The Primary Investments We Recommend
In order from lower to higher risk
US Treasuries / Brokered CDs
Treasuries are considered the safest investment on earth. Brokered CDs (Certificate of Deposit) are backed by the FDIC. You can lose money if you have to cash in these investments before the maturity date. You can buy very short-term Treasuries and CDs, making them ideal for low-risk, relatively liquid investments.
We charge a low 0.40% management fee for “fixed income” investments (see the Pricing / Fee page).
Fixed rate annuities
Fixed rate annuities are offered by insurance companies. You pick how long you want to commit, and they pay a fixed rate for that number of years. The rate doesn’t change. We use dozens of different annuity companies, looking for the best rates for companies rated A- or better by AM Best.
There are no fees for a fixed rate annuity unless you close the account early. Most offer you some liquidity during the commitment period, typical is 10% of your money each year after the first year.
Bond ETFs and mutual funds
Bond Exchange Trade Funds (ETFs) and mutual fund investments are one of the more confusing investments you can choose. They are not guaranteed, you can lose money with bond funds. Bond fund risk varies significantly based on the quality of the bonds and the maturity length of the bonds in the fund.
Higher-quality, shorter-term bond funds will pay less than lower-quality, longer-term funds. Both can have a place in your portfolio, but you need to understand the risks.
There is no commitment to bond funds, you can sell your mutual funds at any time. Some funds charge an early redemption fee if you sell within 90 days of investing.
We charge a low 0.40% management fee for “fixed income” investments (see the Pricing / Fee page).
Stock ETFs and mutual funds
Stock-based portfolios using Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and mutual funds offer the highest potential return, but also the highest potential for loss. Stock investments are for money you don’t expect to need for five or more years.
We use ETFs and low-cost mutual funds to build stock portfolios that invest in large companies, mid-size and small. We invest in U.S. as well as international companies.
There is no commitment to stock investments, you can sell your ETFs or mutual funds at any time. Some funds charge an early redemption fee if you sell within 90 days of investing.
We charge a management fee for stock portfolios. We are very competitive (see the Pricing / Fee page).