Hiley Hunt

The yield curve is flattening (or growing steeper)! … Yield curve spreads are widening (or narrowing)! … The yield curve has inverted (or normalized)! Headline-grabbing yield curve commentary somehow sounds important, doesn’t it? But what is a yield curve to begin with, and what does it have to do with you and your investments? A […]

In parts I and II of our series, “An Evidence-Based Approach to Sustainable Investing,” we introduced key building blocks for sustainable investing, and summarized current strategies for building them into your own portfolio. The ground we’ve covered so far may suffice to help you determine if and how you would like to invest more sustainably. […]

Second quarter has come and gone, along with the usual mixed bag of “what next?” news. There were the typical ugly players such as potential trade wars and rising interest rates. There were also the usual market darlings, such as this quarter’s big, bold tech stocks. Each in their own way can tempt you to […]

As we touched on in our last piece, “Setting the Sustainable Stage,” degrees and kinds of “doing good” are often in the eye of the beholder. How do we measure something that is sometimes so subjective? As described in “Why and How Investors Use ESG Information” (a University of Oxford/Harvard University paper to be published […]

If there’s one trait most of us share, it’s a desire to make the world a better place. No wonder there’s so much interest in sustainable investing. Who wouldn’t want to try to earn decent if not stellar returns, while contributing – or at least causing less harm – to the greater good? But what […]

One of the more difficult challenges facing a business owner is the formulation of a viable and economically beneficial exit strategy at retirement. Typically, the main goals of such an exit strategy are: 1) to identify a qualified buyer; and 2) to receive fair compensation for the business, which would, in turn, translate into a […]

Here at Hiley Hunt, we try to keep the financial jargon to a minimum. But even where we may succeed, you’re likely to encounter references elsewhere that can turn valuable information into mumbo-jumbo yet to be translated. Consider us your interpreter. Today, we’ll explore correlation, and why it matters to investing. A Quick Take: Correlation […]

Now that the 2017 tax season is a wrap for most Americans, it’s time to start contemplating how the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) will impact your current and future tax plans. One of the frequently asked questions we’ve been fielding is on charitable giving: How can you keep giving, and get a […]

If you were a member of the popular press, you’d probably be happy with 2018’s first quarter performance. At last – some volatility-fueling news in early February, with plenty of enticing “largest,” “fastest,” and “worst” market superlatives to savor after a long, languid lull. As usual, there are plenty of potential culprits to point to […]

“This is a test; this is only a test. Had this been an actual emergency …” The truth is, the markets are not tanking as we write this piece. In fact, overall market temperatures have been so mild for so long, many newer investors have yet to weather a perfect market storm. Even if you […]

After nearly a decade of leaving the federal funds rate at zero percent, the time finally came on December 16, 2015: The U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) raised the federal funds rate by 0.25 percent. Because it was the first rate increase since June 2006, it was reported as “a historic moment.” Since then, the […]

No matter how the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) may alter your tax planning, we’d like to believe one thing will remain the same: With or without a tax write-off, many Americans will still want to give generously to the charities of their choice. After all, financial incentives aren’t usually your main motivation […]

If there is a universal investment ideal, it is this: Every investor wants to buy low and sell high. What if we told you there is a disciplined process for doing just that, and staying on track toward your personal goals while you’re at it? Guess what? There is. It’s called rebalancing. Rebalancing: How It […]

Happy New Year! With 2017 in the rearview mirror, we’re pleased to reflect on – and share with you – a newly released Dimensional Fund Advisors 2017 Market Review. Overall, the view is quite pleasant for most global and domestic returns alike, even though few financial forecasters were predicting this sort of slam dunk at […]

As the 2017 market analyses have begun rolling in, so too have the reports of long and strong positive performance from almost every corner of the market. One Wall Street Journal (WSJ) year-end report summarized: “Sure, U.S. stocks had solid gains. But investors who bought copper, Argentine stocks, and lumber futures would have also ended […]

We interrupt your busy holiday season with a quick post on last week’s U.S. tax code overhaul. While the ink still dries on this sweeping new legislation, you may be wondering whether there are ways you can or should spring into action immediately, before year-end, to reposition yourself for the new law of the land. […]

Have you caught cryptocurrency fever, or are you at least wondering what it’s all about? Odds are, you hadn’t even heard the term until recently. Now, it seems as if everybody and their cousin are getting in on it. Psychologists have assigned a term to the angst you might be feeling in the heat of […]

