Jonathan Liang, MA, CFP®

This hard-hitting article from the Huffington Post has a wonderful, no-nonsense tone to it. It's not often that I find someone "in the business" who speaks plain English (something I obviously need to work on.) So when I do, it is a breath of fresh air. Calling the allure of active management a "lie" is certainly strong language. But the message is the same: When comparing the reliability of one approach versus the other, passive investment offers a powerful alternative to believing in the "magic" of a stock picker/active manager.

Something big has been happening in the wake of the economic crisis. Money is flowing in large amounts out of the active management world and into passive investment vehicles. There are a variety of forces at work here, which means the exodus is not as simple as it sounds. But this article sketches our what is happening in one, rather large corner of our investing landscape.

Please visit our company website for more articles on a wide variety topics, which we add to periodically. Our blog can be found at www.ctbfin.com/ctbblog.

This article’s headline is just a teaser. You get that, right? The tag line is where the real nuggets can be found: "It's often more beneficial in the wealth creation process to go against the grain and do what is uncomfortable." Read this article with a pen in your hand and underline the pieces that jump out at you.

There were a lot of articles at this time (late 2010) about this guy and the New York Times best-seller he wrote before he died. If you can’t read the book, read this. Then read the book. It’s less than 100 pages. This article is only three.

Some interesting ideas in here that you don’t always hear in a discussion like this. We wouldn’t agree with everything in every article. But there is some good food for thought. Expenses are important. They should be part of every decision. But cheaper is not always better, either. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.

Every so often, we should take the time to stop and look around. Consider some important facts - not just others' interpretation of the facts they are focusing on. In order to gain a better, longer-term perspective – take your attention off today’s news for a moment and think back over the last three years. This article will you do that…and give you some important context.

Sound reminders of the all-important fundamentals of investing, from a guy who has achieved world-wide fame and renown in the field. Why you should own stocks, the drag of bonds, the importance of low expense ratios and why you should care.

This fantastic article describes in wonderfully complete yet succinct detail how it is all supposed to work. Volatility affects us all – our portfolios, our emotions, and therefore our decisions. Here is a real-life human investment story with a happy ending. How often do you see these come along?

This column/blog post by Gail MarksJarvis of the Chicago Tribune appeared on March 23, 2012. A good reminder along with some useful ideas for what you should be thinking about now as you plan your 2012 tax return. Don't let your tax return just happen to you. You have the opportunity each year to "construct" your tax return so the chips fall in an intentional and beneficial pattern. When we do this for our clients, it is a year-long, ongoing, longitudinal process.