Client expectations - what %?

Jan 14, 2008 10:54 pm
I'm curious what the rest of you are using for setting expectations for clients.  I used to show hypo's and fact sheets, and usually that shows a 10% return.  However, I've been doing alot more conceptual selling the last couple of years, and not really getting to details about specific investments until the sale is essentially made.  I generally tell people that the account could be up or down 20% in the next year, but over time should average 7-8%.  I don't really get into what the particular funds or subaccounts have done, although I do give a fact sheet and perspectus, so the info is there if they ask or if they look at the info I give them.   The reason I am asking is because I just lost a prospect to the local EDJ Rep, who told them that they could expect up to 7-10% growth, so they decided to go with him.  WTF?  I called them and politely pointed out that I am just being cautious, in fact the investment in question has had a 12% return over the last 5 years.  Nevertheless, they are still going with him.    I know that setting higher expectations is going to bite him in the a** someday, and this isn't even that big of an account, but the fact that he is showing them something with a worse track record than I am but is getting the client by setting their expectations higher than I did just is pissing me off right now.  He has been around long enough to know better too.    This little rant is my way to get over it and move on.  I'm just curious what kind of expectations other advisors are setting for their clients.    
Jan 14, 2008 11:30 pm

first reaction is that if they are simply performance driven investors, good riddance.  eventually you will not be the highest performing advisor they meet and will move on then.  stick with the conceptual selling, it is much more profitable long term. 

i would potentially say the performance might not be the real reason they left, but i do not know the situation very well.
Jan 15, 2008 3:24 am

I usually say 7-9% (of course this depends on the allocation model I use). For forecasting, I use 8% pre-retirement and 6 or 7% post-retirement. I don’t think 7-9% is unreasonable. To me, 7-8% over the long-term for a good quality portfolio seems a bit low (which is only a shade lower than what I use). But I use real defensive portfolios (American, FT) that hold up real well in down markets, so even through the real bad markets, we are going to do far better than what I tell people.



As Horse said, some clients are purely numbers driven. These type make me nervous. They somehow believe (despite what you tell them) that you will get EXACTLY the return you tell them, no more, no less. So if you get 5% in a down year for the market, you’re screwed. Then when the market shoots up 20%, and you do 17%, they find a way to talk to other brokers that are doing 30% returns, and TELLING prospects that. Then they BUY IT. These are NOT good clients.



I do not like any client that wants to “compare” returns. I will not tell anyone what they will get. I just tell them that “long term, a well diversified portfolio like this will generally average 7-9% while taking less risk than the overall market or benchmarks”.

Jan 15, 2008 4:25 am

OK. LMFAO. exponential economic growth is impossible.  If you do not know that, you better study macro economics. The edge of the big cliff is much closer than you think.  We have big problems here. We may not have business in this industry in the next 2-5 years.  YES…we are that close.  PEACE

Jan 15, 2008 3:38 pm

Hey, I heard there was this big asteroid coming next year too.  That's going to be followed by the polar ice caps melting causing worldwide flooding.  Al Gore told me that himself.   So, I stopped using hairspray.  That should stop it.  Iran has nukes.  China is going to take over the world.  Hillary is going to be the next president.  The dollar is going to zero.  Oil is going to $400/barrel.  Any other theories you want to discuss?

Jan 15, 2008 3:56 pm

Spiff’s comming out!

Jan 15, 2008 4:04 pm

Spiffman..you are not well informed.... do you understand the exponential function in economics? Is it sustainable? Don't worry about global warming, Don't worry about nukes. don't worry about China..they are doomed too. Whomever becomes the next president..wait, who would want to become president in the light of everything...Yes, the dollar is going to zero (as the roman aureus did 1700 years ago), with or without $400 oil..but exponential energy costs (which raises everything else) will speed up the process. Last summer, I sold most of my book to an optimist, CNBC sunshine blown up their ass broker...space spiff, you need to do the same.

Have you heard of Richard Rainwater?  Probably not.
Jan 15, 2008 4:23 pm

Not to be too flip about it, but get ahold of an American Funds ICA Guide.  Yeah, I know it’s a marketing piece.  But if you look at the reasons not to invest section (I haven’t looked at it in a while, but I know you have all seen it at some point), there is a very compelling case to put your money in CD’s, if not gold bars buried in the backyard, almost all the time. 

