Rockbridge Company Update
Last year turned out to be a fantastic year for the US stock market, and also for our investment advisory business. At Rockbridge, we experienced continued growth in the amount of assets we manage and the number of families who turn to us for advice and portfolio management. Our annualized growth rate has been 15%, […]
Market Commentary January 2014
2013 Year in Review It was a fantastic year overall for the financial markets, capped off with the S&P 500 Index closing at an all-time high of 1,848 (up 32.4%). In addition to the domestic stock market, developed international stocks also advanced 23.3%. In contrast, there were a few market segments that lagged for the […]
Rockbridge Company Update
New Logo Introduced in our last quarterly newsletter, we have finalized our logo design change. We are transitioning over to the new logo, displayed in this newsletter, and the full change will take effect January 1, 2014. New Website At the beginning of December, we will launch our completely new website design. We have simplified […]
DFA board director Eugene Fama awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics
Eugene Fama of the University of Chicago is one of three economists just awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics. Fama is best known for his formulation of the “efficient market hypothesis,” or EMH. For investors, the main practical implication of the EMH is the superiority of “passive management” (which means matching market returns) rather than […]
Market Commentary October 2013
Market returns continued their upward trajectory again this quarter. The US stock market (S&P 500) was up 5.2% while International stocks came roaring back with an 11.6% return for the quarter. The steady interest rate environment caused bond returns to remain flat, up .36% for the 3-month period ending September 30, 2013. The bond market, […]
Rising Rates Hurt Bond Returns
If you did not know that rising interest rates hurt bond returns, you would be among the majority of US investors according to a recent survey by Edward Jones. The study found that two-thirds of respondents did not understand how rising rates will affect their portfolios. The bond math is complicated, but the result of […]
Boxing Match – Active vs. Passive Management
The active vs. passive investment management debate is one of the most highly discussed topics in the advisory industry. The 24-hour news coverage and the constant barrage of commercials make it appear that beating the market is a very easy task. First, let’s start with a brief definition of the two investment philosophies. Active Investment […]
Action Required: NYS STAR Registration Not Automatically Renewed
For almost all New York State homeowners, the School Tax Relief (STAR) program reduces the amount of property tax owed. This program saves families hundreds of dollars every year. Previously, a new homeowner registered for the STAR property tax exemption when purchasing a home. After the initial application, the STAR exemption was carried forward into […]
Geoff Wells featured in Market Watch article!
Market Watch recently released an article focusing on the confusion and stress felt by 401(k) savers. Investors feel the 401(k) options offered are too confusing and they don’t know what to do! Rockbridge financial planner, Geoff Wells, shared his feelings on how investors can eliminate that stress. Read the full article here (Market Watch Article)
Are You Prepared? New York State Estate Tax
Now that we are halfway through 2013 and the federal estate tax debate is far behind us, it is a good time to remember that as New York State residents, we are still subject to the state estate tax. A common phrase is, “Estate tax, I’m not wealthy enough to have to worry about that!” […]