Wealth Management Blog | WrapManager (49)

Two Money Manager Strategies for the Current Market Environment

Posted by Gabriel Burczyk | Founder & CEO

May 16, 2014

One thing remains clear – despite what happens in the market and when, it’s likely you still need your portfolio growing and generating retirement income over time.

There are two types of money manager strategies that could ease concerns about where the market’s headed while positioning your portfolio for a variety of outcomes. Tactical Money Manager Strategies are designed to temper the effects of a market decline while trying to capture growth, and Dividend Income Money Manager Strategies aim to generate income while reducing volatility.

Let’s take a look at both.

Two Portfolio Strategies for the Current Market Environment

May 15, 2014

The stock market overcame some volatility early in the year but continued to trend higher. As the market has reached new all-time highs, many investors are wondering if it’s too late to put additional cash to work. Others have indicated they’re still waiting for a possible stock market correction before making any decisions. One thing remains clear – despite what happens in the market and when, it’s likely you still need your portfolio growing and generating retirement income over time. There are two types of portfolio strategies that could ease concerns about where the market’s headed while positioning your portfolio for a variety of outcomes. Tactical Strategies are designed to temper the effects of a market decline while trying to capture growth, and Dividend Income Strategies aim to generate income while reducing volatility. Let’s take a look at both. [+] Read More

WrapManager Adds Newfound Research LLC Investment Strategies to Their Approved List

May 15, 2014

Newfound’s Tactical, Risk-Managed Strategies Available to Help Investors Achieve Investment Goals San Francisco, CA – May 9, 2014. WrapManager, Inc. (www.wrapmanager.com), an investment advisor specializing in building investment plans and recommending money managers for investors, is pleased to announce that they now offer three risk-managed investment strategies from Newfound Research LLC (www.thinknewfound.com), a quantitative asset management firm focused on tactical, ETF managed portfolios. [+] Read More

Newfound Risk Managed Global Sectors: Global Investing With an Eye on Risk

May 14, 2014

Tactical money manager strategies have caught the attention of many investors recently, given their ability to participate in rising markets while also seeking to limit capital losses when the market declines. Newfound Research LLC's Risk Managed Global Sectors is one such strategy, providing investors access to global equities through an embedded risk-management process. The Newfound Global Sectors Strategy offers the following: A tactical risk management approach - the strategy can move into 100% cash in an attempt to limit large losses1 Additional equity exposure for your portfolio, specifically geared towards global stocks Elimination of cognitive biases due to its rules-based nature1 [+] Read More

Cambiar Investors International Equity First Quarter Commentary

May 13, 2014

International money manager Cambiar Investors reviews the past quarter, as well as the performance of their International Equity ADR and Global Select money manager strategies. “Aggregate global equities posted modest gains in the first quarter – a moral victory of sorts, given the broad sell-off in stocks that occurred in January. Buyers stepped in toward the end of the quarter, and many indices needed the last week of March to get back into the black. Stocks remained resilient during the quarter, despite ongoing concerns about Emerging Markets, valuation concerns in the U.S., and the increasing political uncertainty via Russia and their activities in the Ukraine.” Download Cambiar's Full Commentary Here Get Free Research Reports on Cambiar Investors [+] Read More

2 Important Tax Deductions That May Expire in 2014

May 12, 2014

At the end of last year, 55 tax breaks1 and incentives known as “tax extenders” expired. Several of them were corporate (57%) and related to things such as research, experimentation, and energy use.2 But there are two in particular that we think could affect you if they’re not extended this year. We’re writing to make you aware of them as you develop your tax planning strategies for 2014 and beyond. 1) Deducting State Income vs. Local Sales Taxes This provision allows for taxpayers to choose between deducting state income taxes vs. state sales taxes. So, if you live in a state with a high income tax, like New York or California, you could opt to deduct your state income tax versus deducting sales taxes. The opposite would be true for a state like Florida or Texas, where there is no state income tax. In those cases, you may want to deduct state sales taxes on your return. [+] Read More

The Stretch IRA: A Wealth Preservation Strategy That’s Easy to Use

May 8, 2014

The Stretch IRA strategy is a method for lengthening the life of your IRA assets, in hopes they span multiple generations. We stress the word “method” because the Stretch IRA is not actually a product – it’s a wealth preservation strategy your beneficiaries can use to stretch the life of the IRA assets they inherit from you.1 We’ll explain how it’s done below, but first we’ll help you understand the benefits. Stretching Your IRA Can Help It Grow Tax-Deferred Longer Stretching your IRA can lower the required withdrawal amounts your heirs have to take each year, meaning the value of your IRA can grow tax-deferred longer – a benefit that can keep the IRA in the family for generations. [+] Read More

3 Estate Planning Tips to Help Your Family Avoid Probate Fees

May 7, 2014

Probate comes from the Latin phrase “to prove,” and refers to the process of proving to a court that a last will and testament is valid. It is frequently a difficult and lengthy process, and in many cases can be quite expensive. Below, we’ll outline three steps you can take to help your family avoid probate. Settling an estate is a difficult time as it is, so it’s worth it to take the right steps taking today to ensure it goes smoothly. Probate Fees Can Add Up Quickly The fees vary from state to state, but just to give you an idea, the typical probate costs on a $500,000 estate in California could range between $14,390 and $27,390. On the higher end, this could mean losing over 5% of your estate to probate fees, not to mention all the time attorneys and family members will have to spend seeing it through.1 Avoid Probate with These 3 Steps In many cases you will likely need to apply some combination of the below approaches, so it is important to speak with your financial advisor and an estate attorney to know which options are right for you. [+] Read More

401(k) Allocation Advice: Which Investments Should You Choose?

May 6, 2014

First and foremost – don’t pay extra for the advice! As part of a comprehensive investment plan, your financial advisor should provide guidance on your 401(k) asset allocation, and which investments you choose depends on how you’re allocated outside of your 401(k). You should receive a detailed analysis—and this advice—at no extra charge. If you don’t have a financial advisor, have one look at your complete financial picture including your 401(k), and see what type of advice you get. Then, repeat this exercise with two or three different financial advisors and compare each, to see which one offers the most compelling and thoughtful advice. That might be the financial advisor worth hiring. In the meantime, here are 4 sound tips for setting up your 401(k) asset allocation [+] Read More

5 Reasons You Might Need to Open a Trust Account

May 6, 2014

In order to control how your assets are passed along to your family, charities, or other entities of your choice, you can often simply make your intentions very clear in your last will and testament. But other situations are more complex and require additional planning. This is when opening a trust account can help. Here are 5 reasons you might need a trust. 1) You Want to Protect Your Assets From Creditors You can accomplish this by setting up an irrevocable trust. Under this arrangement, you relinquish control of your assets to the trust, such that you no longer legally own the assets nor can you control how they’re distributed. It’s a trade-off. Pros: A future creditor cannot satisfy judgment on assets in an irrevocable trust.1 Cons: You give up control. [+] Read More