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Articles by Craig L. Israelsen

Craig L. Israelsen, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Brigham Young University. He is a principal at Target Date Analytics and the designer of the 7TwelvePortfolio. Craig is a frequent contributor to Financial Planning.

  • Emerging Stars

    May 1, 2012

    With diversified emerging markets funds, you can add performance pop to your portfolio without taking on too much risk.

  • Beyond Borders

    April 1, 2012

    Despite wildly different 10-year returns, international stock funds all have similar impact in a 12-asset portfolio.

  • Small Thoughts

    March 1, 2012

    A portfolio that doesn't include small-cap U.S. stocks is probably producing weaker returns than it otherwise would have.

  • Mid-Cap's Role

    February 1, 2012

    If you've taken the time to assemble a truly diversified portfolio, almost any mid-cap fund will work well.

  • Swapping Out

    January 1, 2012

    If you've got the right asset allocation model, it doesn't really matter what large-cap equity fund you use.

  • Better Than Cash

    November 1, 2011

    Portfolio diversification isn't only for equities.

  • Multiply Returns by Dividing

    October 1, 2011

    For complete equity market exposure, three funds may be better than one.

  • Target Funds: To or Through?

    September 1, 2011

    Should your clients stay in a target-date fund beyond the target date?

  • Being Reasonable

    August 1, 2011

    One of an advisor's greatest challenges? Directing client expectations - and meeting them with portfolio performance.

  • Piece by Piece

    July 1, 2011

    Take a close look at the risk and performance over four decades of seven asset classes in a diversified portfolio.

  • The Rebalancing Premium

    June 1, 2011

    The extra return generated when a 60/40 portfolio is regularly rebalanced can provide a clue to performance.

  • Getting Back In

    May 1, 2011

    What's the best way to reenter the stock market-all at once or by degree?

  • Still Seeking Stability

    April 1, 2011

    "Risky assets" aren't so risky when they are part of a diversified portfolio designed to survive market volatility.

  • Nest Egg Survival

    March 1, 2011

    When it's time to start regular withdrawals in retirement, how durable will your clients' portfolios be?

  • Consistency Matters

    February 1, 2011

    Which asset classes have performed the best over the past four decades?

  • Measuring Stick

    January 1, 2011

    If you don't understand the assumptions behind return figures, mutual fund measurement may be misleading.

  • The Responsible Investor

    December 1, 2010

    Clients who underfund their retirement accounts must rely on portfolio performance to pick up the slack-to their detriment.

  • Conscientious Investing

    November 1, 2010

    Do socially responsible funds have a bad rap for underperforming? The answer may be good news for SRI advocates.

  • Lost-and Found

    October 1, 2010

    Given the proper asset allocation, the Lost Decade was not as bad as it could have been.

  • Inverse Thinking

    September 1, 2010

    Pairing an index fund with its opposite is one way to protect a portfolio against large losses.

  • Alpha and Beta

    July 1, 2010

    Is it possible to concoct alpha from a diversified portfolio of beta ingredients?

  • What's in a Name?

    June 1, 2010

    Analyzing the turnover rates of mutual funds shows that strategic portfolios have outperformed tactical ones over the past 10 years.