Sound Investing

Chris Petterson, investment strategist who co-created Two Funds for Life and Merriman glide-path tools. He explains what target-date funds do and their glide paths. He outlines shortcomings of one-size-fits-all TDFs and shows how adding a small‑cap value tilt can boost diversification. Several 2FFL approaches are presented, from a simple 90/10 tweak to moderate and aggressive ramp strategies.

Chris Pedersen, a portfolio-construction and ETF-selection specialist, and Daryl Bahls, a portfolio-analytics and risk-return researcher, answer reader questions. They discuss combining model portfolios, reading comparative tables, worldwide small-cap value versus U.S. mixes, ETF selections across providers, and tools for comparing and fine-tuning portfolios. Short, practical Q&A on portfolio choices and where to get implementation help.

Chris Pedersen, investment expert who analyzes fund families and portfolio construction, discusses shifting to recommending Avantis and DFA fund families for durable, maintainable ETF strategies. He contrasts traditional public indices with systematic non‑traditional indexes. They cover asset‑class premiums like small and value, timing and tax considerations for switching, and options when your 401(k) lacks these families.

Christine Benz, Morningstar's director of personal finance and author of How to Retire, outlines a practical retirement roadmap. She covers a five-step plan for 2030/2035 retirees. Short- and intermediate-term bonds, TIPS for inflation protection, and a seven-to-ten-year safer-assets withdrawal buffer get special attention. She also discusses annuities, global diversification, and why some alternatives may not be worth the cost.

Larry Swedroe, an evidence-based investing author and researcher, shares core rules from academic finance. He discusses the five reliable factors, dangers of chasing recent winners, why growth’s returns are often priced in, crypto’s weak economic case, and how AI will make markets harder to beat. Practical takes on rebalancing, tactical moves, and which fund families he trusts round out the conversation.

Mark Zoril, founder of PlanVision and builder of a low-cost, tech-driven financial planning service. He explains flat-fee pricing and what the first year includes. They cover ongoing $8/month access, how complex situations are handled, serving expats worldwide, and what PlanVision will not do.

Paul Merriman, founder of Merriman Wealth Management and now a financial educator, built a firm to $1.6B before focusing on teaching. He explains why he never manages his own money to avoid emotional mistakes. He describes a simple two-fund approach, the importance of early saving and compound math, and why retirees should aim for more than just ‘enough.’

Q&A HighlightsHow does a 4-fund portfolio compare to a 10-fund portfolio?What is the best way to invest for a child’s future?Is it too late to use a diversified strategy like the 10-fund portfolio at age 50?Can I create and test my own custom portfolio using your tools?How should I invest during periods of inflation or uncertainty?What are some recommended fund options available at Schwab?Is a portfolio combining large-cap value and small-cap blend a good approach?Are there good alternatives to intermediate-term bonds?Who are some trustworthy voices in personal finance and investing?What is your opinion on separately managed accounts (SMAs)?Key TakeawayLong-term investment success is driven by asset allocation, discipline, and consistency—not complexity. A simple, well-structured portfolio that you can maintain through market cycles is often the most effective approach.Listen to the individual questions here.

A deep dive into factor-based equity strategies and how they evolved from cap-weighted indexing. Discussion of DFA and Avantis ETF access, differences in their approaches, and reasons to consider holding both. Practical notes on where to buy these funds and easy rebalancing options for lifelong portfolios.

They explore flexible withdrawal strategies that cut payouts after market drops and compare them to fixed, inflation-adjusted withdrawals. Practical tradeoffs of starting withdrawal rates and the power of oversaving come up. Diversification, bonds, and dollar cost averaging are discussed as defenses against sequence-of-returns risk. Simulations and historical tables illustrate how flexibility can preserve income and balances.