Joseph Lisanti

ETFs let you maintain asset allocation while taking tax losses.

Job insecurity has focused attention on the need for emergency cash.

A bond ladder can mitigate interest rate risk, but individual bonds require in-depth research. The diversification of a fund tempers credit risk, but be wary of extended duration.

But beware, moves made in a portfolio should always take into consideration the client’s risk tolerance and long-term goals.

With markets moving swiftly, advisors sometimes rebalance more than once a year.

Using mostly passive strategies results in lower fees and better performance, but there are cases where active management can add value.

The company announced Thursday that Schwab Investment Management would be introducing six new ETFs, weighted by fundamental factors instead of by traditional market capitalization.

The 21 countries in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index include South Korea, with the world’s 12th-largest GDP, and Taiwan, which ranks 20th. Should these heavyweights be in your clients’ emerging markets allocation?

With low rates likely to persist, advisors will have to choose between a low return, currency-hedged, indexed global bond portfolio, or one that incurs greater risk and higher cost in pursuit of larger returns.

While ETFs open the door to the entire foreign stock universe, they can also substantially alter sector weightings.

While many Americans are comfortable investing in foreign multinational companies whose brands are household names in the U.S., the prospect of owning smaller overseas equities can be intimidating.