  I know, this time is different.  Just like tech stocks in 1999, just like the Cuban missle crisis, just like the first Gulf war, which was supposed to be another Vietnam, except with WMD's being used by the other side.  Just like Pearl Harbor.  Just like the Russians beating us into space.    This time is always different.
Jan 15, 2008 4:27 pm

By the way, when you say performance may not be the real reason they left, I know that there are other reasons as well.  They have an existing relationship with EDJ, and I am trying to get them as a new client.  This was a long shot anyway, but the fact that performance was at least one of the reasons annoyed me, especially since what I showed them had better diversification and better performance both.

Jan 15, 2008 4:36 pm

edJ,

Not to critisize you, but brokers that sell using the ICA chart.....look this thing's done 12.7% for the last 73 years, how can you go wrong..is what this thread started with.  I think the EJones saleman used something like that to get the business..while you were being more (but not nearly enough)  convervative.  Brokers like that are going to kill their clients. "past performance does not guarantee future results"  Speaking to Rainwater a couple of years ago, I though he was a bit premature about the oil crisis. But he hit the credit, dollar, finance crisis right on the head.  Then add the frosting on the cake of energy and commodities shortages (only getting worse). Dire Consenquences.
Jan 15, 2008 6:16 pm

So, MC Lovin, what you are telling us is “This time is different.”  Thanks for the insight.

Jan 15, 2008 6:23 pm

Yes.  So different and unprecidented that that an exodus is occurring from all levels of your beloved industry.

Jan 15, 2008 7:09 pm

[quote=MC Lovin]Yes.  So different and unprecidented that that an exodus is occurring from all levels of your beloved industry.[/quote]

Yawn …

Jan 15, 2008 7:53 pm

Yawn?  Please wake up.  Anyone with a triple digit IQ can smell the coffee and have some real concerns. Most people don’t believe something can happen until it already has. That’s not stupidity or weakness, that’s just human nature.

  1929 a walk in the park
Jan 15, 2008 9:44 pm

I’ve seen this movie before. When the guy that shines my shoes & the biggest producer in the branch both start dumping stuff it’s time to start buying…

Jan 15, 2008 10:29 pm

I would assume that all of us have some concerns.  Short term concerns.  This year could get ugly.  But we’re not willing to jump on the “It’s the end of the world as we know it” bandwagon.  After all, REM told us that way back in 1987.  Great song, bad advice.  So, forgive us if we don’t stick our heads in the sand.   

Jan 15, 2008 10:30 pm

[quote=MC Lovin]edJ,

Not to critisize you, but brokers that sell using the ICA chart.....look this thing's done 12.7% for the last 73 years, how can you go wrong..is what this thread started with.  I think the EJones saleman used something like that to get the business..while you were being more (but not nearly enough)  convervative.  Brokers like that are going to kill their clients. "past performance does not guarantee future results"  Speaking to Rainwater a couple of years ago, I though he was a bit premature about the oil crisis. But he hit the credit, dollar, finance crisis right on the head.  Then add the frosting on the cake of energy and commodities shortages (only getting worse). Dire Consenquences.[/quote]   Let's say worst case scenario....Great Depression?  1987?   2000-2002?    Um, I think we recovered from those pretty well.   But this time it's different.  It's a NEW PARADIGM!
Jan 15, 2008 10:48 pm

Space, short term concern? Ugly year?  I hope so too, but how can we recover from all this!

  Broker24, worse case senario, your 3 mentioned are mere blips in the big picture...look back further. Think harder.

By AD369 the Empire was beginning to crumble for the following reasons:

The Government was running out of money.

The people had to pay very high taxes - up to a third of their money.

Water and Food supplies could not meet demand.

Where are we today? Much like the Romans, but worse off...much worse.  All the problems are at a much larger exponet today.  Their money was gold, ours is pure fiat debt. Our economy is entrenched and dependent on OIL, a commodity in which the demand has outstripped supply.  
Jan 16, 2008 1:07 am

I’ve heard all this before in the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, and the new century we live in–all of you need to help your client’s balance their portfolio for the current market conditions–not the chicken little syndrome! 

