Observations for Investors from Preparing Taxes in 2014
More to Savings Bonds Than Just Interest: Savings bonds are perhaps the best interest-paying savings these days, with the banks paying little or no interest on savings and checking accounts and interest on CDs at an all-time low. Savings bonds are typically long-term savings. Several tax clients cashed in their long-term savings bonds in 2013, […]
Active or Passive?
In a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, the debate over whether to use active or passive investments was addressed. The conclusion was just use both! Let’s take a look at the five reasons they give to defend this neutral stance and see if they hold up to scrutiny. 1. Use index funds for efficient […]
Market Commentary April 2014
In the chart at right, we show returns from several equity market indices for periods ending March 31, 2014. After falling in January and bouncing back in February, domestic equity market returns ended the March quarter slightly positive; returns in the REIT market were especially strong. While exhibiting the same ups and downs as domestic […]
What is the Value of an Investment Advisor?
Does hiring an investment advisor improve your portfolio returns? This question is often on the minds of our clients or prospective clients. The value of an advisor is often easier to describe than define numerically. Many clients find value in hiring an advisor to provide “peace of mind” and comfort that a professional is watching […]
The Mythology of Dividend Paying Stocks
Myth – n. A fiction or half-truth, especially one that forms part of an ideology. (American Heritage Dictionary) Dividend paying stocks seem to have attained mythical proportions in recent years as people look for ways to coax income from their investment portfolios. The idea that dividend paying stocks are somehow superior to other stocks, or […]