We’ll wrap our series, the ABCs of Behavioral Biases, by repeating our initial premise: Your own behavioral biases are often the greatest threat to your financial well-being. We hope we’ve demonstrated the many ways this single statement can play out, and how often our survival-mode brains trick us into making financial calls that foil our […]

What makes you happy? As we wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on this timeless question. You probably already realize that piles of possessions by themselves aren’t enough. But it may be less clear what does generate enduring happiness and how we, as your financial advsior, […]

We’re coming in for a landing on our alphabetic run-down of behavioral biases. Today, we’ll present the final line-up: sunk cost fallacy and tracking error regret. If you would like to get caught up in our series, please click here to view the last article! Sunk Cost Fallacy What is it? Sunk cost fallacy makes […]

So many financial behavioral biases, so little time! Today, let’s take a few minutes to cover our next batch of biases: overconfidence, pattern recognition and recency. If you would like to get caught up on our recent articles about behavioral biases, please click here to begin! Overconfidence What is it? No sooner do we recover […]

If you’ve taken our past advice about ignoring the onslaught of breaking market news, you probably didn’t read Russell Investments’ recent “2017 Global Market Outlook Q4 Update.” We’re not prone to pore over these relatively unremarkable analyses ourselves, but we do scan a representative sampling of them as part of our due diligence. That’s how […]

There are so many investment-impacting behavioral biases, we could probably identify at least one for nearly every letter in the alphabet. Today, we’ll continue with the most significant ones by looking at: hindsight, loss aversion, mental accounting and outcome bias. After you have finished this article, please look back at our previous article in this […]

One of the toughest realities to prepare for after a divorce—and especially after a difficult one—is the division of financial assets. Wealth accumulated throughout a life’s hard work could be severely and negatively impacted in a matter of months, creating problems that could continue for years if the proper details are not attended to during […]

Robert “RJ” Dechow Clifton Strengths Finder Top 5 Strengths: Context, Analytical, Relator, Responsibility, Harmony What is your role at HHWM? Intern Associate – working on major projects such as technology updates to the CRM, reorganizing file structure, marketing activities within the firms’ blog and social media, and learning about the financial planning industry. What did […]

While the Equifax security breach only recently became public knowledge on September 8, in many ways, it was a lifetime ago. We were already on high alert for instances of identity theft. But the source, scope, and what seems like a justified feeling of betrayal associated with this particular breach have ushered in a new […]

Let’s continue our alphabetic tour of common behavioral biases that distract otherwise rational investors from making best choices about their wealth. Today, we’ll tackle: fear, framing, greed and herd mentality. If you’re interested in reading the rest of the behavioral biases alphabet, please click here! Fear What is it? You know what fear is, but […]

The national holiday we celebrated on Monday is a good time for reflection on why we work and what we derive from it. The answer should be that it gives your life energy and meaning. If it doesn’t, you should change that. Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. Summer trips wind down, students […]

The average price tag for four years at a private college exceeds $170,000, according to the College Board’s Trends in College Pricing 2014. That’s 17% higher than seven years previously. In fact, rising tuition costs are outpacing inflation at the same time that federal grant aid is lagging behind inflation. While funding four years of […]

Welcome back to our “ABCs of Behavioral Biases.” Today, we’ll get started by introducing you to four self-inflicted biases that knock a number of investors off-course: anchoring, blind spot, confirmation and familiarity bias. Anchoring Bias What is it? Anchoring bias occurs when you fix on or “anchor” your decisions to a reference point, whether or […]

By now, you’ve probably heard the news: Your own behavioral biases are often the greatest threat to your financial well-being. As investors, we leap before we look. We stay when we should go. We cringe at the very risks that are expected to generate our greatest rewards. All the while, we rush into nearly every […]

Many of us may perceive trusts as a complex subject better left to our attorney. However, a trust is simply a contract initiated by a grantor who agrees to transfer assets to a beneficiary, who then receives the assets as stipulated in the trust contract. A trustee, who may also be the grantor, manages the […]

PLEASE DOWNLOAD OUR DETAILED GUIDE: WEALTH MANAGEMENT FOR WIDOWS   Whether it’s sudden and unexpected or after an already lengthy ordeal, there’s nothing that can prepare you for losing your spouse. Grief and mourning affect each of us uniquely, but all widows and widowers share a painful dilemma: On the one hand, the world seems […]

