The Unmanaged Blog

Insights on fees, allocation, and taking control of your portfolio. Because understanding your investments shouldn't require a finance degree.

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Fees & Costs

1,000 SpaceX Engineers Won't Pay 1%

More than 1,000 SpaceX employees pooled $20 billion on Slack to negotiate advisory fees below 0.5%. The people who land rockets won't pay the standard 1%.

June 4, 2026 · 5 min read
Research & Data

I Fired My Advisor. I Missed One Thing.

Most quarterly advisor PDFs are 80% chart, 15% boilerplate, 5% real insight. The 5% is the only part worth keeping. So I rebuilt it.

May 22, 2026 · 7 min read
Research & Data

PowerMy401k Promises 3.32% Better Returns - Here's What They're Not Telling You

A new service claims professional 401(k) management delivers 3.32% higher returns. We dug into the research. Here's what we found.

Mar 9, 2026 · 8 min read
Portfolio Strategy

The 4-Fund Portfolio (For When 3 Isn't Enough)

Gold, metals, or crypto - how to add a small alternatives sleeve to the classic 3-fund strategy, and what the data says.

Mar 6, 2026 · 9 min read
Portfolio Strategy

Your Biggest Edge Isn't Information. It's Temperament.

Your brain is wired to be a terrible investor. Understanding behavioral biases is the first step to overcoming them.

Feb 20, 2026 · 10 min read
Fees & Costs

The Fees Your Quarterly Statement Doesn't List

A practical guide to calculating the true cost of your portfolio, including fees most investors miss.

Jan 17, 2026 · 7 min read
DIY Investing

The Annual Discipline That Beats 90% of Advisors

A step-by-step guide to annual portfolio rebalancing. What to check, when to act, and how to minimize taxes.

Dec 12, 2025 · 6 min read
Portfolio Strategy

When to Hire a Financial Advisor (Yes, Sometimes It Makes Sense)

We believe in DIY investing, but some situations genuinely benefit from professional help. Here's when.

Nov 7, 2025 · 8 min read
DIY Investing

Lump Sum Beats DCA. Most of the Time.

Should you invest all at once or spread it out over time? We analyze the data to help you decide.

Oct 3, 2025 · 7 min read
DIY Investing

The Lazy Portfolio: How 3 Funds Can Beat Most Advisors

A simple 3-fund portfolio outperforms 90% of professional managers. Here's exactly how to build one.

Sep 10, 2025 · 8 min read
Portfolio Strategy

The Decision That Drives 90% of Your Returns

Asset allocation determines 90% of your investment returns. Here's what it means and how to choose yours.

Aug 21, 2025 · 7 min read
Advisor Alternatives

Robo vs. Human vs. DIY: The Honest Numbers

An honest comparison of all three options - costs, pros, cons, and who each is best for.

Jul 15, 2025 · 9 min read
Advisor Alternatives

15 Questions Your Financial Advisor Hopes You Never Ask

The questions that expose conflicts of interest, hidden fees, and whether you actually need an advisor at all.

Jun 11, 2025 · 8 min read
Advisor Alternatives

The 7 Reasons People Are Leaving Their Financial Advisors

The great advisor exodus is real. Here's what's driving it - and what smart investors are doing instead.

May 19, 2025 · 7 min read
Advisor Alternatives

How to Fire Your Financial Advisor (Without Burning Bridges)

A step-by-step guide to transitioning away from your advisor - what to say, what to move, and what to watch out for.

Apr 28, 2025 · 9 min read
DIY Investing

Index Funds vs. Financial Advisor: A 20-Year Comparison

We ran the numbers on $500K invested with an advisor vs. a simple index fund strategy. The results are striking.

Apr 2, 2025 · 6 min read
Fees & Costs

Why 0.97% Costs You Six Figures

A 1% expense ratio doesn't sound like much until you see what it costs over 30 years.

Mar 6, 2025 · 5 min read
Fees & Costs

The Hidden Fees Buried in Your Mutual Funds

Expense ratios are just the beginning. Here are the fees you're paying that don't show up on any statement.

Feb 14, 2025 · 6 min read
Fees & Costs

The True Cost of 1% Advisory Fees Over 30 Years

That "small" 1% fee could cost you over $500,000 in lost wealth. Here's the math your advisor won't show you.

Jan 9, 2025 · 5 min read
Research & Data

The $1.5 Million Question: What the Data Says About DIY Investing

Published studies, peer-reviewed research, and verifiable math. Every stat cited, every source linked. This isn't opinion - it's data.

Dec 4, 2024 · 12 min read · Featured

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