Since 1989 I've been helping families build generational investment plans based upon historically defensible returns.
Are You Approaching Retirement? Perhaps I Can Help You Build A Comfortable Income For Your Golden Years.
My name is Michael Paulding Thomas. I'm a German-American independent Investment Advisor and Securities Principal that specializes in retirement income planning for the middle-class.As nearly as you can tell, when you think of your retirement, does it seem more probable that you will outlive your money or that your money will outlive you?Here's what I offer: a no-cost, no-obligation second opinion.If you're open to it, I'd like to have relaxed and easy-going conversation with you about your financial goals and portfolio. If I think your investments continue to be well-suited to your retirement, I'll gladly tell you so, and be on my way.If, on the other hand, I think some of your strategies no longer fit with your goals, I'll explain why in plain English and recommend some alternatives.
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Counter-Cultural
Much of the way I conduct my business can be described as going upstream to the traditional financial industry and often times against conventional wisdom. I commit to always tell you the plain, unvarnished truth, especially when you may not want to hear it.Investment Philosophy - be goal-focused and long-term oriented in an industry that will always be market-focused and short-term performance-driven.Investment Strategy - use historically defensible, broadly diversified equity mutual funds vs the current "hot" du jour investment of the moment.
Do What's Right
As the name of this site suggests, putting my clients first has been my guiding philosophy since I started in this industry in 1989.When I sit with a client I ask myself, "What would I do for myself and my family if I were in this situation?" Then that's what I recommend.This includes the way I charge fees. Lower costs for you takes precedence over my income.
“I want to be happy by doing well by doing good.” ―Michael“The truth tellers have no competition.” ―Nick Murray
Make a Complex Subject Simple
I keep my presentations, explanations, strategies and investments as simple as possible. I don't use fancy jargon nor try to impress you with sophisticated language, charts and graphs. I cut through the industry's noise and complexity and provide a simple answer.
“Everything must be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” ―Albert Einstein
Behavioral Coaching
At the end of an investor’s life, 95% of his total lifetime return will come from how the investor behaved. And the primary determinant of that behavior will be the quality of the advice he got, or didn’t get. I believe you will do far better in real life with an empathetic, tough-loving behavioral coach than you will on your own.
“Without an adequately compensated advisor to help with selection and discipline, the individual investor will simply make all the classic and horrendous mistakes.” ―Nick Murray“People make better decisions with financial advisors.” ―Robert Shiller, Nobel Prize-winning economist
This essay started in 1989 when I entered into the investment business and began cataloging my beliefs and insights. This is the current edition of my original notes.
Counter-Cultural
Much of the way I conduct my business can be described as going upstream against the traditional financial industry. From my investment philosophy (being goal-focused and long-term oriented in an industry that will always be market-focused and short-term performance-driven); to the way I charge fees (low-cost for you takes precedence over my income); and to my investment philosophy (historically defensible, broadly diversified mutual funds vs the current "hot" du jour investment of the moment).
Do What's Right
As the name of this site suggests, putting my clients first has been my guiding philosophy since I started in this industry in 1989.When I sit with a client I ask myself, "What would I do for myself and my family if I were in this situation?" Then that's what I recommend.
“I want to be happy by doing well by doing good.” ―Michael“The truth tellers have no competition.” ―Nick Murray
Make a Complex Subject Simple
I keep my presentations, explanations, strategies and investments as simple as possible. I don't use fancy jargon nor try to impress you with sophisticated language, charts and graphs. I cut through the industry's noise and complexity and provide a simple answer.
“Everything must be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” ―Albert Einstein
Behavioral Coaching
At the end of an investor’s life, 95% of his total lifetime return will come from how the investor behaved. And the primary determinant of that behavior will be the quality of the advice he got, or didn’t get. I believe you will do far better in real life with an empathetic, tough-loving behavioral coach than you will on your own.
“Without an adequately compensated advisor to help with selection and discipline, the individual investor will simply make all the classic and horrendous mistakes.” ―Nick Murray“People make better decisions with financial advisors.” ―Robert Shiller, Nobel Prize-winning economist
FREE REPORT: 5 Facts of 529-Plans
Using a 529-Plan is a wonderful way save for your child’s college education. However, there are both positive, and negative, caveats.Read my free report to learn about who qualifies, restrictions, options if your child doesn’t go to college, and much more.
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FREE REPORT: What Are A.B.L.E. Accounts?
Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act allows individuals with mild to severe disabilities to open investment accounts (ie, mutual funds).In my free report you'll learn exactly what they are, who is eligible and how to use them.
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FREE REPORT: Cash-Value vs Term Life Insurance
In this report you'll learn what insurance agents won’t tell, and which of the two types of life insurance is better for your family.
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FREE REPORT: 5 facts of UTMAs
In this report you'll learn the 5 facts of Uniform Transfers to Minor Accounts and how to gift money to your kids with tax-breaks.
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FREE REPORT: Investor Performance vs Investment Performance
““How can the driver be slower than the car?”
In this free report you'll learn Learn why there is often a difference between the performance of the individual investor and the performance of his/her investment.
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FREE REPORT: The Rebalancing Antidote
““Rebalancing means always shopping the sales, automatically.” ―Nick Murray
In this free report you'll learn how Re-Balancing counter-acts human nature's flawed investment strategy.
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FREE REPORT: What is Dollar-Cost Averaging and Why Is It Important?
“Dollar-cost averaging is almost real-time re-balancing.” ―Nick Murray
In this free report you'll learn why investing in consistent intervals, regardless of the current market, is a superior investment strategy.
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FREE REPORT: What are the Six Bread-and-Butter Fundamentals?
In this free report you'll learn what the six most important actions families can take regarding their finances and investments.
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- My Financial Philosophy & Service Model
- Retirement Income Presentation
- WTESA Long-Term Equity Investing
- What is Dollar Cost Averaging?
- Nick Murray's 20 Investment Epiphanies
- WTESA American Funds
- WTESA Variable Annuities
- Term Life Insurance Presentation
- Living Trust Presentation