Here's a scenario I think you'll be familiar with: at the end of a productive meeting, a prospective client hands you a pile of her current investment statements. You haven't yet secured her business, so analyzing these documents will be crucial in convincing the prospect to leave her current advisor. But what's the best way to approach this task?

To grow a successful fee-based practice, efficiency is key. But the more new assets you convert to fees, the more time consuming it becomes to invest and manage them. Many advisors solve for the time dilemma by outsourcing investment management, but many others prefer to have more control over their investment portfolios. If you fall into the latter category, what can you do?

After a decade of accommodative monetary policy, the Federal Reserve (Fed) has been gradually increasing the federal funds rate. With the markets expecting two more hikes this year and possibly just as many next year, the opportunity set on the short end of the curve is only increasing. Simply looking at Treasury yields articulates this point (see Figure 1).

Have you made the choice to outsource investment management? If so, you are well aware that the number of managers and strategies being used can expand to the point where ongoing due diligence is a challenge. Plus, different investment instruments may require various levels of attention. For example, a separately managed account (SMA)—which we will focus on here—does not have a prospectus and qualifies for more frequent monitoring.

Like many financial advisors, I am often called on to help my family and friends with financial matters. In my experience advising different generations and age groups, there are some common questions and problems that keep coming up, especially in relation to investment fear and greed. What I tell them—and what I wish trusted advisors would tell their existing and prospective clients—depends on where they are in life.