It’s the first rule of finance: Don’t invest in what you don’t understand. While access to alternative assets is expected to broaden under the Trump administration’s Securities and Exchange Commission, led by Paul Atkins, mass affluent clients, and even advisors, aren’t overly familiar with the investments, including venture capital, infrastructure or real estate deals. The key to greater alt acceptance may lie in introducing them through more traditional products, like certain kinds of mutual funds and E ...

Goldman Sachs might be contemplating another stroll down Main Street. The Wall Street mega-firm took out a full-page ad in the Financial Times for its asset management business this week, a type of marketing that seems more retail-focused and is a rarity for the 156-year old company. Those ads, along with other spots that recently aired on CNBC, marks largely new territory for Goldman, according to Marc Nachmann, Goldman global head of asset and wealth management. The promotions are among the firm’s effor ...

I'm generally not a fan of chasing returns, whether they be in individual stocks or in mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETFs). ...

Group 1 - Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) is recognized as a Dividend Champion, having increased dividends for 49 consecutive years and is one year away from becoming a Dividend King [2] - The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 5.59% as of October 2 [2] - Franklin Resources has a diverse product offering, including mutual funds, ETFs, and separate accounts, and has pursued growth through acquisitions like Putnam and Apera Asset Management [3][4] Group 2 - The company's asset pool reached approximately $1.61 trillion by the third quarter of fiscal 2025, which is crucial for its revenue generation through management fees [4] - Franklin Resources faces challenges in maintaining asset levels during market downturns and ensuring new products meet investor demand [3][4] - The company operates in a complex regulatory environment, requiring tight cost control and efficient integration of new businesses [4]

Core Insights - Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) serve similar purposes for investors but have key differences that may influence financial choices [1] Trading Mechanism - ETFs trade on stock exchanges like stocks, allowing investors to know their exact purchase price at the time of transaction, while mutual fund transactions occur directly with the fund and prices are only known at the end of the trading day [2][3] Tax Efficiency - ETFs are generally more tax-efficient than mutual funds, with only 6.5% of U.S. stock ETFs distributing capital gains in 2024 compared to 78% of U.S. stock mutual funds [6] - For international stock funds, about 6% of ETFs distributed capital gains versus 42% for mutual funds [7] - The "in-kind" transaction mechanism used by ETF managers helps avoid triggering capital gains taxes, a significant advantage for long-term investors [8] Cost Structure - The average asset-weighted investment fee for ETFs was 0.42% in 2024, compared to 0.57% for mutual funds, indicating that ETFs are generally cheaper to own [10] - Many ETFs are index funds, which tend to have lower fees than actively managed mutual funds, contributing to the cost differential [11] Availability and Accessibility - The universe of mutual funds is larger, which may limit access to certain funds for investors who prefer ETFs [13] - ETFs may not be available in 401(k) plans, restricting options for some investors [13][14]

Core Insights - Robert Kiyosaki supports President Trump's executive order aimed at democratizing access to alternative investments for 401k investors [1][2] - Kiyosaki criticizes mutual funds and ETFs, advocating for alternative investments like real estate, private equity, crypto, and precious metals under 401k [2][3] - The executive order is expected to enhance financial literacy and encourage investors to be more informed about their investment choices [3] Group 1 - Kiyosaki believes the executive order will open opportunities for "smarter" investors to diversify their portfolios with alternative investments [2][3] - He emphasizes the importance of understanding these investments, suggesting that those unwilling to learn should stick to traditional options [3] - Kiyosaki expresses satisfaction that the order treats investors maturely and positively impacts the value of his investments in gold, silver, and Bitcoin [4]

Manning & Napier (NYSE: MN) provides a broad range of investment solutions through separately managed accounts, mutual funds, and collective investment trust funds, as well as a variety of consultative services that complement our investment process. Founded in 1970, we offer equity and fixed income portfolios as well as a range of blended asset portfolios, such as life cycle funds, that use a mix of stocks and bonds. We serve a diversified client base of high-net-worth individuals and institutions, includi ...

Group 1 - Robert Kiyosaki criticizes exchange-traded funds (ETFs), labeling them as a poor substitute for direct Bitcoin ownership, stating that ETFs are "for losers" [1] - Kiyosaki advises that only investors willing to study should invest directly in digital currencies, while casual investors should opt for traditional mutual funds or ETFs [1] - Spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted over $552 million in inflows this week, indicating strong institutional interest despite Kiyosaki's disapproval [2] Group 2 - Kiyosaki praises President Trump's executive order that expands retirement investment options, allowing 401(k) plans to include alternative assets like cryptocurrencies [3][4] - The executive order is seen as beneficial for experienced investors, providing them with more control over their portfolios and promoting diversified retirement accounts [4] Group 3 - Bitcoin experienced a 1.2% price surge on September 17, coinciding with Kiyosaki's remarks, as traders await the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision [5] - Markets are pricing in a 96% chance of a 25-basis-point rate cut, which could enhance the appeal of risk-on assets like Bitcoin [6] - Historically, the fourth quarter has been Bitcoin's strongest, with an average return of 85% since 2013, and predictions suggest significant movements in top crypto coins if the Fed cuts rates [7]

Group 1 - Justin has been unemployed for a year but is now focused on catching up on retirement savings after returning to work [1] - His new employer offers a 401(k) match of 75% on contributions, up to 8% of his salary, prompting him to consider contributing half of each paycheck to his 401(k) [2][4] - A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings account that allows employees to contribute a percentage of their paycheck before taxes, reducing taxable income [3] Group 2 - Contributions to a 401(k) are typically invested in mutual funds or ETFs, and many employers offer matching contributions based on employee contributions [4] - In 2025, the employee contribution limit for a 401(k) is set at $23,500, with a combined limit of $70,000 for employee and employer contributions [5] - Individuals aged 50 and over can make catch-up contributions, with specific limits based on age [6]

Market Overview - The current market is characterized by a split, with gold prices rising, bonds declining, and stocks fluctuating as new sectors emerge to replace technology [1] - The end of a historic yield-curve inversion and a potential Federal Reserve cutting cycle are significant for investors, particularly in precious metals and bonds [1][2] Gold and Bonds - Traditional bond benchmarks may not provide the safety that investors expect, while gold is experiencing a breakout due to renewed deflation risks [2] - Central bank gold buying and ETF flows are important factors for investors to consider when balancing inflation and deflation in their portfolios [2] Dollar and Inflation - The purchasing power of the dollar has decreased by nearly 50% over the past 25 years, while gold has increased by over 1,052% in the same period [4][5] - The dollar's decline is attributed to expansive monetary policies and rising national debt, which has grown from $5.6 trillion in 2000 to over $36.2 trillion in 2025 [8][9] Primerica Inc. (PRI) Performance - Primerica provides term life insurance and has shown strong historical performance, with earnings per share (EPS) growing at a compound annual rate of 15.6% over the past decade [10] - As of June 30, Primerica insured over 5.5 million lives and had approximately three million client investment accounts, with total adjusted operating revenue increasing by 7.4% year-over-year to $796 million [11] - The company's adjusted EPS of $5.46 grew 10.3% compared to the previous year, exceeding analyst consensus by $0.26 [12] - Primerica is expected to grow EPS at about 10% annually over the next five years, driven by sales force expansion and share repurchases [13]