What parents need to know about saving for college   If you’re saving for your child’s higher education, you probably have a lot of questions besides “When did college get so incredibly expensive?” One popular savings tool that might puzzle you the most is the 529 Plan. Started in the late 1980s and operated by […]

Many individuals generally view bonds as conservative investments that provide steady income and a higher degree of protection of principal. When the equity markets do exceptionally well, it may be tempting to overweight your portfolio with equity investments. However, it’s important to maintain an even approach to investing during market swings and to ensure your […]

Americans donate billions to charity annually. If you give to charity, you need to know about one of the best tools to facilitate generosity: Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs). DAFs date from the 1930s but did not become popular until the 1990s. DAFs act as vehicles for receiving gifts, often of appreciated stock, and then distributing cash […]

How many new ways are there for the same old market forecasters to twist a timeless truth: None of us has any idea what the markets will do next. Consider the following quote from a recent Wall Street Journal article entitled, “Global Stocks Post Strongest First Half in Years, Worrying Investors.” “The question for stock […]

The time to begin planning for your financial future is now. So, when it comes to preparing for retirement, the earlier you start, the better. Here are some steps to help you achieve your overall objectives: Review your current financial situation by assessing your income and assets versus your expenses and liabilities. At first, determine […]

Growth or value—what’s your style? Growth investors look for stocks that will grow at a high rate for a relatively short period of time or mutual funds that focus on growth stock. Value investors look for stocks that are currently undervalued and are expected to increase to their true value over a longer time horizon […]

For many affluent individuals, occasional gifts to a favorite charity may satisfy their charitable inclinations. The added incentive of an often substantial tax deduction, coupled with various estate planning benefits, is sometimes the driving force behind such charitable gifts. However, for some individuals, philanthropy is a far more serious endeavor, often involving a succession of […]

When business is booming, many business owners don’t take the time to find out if their organization is running at maximum efficiency. Wasteful practices may abound, but are seldom addressed in the rush to get the product out or job done. Yet, when business slows, the time is there to take stock of business operations, […]

If you enjoy fine literature, we recommend all of Warren Buffett’s annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letters, dating back to 1965. While financial reports are rarely the stuff from which dreams are made, Buffett’s way with words never ceases to impress. His most recent 2016 letter was no exception, including this powerful insight about market downturns: […]

Young or old, wealthy or poor, online or in person … Nobody is immune from financial scams and identity theft slams. No matter who you are or how well-informed you may be, the bad guys are out there, daily devising new tricks for every fraud we fix. Who Are They? Fraudsters and Thieves Financial fraudsters […]

If Q1 2017 had a theme song, it might be, “There’s a Kind of Hush All Over the World.” There was the usual stream of global news. To name a few highlights: U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May signed Article 50, officially starting the two-year clock ticking on a U.K. Brexit by March 29, 2019. The […]

Legend has it, a pharmacist named John Pemberton was searching for a headache cure when he tried blending Coca leaves with Cola nuts. Who knew his recipe was destined to become such a smashing success, even if Coca-Cola® never did become the medicine Pemberton had in mind? In similar vein, when Charles Dow launched the […]

Market indexes. You read about them all the time, such as when the Dow Jones Industrial Average (the Dow) topped 20,000 points in early 2017 … and then broke 21,000 just over a month later. In our last piece, we explored what those points actually measure, which isn’t always what you might guess. Today, we’ll […]

As we covered in our last piece, indexes have their uses. They can roughly gauge the mood of a market and its participants. If you’ve got an investment strategy that’s designed to capture that market, you can see how your strategy is doing in comparison … again, roughly. You can also invest in an index […]

Since nearly every media outlet on the planet reported the news, you probably already know that the Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 20,000 for the first time on January 25, 2017. But when a popular index like the Dow is on a tear, up or down, what does it really mean to you and your […]

As we look back on a year filled with surprises (from its opening days onward), it’s natural to wonder what to expect in 2017. This is especially so, since most of those surprising events have yet to play out in full – from the political climate in the U.S., to the Brexit referendum in the […]

So much of investing is beyond our control (picking stock prices, timing market movements and so on), it’s nice to know that there are still a number of “power tools” we can employ to potentially enhance your bottom line. Tax-loss harvesting is one such instrument … although the analogy holds true in a couple of […]

