About us

Illustrations that bring market history to life

Investments Illustrated designs charts that help financial professionals engage with their clients. Our annual Big Picture® chart puts 10090+ years of market history on a single page, so clients can see the long run for themselves.

It is trusted by leading financial institutions and by over 100,000 advisors in the United States and Canada.

Order the 2026 edition Order the 2026 edition See the full chart See the full chart
  • 100,000+advisors have used the Big Picture with their clients
  • Since 2010a new edition every year, updated with the latest market data
  • Sparks conversationsabout compounding, risk and return, and diversification

What we make

Everything an advisor needs to show clients the long view: on the office wall, in their hands, on screen and in retirement planning.

  • The Big Picture wall chart, U.S. editionThe Big Picture wall chart, Canadian edition
    Print

    Wall chart and client handout

    A large-format wall chart for the office and a handout clients take home. Printed and shipped to your door, with volume savings from two copies.

    Order print charts → Order print charts →
  • The interactive Big Picture chart
    Digital

    Interactive chart and PDF

    The chart on screen, branded with your firm's logo, for client meetings, video calls, presentations and your website. Licensed by the year.

    See digital charts → See digital charts →
  • The Big Picture safe withdrawal rate program
    Software

    Safe withdrawal rate program

    Tests a client's retirement plan against every retirement since 1926 and shows the most they could have safely spent. Endorsed by Bill Bengen, creator of the 4% rule, Bob Veres and Joel Bruckenstein.

    Explore the program →

Built on trusted historical data

Investments Illustrated was founded in 2010 by Ryan McLean, a former equity analyst at Morningstar with an MBA in finance from McGill University. Every edition is built to the standards of investment research: verified data, clearly sourced, and accurate in every detail.

  • Licensed from the leading sources

    We hold long-term licenses with two of the world's premier compilers of historical investment data: the Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) and Global Financial Data.

  • Reviewed by FINRA

    The Big Picture chart has been filed for review with FINRA's Advertising Regulation Department by member firms and found consistent with applicable standards.

  • Questions about the data?

    We're happy to explain what's in the chart and where it comes from. Write to us at info@investmentsillustrated.com.

Trusted by leading institutions

Firms large and small rely on the Big Picture to educate clients and grow their business, including

  • Manulife
  • Transamerica
  • RiverSource
  • IG Wealth Management
  • CIBC Asset Management
  • Allianz
  • AGF
  • State Farm

Institutions license the Big Picture for print, as a PDF and as an interactive chart, co-branded or as a custom edition. Tell us what you have in mind.

Get in touch

Questions about an order, a firm-wide license
or the safe withdrawal rate program? We'll reply by email.

Contact us

Investments Illustrated Solutions, Inc.
info@investmentsillustrated.com