FAQ

Answers to some frequently asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are you trying to accomplish?

I have a very mathematical background, and have been in and around investment management for over 25 years.  One thing that always bothers me is how much information, tools, and insights are available to large institutional investors that are hard to access for individuals and advisors.  From the start I have always been passionate about helping get similar resources and investment options into the hands of all investors.   That’s why I am so passionate about ETFs.

What is your basic approach to thinking about investing?

I am an engineer by training, and I have a strong affinity for thinking about investing through logical, well-researched, and carefully analyzed approaches.  I think too many investors spend too much time thinking about what’s happening with a particular stock or investment today, and don’t appreciate the real importance of what happens in the long run: people get stuck not looking at the forest, but staring at the bark on a single tree.  The software project I am working on tries to help investors focus 95% of their mental effort on the 95% of decisions that really matter.

Are you a quant?

Well, I believe that you can get some of the most important insights by running numbers and comparing results to see what matters and what doesn’t.  That’s how we build cars, bridges, and just about everything else we rely on in life.

For some reason, investing has a hard time getting there.  It’s a field where there is lots of data to test ideas, but people still rely heavily on hot tips, rules-of-thumb, and other mental shortcuts.

Do I believe you will do best, with minimum effort and maximum likelihood, with the right selection of low-cost, broadly-diversified, and tax-efficient investments over the long-run?  Yes.  Do you have to agree with me 100%?  No.  But at least hear the arguments before you decide…there is a lot of money at stake here.

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