What Everybody Ought to Know About Dividend Paying Stocks
All too often lately, I have heard people talking about their individual stock holdings and the income they are providing them in retirement. They love mentioning how they are receiving quarterly income from these companies regardless if the stock market is trending up or down. The stockbrokers refer to this as the “get paid while […]
Market Update
The second quarter of 2011 provided a rollercoaster ride in the stock market that will look uneventful in the history books. April was a strong month for the market, but by mid-June the S&P 500 had fallen more than 7% from its April high, erasing the first quarter gains and falling back to where it […]
Combating Investor Overconfidence
In my discussions with clients and prospects, one of the recurring themes is how, as their investment advisor, I can best provide advice contrary to their bias, intuition, or reaction to current business/economic events. An example is the current investor bias toward equities since the stock market has performed so well recently and bonds are […]
Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) in the New York Times
Ron Lieber, of the New York Times, profiles Dimensional Fund Advisors in a recent article. The funds offered by DFA are only available to investors through approved fee only investment advisors. We recommend DFA funds in many of our client’s portfolios. You can find the article here: Your Money: Finding Success, Passionate Followers in Tow […]
The Results Are In – Active vs. Passive
Most investors track the direction of the financial market by checking where the S&P 500 or Dow Jones Industrial Average finishes on a daily basis in their local paper. Some days they were pleased with what they saw and others not, but as a whole 2010 left most investors optimistic about the direction of their […]
Top 4 Investment Resolutions for the New Year
At the start of each new year, many of us make resolutions to improve our lifestyles. It’s a natural time to take stock of the past year and look to make some beneficial changes for the future. Tops on most lists are shedding pounds, getting fit, quitting bad habits, or learning something new. In this […]
Fixed Income Risk in Your Portfolio
With interest rates near historical lows, some investors may be anxious about a possible rate climb and its potential impact on their fixed income investments.
Our Fiduciary Responsibility: Avoiding “It’s Bad and Getting Worse” Mentality
Experienced investors have heard this before. It is a headline used many times over the last 60 years. Fear sells. So the media sells high unemployment, potential deflation, and pending economic gloom. Some in the investment community join in the chorus, but fiduciary advisors have a responsibility to muffle the noise and help investors take […]
Fear Returns to the Market – Good for Investors?
First quarter stock market gains were erased during May and June leaving values well below the high water mark reached in the fall of 2007. As the chart shows, large-cap stocks (S&P 500) have lost nearly 10% annually over the past three years.
Is it Time to Convert Your Traditional IRA?
Individuals are permitted to convert their Traditional IRAs (“TIRA”) to Roth IRAs if they meet current income limitations set by the IRS. In 2010 the income limits are removed allowing anyone to convert. I set out to examine when OR if a client should convert their traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.