The Difference Between Smartleaf and an Optimizer
The nuts and bolts of an optimization-based rebalancing automation system.
A Guide to Choosing a Rebalancing System
A look at two key architectural differences that fundamentally set rebalancing systems apart: sleeve vs. sleeveless, and rules vs. optimization.
Don't Be Afraid of the Black Box
Sophisticated rebalancing analytics can be too complicated for advisors to understand. That’s a problem. The solution: optimization within your guidelines.
Stop. It’s Time to Rethink Rebalancing
A comparison of traditional event-driven rebalancing and automated rebalancing using cost-benefit analytics.
Automated Rebalancing Workflows that Work For You
How automated is automated rebalancing?
How automated rebalancing systems handle bad data.
What prevents automation from being infinitely scalable?
How optimizers work.
An Inside look at Cost-Benefit Rebalancing
How cost-benefit scores and cost-benefit rebalancing works.
What is householding and what's required to do it well?
The Implications of Automated Rebalancing
Old vs. New Wealth Management
Changes in wealth management and the forces driving them.
Old vs. New Wealth Management Part II: Role Changes
The biggest change happening in wealth management is in functional roles.
Webinar: Old vs. New Wealth Management
Smartleaf and Windham Labs discuss the future of wealth management in a webinar.
To Increase Customization: Centralize
There is no trade-off between customization and scale.
The Art of Centralized Rebalancing
A guide to creating a central rebalancing group.
Fintech and Change Management: A Guide
Four paths for implementing a major fintech project.
Can Compliance be Automated?
How automated rebalancing enables wealth management firms to “build in” compliance, with a double win of both lower costs and superior compliance.
Why the Days of Calendar-Based Rebalancing are Numbered
Calendar-based rebalancing is inefficient and bad for clients.
Automated Rebalancing & Specialization
Automated rebalancing supports specialization of function.
Are CIOs in Trouble?
The CIO job isn’t going anywhere, but rebalancing technology is changing the role of the CIO.
Four Reasons to Rethink Your Service Model
Four strategic initiatives powered by automated rebalancing
Three Ways Rebalancing Tech is Disrupting Wealth Management
Three predictions about radical rebalancing technology
Is Rebalancing Automation Good for Advisors?
Rebalancing automation changes the advisor’s role. Whether this is good or bad for advisors depends on your vision of the purpose of wealth management.
We answer a question from a reader about rebalancing automation and transparency.
Direct Indexes & SMAs
Direct Indexes: Cheaper than ETFs?
Direct indexes have the potential to be less expensive than ETFs.
Direct Indexes are better than ETFs
Direct Indexes are customizable and outperform ETFs on an expected after-tax basis.
A Guide to Mutual Funds vs. SMAs
SMAs are better than mutual funds for most assets. But they won't replace funds entirely.
Video: Direct Indexes are Better than ETFs
Direct Indexes are customizable and outperform ETFs on an expected after-tax basis.
Video: A Guide to SMAs
The past, present and future of SMAs
Why Not Direct Indexes?
A look at common objections to direct indexing.
Video: The Sleeves Conundrum
Sleeves were created for one purpose, but now they’re used for another. It’s not a good idea.
The Case Against Sleeves
A detailed look at the drawbacks of sleeve-level reporting.
Q&A: The Case Against Sleeves
Answering the questions that arise from considering the drawbacks of sleeve-level reporting.
The Ultimate Guide to Sleeves, Part I
We want to talk about sleeves. Not the things on your shirt, but sleeve-based portfolio management, sometimes called partitioned portfolio management.
The Ultimate Guide to Sleeves, Part II
Between a rock and hard place: managing client interests versus client expectations when it comes to sleeve-level accounting, rebalancing and reporting.
Don’t Treat Individual Investors like Institutions
Why the institutional model of asset management doesn’t serve the needs of individual investors.
A Guide to Choosing a Rebalancing System
A look at two key architectural differences that fundamentally set rebalancing systems apart: sleeve vs. sleeveless, and rules vs. optimization.
