A note to our clients: Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) has a proxy vote underway for shareholders of certain funds that requires participation. We encourage you to submit your votes by signing and returning the paper materials mailed to your home, and if you’re unable to do so, a third-party proxy facilitator will reach out to you over the phone beginning in April.

The board members for DFA’s funds (most of whom are not affiliated with DFA) are responsible for protecting your interests as a shareholder and believe that these proposals are in the best interests of shareholders. They recommend that you vote in favor of the proposals.

Visit DFA’s 2015 proxy vote page on their website or view this letter from DFA’s Chairman, David Booth, for more information.

Sometimes, clients ask to ease into the market when they’re faced with the opportunity to invest a sum of cash. Although it feels more comfortable to wade given the uncertainty inherent with markets, the evidence shows that, approximately two thirds of the time, you are better off taking the plunge. This is true, both domestically and internationally, over the periods analyzed in a piece by Dimensional Fund Advisors. Plunging has some very positive implications for both average and sophisticated investors. In light of uncertainty, basing decisions on evidence actually reinforces your strategy each time you add money to your portfolio, whether it’s a lot or a little. Don’t let the failure to apply good strategy be your downfall. Click here to revisit this 2004 piece, To Wade or Plunge.

As follow-up to our prior piece about your neighbor’s returns winning last year, we have a simple historical comparison of our typical portfolio against two benchmarks: the S&P 500 and a global index portfolio. Take a look.