60http://blog.transparentinvesting.comen Patrick GeddesPatrick Geddespgeddes@aperiogroup.comnohttp://blog.transparentinvesting.com/2007/11/07/simple-does-not-mean-dumbed-down.aspx?ref=rssPatrick GeddesTransparent Investing has made some headway in terms of getting noticed recently, including mention in a daily newspaper, the San Jose Mercury News, and several blog postings, such as one by the Bogleheads, a group dedicated to indexing, Vanguard and, of course, its founder John Bogle. (For further details see the Bogleheads website at http://www.diehards.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7112&mrr=1192487443.) Many of these observers have commented positively on Transparent Investing, often referring to it as a good place for investment beginners. While the website is meant to provide a useful introduction to beginners, among others, it’s easy to miss the additional analytic details targeted to ...http://blog.transparentinvesting.com/2007/11/07/simple-does-not-mean-dumbed-down.aspx#Commentsda56618d-fe22-4ad9-b9b9-18f40f156dd2Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:08:24 GMThttp://blog.transparentinvesting.com/2007/09/28/buying-stocks-on-margin.aspx?ref=rssPatrick GeddesA blog reader posted a question recently asking my views on buying stocks on margin. Since margin loans are simply another form of investment borrowing, the question for me really boils down to being about asset allocation. Let’s start with two basic asset classes, 1) risky assets (stocks, real estate, commodities, etc.) and 2) less risky assets like bonds and cash. Of course the two always have to add up to 100 percent. Take the example of a simple portfolio for someone with a long-term time horizon who holds 80% stocks and 20% cash. We can drive ...http://blog.transparentinvesting.com/2007/09/28/buying-stocks-on-margin.aspx#Comments2713653f-9ad2-45de-82ce-181531ce0fa3Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:27:13 GMThttp://blog.transparentinvesting.com/2007/08/14/exchange-funds.aspx?ref=rssPatrick GeddesA reader of this blog posted a question recently about exchange funds, inquiring, like any savvy consumer, as to whether or not there’s a catch of some sort with this type of product. I’ll try to give a thumbnail sketch on exchange funds and their advantages and disadvantages. Warning: for novice investors, this discussion will focus on a somewhat specialized and complex part of investing. If you’re not facing the challenge of a concentrated position in a low-basis asset, then this discussion may not be applicable to you. The demand for exchange funds arises out of a ...http://blog.transparentinvesting.com/2007/08/14/exchange-funds.aspx#Comments14b1fa90-5720-439f-9a8b-08ba191f169aTue, 14 Aug 2007 10:22:26 GMThttp://blog.transparentinvesting.com/2007/08/05/another-free-workshop.aspx?ref=rssPatrick GeddesAt the end of July I offered another free workshop in San Francisco, again following up with all of the people who had responded to the article in San Francisco magazine. I was particularly tickled by the story of a woman who before attending the workshop told her husband that there wasn’t going to be any sales pitch. Her husband assured her that she was most definitely going to hear at least some sort of disguised sales message. I was amused to hear that ...http://blog.transparentinvesting.com/2007/08/05/another-free-workshop.aspx#Commentsa581f3fb-0a39-49f1-a431-699d5d2841bfSun, 05 Aug 2007 13:10:52 GMThttp://blog.transparentinvesting.com/2007/07/04/welcome-to-transparent-investing.aspx?ref=rssPatrick GeddesWelcome to the blog for TransparentInvesting.com, a web site set up for investor education and consumer activism. As explained on the web site itself, the site was created to answer the flood of questions triggered by an article in the December 2006 issue of San Francisco magazine. Welcomehttp://blog.transparentinvesting.com/2007/07/04/welcome-to-transparent-investing.aspx#Commentsf2778da0-312f-4517-b60a-6f80596983aaSat, 07 Jul 2007 13:56:50 GMThttp://blog.transparentinvesting.com/2007/07/04/leaving--in-the-pockets-of-your-broker.aspx?ref=rssPatrick GeddesPeople were shocked to learn the average cost of hiring an investment professional at 1.0% advice fee per year plus adding a 1.0% active money management cost and burdening a taxable portfolio with a 1.1% extra tax penalty. All of those add up to 3.1% per year, which means that an investor will have less than half as much wealth at the end of a thirty-year period 2007http://blog.transparentinvesting.com/2007/07/04/leaving--in-the-pockets-of-your-broker.aspx#Comments8caa81e4-e85b-46b4-abf0-344731d484b5Sat, 07 Jul 2007 13:58:05 GMT