Recently, I was quoted in a ComparisonAdviser article  exploring the question: Is a 1% financial advisor fee still worth it as your portfolio grows? It’s a common—and important—conversation. The traditional 1% AUM model has long been considered the industry standard, but more investors are asking: Does the cost still make sense when your needs haven’t changed, but your portfolio has? As I noted in the piece: “At $1.5 million, the average advisory fee is around 0.94%—that’s $1

"Too little information and you’re blind. Too much and you're blinded."  – Stuart Turton, The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle This isn't...

You don’t need a launch ramp this steep to succeed—you just need to hit the right velocity and stay the course. The Loop That Sparked...

A look at Small Cap Value vs. Gold in bear markets When small cap value stocks fall 20% or more, it’s usually not the bottom. It’s...

Looks like a sure bet—just like backtested portfolios. “What are your returns like?” Picture this: Yours truly is hosting a neighborhood barbecue, beer in hand, flipping burgers. Between feeding kids and talking about weather, the conversation drifts to investing, and someone inevitably asks me, “So, what do your returns look like?” It’s the question I get the most, whether I’m in a client meeting or next to a grill. It’s a fair question. After all, most people think returns

Carson McLean, founder of Altruist Wealth Management, was quoted in Newsweek  discussing how structural savings systems—like Australia’s mandated retirement contributions with opt-out flexibility—can significantly improve retirement outcomes while preserving individual choice. "If we want to improve retirement security in America, we need systems that guide people toward success while still preserving personal choice." The article explores how Americans are rethinking retirem

Carson McLean, founder of Altruist Wealth Management, was quoted in GoBankingRates  discussing how individuals should adjust their...

Scientists have spent centuries unraveling the fundamental rules of the universe, and after all that work, they basically handed us three...

“The Miracle of Compounding Returns is Overwhelmed by the Tyranny of Compounding Costs.” — Jack Bogle Compounding returns are often...

The instant payment system you've never heard of. Why Is Your Money Still Stuck in Limbo? For years, one of the biggest complaints about...

Carson McLean, founder of Altruist Wealth Management, was quoted in ComparisonAdviser  offering strategies for how investors can stay...

When SPAM Beat Cell Phones: A Reminder That Market Winners Are Often the Ones We Least Expect. If history has taught investors anything,...

Even the most logical thesis can fail. Markets can punish conviction just as easily just as easily as they reward it. The Industry’s...

Flat Fee - Fee Only - Fiduciary Dear Friends, Clients, and Future Clients, Today is a milestone I’ve dreamed about for over a decade: the...

The Backdoor Roth Cheat Sheet This guide expands on our article "Backdoor Roth IRAs and the Pro-Rata Rule: What Investors Need to Know" ...

Navigating the Backdoor ROTH I get this question all the time. From clients, peers, and I see it constantly online:  “How do I do a...

Right now tariffs and evolving policy are top of mind. Used as a tool for protectionism, retaliation, or revenue generation, tariffs...

Is it just me, or are private equity projections looking like fantasy? “Private equity is the future.”  “Public markets are over-picked. The real opportunities are private.” “Institutions have been doing this for decades; it’s time for individual investors to get in.” You’ve heard the pitch. Maybe from an advisor. Maybe in an article. Maybe from a well-dressed fund rep explaining why public markets just aren’t good enough anymore. And for a moment, you think, maybe they’re ri

Last week, I came across a post by Larry Swedroe on Morningstar that struck a chord, offering timeless lessons on global diversification and risk management. Larry is a leading voice in evidence-based investing, and I’ve followed him for some time, particularly as many of his insights draw on Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) research from my time there. His recent piece felt especially timely. As I write this, the markets are reeling from unexpected news about Deep Seek, a gr

While there is nothing inherently wrong with traditional mutual funds or ETFs, they are pooled investment vehicles ...

Say it with me, “GDP does not equal the stock market.” Many investors look to GDP growth or contraction to see ...

Carson McLean, founder of Altruist Wealth Management, was quoted in the Knoxville News Sentinel  following his presentation on how media...

Carson McLean, founder of Altruist Wealth Management, joined the Pilot Money Guys  podcast to discuss the true sources of investment...

Financial innovation provides investors with a seemingly endless supply of new investment options. But the process of evaluating the ...