Portfolio Advisors Blog

Portfolio Advisors continues to seek out ways to add value to our clients. As we look to build relationships with future clients and current clients, we have found a unique set of tools to help drive meaningful conversations surrounding your money.

Let us introduce you to Return on Life. Focusing first on your life and second on your money, our objective is to help you live your best life possible with the resources you possess. These collaborative tools will bring your life to the center of our planning discussions. Our conversations and future recommendations can be shaped in a way that helps you achieve your best life possible. To get started, click here to find out your Return on Life Index score. Upon completing your Return on Life Index, our office will be in touch to discuss your results. If you wish to schedule a time to learn more about our life-centered planning process, please find a time here that works best with your schedule.

Historically, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in the US, though recently that hasn't been the case.  While disappointing periods emerge from time to time, the principle that lower relative prices lead to higher expected returns remains the same.  Logic and history argue for a steadfast commitment to value stocks, as the data covering nearly a century illustrates.  Click here to view this illustration.  

We believe that those who invest for the long-term are best served by staying in their seats during times of extraordinary market turbulence.  Emotional and anxiety driven efforts to get out of the market when times are bad and get back in the market when times are better often lead to costly results. 

To help illustrate this point, we have attached a piece provided by Dimensional Fund Advisors entitled “Recent Market Volatility” (click here).  The piece graphically displays the market (as defined by the Russell 3000) during the 41-year period from 1979 thru 2019.  We note that significant market volatility occurred throughout the period and that substantial intra-year losses were experienced in all but 7 years.  However, “despite substantial intra-year drops, calendar year returns were positive in 34 years out of the 41 examined.”   As such, one might observe that trying to make course corrections in advance of unpredictable yearly market swings is more a matter of luck than of skill.

Congratulations to our own Devin Watts who recently completed and passed his Certified Financial Planning course and board exam leading to the sought-after CFP designation.  As a result, Devin's role will continue to be expanded, having more direct client involvement as he continues to develop as a Financial Advisor. 

Devin became an intern at Portfolio Advisors in 2016 after meeting with Portfolio Advisors management staff attending a job fair at California State University, Fresno.  He became a permanent member of our team in 2018.  Devin, a Craig School of Education graduate in 2018, was wed to his wife Hannah in 2017. 

March 17, 2020

Yep.  We’re officially in a “bear market” and you are wondering what you should do next.  In most cases, the answer is nothing at all.  A bear market, defined as a decline of more than 20% from its previous high, occurs with some regularity and has occurred approximately once in every five years since WWII.    

Due to concerns over the current health crisis we are encouraging alternatives to face to face meetings.  In doing so, we are now conducting client meetings on the phone using screen sharing and video conferencing software (Zoom) where possible.

In addition to the above, we are reducing in-office staff to essential personnel with most of our staff working remotely.  As such, all staff members have been assigned a direct phone number where they can be reached during normal business hours.  Additionally, all staff members will remain available via email and will check their messages regularly.  We do not anticipate interruptions to our normal work flow or our ability to serve you. 

Dear Clients & Friends,

Portfolio Advisors, Inc. will be closed for the following 2020 holidays on the dates listed below:

• Monday, January 20th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Monday, February 17th in observance of President's Day
• Friday, April 10th in observance of Good Friday
• Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day
• Friday, July 3rd in observance of Independence Day
• Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day
• Thursday, November 26th in observances of Thanksgiving
• Friday, November 27th in observance of Thanksgiving
• Thursday, December 24th in observance of Christmas
• Friday, December 25th in observance of Christmas

With each office closure we will be back the following business day during normal business hours.

Typical conversations with financial advisors have  historically revolved around client cash flow needs, returns, savings rates, taxes and the economic environment. Although these discussions warrant review, as practitioners within the industry of providing comprehensive financial advice we continue to evolve in our approach by implementing new tools and insights. The concept of Return on Life focuses on a more encompassing value proposition as opposed to measuring success based solely by return on investment. The Return on Life belief system views money as a tool, which aids in providing the best quality of life possible given the resources available. Through experience, understanding of our clients’ backgrounds, belief systems and values, we ultimately enable deeper measurements of well-being and financial progress.

Key to our focus on Return on Life planning is a deeper understanding of how clients view and use their money.  In doing so, we gain insight into determining if their use of money  aligns with their goals and what they  ultimately want out of life. Expertise in understanding our clients’  story is central, with the numbers viewed peripherally. Dimensions beyond the financial data is as important as the data itself.   By engaging in Return on Life discussions, more substantive and fruitful discussions ultimately provide superior and more gratifying planning experiences.   

Legislation passed by the House of Representatives on May 23^rd would dramatically change current IRA tax law.  The bill, entitled the “SECURE Act", would change the age at which one must begin taking IRA distributions. It would also change distribution requirements for IRAs inherited by children or other non-spousal heirs. The bill passed with wide bipartisan support in a vote of 472-3. 

Under current IRA law, one must begin taking their required minimum distributions at age 70 ½. The "SECURE Act" would allow IRA owners to delay taking their required minimum distributions until age 72.  This change would allow IRA owners to benefit from the advantage of tax deferral over a longer period of time.  Most will view this as a positive change.