The most important investment decisions
Channel: Paul Merriman
Date: 2022-08-31

Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation between Rob Berger and Paul Merriman on Rob’s “Financial Freedom Show” (YouTube video channel) as they discuss these important investor topics:
Timestamps
 0:00 - Welcome to the Financial Freedom Show!
 01:01 - Small Cap Value
 20:44 - Other consistent funds
22:59 - Equity portfolio
27:00 - Deciding/4 fund strategy
30:13 - Links below/Quilt chart
45:19 - Stock vs Bond allocation/Market Timing
49:37 - Investing strategies/risk
50:50 - Retirement withdrawal strategy
53:14 - Challenge
55:23 - Glide Path
58:18 - Market Timer's strategy with the current market
1:00:59 - AVUV over VBR
1:08:10 - Measuring value
1:10:46 - Paul's Bond Portfolio
1:12:35 - REIT's
1:13:55 - Tired
1:15:21 - What's next for Paul
1:18:33 - Bogelheads conference
1:19:51 - Links below/Financial Freedom

Recorded with a live Zoom audience, they also fielded questions.
Some comments on Rob’s video page include:
“My two favorite financial experts alive today discussing personal finance together. Perfect! Thank you both for your time, talent and wisdom.”

“Rob, for the recent interviews you have done, this is my favorite! Paul is so passionate about his beliefs. I have been listening to Paul's podcast over the last 18 months. He has convinced me of the long term power of tilting your equity portfolio towards small cap value. I added the 10% tilt at the beginning of 2022.”

“Great down to earth, easily explained info I can put to good use. Best guest to date!”
Links to help investors:
This link gives the case for the 10 U.S. and international equity asset classes: https://paulmerriman.com/ultimate-buy-and-hold-strategy/

This link shows 9 different ways to combine the 10 equity asset classes and the 52 year returns for each.
https://paulmerriman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Sound-Investing-Portfolios.pdf

This link provides data combining each of the 9 equity portfolios along with different percentages of fixed income:
https://paulmerriman.com/fine-tuning-your-asset-allocation/

This link shows the impact of using the 9 portfolios and all the combinations of fixed income assuming an initial annual investment of $1,000 with a 3% annual increase on investment:
https://paulmerriman.com/2021-fixed-contributions/

This link shows the impact of using the 9 different equity/fixed income as a source of fixed retirement distributions. Each years distribution is adjusted for inflation. Beginning distributions range from 3 to 6 percent:
https://paulmerriman.com/2021-fixed-distributions/

This link shows the impact of annual distributions based on a percentage of assets, without inflation adjustment. Distributions range from 3 to 6 percent:
https://paulmerriman.com/flexible-distributions-2021/
This link compares the annual to 20 year returns of 4 major U.S. asset classes:
https://paulmerriman.com/90-years-of-evidence-shows-investor-patience-leads-to-better-returns/

This links to the Merriman Lifetime Investment Calculator. The calculator can be used for investors in both the accumulation and distribution periods of their investment life:
https://paulmerriman.com/lifetime-investment-calculator/

Disclaimer-
This information is intended to be used and must be used for information purposes only.

We are not investment or tax advisors, and this should not be considered advice. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment or employing any tax strategy. You should consider your own personal circumstances and speak with professional advisors before making any investment.

The information we present is based on our own research and opinions. We believe the information presented herein to be true and accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee the accuracy of every statement, nor guarantee that the information will not change in the future.

It is important that you independently research any information that you wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment or tax decision, or otherwise. No content on the website (paulmerriman.com) or related sites, nor any content in our newsletters, email, or related content, constitutes, nor should be understood as constituting, a recommendation to engage in any of the investment strategies we present. 

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