Discipline, Oversight, and Long-Term Alignment for Affluent Investors Active management is often misunderstood. Many assume it is simply about attempting to outperform the market. In reality, its deeper value lies elsewhere. For experienced investors, particularly those over age 55 with $2 to $5 million in investable assets, active investment management is less about chasing returns and more about preserving discipline, managing risk, and maintaining alignment with long-term objectives. After more than three decades serving as a Financial Quarterback, one lesson has remained consistent. Strategy matters, but behavior often matters more. One of the primary roles of active management is to prevent investor behavior from undermining otherwise sound plans. The Hidden Cost of Emotional Decisions Market volatility is a permanent feature of investing. Even sophisticated investors can find their judgment tested during periods of uncertainty. Extensive behavioral research confirms what seasoned advisors have long observed. Emotional decision-making costs investors approximately one to two percent per year on average.¹ Over time, that difference compounds significantly. Over the twenty years ending in 2022, the average equity investor earned roughly 6 percent annually, while the broader market returned closer to 9 percent.² The difference was not due to lack of access to investment options. It was driven largely by behavior. Investors sold during downturns