Samuel J. Sweitzer

Anson Blog

May 9, 2019

Asset Protection at a Glance

Plain and simple, asset protection planning is complex and requires the assistance of expert tax and legal counsel. In this litigious society, where it is not uncommon for citizens to sue each other over the most trivial of issues, people are rightly concerned with becoming the target of […]
July 5, 2017

Investing in International Markets

International markets are defined as markets within countries that have developed economies, and they can be strong investing opportunities. According to data by Morningstar for the year 2016, around 46% of the total developed world stock market capitalization was international (not in the United States). When investors fail […]
July 3, 2017
ERISA 404(c)

The Nuances of ERISA 404(c)

Section 404(c) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) can be detrimentally misunderstood. Though many plan sponsors claim to be covered under it, not everyone fully understands how to implement it correctly. If not well understood, the gaps left can leave plan sponsors open to legal challenges. […]
June 28, 2017

The Strategy of a Diversified Portfolio

One of the most common views among investment professionals is that a diversified portfolio is key in reaching long-term financial goals. The aim is to invest in different areas of the market that would react differently to the same event. Therefore, investors who diversify are likely to lower […]
June 26, 2017
Written Retirement Plan

6 Components of a 401(k) Investment Policy Statement

Though not technically required by the Department of Labor, an Investment Policy Statement offers 401(k) plan sponsors well-defined criteria and principles for prudently overseeing the operations of their plan. The IPS document can provide policies for investment selection and monitoring as well as be the guide by which […]
June 22, 2017

Stock Market Roller Coaster

The stock market is characterized by continual upward and downward movements. Though generally unpredictable in terms of length and timing, these rotating periods of contraction and expansion are inevitable. Periods of contraction are defined by the stock market value of an asset declining from its peak by 10% […]
June 19, 2017

Is Sector Investing Right for Me?

Sector investing is an investment strategy that can potentially lead to high returns and strong diversification in a portfolio. While it can offer great potential, it can come with great risk too.  Gaining insight into the different sectors and how they have historically correlated with each other can […]
June 14, 2017
Retirement

Withdrawal Risk in Retirement

When an investor reaches retirement, there are many changes and adjustments to be made. One of those changes is transitioning from actively earning money to drawing from the money that has been saved for retirement through a portfolio or other investments. When considering how income will be supplied […]
June 12, 2017

What are 3(16), 3(21), and 3(38) Fiduciaries?

A fiduciary is a person or organization that owes to another the duties of good faith and trust. A person in this role is bound ethically to act in the other’s best interest. Plan sponsors of retirement plans can pass on certain fiduciary responsibilities to service providers. This […]
June 9, 2017

The Ins and Outs of an IRA

An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is an investment tool that allows individuals to save for retirement in a tax-advantaged way. It can hold many types of assets including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and others. Where a 401(k) is generally provided by the company that one works for, the […]
June 7, 2017

June’s Monthly Economic Update

THE MONTH IN BRIEF May was another good month for stocks. The S&P 500 gained more than 1%, putting its YTD advance above 7.7%. While the housing market showed some spring weakness, hiring bounced back and most other important economic indicators did not falter. Wall Street seemed little […]
June 2, 2017
Morningstar

Debunking the Mutual Fund Rating System

When choosing mutual funds for a portfolio, investors look for funds that have strong performances and good returns. Though returns can never be guaranteed in an ever-changing market, there are some common ways that investors can judge the quality of fund, one of the more popular being Morningstar’s […]