Invest like you’re driving, drive like you’re investing
I’ve been watching people drive all my life. I’ve been an individual investor and an investment advisor guiding clients for more than half of my adult life. I’m a curious soul and during a recent trip from Syracuse to Atlanta, I had quite a bit of time to watch and observe the behaviors of all […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
And now… A few things we won’t be doing as your financial advisor
Any investor who spends even a modest amount of time reading financially-based magazine articles, or occasionally watches or listens to financially-based TV or radio programs, can’t escape all the pronouncements financial advisors make to prospective clients. So, if you are new to Rockbridge, I thought it would be fun to share a few promises with […]
History of the Fee-Only Advisor Movement
I recently returned from a fee-only advisor industry conference. In addition to educational opportunities, it was a rewarding experience to spend time with other like-minded professionals. Rockbridge advisors have been attending these conferences for almost 10 years, so I thought it would be interesting to share a bit of the history behind the fee-only movement. More […]
Market Timing – A Losing Game
The stock market crash of 2008-2009 is a very recent memory for many investors who still bear the scars from the experience. At Rockbridge, we also have prospective clients who walk into our offices saying that they haven’t recovered yet from the financial pain their portfolio endured over those several months. Why? It’s usually a […]