The 60-40 Investment Strategy Is Back After Tanking Last Year
With the perspective of time, the calls for the death of the 60%/40% investment strategy came too soon. The click-bait articles of 2022 did not deter the Rebalance long-term investors. Source: The Wall Street Journal April 12, 2023. The 60-40 Investment Strategy Is Back After Tanking Last Year The recovery has emboldened investors who didn’t… Continue reading
The Market Usually Rises After the Midterms. Will This Time Be Different?
Elections are here. As the midterm elections approach, investors frequently ask about the linkage between electoral politics and the movement of stock prices. As Jeff Sommer points out in one his recent New York Times columns, history carries weight even if this time “feels different.” Source: The Market Usually Rises After the Midterms.… Continue reading
Midterm Elections—What Do They Mean for Markets?
by Scott PuritzIt’s almost Election Day in the US once again. For those who need a brief civics refresher, every two years the full US House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate are up for reelection. While the outcomes of the elections are uncertain, one thing we can count on is that plenty of opinions… Continue reading
Six Words and Three Numbers That Matter from Charley Ellis
by Scott PuritzSay the word “finance” and many people’s eyes just glaze over. I totally understand that. Money and investing can be quite a dense topic, even for those of us in the business! It’s appealing, then, to have someone tell you that there are “three simple rules” or “one big decision” that will cut away the… Continue reading
The Tricky Math of Retiring Into a Downturn
Retiring can be a very stressful stage for many people. Daily routines, life purpose, and long-term goals, all come to an inflection point at once. The recent downturn in the financial markets has added an extra layer of unknowns to an already difficult time for those going through retirement. Having a clear perspective about the… Continue reading
Lessons From the Great Inflation of 1973-81
Former Federal Reserve Chairman, Paul Volcker, will be remembered for many policy decisions that still outlive his tenure. More specifically, the lessons learned from his handling of the Great Inflation of 1973-81 will be amongst the most relevant. As we live through a similar economic challenge today, it is important to remember the role that… Continue reading
The Ukraine War and Your Portfolio
by Scott Puritz“Never bet on the end of the world, it only happens once and the odds are long.” — Unknown “The way to make money in the market is not by timing the market but by your time in the market.” — Unknown The war in Ukraine is creating an environment that is unpredictable and full of humanitarian… Continue reading
Recent Rise in Inflation: Temporary or Permanent?
by Scott PuritzHow each generation invests is a fascinating topic. For instance, the generation that grew up in the Great Depression is known for over-the-top frugality. What people today might call “life hacks” often are nothing more than the way great-grandma and great-granddad got by. Vegetable gardening, sewing old clothes, fixing things instead of replacing them, sharing… Continue reading
Burton Malkiel’s Compelling Book Review of ‘Trillions’
by Scott PuritzBig investment funds have a public face, a famous money manager who is constantly “talking up his fund” on financial television shows. By contrast, index fund investing is hard to comprehend. The Financial Times journalist Robin Wigglesworth got curious about those “missing faces” and wrote a fascinating history of how indexing got started. The resulting… Continue reading