I realize that some investors are do-it-yourself investors and that is OK.  We recommend that these investors use Vanguard. However, many investors are kidding themselves.  If you don’t love investing, have time to study the data (learn more about CAPM, smart beta, factor investing) and have extremely good discipline, hiring a high quality, low-cost, fee only advisor may be a very good investment. Recent data from Vanguard quantifies a good advisor’s value add at 3% per year.  It may seem high but a good, low cost, fee only fiduciary advisor can add tremendous value and help you avoid big mistakes.  What if you could get the benefits of working with a fee only advisor and still do slightly better than a Vanguard index net of all fees? The golden age of a 60/40 portfolio was the last 30 years.  This is because of high bond returns.  Moving forward, bonds will return significantly less than their 30 year average.  In fact, since 1/1/2000 to 3/31/16, the real return (nominal return – inflation of 2.16% per year) of a 60/40 Vanguard portfolio (VSMGX) was 2.41% real return.  Shockingly, the SP500 real return was 1.92%!  Make sure you look at the link above there is significant data about future expected returns for investors and retirees. Most people need a coach.  Successful investing is about Philosophy, Strategy and Process.  If you have a portfolio over $750k, give us a call if you need help. All the best, Todd Moerman We are a Fort Collins based, low-cost, fee-only fiduciary. 303-549-4720 Having your Advisor be a fiduciary for you 100% of the time ………Priceless Helping you optimize Social Security and not take distributions early ………….. $10,000 + Helping you avoid scams and bad products like expensive annuities, whole life, non-traded REIT’s, A B and C share products ……. Priceless Helping you feel confident you won’t run out of money in your 90’s ………..  Priceless Helping you to avoid behavioral mistakes and not panic in 2008/09 or the next big recession ………..  Priceless Even Vanguard Says