What most investors get wrong about diversification
We’re partnering with retirement expert Craig Israelsen, Ph.D., for a three-part workshop exploring the three essential topics that can shape your retirement.
What most investors get wrong about diversification
Hi Investor,
Diversification was never designed to make you rich. It was designed to make sure you don’t run out of money when it matters most .... and almost no one gets taught the difference.
That idea alone reshapes how most investors think about diversification, and it’s the focus of Session 2 in our upcoming three-part Retirement Workshop with Craig Israelsen, Ph.D.
In our last email, we covered Session 1’s comprehensive focus on portfolio redundancy and the hidden overlap that quietly undermines diversification.
Session 2 goes a level deeper, tackling a belief so common that most investors have never thought to question it: that diversification is supposed to optimize returns.
Israelsen will make the case (backed by decades of research) that this simply isn’t true. Diversification was never designed to chase the highest return. It was designed to help you reach your goals reliably, through both the accumulation years and the withdrawal years, regardless of what the market throws at you.
Here’s what you’ll walk away with by attending the workshop
This workshop is built around three core lessons — each one building on the last, so that by the end, you’re not just informed, you’re equipped.
How to spot what’s really in your portfolio: Learn to identify hidden overlap and redundancy, so you know exactly what you own and why instead of assuming that a mix of fund names means real diversification.
What diversification is actually meant to do: Understand that diversification isn’t about chasing the highest return; it’s about giving you consistency and confidence to reach your goals, no matter what the market is doing.
How to withdraw with confidence: See exactly how different withdrawal strategies perform over time using real data, so you can build a retirement income plan you actually trust, not just one you’re hoping will work.
Our goal isn’t just to teach you concepts. We also aim to leave you with the tools and clarity to look at your own portfolio differently so you can head into retirement with a plan that’s built to last.
When you register for our Retirement Workshop, you’ll receive access to all three live online sessions led by Israelsen. Each session will be packed with practical strategies and valuable resources designed to help you make informed retirement decisions.
Best of all, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and get answers live from Israelsen, giving you insights you can immediately put into action.
Session 2: What NOT to expect from a diversified portfolio
This session is a candid, evidence-based look at what diversification can — and can’t — do for you. Israelsen will walk through:
The full spectrum of asset classes that make up a truly diversified portfolio
How to recognize the “real world” signs that you’re actually diversified — not just diversified-sounding
Why diversification isn’t static, and how it should evolve across your investing life cycle
Classic examples of diversified portfolios, and how they’ve performed over the last quarter century
What’s ahead in Session 3
Session 3 introduces Israelsen’s proprietary Retirement Portfolio Analyzer (RPA), a tool that shows how different withdrawal strategies actually hold up over time, including a risk that most investors don’t even know exists until it’s too late.
Includes: Lifetime access to all recordings and materials
Price: $99 — limited to a select group of investors
Here’s the part that catches most investors off guard: the moment they realize their portfolio was never built to protect them the way they assumed — not because they made a mistake, but because no one ever explained what diversification is actually for. That gap in understanding is exactly what this workshop will close.
That’s what AAII has stood for since 1978, and it’s what Israelsen brings every time he teaches: real research, real passion and the kind of clarity that turns confusion into confidence.
Spots for this three-session Retirement Workshop are limited. If the content we’ve previewed so far for session 1 or 2 resonates with you, we hope you take us up on our special offer before the enrollment period closes on July 14 at midnight Central Time.
And there’s one more piece to this puzzle. In our next email, we’ll dig into the retirement risk that has nothing to do with your average returns but can make or break a retirement plan depending on nothing more than timing. It’s one of the least understood risks in investing, and once you see it, you won’t look at your withdrawal strategy the same way again.
We don’t say this lightly: Few people in this industry bring the depth of research and real-world insight that Israelsen does, and we’re proud to put that expertise directly in your hands.
Disclaimer: This workshop is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial or tax advice. AAII does not recommend any specific securities, funds or investment strategies. Craig Israelsen, Ph.D., is presenting as an educator and researcher, and his comments do not constitute personalized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.