How often have you heard that “a penny saved is a penny earned”? While I can’t claim credit for originating this succinct wisdom, it has served me well over the years — both personally and professionally — in helping my clients make smarter decisions about their money. But at what point does a “penny saved” […]

Is it just us, or did the fourth quarter arrive even faster than usual this year? Maybe it was the summer’s relative calm. There were the usual, never-ending newsfeeds whispering bitter nothings into investors’ ears, but global markets mostly snoozed through the white noise. We even celebrated a few milestones. In the U.S.: The triumvirate […]

Most investors are familiar with Certificates of Deposit (CDs). You purchase one, and the bank pays you a bit of interest on it, plus your principal back. They don’t yield much, but they’re nearly as dependable as it gets. As such, CDs can often serve as sensible tools for offsetting the risk inherent to pursuing […]

Twice a week. Always twice a week. Neither the oppressive heat nor the insufferable humidity hindered my mom from insisting that the lawn be mowed twice a week. I had always assumed my mom had a good reason for wanting the lawn to be mowed that often. Perhaps it had something to do with the […]

For as long as we’ve been in business, we have encouraged investors to adopt a patient, long-term approach to capturing the market’s expected returns. In industry parlance, some have categorized our approach as “passive,” versus active attempts to beat the market. We prefer to think of ourselves as evidence-based. Call it what you will, all […]

It’s no surprise that this year’s U.S. presidential race has become a subject of conversation around the globe. In “Why Our Social Feeds are Full of Politics,” Canadian digital marketing executive Tara Hunt observes, “American politics, it seems, makes for high-intensity emotions far and wide.” The intensity will probably only increase as the November 8 […]

In the face of political drama at home and abroad, it’s certainly been a summer for trying our patience, hasn’t it? For anyone who has ever been a parent or a child – that is, for everyone – there are several comparisons we can draw between good parenting and good wealth management. For both, plenty […]

Just as the natural world around us comes from the elements found in the periodic table of elements, capital markets are made up of asset classes, broadly organized into stocks, bonds, and hard assets like commodities and real estate. As elemental as asset classes are to investing, it often makes sense to include some real […]

There’s an interesting phenomenon playing out in the financial press, in the form of a missing word that speaks volumes about human nature. That word is: “referendum.” Almost everywhere we turn, we’re seeing headlines referring to the “post-Brexit” environment. To imply we are in a “post-Brexit” environment is like stating that a newlywed couple is […]

Thanks in part to our evidence-based approach to investing, we don’t have to eat our words or advice very often. But recently, we discovered that we stand corrected on one point. Fortunately, it’s a point we’re happy to concede: Evidence-based investing doesn’t have to be such a boring subject after all. In his recent “Last […]

One of our responsibilities as a financial adviser is to help put market news in its proper perspective, especially when the media is reporting particularly steep, UK market declines like we’ve seen during the past few days. If you are okay with ignoring the current headlines and going about your business according to the investment portfolio […]

One of the reasons we turn to evidence-based investing is to guide us past the misguided strategies that can otherwise cause an investor’s expected returns to run aground. That said, there is a lot of “evidence” out there. How do we determine which of it comes from sound science and which may steer you wrong? […]

“What the imagination can’t conjure, reality delivers with a shrug.” – Trumbo (movie voice-over) Whether it’s the recent destruction wrought by Canada’s Fort McMurray oil sands wildfire, a potential June “Brexit” from the European Union, or uncertainty surrounding this year’s US presidential election, there is plenty of risk to go around as we swing into […]

In a recent series, “Investing for Retirement Income,” we covered the reasons why we do not recommend shifting into high-yield (“junk”) bonds or dividend-yielding stocks when higher-quality bonds aren’t delivering as hoped for. Rather than stretching for extra yield with stand-alone solutions, we typically suggest taking a total-return approach, seeking an appropriate risk/reward balance among […]

When a hard-won historic milestone is achieved, it’s usually front-page news: Apollo 11’s “one giant leap for mankind.” The fall of the Berlin Wall. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream.” … Last week’s fiduciary ruling by the Department of Labor (DOL). About that last one. If you heard the news, you probably spotted it […]

