The Flexible Investing Playbook: Asset Allocation Strategies for Long-Term Success

Acknowledgments

There are so many people who have influenced the thoughts and opinions that led to the creation of this book. First, there are the investors and financial advisors who had the courage to be early adopters of my investment philosophy. Now that this genre of investing has matured from a set of basic ideas into a formalized, sustainable, investment process, those who have come along for the ride have been rewarded for their patience.

The mutual fund managers whose investment styles piqued my curiosity starting in the mid-1990s were the true inspiration for this book. Just as a good team coach needs to effectively use his players and put them in positions to help the team win, so it is with the outstanding and innovative fund managers I have had the pleasure to spend time with over the years. They do the day-to-day security selection, and I use my strategic approach to determine how to set and maintain the team's "lineup." Mutual funds have been around since 1924 and I don't see them going away anytime soon. Thus, I am excited about the prospect of finding additional funds to blend into the portfolios for the next many years.

My parents, Joyce and Carl Isbitts, are the ones who instilled in me the discipline, energy, and persistence to make the concept of Flexible Investing a reality. I owe my inner strength to them.

My brother Mark and his family, while many miles away, have been a constant reminder that one's support network and family bond is more important than any ...