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 […]
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 least prepared in decades
A recent headline in the Wall Street Journal declared, “A Generation of Americans Is Entering Old Age the Least Prepared in Decades.” The article starts out by stating, “Americans are reaching retirement age in worse financial shape than the prior generation, for the first time since Harry Truman was president.” It is a familiar story […]
Investment committee thoughts from friday 4/27/18
Last week, we introduced you to our weekly Investment Committee meetings. When we met for class on 4/27/18, we began our discussion on the subject of an “optimal portfolio.” The centerpiece of investment management is portfolio construction. Alongside financial planning, the manner in which one’s money is invested is critical to meeting one’s financial goals. […]
The value of a financial plan
It’s common for investors to feel nervous when looking at investments by themselves. Are you saving enough? Are you saving in the right place? Are you holding the right mix of investments? Should you own individual stocks or funds? Are you paying too much in fees? What are you actually paying in fees? For the […]
Sorting through the market shifts
Yesterday evening, Rockbridge’s own Ethan Gilbert, CFA was featured on our local Spectrum news network. Check out the interview below where Ethan discusses the recent market shifts, how these swings can affect your retirement accounts, and how to protect your accounts from this volatility. Click here to learn more about Ethan!
When investing, don’t think about the patriots
This past weekend, the New England Patriots did it again. Down 10 in the 4th, star quarterback Tom Brady orchestrated two scoring drives to pull off another comeback victory. In two weekends, the Pats will try to win their 3rd Super Bowl in 4 years – headlining a host of impressive statistics dating back to […]
Dow 22,000 – why we’re here and what it means
On August 2, 2017, the Dow Jones Industrial Average set a record, closing above 22,000 for the first time. People will debate the cause of the rally and how long it will last, but there is only one answer that matters to the prudent investor – time. Markets go up over time. Over the last […]
Why Perspective Matters
I often say that one of our primary roles as an advisor is to provide context and perspective for clients, allowing us to collaboratively make better decisions. Behavioral economists have identified narrow framing as the tendency for investors to make decisions without considering the big picture or long-term effect on their portfolio. This behavior can […]