Quarterly market commentary – january 2019
Stock Markets December’s market reminds us that risk is real – even after the uptick at the end of the month, a global stock portfolio is down about 15% for the quarter and 12% for the year. Technology stocks (Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Netflix), which have been driving the market to new heights […]
Rockbridge’s guide to a “Bear Market”
Depending on the news you read, you may have come across headlines talking about bear markets and stock market corrections. The following is a guide to what they mean and how to put them in the context of history. The conventional definition of a bear market is a price drop in a stock market index […]
More than just an investment firm
At Rockbridge, we believe that the role of an investment advisor is changing, and investors should be expecting more from their advisors than they have in the past. With options like Vanguard, robo advisors, and all the other investment-only solutions popping up each day, it’s clear that advisors who focus solely on investment management are […]
Market commentary – October 2018
Stock Markets For the last quarter, stocks are up except for Emerging Markets, which were close to flat. Domestic stocks are seemingly shrugging off the uncertainties of increasing interest rates, trade wars and tariffs. Year to date, an Emerging Market stock portfolio would be down almost 9%. It is not surprising that today’s uncertainties […]
Is your cash earning interest?
Interest rates are rising, and yet you may not be earning much on your cash. As financial markets finally begin to reflect a recovery from the crisis of 2008-09, the brokerage industry is changing the way they handle customers’ cash, and investors need to pay attention. Over the past ten years we have become accustomed […]
Understanding bond returns
We had several clients this year reach out to ask how bonds were performing in their portfolios. These are great questions, so we created a few items to address what you see in your statements. Some people notice they have held bonds for several years but seem to have a loss with their holding. This […]
New tax law makes bundling gifts to donor-advised funds attractive
“Give, but give until it hurts.” – Mother Teresa – I don’t think Mother Teresa paid much attention to the tax code, but her quote is unusually prescient for 2018 taxpayers. The changes have made it unlikely to get a tax break on money given to your favorite charities. When the Tax Cuts […]
What to ask your financial advisor
How does/and how much does your advisor get paid? Fees matter. It is important to know how much you are paying and the value you receive for that payment. If you’re paying 1% or more for only investment management with no in depth retirement planning, we should talk. Is your advisor required by law to act […]
The 5-year countdown to retirement
While you should think about retirement planning as early as possible, the five years leading up to retirement are critical. If you believe you are 5 years or less away from retirement, now is the time to seriously take a look at your finances and get a plan in place. The New York Times recently […]
How to prepare for a market correction
It’s simple. Don’t. A common question we receive is “how do I prepare for the inevitable stock correction?” There are two answers to this question: the one you want to hear (which is wrong), and the one you don’t want to hear (which is right). Mainstream media wants you to believe that you can outsmart […]