Let’s play a spring-time game. Here are three statements from the financial press. Where do you think each one came from? A recent quarter-end headline: “Epic collapse and recovery: Stocks’ 1st quarter” An excerpt from another quarter-end recap: “[President and CEO of Radius Health Bob] Ward said while millions of patients are suffering from osteoporosis, […]

As we’ve discussed in the first two parts of this three-part series, we do not recommend turning to dividend-yielding stocks or high-yield (“junk”) bonds to buttress your retirement income, even in low-yield environments. So what do we recommend? Today we’ll answer that question by describing total-return investing. Part III: Total-Return Investing for Solid Construction If […]

In Part I of our three-part series on investing for retirement income in low-rate environments, we explained why we don’t advise bulking up on dividend-yielding stocks as a reliable way to generate retirement cash flow. Like the Three Little Pigs’ straw house, dividend-yielding stocks can disappoint you by exhibiting inherent risks just when you most […]

Part I: Dividend-Yielding Stocks – A Straw Strategy If ever there were an appropriate analogy for how to invest for retirement, it would be the classic fable of The Three Little Pigs. As you may recall, those three little pigs tried three different structures to protect against the Big Bad Wolf. Similarly, there are at […]

As we face a year that is kicking off with a series of sickening market swings,  it can be a time where you look for advice to make sense of the economic environment and how it impacts your personal situation. But there is a difference between advice, and good advice. So, what is “good advice”? […]

You’d be surprised how often we speak with families who don’t know exactly what they’re invested in, how well or poorly those investments have been doing, and where their various assets are located. If you are in similar circumstances, don’t feel too bad, because it’s quite common. But do know that it doesn’t have to […]

As the popular media scrambles to explain the unexplainable – what is going on in the markets at the moment and how long it’s going to last – we thought we’d share a headline of our own: “The stock market is a giant distraction to the business of investing.” So said Vanguard founder John Bogle […]

If it weren’t for the fact that it represents real wealth, it would be nothing short of fascinating how the market reflects its human participants – in all of our enterprising glory as well as all of our quirky behavioral foibles, including herd mentality. The current climate provides a picture-perfect illustration of the latter, in […]

Have you ever noticed how a newborn’s favorite game is peek-a-boo? Now you see it. Now you don’t. What fun! But somehow, by the time we’re investors, we’ve grown disenchanted with the element of surprise – especially when the “now you don’t” periods last longer than we’d like. In 2015, global markets seemed particularly intent […]

As year-end nears, we hope you’ve saved time in your busy holiday schedule to pause and give thanks. At Hiley Hunt Wealth Management, we have so very much to be thankful for! To share our gratitude, we’d like to give you some thoughts. Thoughts on giving, that is. As the London-based Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) describes […]

One way that many investors measure financial success is by comparing their returns against popular benchmarks like the S&P 500 Index. It can be comforting to know how your investments compare to others … but there’s a catch. If you are comparing apples to oranges, the results can misinform rather than enlighten your decision-making, knocking […]

Since December 2008, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) has held the federal funds rate at zero percent, seeking to bolster an ailing economy in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Economists agree that the position is unusual, and highly unlikely to go on forever – drastic times called for drastic measures. Then again, they’ve […]

The way we view your investment experience is significantly different – in a good way – from what you typically find on Wall Street. Let me explain. If you’ve ever gone river rafting, there’s one lesson you learn almost immediately. It’s tough to paddle upstream. Go with the flow, and you’ll find it much easier […]

When introducing evidence-based investing, we like to begin by explaining why we feel it’s the right strategy for those who are seeking to build or preserve their wealth in wild and woolly markets. Of course sensible strategy is best followed by practical implementation, so it’s also worth describing how we select the funds we typically […]

Whether you and your loved ones gather for a traditional feast or more exotic fare, it’s hard to think about Thanksgiving without the noble turkey coming to mind. As we pause to give thanks and enjoy a break from life’s more serious labors, we thought we’d share some food for thought about this understated creature […]

In selecting or retaining a financial advisor, how do you know if you’re making a wise choice? It’s a challenging subject for us, anyway, and one that we take very seriously as we develop and expand on our firm’s own best practices. It is even more challenging for investors. First, the stakes are high. The […]

In days of yore, navigational maps were often illustrated with dragons and sea monsters, indicating that danger was afoot on the high seas. The imagery may have been mythical, but the risks were real enough, especially for travelers who failed to equip themselves for the journey. To this day, risk and reward remain tightly connected […]

