Recent Posts
Alternative investments are about to become much more accessible to everyday investors. The Department of Labor is currently reviewing rules that would allow 401(k) plans to offer alternative investments (alts) which includes assets like private equity, physical real estate, venture capital, hedge funds and other non-traditional assets. These rule changes are expected to take effect...
2025
The S&P 500 and stock markets in general continue to set record highs, leading many to ask: “Are we in a bubble or are stocks overpriced?” Unfortunately, the answer only becomes clear with hindsight. Historically, stock market bubbles, characterized by significant overvaluation followed by steep downturns, are only obvious after they’ve burst. A sustained rise...
2025
During a recent client lunch, the conversation turned to AI’s impact on education. The client, an educator, shared that college students are increasingly using AI to write papers. While students cheating on essays isn’t new, what struck me was the professor’s response. Rather than encouraging original work, her former colleagues have turned to AI for...
2025
More Posts
With the recent political transition, as well as questions around what’s next for the Federal Reserve and the economy, we wanted to take this opportunity to address some of the more common items we are discussing with clients. We also wanted to provide some context for long-term investors and help them keep perspective on current […]
What is Private Credit? Private credit is an asset class comprised of non-bank lending issued outside of public markets. Instead, the lenders are private investors or investment firms, who lend directly to businesses or individuals, bypassing traditional financial institutions such as banks. Borrowers vary, but include companies in need of capital, real estate projects, and […]
Q: I’m worried markets will turn more volatile next year. Should I sell? A: It’s important to accept that market selloffs are a regular occurrence. Let’s acknowledge that no one likes seeing markets fall and their portfolio balances decline. But the reality is that market selloffs are a normal part of being an investor. In […]
As we continue marching towards a new year, there are several important things to keep in mind regarding your financial planning. These items may or may not make sense for you, but they are topics you should generally evaluate each year. Maximize Retirement Plan Contributions It is important to remember that while IRA and Roth […]
The U.S. national debt is a hot topic, especially with the U.S. elections this year. Currently, the debt is nearing $35 trillion, which is over 120% of the country’s GDP and continues to rise rapidly. The amount almost sounds comical. It’s hard to comprehend such a large number in our minds. The government is spending […]
October 2024 With an impending election, this is a good time to review how markets have performed during various political cycles, as well as to look at some possible outcomes in 2024. For starters, it’s important to realize that people’s perceptions of the economy can vary drastically depending on whether the party they favor is […]
Factor investing is a strategic approach that involves finding securities based on specific attributes such as value, quality, momentum, size, and minimum volatility. These factors, which are well-documented by researchers, are essential tools for investors seeking to outperform the market. Decades of research have revealed the sets of characteristics that explain differences in expected returns. […]
You are probably aware that a major determinant of your investment returns, as well as your portfolio risk and volatility, comes from the proportions of various asset classes or investments that you hold. As such, you likely gave a good deal of thought to your initial selection of what investment mix to hold in your […]
The stock market adage “Sell in May and go away” is based on the observation that the best-performing six-month rolling period historically occurs from November through April. During this time, average returns tend to outpace the subsequent six months (May to October). Investors are advised to sell their holdings in May, move into cash, and […]
Elevated inflation readings over the last several years, combined with worries that the Federal Reserve’s efforts to tame inflation might tip the economy into recession, have caused some pundits to begin talking about the possibility of stagflation. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what stagflation is, how likely it is to […]
Mutual funds, ETFs (exchange-traded funds), and SMAs (separately managed accounts) are three of the most popular types of investment vehicles. Investors are faced with so many options these days that it can be overwhelming and often confusing. Understanding the key differences among these three is important for any investor looking to build a diversified portfolio […]
With the November elections fast approaching, the news cycle is ramping up on what to expect. And while that often involves a nonstop flow of doom and gloom prognostications, as investors, we often stress that the key to success is to remove emotions from the mix and focusing instead on the facts. With that in […]
