Your Money

The promise of easy, high returns can be incredibly tempting, especially for those feeling behind on retirement savings. But if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Today's feature highlights the cautionary tale of Richard Whitacre, an investor who transferred his entire 401(k) into a scheme offering a guaranteed 15.25% return. The outcome? His investment is now worthless, and he's left wondering if he'll ever see his money again.

As an inherently skeptical investor, I view outsized returns and guarantees as a major red flag. For context, the long-term average return is about 10% for the public stock market and 12% for private equity—anything significantly above this should prompt serious questions. When in doubt, consult a trusted advisor. At PWM, we rigorously vet private investments with Mercer and scrutinize counterparty risk on structured products to safeguard your portfolio.

Don’t let the lure of easy money cloud your judgment—protect your retirement by staying informed and cautious.

Richard Whitacre transferred his entire 401(k) into an account offering a ‘guaranteed’ 15.25% return. Will he ever see his money again?
by Jason Zweig

Your Life

We all know that too much salt of any kind is not good for people with high blood pressure or kidney disease. However, is there a “healthier salt?” Different types of salt have different tastes and textures depending on how they are processed. However, all salts contain 40% sodium, and any difference in sodium content is simply due to the volume and shape of the crystals. Although salt is an essential nutrient required for many biological processes, excess amounts can lead to high blood pressure, renal dysfunction, stroke, and heart disease. People with these conditions should consume less than 1,500 mg of salt per day. Regardless of which type of salt you are consuming, moderation is key. The American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium to less than 2,300 mg a day, which is roughly how much sodium is in one teaspoon of table salt.

You might have heard that Himalayan pink salt is healthy and will not increase blood pressure. It contains less sodium per serving than table salt, is said to have trace amounts of nutritional minerals, and claims to improve respiratory health. All salts can prevent dehydration and promote skin health. The bottom line is that there have been no definitive studies to support all the healthy claims particular to Himalayan salt. As in most things, moderation is the key to good health.

Which Salt Is Good for High Blood Pressure?
by Nazneen Memon, BHMS, PGDCR

Complexity Simplified

Trivia