Considering the magnetic moment and polarizabilities of the nucleon we demonstrate the need for relativistic chiral EFT calculations. Our relativistic calculations are done via the forward-Compton-scattering sum rules, thus ensuring the correct analytic properties. The results obtained in this way are equivalent to the usual loop calculations, provided no heavy-baryon expansion or any other manipulations which lead to a different analytic structure (e.g., infrared regularization) are made. The Baldin sum rule can directly be applied to calculate the sum of nucleon polarizabilities. In contrast, the GDH sum rule is practically unsuitable for the calculation of the magnetic moments. The breakthrough is achieved by taking the derivatives of the sum rule with respect to the anomalous magnetic moment.