  True story: in August 1987 I went on a cruise on the USS Enterprise and I when I left I had $42,000 in a growth and income mutual fund---I came back from the cruise in March 1988 and my fund was worth $45,000 and some change--I didn't change anything yet the market crashed in Oct 1987... our job is to control expectation of our clients--not predict WWIII.
Jan 16, 2008 1:14 am

Well, getting back to the original point of the thread (as I see it), I recommend getting the book entitled, "The Wedge". To get a sense of what the book is about, imagine you want to date a girl who is already involved with someone else. What would you do to break-up that relationship? Getting in the girl's face, telling her how great you are and what a loser her boyfriend is, won't work. It must be more subtle. The girl must think that SHE decided to break-up and date you.

The same thing applies to business relationships. Rather than tell the prospect that you're great and that the other broker is an idiot, you might ask the prospect: "So, when Joe Broker reviewed your investment policy statement, clearly showed the expenses you'd incur, explained asset allocation and how often he'd/she'd rebalance your account, and established a quarterly review schedule for the next twelve months, how was that result?"   Of course, don't pack all this in one question! But break it up into a series of questions. After your prospect has negatively answered your questions three or four times, they will starting doubting the wisdom of their decision to go with the other broker. This is just a sliver of what the book is about. There's a lot more, in the book, that I found very valuable.   Dollar for dollar, it's been the best investment I've ever made in a book on sales. And although the book is written for insurance agents, it's principles are very transferable to our line of work.   Just sayin'....
Jan 16, 2008 2:13 am

[quote=Roadhard]I’ve heard all this before in the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, and the new century we live in–all of you need to help your client’s balance their portfolio for the current market conditions–not the chicken little syndrome! 

  True story: in August 1987 I went on a cruise on the USS Enterprise and I when I left I had $42,000 in a growth and income mutual fund---I came back from the cruise in March 1988 and my fund was worth $45,000 and some change--I didn't change anything yet the market crashed in Oct 1987... our job is to control expectation of our clients--not predict WWIII.[/quote]

Was William Shatner aboard?
Jan 16, 2008 11:44 am
MC Lovin:

OK. LMFAO. exponential economic growth is impossible.  If you do not know that, you better study macro economics. The edge of the big cliff is much closer than you think.  We have big problems here. We may not have business in this industry in the next 2-5 years.  YES…we are that close.  PEACE

  While I was never the most optimistic guy in the world, by nature, I was never one of those gloom and doom guys on the market. I was always a believer in the long term growth strategy, with a little bit of tactical investing thrown in to adjust to the world around me. So what MC is spouting here, sort of goes agains the grain.   However!!! I had a conversation with one of the real smart guys in my office the other day. Does a lot of Alternatives, and is always looking to think ahead of the markets. He told me he was at a meeting with a big Hedge fund the other day and saw a presentation that made his jaw drop. It was very much like what MC is laying out here, and it really made some sense to me. The Hedge Fund manager is Paulson and Co. they have an amazing track record and they called this subprime thing way before the fact, and made huge oney on it.  I did a little of my own research, and if you go to this link, you will read what I am referring to:   http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=agHGvijV55fM&refer=us   Yes. MC is painting the picture that we all dont want to see. And I want to believe he is a wacko. But there are a lot of smart people who agree with him.
Jan 16, 2008 12:35 pm

As a clarification to my first post, the link is to an article published in March 2007, where the manager clearly called this mess. That same manager is currently saying that there is a ton more to come, not just in foreclosures, and problems in housing mortgages, but credit cards, auto financing, etc, and there is even bigger trouble ahead.

  Who knows if he is right, I've read some smart guys who say its time to step up and buy. But these guys are smart as well. Market of opinions. All I'm saying is maybe its we are wrong in dismissing MC's doomsday theory. What if...
Jan 16, 2008 2:09 pm

There is ALWAYS a possiblity for a catastrophic event. Buffett said a couple of years ago that insurance companies must prepare for a nuclear attack on US soil in the next decade. I don’t know what will or won’t happen, and neither do you, Rainwater, Dent or MC Leavin. I do know that well balanced portfolios that includes alternative type strategies like commodities, bear market strategies, etc will over time meet and beat their averages, and my clients need to grow their money to keep up with inflation & to meet their longer term financial goals.



