You now have yet another reason to consolidate your assets with my favored Fidelity Investments: Fidelity takes protecting your most valuable financial information seriously. Yesterday, it was announced that Fidelity is spinning off software start-up Akoya, a platform that gives customers more control over how their bank-account information is shared. Without a service like Akoya, apps can scrape your account gaining access to information you may wish to keep private. “The platform,” explains Justin Baer in the WSJ, “aims to put an end to ‘screen scraping,’ the process where the app … [Read more...]

If you didn’t read about the massive fund controlled by the Mormon Church, you will. With 16,000 plus members tithing 10% of their earnings, the fund has amassed a $100 billion fortune—a cash-generating behemoth that would make Warren Buffett blush. Roger Clarke, the head of the investment fund Ensign Peak that controls the church’s money, used to be a professor at Brigham Young University, reports Ian Lovett and Rachael Levy for the WSJ. He was running an investment firm in Los Angeles when he got the call. “It certainly wasn’t the most attractive financial office,” Mr. Clarke said. “But … [Read more...]

The biggest problems in low tax southern states are ones high tax states wish they had, too much growth. Low tax states have become so desirable for movers and retirees that they are now looking for places to put all the people seeking an escape from the city where they can live small, cheap and safe in America. In The Wall Street Journal, Valerie Bauerlein profiles one town dealing with a mass influx of newcomers who are looking for a better America. She writes of Lake Wylie, South Carolina: Since 2000, Lake Wylie has tripled in population to 12,000 on the strength of its good schools, … [Read more...]

For decades high tax states have been treating their wealthiest residents like a bank account, with money to be withdrawn whenever state legislators had a new pet project to fund. In the past, wealthy residents were tied down to places like New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut because of their proximity to centers of industry like Wall Street. Today though, the internet allows wealthy executives to operate their businesses from almost anywhere. With this newfound freedom, many wealthy residents of high tax states have been fleeing for places like Florida, where they get to keep more of … [Read more...]

Over the weekend I received this email from a client: Hi EJ, My recently departed friend, George B. of Putney, Vermont was a volunteer driver delivering lunches to Meals on Wheels clients in the Brattleboro area. Ronald Read was on his route. George was stunned to learn that Mr. Read had accumulated so much wealth. Thought you might find this of interest. Also, George was a fellow grad of Northeastern University, 10 years before me. Regards, David L. David had read about Ronald Read in Dick Young’s Intelligence Report of May 2015. Dick wrote then: Pumping Gas to the Tune of $8 … [Read more...]

Just how long will wealthy Californians accept being used as an ATM machine by the state's legislators? For years Democrats have said their ever-increasing taxes don't drive wealthy people away from the state. A new study says that theory is false. In fact, the study suggests higher taxes in California increased the number of wealthy residents fleeing by 40%. Americans do, in fact, want to leave their high tax states. The Editors at The Wall Street Journal write: Democrats in California have raised taxes on the rich again and again, and liberals claim it has no effect on taxpayer … [Read more...]

Darla Mercado reports at CNBC: Fidelity has terminated a $500 million relationship with Fisher Investments, bringing the total yanked from the money manager to almost $1.8 billion. Officials at the giant Boston-based asset manager confirmed it would end its relationship with Fisher on Monday, in light of inappropriate comments founder Ken Fisher made at an investment conference on Oct. 8. Fisher managed $500 million in assets for Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers Small-Mid Cap Fund. “Fisher Investments does not provide investment advisory services for any portion of the assets of … [Read more...]

You may have read about my client Dr. Lee earlier this week, how we’ve been working together for 16 years, and the story behind the homemade “Thank You EJ” sign in the picture. I want you to read his response to my post and share it with everyone whose financial security you care about. Part of my effort on your behalf is to help you avoid inertia, get into the compounding game, and always be prepared for the worst. Always think about your risks first and realize the success you and your family deserve. It’s that simple. Here's what he wrote: Well said. Hope people listen. It’s not … [Read more...]