Investments
Does stock-picking work?
Does stock-picking work? Stock-picking, the practice of selecting individual stocks to outperform the market, is far easier said than done. It is mathematically impossible for the average stock picker to beat a buy-and-hold investor in the same stocks. Compared to their benchmarks, most stocks return less and are far more volatile. The empirical evidence is…
Read MoreIs there a downside to diversification?
Is there a downside to diversification? Which would you have rather owned A or B? A lost an average of almost 1% per year for the decade January 2000-Decemeber 2009 but returned almost 13% per year from January 2010 through June 2023. Cumulatively, A averaged a 6.84% annual return for the period January 2000 through…
Read MoreManaging risk
Managing risk Some of you may have been concerned about the recent failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and any ripple effects on the banking system and the stock market. Before we get into the risk management lessons of SVB, we want to make sure our clients understand that their assets with us are secure.…
Read MoreWas “Always be diversified” the most important lesson from 2022?
Was “always be diversified” the most important lesson from 2022? 2022 presented several useful investing lessons. The news was full of reports about high inflation, yet many assets that were supposed to be good hedges against inflation were down. This is an example of how it is wise to expect the unexpected. Nonetheless, while there…
Read MoreDoes it matter if we go into a recession?
Does it matter if we go into a recession? Key Points: Determining when an economy goes into and out of a recession is difficult and requires hindsight. Making economic forecasts such as the start and end date of a recession is not likely to improve investment results. Recessions are not problematic for most people…
Read MoreYou’ve got this
You’ve got this! Key Points: If watching the news gets you riled up, turn it off. If you can’t, try to remember they are stirring your emotions so you will tune in and they can sell more ads. Stocks often start to recover with an initial surge when things look awful. Diversifying among different types…
Read More