As recent global markets continue to test the patience of even some of the most stoic among us, how are you holding up? Are you finding it feasible (if not necessarily fun) to stick with your existing strategy, or have you been eying it with increasing suspicion of late? If you fall into the latter […]

We believe every client deserves the “Four Cs”when working with a financial advisor: CONFLICT-FREE Advisors should always put their clients first – period. As a Fee-Only firm, we never take commissions or sell financial products. Our compensation is not product based and is transparent and easy to understand. As a result, our clients can trust […]

There’s a joke circulating online that, if you commit a crime and you need to hide the evidence, you can stash it on page two of a Google search. At least 90 percent of the time, nobody looks there. In fact, about half of our clicks are bestowed on the first two hits we see. […]

Whether it’s gathering for an annual reunion, recounting an anecdote about quirky Uncle Jim, or simply being there for one another during difficult times, family traditions are the comfort food that nourishes our most satisfying relationships. We’d like to invite you to begin a NEW and important family tradition: family wealth planning conversations. What Are […]

Welcome to our final installment in Hiley Hunt Wealth Management’s Evidence-Based Investment Insights: Bringing the Evidence Home. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our series as much as we’ve enjoyed sharing it with you. Here are the key take-home messages from each installment: You, the Market and the Prices You Pay – Understanding group intelligence and its […]

Welcome to the next installment in our series of Hiley Hunt Wealth Management’s Evidence-Based Investment Insights: Behavioral Biases – What Makes Your Brain Trick? In our last piece, “The Human Factor in Evidence-Based Investing” we explored how our deep-seated “fight or flight” instincts generate an array of behavioral biases that trick us into making significant money-management […]

Anyone who is keeping even a casual eye on financial headlines is aware that fixed income returns are a bit topsy-turvy these days. With bond prices reacting negatively to uncertain economic news, investments that are supposed to be our reliable safety net and income stream during troubled times are experiencing uncertain times themselves. Many investors […]

Welcome to the next installment in our series of Hiley Hunt Wealth Management’s Evidence-Based Investment Insights: The Human Factor in Evidence-Based Investing In our last piece, “What Has Evidence-Based Investing Done for Me Lately?” we wrapped up our conversation about ways to employ stock and bond market factors within a disciplined investment strategy, as well as […]

Welcome to the next installment in our series of Hiley Hunt Wealth Management’s Evidence-Based Investment Insights: What Has Evidence-Based Investing Done for Me Lately? In our last piece, “Factors That Figure in Your Evidence-Based Portfolio,” we introduced three key stock market factors (equity, value and small-cap) plus a couple more for bonds (term and credit) […]

In the first two installments of our three-part “hidden in plain sight” investment strategy series, we’ve covered the importance of staying invested to earn market returns, while managing the risks involved. We’ll conclude with what may be the most obvious and powerful advice of all, even if it does not seem to receive the attention […]

Welcome to the next installment in our series of Hiley Hunt Wealth Management’s Evidence-Based Investment Insights: Factors That Figure in Your Evidence-Based Portfolio. In our last piece, “The Essence of Evidence-Based Investing” we explored what we mean by “evidence-based investing.” Grounding your investment strategy in rational methodology strengthens your ability to stay on course toward your […]

Welcome to the next installment in our series of Hiley Hunt Wealth Management’s Evidence-Based Investment Insights: The Essence of Evidence-Based Investing. In our last piece, “What Drives Market Returns?” we explored how markets deliver wealth to those who invest their financial capital in human enterprise. But, as with any risky venture, there are no guarantees that […]

Why do we choose to work with women in transition and women business leaders? Nearly every day we get some iteration of the question: “I saw on the internet that your firm focuses on working with women – why?” It’s been our experience that: There is a real need for sound financial advice when experiencing […]

Welcome to the next installment in our series of Hiley Hunt Wealth Management’s Evidence-Based Investment Insights: What Drives Market Returns? In our last piece, “Get Along, Little Market,” we wrapped up a discussion about the benefits of diversifying your investments to minimize avoidable risks, manage the unavoidable ones that are expected to generate market returns, […]

In our last piece, we described why most investors should ignore the never-ending onslaught of unpredictable financial news and tend to three strategies that can be much more readily managed – at least once you know they are there. Hidden in plain sight, these potent strategies include: Being there Managing for market risks Controlling costs […]