The Dow Jones & S&P 500 are not the entire world of investing. Let’s seek returns & wealth elsewhere.

Jan 16, 2008 2:28 pm

[quote=pratoman]As a clarification to my first post, the link is to an article published in March 2007, where the manager clearly called this mess. That same manager is currently saying that there is a ton more to come, not just in foreclosures, and problems in housing mortgages, but credit cards, auto financing, etc, and there is even bigger trouble ahead.

  Who knows if he is right, I've read some smart guys who say its time to step up and buy. But these guys are smart as well. Market of opinions. All I'm saying is maybe its we are wrong in dismissing MC's doomsday theory. What if...[/quote]

Prato there are plenty of folks who have been talking about this kind of stuff for a few years - major concerns about leverage and commodity inflation, recommending ownership of gold, quality international stocks, reduce exposure to US equities to less than 50% etc.  Over the last 24 months they may be right, and it could go on for another 12 months.  For example-the fellow from Europacific who is on Fox Business just about every day.  I'm too lazy to google his name.

I just think when MC starts talking about the fall of the Roman Empire he's gone a little too far, IMHO.

I do honestly feel that we as a society have lost our way a bit with our overemphasis on material goods even at the risk of our long-term financial health and moral character.  Perhaps this mess in the housing market will serve as a wakeup call to some folks.

Jan 16, 2008 2:46 pm

Joe, Scotty was our chief engineer!

Jan 16, 2008 3:59 pm
Pratoman, Many macroeconomists predicted this global financial crisis years ago.  Our main stream media here in the USA is censored and regulated by the powers that be to conform to the growth model necessary for "goldielocks" economy.  Never take what the big media has to say at face value, unless you want to be a sheep..."ignorance is bliss". Do your own research and studies.  We have an issue in this industry of being overly optimistic in gerneral.  It is time to be a realist, a contrarian. I am a middle-aged family man that has done very well in this industry.  I too like many of us have lived the comsumerist lifestyle of americans.  Nice homes, nice cars, travel. I have solid lifetime friendships and have made aquaintances with both regular and some brilliant minds in finance and economics. I do not feel that any of them..friends, family, collegues see me as being "wacko".  I just would like you to consider this as a possibility, do some research, set up a meeting with Paulson and company.  I am painting a picture that all of us do not like, but do you not feel that you would be more prepared for such a case if you knew about it beforehand?   Ashland, You are right, there is always a possibility of catastrophy.  Buffett is an insurance man ,he knows that there might be such a possibility in the next decade as the resource war we are in continues.  Berkshire is moving more and more int'l, I don't know Mr. Buffett personally, but I know he sees the big picture. But please think outside of an "event"  Our financial crisis has been in the works for 60 years.  The exponential growth we has seen is unsustainable.  Worst case...if there is a global depression, there is nowhere to hide in electronic/paper investing/trading.  There would be nothing we can do other than hoard food and some gold bars.   Joe, I respect your opinion about the roman empire. It seems impossible for that to happen to us.  We are in completely different times now.  I would see it has worst case. But what happened to the Romans? What happened to the Mayans? The bigger they are, the harder they fall.  Don't get me wrong, I don't like what is happening either, but I have come to the realization it is completely out of my control. ps: Fox Business is poison.   MC
Jan 16, 2008 4:08 pm

The oil issue is real.  There is a finite amount of it out there.  But don’t believe for a second that the powers that be don’t have plans in some desk drawer waiting for the day when the middle east decides that they’re done selling oil to the entire planet.  Is Iraq about oil?  Yep, to a certain extent.  Would the world take out Iran for it’s oil.  Yep.  And not look back.  Would they force drilling in Alaska?  Yes.  Are they still looking for new reserves?  Yes.  I’ve heard stories about oil reserves in the Rocky mountains that would last us for another 500 years or more.  It’s just really difficult to get to.  If the world was about to collapse, don’t you think someone would figure out how to get to it?  Absolutely. 

