Quarterly Commentary, Q4 2015
After almost 10 years of near-zero interest rates, the Fed finally made its long awaited move to raise interest rates. An increase of .25% is a modest takeoff, but shows a...
Over the years we have authored these articles to share with our clients and friends. We think they are like an old favorite movie that you will want to see again and again. Please feel free to make copies and share with your friends. Looking for an older article? See our Article Archive.
With a Little Help from My Friends
A popular Beatles tune contains the lyrics, “Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends.” These comforting words of wisdom can apply to many aspects of life, including the investing world. Sometimes it takes the help of a few friends to provide better solutions for clients, and that’s exactly what happened back in 2003.
Quarterly Commentary, Q3 2015
Despite being plagued with uncertainty and market volatility, the third quarter provided moderate economic growth in retail consumer spending and housing, and an increase in the Consumer Confidence Index. The US labor market had mixed results with the unemployment rate...
Market Jitters
We've all seen the headlines declaring that "markets are in a free-fall". Maintaining your discipline during times of volatility is critical to investment success.
China's Bear Market
The recent severe volatility in China’s mainland markets has raised questions among many investors about the causes of the market downturn in China and the wider implications for the global economy and markets. The Shanghai Composite Index more than doubled…
Quarterly Commentary, Q2 2015
The US economy continued its bull-market march in the second quarter of the year, despite a minor GDP contraction of 0.2% annualized. The decline was expected and mostly attributed to west coast port closures, lower fuel prices, and a strong dollar. Inflation remained...
What to Do About Tax-Related Identity Theft
Although most of the public is well aware of how prevalent tax-related identity theft is, the statistics are startling. According to the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, tax-related identity theft has risen more than 650% between 2008 and 2012...
Quarterly Commentary, Q1 2015
The US economy lost some momentum, posting GDP growth of 2.2% annualized vs. 5.0% during the previous quarter. Despite the slowdown, the current bull market celebrated its sixth birthday, making it the fourth-longest run of the last 80 years. Consumer spending...
Chasing Returns: Avoid the Next Financial Cliff
In the past few years, US stocks have registered strong gains. Yes, there was the ugly dive in September and October of 2014. Even so, US large growth stocks were up...
Worth its Weight in Gold
This oft used idiom describes something of great value and importance. Frequently, the item being praised has minimal intrinsic value – but the value to the user can be immeasurable. A canteen of water in the desert...