William Reichenstein

William Reichenstein, CFA, holds the Pat and Thomas R. Powers Chair in Investment Management at Baylor University. bill_reichenstein@baylor.edu.

Articles by this Author

1. Portfolio Strategies »

   New Rules for Converting to a Roth IRA

   The income restrictions have been lifted, but does converting to a Roth IRA make sense for you? Plus, find out why a recharacterization can give you even more flexibility for managing your tax exposure.

   January 2010 | Journal

2. 

   Features »

   Bear Market Grads: What You Should Learn From the Financial Crisis

   Stock indexes remain substantially below their peaks, banks are in lousy shape, and governments around the world are running huge deficits. The market has been a brutal teacher, but there are important lessons to be learned from the crisis--and positive steps investors can take going forward.

   July 2009 | Journal

3. 

   Features »

   Stocks for the Long Term: Why Prospects Are Rosy

   You already know the bad news concerning stocks. The good news is that based on today's depressed prices, long-term stock prospects appear above average. A look at some of the evidence that supports a rosy multi-year stock outlook, and a framework for applying these forecasts.

   January 2009 | Journal

4. Portfolio Strategies »

   Financial Professional Terms: What They Mean and Why You Should Care

   Broker, financial planner, investment advisor and wealth manager are just a few of the common terms used to describe various financial professionals. Many individuals do not have a clear understanding of what distinguishes one from another. A look at the terms and differences in duties owed to clients.

   November 2008 | Journal

5. Features »

   Will Your Savings Last? What the Withdrawal Rate Studies Show

   Determining a "safe" withdrawal rate for retirement savings is a tricky balancing act for retirees. If it is too large, they may run through assets too quickly, but if it is too little, their lifestyle will be below where it could be. Many studies have attempted to determine the "maximum" safe rate. Lessons from what the studies have found.

   July 2008 | Journal

6. Portfolio Strategies »

   Clueless: What Graduates Need to Know About Making Financial Decisions

   Bad decision-making in an individual's early years can have a detrimental effect on their well-being throughout their working lives. A primer aimed at the younger generation on how to avoid early-year financial mistakes.

   January 2008 | Journal

7. Portfolio Strategies »

   Investment Products: If It Has to Be Sold, Don't Buy It!

   Financial firms can add, at best, only a small value by buying and combining securities into a portfolio. Many investors haven't thought about this, but it explains why investments and products with commissions should be avoided.

   November 2007 | Journal

8. Portfolio Strategies »

   Explaining the Value Tilt and Its Implications for Investors

   Over the long run, returns on value stocks have exceeded returns on growth stocks. The raging debate in the financial community is: Why? And can investors actually profit from this value tilt? A look at the competing explanations and their implications for investors.

   July 2007 | Journal

9. Portfolio Strategies »

   Choosing the Right Mix: Lessons From Life Cycle Funds

   Life cycle funds represent a fund family’s professional thinking about prudent asset allocations through a typical individual’s life cycle. What you can learn from four life cycle fund families.

   January 2007 | Journal

10. Features »

    Withdrawal Strategies to Make Your Nest Egg Last Longer

    Individuals who are withdrawing assets in their golden years face a relatively complex issue: Which accounts should they withdraw from first, taxable or tax-deferred? A look at alternative withdrawal strategies, and how they affect a portfolio's longevity.

    November 2006 | Journal

11. Features »

    Recommended Reading: Four Books That Cover It All

    Where can you get sound financial advice and avoid the costs of attaining it? Reading the right books is an obvious choice. A recommended list of easily readable books.

    July 2006 | Journal

12. Portfolio Strategies »

    The Real-World Lessons From Investment Theory

    Modern Portfolio Theory is the accepted approach to portfolio management today, with its implications embedded in the portfolios of most major mutual fund families and the advice given by well-known investment advisers. But many investors are unfamiliar with the underlying principles. What you need to learn from investment theory, and how to apply it to your real-world investment portfolio.

    January 2006 | Journal

13. Portfolio Strategies »

    Tax-Efficient Investing: Picking the Right Pocket for Your Assets

    If you want to keep Uncle Sam’s fingers off your assets, you need to put them into the right tax pocket. A look at the third principle of tax-efficient portfolio management: How to decide which assets should go into your tax-deferred and taxable accounts.

    November 2005 | Journal

14. Portfolio Strategies »

    The Great Tax Fight: Managing Stocks in Taxable Accounts

    The Fight of the Century is the continuous fight investors have with Uncle Sam over their return dollars. Who's the leading challenger? The Tax-Efficient Investor. A look at how to create a tax-efficient portfolio when managing individual stocks.

    July 2005 | Journal

15. Portfolio Strategies »

    Tax-Efficient Investing and What It Means to Your Portfolio

    Portfolio Strategies: Although tax laws constantly change, the key to tax-efficient investing is contained in a small number of provisions that are unlikely to be altered. A new way of thinking about asset allocation that considers aftertax values.

    February 2005 | Journal