Lost Client, Lost Upside
Our firm recently lost a client. When we lose a client, which happens from time to time, we always reach out to that client to thank them for their business and ask why they left. This particular client had a…
The Worst Asset Class in 2017
Most people know that stock markets across the globe had a great year in 2017. Few people take the time to review what didn’t work in the past year. This chart from Deutsche Bank helps us visualize the returns (in…
2018 Stock Market Predictions
It’s that time of year again! No, not the holidays – stock market prediction time! The 2018 predictions are starting to roll in and the results look great: economists at some of the largest asset managers are expecting gains of…
Against The Gods
I recently picked up “Against The Gods – A Remarkable Story of Risk” by Peter L. Bernstein because it was on a number of must-read lists for investing nerds. The book is essentially history book on the topic of risk….
How to Get a 10474% Return
How would you like a 10,474% return on your investment dollar? Here is how you could have achieved that seemingly amazing number. If you had invested $1000 in Aluminum Company of America (now Alcoa) in 1917 you would now have…
Investing Trends: Emerging Markets
If you are a US based investor, you can be forgiven for ignoring Emerging Market stocks over the last few years. Investors tend to gravitate towards good returns and Emerging Market returns have been anything but good in recent years. …
Statistics Show…
I remember picking up my one and a half year old daughter from her nanny’s house a few years ago. I walked into the backyard to find my daughter climbing a tall “jungle gym” – the nanny was watching from…
What Is The Point Of Bonds?
I think investors often miss the point of bonds in a portfolio. And not just individual investors – pension funds, financial advisors and portfolio managers are guilty as well. In my opinion, the role of bonds in a diversified portfolio…
Investing Backwards
Investing backwards is easy. Here is how it works: you take a look at a stock/mutual fund/asset class/allocation that has performed very well over the last few years and that’s where you invest. Done. Super easy. The problem is that…
Diamonds
I often meet people with investment accounts at Edward Jones, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, etc. When they learn that I am an Independent Financial Advisor the next question is usually this: “how are you different from my guy at insert…