As is our custom, we conclude the year by reflecting on the 10 most-read articles over the past 12 months. In decreasing order, based on the number of unique readers, those are:
1. Jeremy Siegel: The Market is Cheap on a Long-Term Basis
By Robert Huebscher, 11/26/18
Jeremy Siegel is the Russell E. Palmer Professor of Finance at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In this interview, he provides is forecast for stock and bond market performance and identifies the asset classes that are most attractively valued.
2. Never Use These Phrases in an Email
By Sara Grillo, 10/17/18
One word can ruin an entire email and one email can ruin a relationship. Here are eight phrases that will stop prospects from wanting to do business with you.
3. Tie or No Tie? By Sara Grillo, 6/25/18
Don't ditch the necktie without reading this advice.
4. Six More Phrases Advisors Should Never Use
By Sara Grillo, 4/27/18
The previous article I wrote on this subject was so popular that I had to continue my tirade. Toss these six marketing buzzwords in the never-to-be-used jargon dumpster, in reverse order from the least to most offensive.
5. Four Books That Will Change Your Professional Life
By Bob Veres, 8/6/18
This has been an unusually fruitful season for books for and about financial planners. Four absolute masters of the financial planning universe have published books that add to your chances of success as you grow your business and career.
6. Gundlach’s Forecast for 2018
By Robert Huebscher, 1/9/18
Emerging markets and commodities present the best investment opportunities for this year, according to Jeffrey Gundlach. Those to avoid include the S&P 500, which he claims will show a loss for 2018. His larger warning was that most of the good news on the economic front is already priced into the capital markets.
7. The Five Tackiest Advisor Website Photos
By Sara Grillo, 9/5/18
Here is my list of the five tackiest depictions of retirement. Are any of these pictures on your website?
8. Michael Lewis’ Frightening Account of Government in the Age of Trump
By Laurence B. Siegel, 10/15/18
Michael Lewis’ account of governance in the age of Donald Trump is frightening, inspiring, and surprisingly lively.
9. What’s the Best Hairstyle for Advisors (Women and Men)?
By Sara Grillo, 6/7/18
As someone who is in contact with tons of advisors each month, I’m constantly amazed at how so many of them will spend six thousand dollars on a Brioni suit to make them look successful and pay zero attention to their hair.
10. The Four Horsemen of the Retirement Apocalypse
By Larry Swedroe, 2/22/18
In biblical tradition, the four horsemen of the apocalypse are a quartet of immensely powerful entities personifying the four prime concepts – war, famine, pestilence and death – that drive the apocalypse. For today’s investors, the equivalent is historically high equity valuations, historically low bond yields, increasing longevity and, as a result, the increasing need for what can be very expensive long-term care.
