Market Commentary- November 2016
Markets in November The campaign is finally over and Donald Trump won. Markets respond to surprises and this result was one. Tuesday night I, along with many others, anticipated a starkly negative response. Yet, most, but not all, stocks went up and have generally stayed there. Domestic small company stocks and value stocks responded big […]
What You Need To Know Before Hiring A Financial Advisor
There are many things to consider when you are looking to hire a financial advisor, and many people are not sure which questions to ask. This article from Inc.com shares a few items to keep in mind when looking for someone to manage your money. It is important to look for terms such as “certified […]
Post-Election Reflections
Whether you find the election results exciting or shocking, we are now faced with the question, “What’s next?” With respect to your investments, here’s a quick reminder of how we feel about that: Ample evidence informs us that it is unwise to alter your long-term investment strategy in reaction to breaking news, no matter how […]
Market Commentary – October 2016
Stock Markets It was a pretty good quarter for stocks, with the riskier small-cap and emerging market stocks leading the way. REIT’s gave back some of their robust returns of prior periods. The year-to-date numbers for stocks are solid as well. The riskier markets have done better this quarter, which is consistent with an increased […]
The Road to Retirement
Managing clients’ financial assets is at the heart of what we do here at Rockbridge. However, having a well thought out investment portfolio will only get you so far if every facet of your financial life is not addressed correctly or on time. Rockbridge is here to help you answer all these tough questions and […]
Can Index Funds Become Too Popular?
Once Upon a Time… When we started an investment advisory firm in 1991, it seemed obvious to Bob Ryan and me that structuring portfolios by focusing on asset allocation was superior to the stock picking culture of the day. The ability to implement the strategy with low-cost index funds was still a new innovation, and […]
Elections and the Stock Market
With less than a month to go before the Presidential election, many clients and friends have asked me how the markets will respond to the voters’ choice. While there will be no shortage of prognostications in the media, investors would be well served to avoid speculating. Trying to outguess the market is often a losing […]
Cyber Security
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. With more and more financial transactions happening online, we wanted to share a very helpful infographic (shown below). Please be mindful of the personal information you provide online! Infographic by Digital Guardian
New Step to Protecting Your Online Social Security Account
Back in August, the Social Security Administration added a new step in order to protect the privacy of those who use my Social Security, the online platform to view personal Social Security information. When you sign in at www.ssa.gov/myaccount, you will now be asked to add your text-enabled cell phone number. You will then receive a […]
Presidents, Politics and Your Portfolio: Thinking Beyond Stage One
It’s no surprise that this year’s U.S. presidential race has become a subject of conversation around the globe. In “Why Our Social Feeds are Full of Politics,” Canadian digital marketing executive Tara Hunt observes, “American politics, it seems, makes for high-intensity emotions far and wide.” The intensity will probably only increase as the November 8 […]