Welcome to the next installment in our series of Hiley Hunt Wealth Management’s Investment Insights: Get Along, Little Market In our last piece, “Managing the Market’s Risky Business,” we described how diversification plays a key role in minimizing unnecessary risks and helping you better manage those that remain. Today, we’ll cover an additional benefit to be gained […]

When it comes to buying or selling your home, most of us already know that the price depends on three things: location, location, location. Asset location is a similar, if less familiar rule that applies to your investments. By managing asset location within your portfolio, we help you keep as much of your wealth as […]

If you’ve ever dabbled in graphic design, you’re familiar with the concept of white space. When viewing an illustration, we typically pay the most attention to the visible ink on the page, such as a paragraph of text, a bar chart or an entertaining illustration. White space is the essential empty areas in between that […]

Why do we refer to our approach as evidence-based investing? As we introduced in our related article, “Evidence on the Evidence,” we believe that the evidence – especially the kind that has been peer-reviewed and time-tested – is at the root of everything else we do to help investors achieve their personal goals through sound […]

There’s a reason we refer to our strategy for building durable, long-term wealth as evidence-based investing. There are a number of other terms we could use instead: Structured (getting warm), low-cost (definitely), passive (sometimes), smart beta (maybe), indexing (close, but) … the list goes on. But because the evidence is at the root of what […]

In Part I of our series on Tax-Wise Investing, “You and Your Investments,” we explored how to engage in year-round tax-wise investing by adopting your own best practices as well as by favoring fund managers who are likewise keeping a tax-efficient eye on their offerings. There are two other important areas to tend to as […]

Welcome to the next installment in our series of Hiley Hunt Wealth Management’s Investment Insights: Managing the Market’s Risky Business In our last piece, “The Full-Meal Deal of Diversification,” we described how effective diversification means more than just holding a large number of accounts or securities. It also calls for efficient, low-cost exposure to a […]

While “tax season” may imply that there is an optimal time to think about your income taxes, the best way to minimize your annual tax liability is to engage in year-round tax-wise investing, with ongoing best practices in: Your personal tax-efficient habits Your fund managers’ tax-efficient habits Your investment portfolio’s tax-efficient management Your advisers’ tax-efficient […]

As a single parent, you need to understand the financial strategies that can stretch your income and help you lay the groundwork for a secure future. Consider the following lessons to help improve your family’s bottom line: Identify Your Goals You can’t have a financial plan without first defining your financial goals. Start by recording […]

As many people know, delaying the receipt of Social Security provides an increased benefit until age 70. Many times the amount of the increase is misunderstood. It is often substantial, especially if the benefit is taken before Full Retirement Age! It’s a little known fact that you can reset your Social Security payment amount during the […]

If there is a universal investment ideal, it is this: You want to buy low and sell high. What if we told you that there was a process for automatically doing just that? You’d rush to use it, wouldn’t you? Guess what – there is. It’s called rebalancing. Helping you rebalance your portfolio so you’re […]

In 2012, financial author Larry Swedroe wrote a handy little pocket book entitled “Think, Act and Invest Like Warren Buffett: Playing the Winner’s Game.” In it, Swedroe shares some of Buffett’s most successful strategies and how every investor can use them to build his or her own sound investment habits. It’s a helpful little guide […]

Welcome to the first installment in my series of  Investment Insights: You, the Market and the Prices You Pay. When it comes to investing (or anything in life worth doing well) it helps to know what you’re facing. In this case, that’s “the market.” How do you achieve every investor’s dream of buying low and selling […]

If there were a mood to this year’s market, it might be apprehensive. Despite modestly positive year-to-date returns across most asset classes, many in the popular press seem fond of suggesting that there is “another shoe” out there, a stock market correction, just waiting to drop. Are stocks overpriced? It depends on who you ask. […]

Welcome to the next installment in my series of Investment Insights: Ignoring the Siren Song of Daily Market Pricing. In my last piece, “You, the Market and the Prices You Pay,” I explored how group intelligence governs relatively efficient markets (as well as jelly bean jars) in an imperfect world. Today, let’s look at how prices […]

Welcome to the next installment in my series of Investment Insights: Myth of the Financial Guru In my last piece, “Ignoring the Siren Song of Daily Market Pricing,” I explored how price-setting occurs in capital markets, and why investors should avoid reacting to breaking news. The cost and competition hurdles are just too tall. Today, I’ll explain why […]

