Cogent Blog
Our Articles
Here you’ll find our library of personal and business financial articles.
4 Oct 2016
Cogent Strategic Wealth
Women and Wealth: An Update From Kelly Stanley
The Cogent Advisor Wealth Manager Kelly Stanley and her daughter Shannon enjoy some girl time. In July 2015, a little more than a year ago,...
6 Sep 2016
Cogent Strategic Wealth
I Hate (Most) Variable Annuities
As much as I love to partner with families to dramatically simplify their complex financial lives, that’s how much I hate most variable annuities. That’s a lot...
9 Aug 2016
Cogent Strategic Wealth
Pay Fewer Taxes and Boost Returns with Tax-Loss Harvesting
In an alternate universe, perhaps far, far away, there may be markets where no one experiences loss, tax doesn’t eat away at your earnings and...
12 Jul 2016
Cogent Strategic Wealth
Is It Time for That “We’re Not Getting Any Younger” Talk?
If you are in your 60s, give or take, it may seem like only yesterday that you were having “that talk” with your children. You know, the...
7 Jun 2016
Cogent Strategic Wealth
In Defense of the Home Mortgage: Not all Debt is Bad Debt
We believe it’s time to take a fresh look at a timeless question: Is it better to own your home outright or maintain a mortgage? Given all...
10 May 2016
Cogent Strategic Wealth
Evidence-Based Fund Selection vs. the Stock-Picking Circus
In a recent Cogent Commentary, “Peering Past the Market’s Peaks and Valleys,” we emphasized how important it is to embrace an evidence-based strategy as a...
19 Apr 2016
Cogent Strategic Wealth
Peering Past the Market’s Peaks and Valleys: Cogent Advice in Video Action
It’s one thing to understand intellectually that, to earn market returns, you must first traverse the peaks and valleys that stand between you and your...
12 Apr 2016
Cogent Strategic Wealth
The Company You Keep, The Advice You Accept
“There are few regulations that smart, motivated targets cannot evade.” — Vanguard founder Jack Bogle Bogle may have said it more succinctly, but “The Market...
9 Feb 2016
Cogent Strategic Wealth
Dimensional’s 2015 Year in Review: A Tale of Risks and Expected Rewards
To counteract some of the stress that the markets have been putting us through lately, we’d like to share a short, upbeat tale with you...
12 Jan 2016
Cogent Strategic Wealth
Year-Round Cogent Giving
As we swing into a new year, you may be tempted to assume that the time for charitable giving is behind us. But really, what...
4 Feb 2015
Cogent Strategic Wealth
Dimensional’s 2014 Year in Review: World Views Generate Nothing New for Investors
According to Dimensional Fund Advisors’ 2014 Review, two non-U.S. developed countries (in the MSCI Index) experienced 2014 annual returns of +22.77% and –22.04% in seesaw fashion. Can...
31 Jan 2012
Cogent Strategic Wealth
Creating an Investment Policy Statement: Resolving Conflicts
After you and your advisor have analyzed your ability, willingness and need to take risk, you may realize that there are some conflicts that need...