Evaluating A Money Manager


Scams and frauds are designed to take your money through false promises and phony claims. Money management is supposedly designed to increase your net worth. Sometimes these two worlds meet and the results are not in your favor, i.e., you have a considerable decrease in net worth.

The information in this article won't keep future money managers honest but it will help you find the one who is right for your situation. There are four criteria you must consider before you give your money to anyone to manage.

1)  Philosophy-- This is the thought theology used by the money manager to make your money grow. In other words, does (s)he focus on stocks, options, mutual funds, annuities, a blend of investment vehicles, etc.? Does this philosophy coincide with your risk tolerance? If stocks are too risky, a manager concentrating in that arena isn't for you. The philosophy also points you to their performance.

2)  Performance-- We all know the markets are not stagnant. They go up, they go down. No investment manager can predict the market with absolute certainty. But, they should perform well, or even above average, in their specialty. For example, a stock focused money manager in today's market environment should have performance numbers that would make even Warren Buffet take notice. You want as long a performance record as possbile. To be fair, one market cycle should give you a decent indication of the manager's performance in his/her area(s) of expertise.

3)  Process--  This is the means the manager uses to select securities for the portfolios. For example, does (s)he rely
only on in house research or does (s)he incorporate research
from outside sources? If so, who are they and on what frequency are they used?

4)  Personnel-- Besides wanting to know the manager's experience, you'd be wise to learn all you could about the folks working in the office. Who actually manages the portfolio? His/her experience? How long has (s)he been in business? Who will manage your account when (s)he is out of the office, on vacation, on business?

Some people would say cost is one of the criteria. I say it is, but to a lesser degree. In over 30 years in this business, I can guarantee that paying the highest commission did not necessarily result in receiving the best advice. Paying the lowest commission did not necessarily result in receiving the worst advice.

Cost comes in the form of fees and commissions. ALL money managers charge. Cost, initially, should not be in your criteria because it often becomes the ONLY determining factor. That will skewer your thinking and could result in not having a
winning team working for you. Make the above four parameters your
primary criteria and cost will take care of itself.

How? You will be quoted a charge. If you are not comfortable with that price, negotiate. All fees and commissions are negotiable. If the manager refuses to negotiate, then and only then, make cost a member of the criteria team.

This article won't solve all of the money management problems or costs associated therewith. However, it'll at least start you thinking in the right direction and keep
your money in your pocket until you are ready to hand it over.

2004 (c) This article may not be reprinted without permission of the author who can be reached at tom-koziol@excite.com

GUARANTEED! Turn your paycheck into a cash flow geyser. Cashclique.com Dollar$ign Newsletter provides proven paycheck stretching money management tips, tools, techniques and strategies to increase your personal cash flow. This is YOUR fail safe money management program. FREE subscription at http://www.cashclique.com/page4.htm


MORE RESOURCES:

Japan's Nomura mulls investing in Lehman -paper
Reuters - 1 hour ago
Nomura has a pool of funds exceeding 200 billion yen ($1.86 billion) for investing in or acquiring US and European financial institutions, the brokerage's ...


Dow Corning investing $4 million to update its laboratories
MLive.com, MI - 11 hours ago
By Eric English Dow Corning Corp. is spending $4 million to update some of its older laboratories at its Bay County corporate headquarters campus. ...


Yahoo

Pimco Names El-Erian CEO Of the Bond-Investing Giant
Wall Street Journal - Sep 4, 2008
... returning from running Harvard University's endowment, Mohamed El-Erian was named on Thursday as chief executive of Pacific Investment Management Co. ...
PIMCO Co-CEO Stepping Down IndexUniverse.com
all 63 news articles


Investing your cash without a stamp of approval
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 6 hours ago
By Jeff Salway MORE people are investing in stamps in a bid to beat the economic downturn and hedge against inflation, but philately experts have warned ...


Boston Globe

Lieberman Still Investing In Democratic Party
NPR - Sep 4, 2008
Morning Edition, September 4, 2008 · He may be campaigning for Republican John McCain. He may have been close to becoming McCain's running mate. But Sen. ...
Video: Former Dem Lieberman Speaks at RNC AssociatedPress
McCain The Maverick Is Touted By Dem Apostate Sen. Lieberman Investor's Business Daily (subscription)
all 997 news articles


ArkansasSports360.com

Not For The Faint
Oneindia, India - 20 hours ago
Investing in art is the hottest trend prevailing worldwide and is turning into a fine art by itself. The galleries in the Indian Metros are not far behind ...
Crystal Bridges Museum reveals acquisition Seattle Post Intelligencer
Unveiling another Benton County Daily Record
Crystal Bridges Sends Painting To Washington The Morning News
all 14 news articles


Investing in the future
Tidewater News, VA - 5 hours ago
By Randy Forbes As children across the Commonwealth headed back to school this week, I thought of my own four children and how it seems as if it were only ...


One Essential Stock Screen
Motley Fool - 11 hours ago
Like an eccentric playboy tossing money in the air, Tom threw out some of the best and most actionable investing advice that I had ever heard. ...
Do You Still Own This Garbage? Motley Fool
all 2 news articles


Andreesen on Chrome, Obama, and Investing in Start-ups
Conde Nast Portfolio, NY - 14 hours ago
Andreesen explained that he stays busy with Ning, his non-profit work on behalf of Stanford Hospital and Room to Read, and investing/advising start-ups. ...


Monday Morning

ROBERT POWELL For the long haul
MarketWatch - 10 hours ago
Most experts do not advise investing more than half of your assets in non-US stocks. But they do suggest investing a portion in such stocks. ...
Oxford Club bet on Buffett: A 'no-brainer' BloggingStocks
and more

Investing - Google News

home | site map
© BullMarketData.com 2008