Blog
Running to Stand Still
March 27, 2013
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Trying to correctly time your entry point to the market is never easy. Just ask the experts.
In early February, strategists at a global investment bank were becoming alarmed at political events in Europe, the sequestration “crisis” in the US Congress, and what they saw as an unseemly rush into equities. more...
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2012 Review: Economy & Markets
January 28, 2013
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Throughout 2012, nervous investors did not have to look hard for reasons to avoid the financial markets. The daily headlines provided abundant gloom to feed their doubts, but investors who acted on impulse could have missed a potential opportunity to participate in strong returns across the global financial markets. more...
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Fiscal Cliff
November 29, 2012
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The fiscal cliff represents a combination of government spending cuts (especially in the military through sequestration) and tax hikes set to take effect in January. Congress brings the nation to this point after their inability to forge a deficit reduction deal over the summer of 2011. more...
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Be SMART, Write it Down
June 29, 2012
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Most people don’t just stumble upon success, they have a vision and find a way to make it a reality. This simple truth may be applied when thinking about investments. There is a natural curiosity to know the “secrets” of a successful investor, but the better thing to understand is how success became theirs. more...
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Out of the Blocks
April 05, 2012
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And you thought 2011 was tough?" So went the headlines in December as media and market pundits, reflecting on a miserable year, saw no respite for investors in 2012. But markets have a funny way of confounding expectations. more...
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What's in Your View Finder?
February 17, 2012
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The forces of competition are relentless and today's astonishing innovation may be tomorrow's commodity—or garage sale castoff. This is a great read on Polariod instant cameras and competition. more...
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What Does a Winning Streak Tell Us?
November 30, 2011
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Bill Miller is one of the most closely watched money managers in the industry, so it was big news when he announced his decision last week to step down as portfolio manager of Legg Mason Capital Management Value Trust (LMVTX) early next year. more...
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October Fest
November 14, 2011
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Ever noticed how gamblers always tell you about their big wins, but tend to keep their even bigger losses close to their chests? People who seek to finesse their entry and exit of financial markets are similar. more...
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Market Volatility
August 12, 2011
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The current renewed volatility in financial markets is reviving unwelcome feelings among many investors—feelings of anxiety, fear, and a sense of powerlessness. These are completely natural responses. Acting on those emotions, though, can end up doing us more harm than good. more...
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What's "New" about a New Normal?
February 10, 2011
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The 2008 global market crisis and the struggling economy have left many investors fatigued. Despite two years of strong equity returns, some investors have been slow to regain market confidence. Many are accepting the talk about a “new normal” in which stocks offer lower returns in the future. more...
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2010 Review: Economy & Markets
January 12, 2011
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The past year offered an interesting mix of positive and negative news as investors around the world eagerly anticipated signs of economic recovery and financial stabilization. While most financial markets logged positive returns for a second straight year, investors had to endure a host of troubling news and pessimistic market predictions. more...
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Trust Wall Street's Top Stock Picks?
January 05, 2011
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The New Year is now upon us and brokers are notorious for offering up their top picks for this year. Should you trust them? more...
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Deficits, Debt, and Markets
December 10, 2010
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As government spending hits record levels around the globe, some politicians, economists, and pundits are warning that rising indebtedness may drag down economies and financial markets. This issue has raised concern among investors who assume that a government's fiscal policy is closely linked to the country's economic growth and market returns. more...
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Fixed Income Risk in Your Portfolio
November 02, 2010
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With interest rates near historical lows, some investors may be anxious about a possible rate climb and its potential impact on their fixed income investments. Rising interest rates typically cause existing bonds to lose value. more...
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Retirement, Risk, and Return (video)
October 22, 2010
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David Booth, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors, discusses (in video) the importance of balancing volatility risk and purchasing power risk when investing for retirement. more...
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Managers vs. Markets
July 30, 2010
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Proponents of active management believe that skilled managers can outperform the financial markets through security selection, market timing, and other efforts based on prediction. Data suggests active managers do not consistently deliver on this promise, according to research provided by Standard & Poor’s. more...
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Five Star Fallacy
June 03, 2010
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A recent article on CBS Money Watch illustrates how some investors invest in Moringstar’s Five Star Ranked Funds (the highest Morningstar rating available) only to realize they’re late to the party. more...
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Greece Debt
May 26, 2010
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There have been more news stories written about Greece in the past month than in the entire 2009 year. No doubt, the Greece debt crisis is the main source of these stories. more...
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It Won't Last
April 16, 2010
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Long-time watchers of financial markets know that investors are always worrying about one thing or another. What's not often apparent is how quickly those worries are built into prices and how rapidly the narrative changes. more...
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Recent Market Activity in Perspective
March 26, 2010
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The US stock market has taken investors on a bumpy ride in recent years. This volatility has tested investor discipline and prompted some people to question their commitment to equities. While no one knows the future... more...
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Second Hand News
February 26, 2010
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Jim Parker, a Vice President at DFA Australia Limited, shares his thoughts on how reporting done by the media can sometimes distract investors who want to build long-term wealth. more...
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