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The year 2019 served up many examples of the unpredictability of markets. Interest rates that US policymakers expected to rise fell instead. American consumers’ confidence weakened as the year began,1 and news headlines broadcast fears of an economic slowdown....

Imagine it is early January 2010 and you are reading a review of the financial markets. Investors have been on a roller coaster over the past three years, living through the stress of the global financial crisis and market downturn of 2008–2009, then experiencing the...

OUTGUESSING THE MARKET IS DIFFICULT Attempting to buy individual stocks or make tactical asset allocation changes at exactly the “right” time presents investors with substantial challenges. First and foremost, markets are fiercely competitive and adept at processing...

Several years ago, a couple came to me for financial planning advice – let’s call them Jack and Jill.  Jack had met Jill in the 1970’s when they both worked for the same company. Jill’s section of the company was eventually divested, and she continued to work in...

Comparing market returns across the 2000s and 2010s reinforces the benefits of diversification and pursuing known drivers of higher expected returns. The first decade of the 21st century, and the second one that’s drawing to a close, have reinforced for investors some...

Build Your Investments Around Your Goals It is likely that your goals will be quite different from the examples I have given in my previous blog posts. A blog can’t tell you what your financial goals should be. Whatever your goals are – however conservative or...

After a period of relative calm in the stock market, investors have experienced increased volatility in recent days. While market volatility can create anxiety for some, reacting emotionally and changing long-term investment strategies in response to short-term declines could prove more harmful than helpful.

This blog post is a continuation of a series on setting goals. Before reading this post, make sure to read Setting Goals: Part 1. Qualify, Quantify, and Be as Specific as Possible If you have a daughter, one of your goals may be to provide funding for her college...