  It's all speculation at this point anyway.  Talk to one person who says our economy is recession proof.  Another says we might have a small one.  Another still says we are headed back to the stone ages.  The truth is in there somewhere.  Who knows where.  Until that time, the only real recourse we have as advisors is to keep planning like we are right now.  If the dollar goes to zero, retirment planning is a moot point anyway.     
Jan 16, 2008 5:18 pm

Spiff,

   I had a 2 hour appointment with an old client in a few months ago.  He was an oilman in the exploration department in the 70's till 1990. After the meeting, I havent been the same since.  SERIOUSLY. Oil peaked in the US in late 1971.  We never have and never will produce more oil.  we use 21 million barrels a day(yes day).  We produce 5 million per day.  Why? ERoEI.  There might be a large amount of oil in colorado..difficult/immposible to extract, like the tar sands in canada.  but if the energy invested is more than the energy returned, that oil will never be used.  It is just not economically feasable to lose money per barrel.  In texas, there are many "dead" wells, but at $60, it became profitable to pump water into them to pull out the last bit of oil out of the ground.  The problem is after we have peaked globally (many say we did last year) oil gets harder and harder to extract.  And we cannot have a contracting energy and food supply if we expect the ecomony to grow.  It is all speculation, but the person that siad we are recession proof has already been made an idiot.  There are alot of problems.so much more than I or most of us can even comprehend. The current situation will fall somewhere between recession and stone age.  
Jan 16, 2008 5:51 pm

[quote=MC Lovin]Space, short term concern? Ugly year?  I hope so too, but how can we recover from all this!

  Broker24, worse case senario, your 3 mentioned are mere blips in the big picture...look back further. Think harder.

By AD369 the Empire was beginning to crumble for the following reasons:

The Government was running out of money.

The people had to pay very high taxes - up to a third of their money.

Water and Food supplies could not meet demand.

Where are we today? Much like the Romans, but worse off...much worse.  All the problems are at a much larger exponet today.  Their money was gold, ours is pure fiat debt. Our economy is entrenched and dependent on OIL, a commodity in which the demand has outstripped supply.  [/quote]   Now I have confimed that you are a complete lunatic.
Jan 16, 2008 5:57 pm

[quote=Broker7]Spiff,

   I had a 2 hour appointment with an old client in a few months ago.  He was an oilman in the exploration department in the 70's till 1990. After the meeting, I havent been the same since.  SERIOUSLY. Oil peaked in the US in late 1971.  We never have and never will produce more oil.  we use 21 million barrels a day(yes day).  We produce 5 million per day.  Why? ERoEI.  There might be a large amount of oil in colorado..difficult/immposible to extract, like the tar sands in canada.  but if the energy invested is more than the energy returned, that oil will never be used.  It is just not economically feasable to lose money per barrel.  In texas, there are many "dead" wells, but at $60, it became profitable to pump water into them to pull out the last bit of oil out of the ground.  The problem is after we have peaked globally (many say we did last year) oil gets harder and harder to extract.  And we cannot have a contracting energy and food supply if we expect the ecomony to grow.  It is all speculation, but the person that siad we are recession proof has already been made an idiot.  There are alot of problems.so much more than I or most of us can even comprehend. The current situation will fall somewhere between recession and stone age.  [/quote]   The whole oil issue is true and real.  BUT, like technology, much will be invested in the next 20 years on alternative fuel sources, renewable sources, environmental protection, renewable food sources, water purification, etc.  I've seen a lot of proposed windmill farms in the news lately.  That helps to generate energy and protect open land.  I've actually seen some proposals for farms off the coast. The environment (including the oil issue) is the next "technology boom".  I predict a huge bubble in that area 10-15 years from now (and nobody will still be on this board to challenge me in 15 years!!! ).
Jan 16, 2008 6:30 pm

24,

I hope you are right.  Humans by nature are innovative. There has been a push in alternative energy lately.  I see windmill farms close to my place. So hopefully if a gridcrash on coal and oil powerplants takes place, I will still be able to turn on the light.  But I know oil is finite and non renewable.  That is why I would question the renewable food source idea.  Food is organic and has to be grown.  Petroleum is the fertilizer that makes it possible to feed 6 billion people, w/o the fertilizer, there would be food for 500 million to 1 billion people.  That would be a huge global contraction.    Keep an eye on food prices.
Jan 16, 2008 7:26 pm

Not only are humans innovative–but the greatest resource in the United States is the people!  Look what they can do WHEN THEY HAVE TOO, take WWII–they were building ships in under two weeks and aircraft carriers in 3 months.  Could this country once again find alternatives–yes, when they HAVE TOO!

