Over the past few weeks, markets have been experiencing more volatility than what so many have come to expect as the norm and what has characterized the markets over the past several years. It is ironic because when it comes to investing, it is market volatility that is actually the norm – what we have experienced over the last several years is what is unusual.
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When a prospective client over the age of 55 calls my office, more times than not, it is someone who is thinking about retirement. He or she has been working for many years, has accumulated some significant assets, may or may not be eligible for some type of pension and will have social security income. …
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At the beginning of 2017, a common view among money managers and analysts was that the financial markets would not repeat their strong returns from 2016. Many cited the uncertain global economy, political turmoil in the US, implementation of Brexit, conflicts in the Middle East, North Korea’s weapons buildup, and other factors. However, equity markets…
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Many people mistakenly believe that investment management is simply selecting the investment or combination of investments that will generate the highest yield or highest long-term return. In reality, sophisticated investment management is actually much more complicated than that as it integrates several interrelated components of which specific investment selection is only one facet.
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The 12 month period ending 6/30/2017 marked the first time in about five years that non-US stocks performed better than US stocks on a trailing 12 month basis. Regardless of recent performance, investing in companies based overseas is a crucial component of a diversified portfolio. Below are some of the reasons we invest abroad: Investing overseas…
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Warren Buffett’s annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letters often offer sage advice. His most recent 2016 letter was no exception, including this powerful insight about market downturns: “During such scary periods, you should never forget two things: First, widespread fear is your friend as an investor, because it serves up bargain purchases. Second, personal fear is your enemy.”
DetailsWhile there is no official definition, a bear market has traditionally been defined as a 20% decline in a broad stock market index. Since the end of World War II, we have had 13 bear markets, with an average decline of about 30%. Needless to say, bear markets can be horrifying. We not only have…
DetailsYou probably have heard that the Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 20,000 for the first time on January 25, 2017. When a popular index, like the Dow is on a tear, up or down, what does it really mean to you and your investments? What Is an Index? First, let’s define what an index is.…
DetailsWould you rather have a guaranteed $10,000 today, or the opportunity to earn anywhere from $5000 to $20,000 over the next twelve months? Are you willing to risk a sure thing for the opportunity for more? Your answer to that question should be dependent upon two factors: your tolerance for risk and your ability or…
DetailsIt’s hard to think all the way back to January 2016, but the year began with a bit of a shock when US stocks had their worst start in history. Then came the Brexit vote in June, when non-US Stocks dropped approximately 7% over a three week period. And then came the US Presidential election, when US stocks dropped approximately 5% in the weeks leading up to the election.
But by the end of the year, those investors who stayed the course saw positive returns across the board.