Video: The Downside of Sleeves
Sleeves are mainly used to help generate sleeve-level performance reports, but they have some pretty big downsides.
Tax Management & Customization
A Guide to Tax Management
We break it down and describe some of the challenges.
A User's Guide to Portfolio Customization
What is it and what is it good for?
Why Tax Loss Harvesting Really Matters
We address common objections to loss harvesting.
Gains Deferral: The Core of Tax Management
Loss harvesting gets all the attention, but it's gains deferral that does most of the work.
Video: What to Look for in a Tax Management System
The six tools you should have in your tax management toolkit.
Terminology Guides
Video : A Guide to SMAs
The past, present, and future of SMAs.
A Guide to SMAs and UMAs
The history and current meaning(s) of SMA and UMA.
A Model of Miscommunication
A guide to the confusion-causing multiple meanings of common terms in wealth management.
Choose Your Words Carefully
The negative connotations of "investment model."
Demystifying Artificial Intelligence
Everything you always wanted to know about AI, but were too afraid to ask.
The Three Types of Wealth Management Firms
The three kinds of wealth management firms: Product Vendors, Customized Traders and Planner/Coaches.
ESGs: An Ugly Duckling No More
ESG takes its place as a standard form of customization.
Are Your Portfolios Noisy?
Most drift is not the result of customization or tax management. It’s just noise, and it’s avoidable.
Householding: Time to Get Your House in Order
"Householding” means managing multiple accounts to a single goal, leveraging tax-advantaged accounts where possible. The point is not just to manage each account well. It’s to manage the accounts as a whole well.
Security Selection via the Random Feline Walk Method
Unbelievable performance from a simple stock selection approach.
Q&A: ESG Investing
Q&A from a talk at Cambridge's Venture Cafe on "ESG and Technology."
Advisor Autonomy or a Consistent Client Experience?
The pros and cons of each and where the industry is headed.
Risky Business: The Art of Risk Profiling
Risk profiling may seem scientific, but it's really more art than science.
What Your Peers Are Saying
What senior wealth and asset management executives think are the industry's biggest threats and opportunities.
Mutual Funds and ETFs Are Dead
$0 stock commissions are another nail in the coffin of mutual funds and ETFs.
Jack Bogle, Smartleaf and the Low Cost Revolution
Smartleaf's foundation was built on Jack Bogle's low cost and low tax revolution.
Commentary
On where the wealth industry is heading:
- The Best as the New Normal
Every investor can have access to a level of portfolio management that was once reserved for the ultra wealthy. - How Many Investors Does it Take to Rebalance a Portfolio?
None. It should take none. Joint authority accounts make no sense. - Asset Managers Pivot to Sell Solutions, Not Just Product
Asset management firms may be poised to disrupt wealth management. - Robo SMAs will Replace Mutual Funds
Robo technology is not a threat to advisors. It's a threat to mutual funds. - Q&A: Robo SMAs Will Replace Mutual Funds
A follow up to last week's post. - A Long Tail Strategy for Asset Managers
Do robo SMAs create a market for niche investment strategies? - Where are the TAMPS?
Wealth managers are searching for a new type ofTAMP. - Robo-Advisors vs. Human Advisors: Who's Better at What?
A comparison of strengths and weaknesses.
On the wealth industry today:
- Channel Your Inner Five-Year-Old
Why do we do things the way we do? Much of the time, the honest answer is "that's just the way we've always done it." - The Wealth Management Industry Has an Embarrassing Secret
Most wealth managers do a mediocre job of portfolio management basics like rebalancing, tax management and customization. - Fee Compression is Exaggerated. Here's Why
Fee compression is exaggerated, but competitive pressure isn't. - Three Wealth Management Myths
Common beliefs in the wealth management industry that are untrue — and potentially harmful. - Should Investors be Investing in Bitcoin?
Our thoughts on the Bitcoin trend. - Is This Any Time to Rebalance?
Yes, rebalancing makes sense, even (perhaps especially) in a crisis.