  The biggest threat too all of us is the out of control spending of the US Government.  In most big 7 countries like France, GB, ect..., spending is out of control.  Can this be fixed? Yes, but it is going to take a bipartisan effort to do so.    I agree that the market could be in a funk (old man talk) for the next couple of decades...but we can still make money for our clients just like they did in the 60's & 70's.
Jan 16, 2008 8:08 pm

Roadhard,

You are soooo right on the greatest resource.  its just that we have never been put under such a test as we have today.   I'm sure some others can state it much better than I can but: the greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.  We dont understand infinite economic growth is not possible. You say the biggest threat is the out of control spending of the US government as with most other tier 1 nations. I will disagree.  it is not out of contol, just appears to be.  As our economy has grown exponentially so has government spending: Stock market 11%  since 1930 inflation 3.5% government spending, ^ inline with inflation.   We cannot contol the gov. spending and the money printing because ecomonic growth dictates that has to occur. I dont see any of the big 7 wanting to become a third world country by choice. we are a debt currency nation and  more and more money has to be printed and spent in order for our economy to survive.  That can possibly slow down or at worse come to a halt with the current financial crisis (which is revealing many houses of cards).  The fed is talking about an emergency 50 basis point rate decrease, the IRS is talking about infusing each household with $650 in spending "vouchers", I feel both are just stop gaps to prolong the recession.  Back to the exponential function (infinite growth).   It is impossible in a finite world, but bankers and politicians seem to think so.     
Jan 16, 2008 8:35 pm

Back in November we I attended a conference in Chicago and the UBS talking head said they are predicting oil at $40/barrell in 2010.  Found that interesting.  And no, I did not say $140, but $40.

Jan 16, 2008 9:49 pm

[quote=Broker24]

    Now I have confimed that you are a complete lunatic.[/quote]   To incite such a response, I must have affected you in some way.  You've shown me you are not in agreement, but are at least listening.
Jan 16, 2008 9:57 pm
theironhorse:

Back in November we I attended a conference in Chicago and the UBS talking head said they are predicting oil at $40/barrell in 2010.  Found that interesting.  And no, I did not say $140, but $40.

  That is very interesting speculation.. Did the UBS person give you any indication why? This hypothetical would work.  Let us assume that in 2010 we are in a global depression, and oil intensive functions (manufacturing, transport, food production, etc) are cut back 60-70%.  Then $40 oil would be inline with a dow 6000 or so.     Also, many wonder when oil will be priced globally in euros instead of dollars
Jan 16, 2008 10:12 pm

This is getting too complicated to follow. . Off to the plastic surgery forum!

Jan 17, 2008 2:26 am

[quote=MC Lovin] [quote=Broker24]





Now I have confimed that you are a complete lunatic.[/quote]





To incite such a response, I must have affected you in some way. You’ve shown me you are not in agreement, but are at least listening. [/quote]



Whatever keeps you motivated!
Jan 17, 2008 4:35 pm
MC Lovin:

[quote=theironhorse]Back in November we I attended a conference in Chicago and the UBS talking head said they are predicting oil at $40/barrell in 2010.  Found that interesting.  And no, I did not say $140, but $40.

  That is very interesting speculation.. Did the UBS person give you any indication why? This hypothetical would work.  Let us assume that in 2010 we are in a global depression, and oil intensive functions (manufacturing, transport, food production, etc) are cut back 60-70%.  Then $40 oil would be inline with a dow 6000 or so.     Also, many wonder when oil will be priced globally in euros instead of dollars[/quote]   $40 oil would not be posible in a global depression, unless we (the USA) are the only ones not in the depression.  in a dow 6000 situation, i would suspect the dollar to be 1/2 what it is now.  If oil is still priced in dollars..that is.
Jan 20, 2008 10:28 pm
Morphius:

[quote=MC Lovin]Yes.  So different and unprecidented that that an exodus is occurring from all levels of your beloved industry.[/quote]

Yawn …

  http://www.nypost.com/seven/01202008/business/blood_on_the_street__trader_866023.htm   well....alot of the mass  " exodus" is forced...not voluntary..