A Crack in the Matrix: A Financial Fable

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How do you measure investing success? Rollover your 401K, then what? How do you invest for long term growth? Think you can't get a brokerage's attention because you don't have enough to invest? You're probably right. Think you can't trust your brokerage because they're the ones benefiting from the products they sell you? Also right. A friend once asked me about this, asked "if this works, why doesn't everyone do it?". Well, the brokerages you get advice from don't make any money when investing this way. Why would they teach you something that earns them less money? Good point. Caution! Reading this brief Financial Fable may cause you to ask uncomfortable questions about your retirement future. You have been warned. ;-) If you like this, please share it.

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A Crack in the MatrixA FINANCIAL FABLE

Tuesday, July 9, 13

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is leaning further

each yearOh my!

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Proof

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Wait!

Tuesday, July 9, 13

It’s Just an Illusion

Whew.

Tuesday, July 9, 13

It’s an artifact of the way our eyes are designed

You were looking at two copies of the same image

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Try it Yourself

Download the image, duplicate it, open both & place them side-by-side

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Often when things “make sense” we don’t ask deep

probing questions

Tuesday, July 9, 13

We Should

Yes, even when things make sense

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Lets Try This Again

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Your investing success is measured by how large

your portfolio has grown

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Brokerage statements focus on cost, total value,

and gain or loss with a passing mention of

income

ProofTuesday, July 9, 13

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Even when you invest for income, your statement

focuses on portfolio value

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Fixed Income is 99% of the portfolio...

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Fixed Income is 99% of the portfolio...

Why is “valuation” focused on “account value”?

Tuesday, July 9, 13

It’s Just Another Illusion

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Dividend Reinvesting

Instead of taking a dividend payment in cash today, you reinvest your dividend into the

company in order to get a larger future payout

A well known way of long-term investing for ‘regular people’

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Dividend ReinvestingHow it looks on your brokerage statement

Tuesday, July 9, 13

One Reinvestment...

Why is it 2 Transactions?

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Taxes due this year

Tax basis for the future

Tuesday, July 9, 13

It’s an artifact of the way financial institutions are

designed

To ensure IRS (tax) compliance & reporting

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Why judge the success of your investments by how

much tax you owe...

Tuesday, July 9, 13

... Especially when you’re investing in a tax deferred retirement account (IRA)?!

Duh!

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Brokerage statements don’t serve the customer

They serve the IRS

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Can we do better*?

* Do better, but please also pay your taxes!

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Can meaningful measurements be used to

motivate healthy investing habits?

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Can meaningful measurements be used to

make investing fun?

You’re one of those people too afraid to open their monthly statements, aren’t you?

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Fear.Is Not.

Fun.

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Measure what matters.

Let go of the fear. Be empowered. Find out more.

Tuesday, July 9, 13

Try our absolutely free 10-part email course and

learn how to put your Elephant to work

Not quite convinced? Learn more.

Tuesday, July 9, 13