2014 may go down in financial history as the year that a lot of things didn’t happen to investors. For example, despite numerous nervous headlines that it might be best to prepare for the worst, there was no universal stock correction. And despite Federal announcements on tapering quantitative easing in the U.S., there was no major slump […]

Welcome to the next installment in our series of Hiley Hunt Wealth Management’s Investment Insights: The Full-Meal Deal of Diversification In our last piece, “Myth of the Financial Guru,” we concluded our exploration of the formidable odds you face if you (or your hired help) try to outsmart the market’s lightning-fast price-setting efficiencies. Today, we turn […]

For 50 years, Warren E. Buffett has been at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway, among the largest publicly held companies in the world. For 50 years, Buffett has been publishing annual letters to shareholders. With our evidence-based, diversified investment strategy, we don’t typically focus on particular companies’ annual announcements, nor do we typically share them as recommended […]

Recently I read a story in the Omaha World Herald about a woman in central Nebraska that passed away on her 110th birthday.   Upon reading this, I began thinking about the lifetime Social Security benefits someone would collect if they lived 110 years.   Her husband passed away in 1975, so she spent the last 38 years as a […]

Widows nearing retirement may be able to utilize one of two lesser known “claim and switch” Social Security election strategies in order to increase total lifetime Social Security benefits by as much as six figures.  More information regarding the basic rules and requirements of survivor benefits can be found in the article Social Security Survivor Benefits. […]

Typically people nearing retirement age decide when to claim Social Security based on their current needs and what they see as their own projected life expectancy.  People who do not anticipate outliving average life expectancies may claim Social Security benefits early.  Conversely, those who expect to live a longer than average life may consider delaying […]

(When discussing Social Security, genders are interchangeable in all instances.  For the sake of simplicity, the husband will be referred to as the higher wage earner.) Waiting to claim Social Security benefits can result in undeniable advantages – the increase in the total lifetime benefits received can increase by as much as six digits.  Although […]

Whether you have experienced the loss of a spouse recently or sometime in the past, you may be eligible for a Social Security survivor benefit. As with most Social Security benefits, the amount you will receive depends on a variety of factors including your age, the work history of you and your spouse, and your current marital status. (Men […]

Most Americans look forward to claiming their own Social Security benefit in retirement.  Did you know that if you are married, you may also be eligible for a spousal benefit?  Spousal benefits are Social Security benefits available based on your spouse’s earnings record while s/he is still alive.  (Men and women are both eligible for […]

If you outlive your spouse, you’ll need to make a number of financial decisions that will have a lasting effect on your financial future.  One of the most crucial decisions pertains to IRAs or retirement plan benefits. As a spousal beneficiary of one of these accounts, you must consider your age, your spouse’s age, and […]

There are numerous complex tax rules regarding charitable contributions, so it is advisable to seek professional guidance to help you evaluate your own personal situation. Generally speaking, if you itemize your deductions on your tax return, gifts to qualified charities are deductible in the year they are made. Most people simply write a check or donate […]

The death of a spouse leaves no shortage of paperwork, phone calls, and critical decisions. Being organized is one way to help mitigate possible frustrations you may encounter while moving forward. The following is a list of documents that are commonly needed to tend to your spouse’s affairs: Letter of instruction Death certificate Marriage certificate Last […]

If you’ve read “Five Things to Do Following the Death of Your Spouse,” you know some of the things you should be doing.  In this post I will cover five things NOT to do following the death of your spouse to help you avoid further complicating your situation: Do not make any irrevocable financial decisions. The overriding theme […]

Jane smiled as she read the note from a recent graduate -a recipient of the scholarship fund she and her husband Bill had begun shortly after retirement.   Passionate about education, the couple began giving annually years ago to their alma mater, the place where they first met as young teachers’ assistants. Education is their lifelong […]

With interest rates at historic lows and growing concern about a rise later this year, we have been fielding many questions about home buying and affordability. Most people have an idea of what they “think” they can afford but they come to us asking what they should do in comparison to where we see how […]

Over the years, one of the most common mistakes we have seen related to people’s financial affairs has been the incorrect naming of beneficiaries. Sometimes this is due to a lack of understanding around how a beneficiary designation works, or other times it may simply be due to an oversight. Whatever the reason, this can […]