to buy?  It's time to become a knowledgeable shopper.
Chris Pedersen describes the attributes that make an ETF or mutual fund more or less suited to implementing the portfolios we've discussed. 
He then shows how to use Morningstar and Portfolio Visualizer to evaluate funds and points to the Best-in-Class recommended funds he's chosen.
Finally, he demonstrates how the Portfolio Configurator can compare different fund family implementations and calculate the needed percentages of different funds for your personal portfolio choices.  
Along the way, we learn that, like Warren Buffet, he has a thing for Diet Coke.
Resources:
AAII Article describing his Best-in-Class ETF selection process- 
Video link to section of prior video showing more detail of the factor analysis he uses- Time mark- 46:00
Best-in-Class ETF's article 
Best-in-Class ETFs
Portfolio Configurator 

Best in Class ETF 2024 Updates

Chris Pedersen shows how to automate investing with simple 2-fund portfolios.  He discusses how target-date funds work and how to combine them with small-cap value funds to achieve results similar to more complicated portfolios.  He highlights the 2 Funds for Life fine-tuning table in the Portfolio Configurator and shows how it can be used to set expectations based on different allocations.
He also shows how 2 Funds for Life approaches can be compared to Sound Investing portfolios using the Configurator.  Finally, he takes advantage of Paul's absence to praise Paul's example and highlight the importance of non-financial investments.
Resources mentioned:https://lookerstudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/a941a5d4-0929-45ea-b22e-3bb82dc334ff/page/p_zy32acuhdd?s=hqmha3-AK5k


Watch the video here.

Review of 2023 returns and a prediction for 2024

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