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Interest rates are shifting and will impact you… maybe more than any other economic indicator.

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Interest rates are shifting and will impact you… maybe more than any other economic indicator.

By in Quarterly Thoughts
7 years ago
7 years ago 0 0 1906

The Federal Reserve Bank’s Open Market Committee adjusts rates, down to stimulate the economy when needed, and up control inflation and prevent the economy from overheating during times of growth. In the first several years after the Great Recession, people thought little about rates. The Fed’s target rate fell to 0% late in 2008 and stayed at 0% for 7 years. Such extended periods of low rates is highly uncommon,…

Q2-2018 Market Review

By in Quarterly Thoughts
7 years ago
7 years ago 0 0 1950

Summer months are typically a quiet time for the markets. Recent events, however, may disrupt this tradition. Threats of escalating trade wars have cast a pall over equities, and numerous geopolitical uncertainties continue to push investors toward a more cautious stance. A desynchronization in global growth as well as a divergence in central banks’ monetary policies have contributed to U.S. dollar strength and wreaked havoc on emerging markets. Currencies of emerging…

Q4-2017/Year End Market Review

By in Quarterly Thoughts
8 years ago
8 years ago 0 0 1814

2017: A Year of Records Macroeconomic Environment Another record low in volatility, more record highs in global stock markets, mixed records in global temperatures, a record number of natural disasters in the U.S., and many records associated with President Trump. The VIX Index, a widely used measure of expected stock market volatility, fell more than 20% in 2017, reaching an all-time low in November. Stock markets hit a number of…

But why bother with a Bun?

By in Quarterly Thoughts
8 years ago
8 years ago 0 0 1834

Some time back, a fast food chain ran an advertising campaign featuring a study group of meat and cheese lovers.  In the ad, the facilitator explains company’s new burger, and one of the test attendees indicates that he’d rather only have the tastiest part of the meal when he answers “I like the meat and cheese part, but why a bun?” Investors also sometimes ask themselves “Why the bun?”, however the question…

What is the right path to get there?

By in Investor Behavior, Quarterly Thoughts
9 years ago
9 years ago 0 0 1848

After 8 years of positive market returns and increased uncertainty in politics, should you be more worried about market fluctuation risk? Is it “different this time” and should you be more conservative as an investor? It is common to feel nervous and have questions questions at this point in a market cycle and when the Oval Office has changed hands. It may make sense to make a change if you…

Want to improve your returns? Keep your finger off the button.

By in Financial Tips, Investor Behavior, Quarterly Thoughts
9 years ago
9 years ago 0 0 1897

It’s a new year and president, and with that comes uncertainty and many opinions about the direction of the investment markets. What’s key to remember is that uncertainty is nothing new. Studies suggest that despite major political and economic events that can impact returns in unpredictable ways in the short-run, it’s better to keep stay away from the panic button if you want better long-term results. A recently updated Dalbar,…

Uncertainty is an interesting beast

By in Investor Behavior, Quarterly Thoughts
9 years ago
9 years ago 0 0 1849

Life would be less interesting if we knew how everything would turn out in advance. However, the same factor of the unknown that makes investment markets nervous is what makes investing attractive in the long-run. Unpredictability can cause asset prices to drop, but is also indirectly what pushes prices higher when good news occurs and fear diminishes. Over the last year, surprises included continued slow global growth, the first interest…

Noise gets more attention than silence, however what is quiet can sometimes be dangerous to ignore

By in Investor Behavior, Quarterly Thoughts
9 years ago
9 years ago 0 0 1740

Stock market volatility attracts a lot of attention in the news, which causes some people to believe that such fluctuations are the only retirement preparation risk. In reality, there are other risks that are worse. Here’s the lowdown… When scared investors reduce volatility risk (i.e. reduce or get out of stocks), other risks increase… inflation and longevity risk. Inflation risk is about rising prices, if your savings value isn’t also…