Ann Oliveri

Calls from Gmail

Skype is lovely, but the administrative features of my account get on my last nerve-ending.  With the launch of calling from Gmail today, maybe there's a simpler alternative.

For a simple explanation, check out Wiki-How. Call me!

Morningstar Rates Itself

The fund manager rating service, Morningstar, recently released a research report that revealed that the best mutual fund performance measure of the last five years was whether or not a fund charged investors a fee.

For example, if you are investing your IRA contributions in mutual funds, the U.S. Department of Labor warns that "each 1% in additional fees eats up 28% of the ending value of an account over a 35-year span—not an unusually long span for a career."  Therefore, fund expenses should be factored into fund selection as a “primary test.”

Well, duh.

What's remarkable about the Morningstar story, though, is that it not only did the research but released it, revealing that fees are a better predictor than its own ratings.

I love these people!  What could you reveal that would build trust in your association's research or standards?