The Folly of Active Management and TV Gurus
Last year I wrote an article about where to invest in 2010 and took that opportunity to remind investors not to fall into the excitement of active management and stock trading. Instead I cautioned them to focus on what you can control, like investment cost, risk, and asset allocation and to ignore the rest. So […]
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 […]
Free Tax Preparation: Tales of a Fee-Only Advisor
We’re only two weeks into the tax season and already the stories of woe surface. As usual, our politicians have added complexity to the tax code and we have a new set of filing requirements: new forms, tax rates, credits, challenges, etc. For the fourth year I am volunteering as a Tax Aide with AARP […]
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 […]
Following a Fiduciary Standard of Care
Meeting new people or reconnecting with acquaintances often leads to the question of where I’m working these days. I reply, “I work for Rockbridge Investment Management, which is a ‘Registered Investment Advisor’ (RIA).” With that response I usually get a nod and a change of subjects.
Risky Business
After a pretty robust recovery in 2009 and 2010, the stock market took a dive in the last two months. The talk of a “double-dip recession” is reaching a fever pitch.
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.
Control the Controllable, Ignore the Rest
Like most things in life, the simple approach to doing something almost always tends to be the best. This theory holds true when it comes to investing and is one of the cornerstones behind our investment philosophy. “Gross return in the financial markets, minus the cost of financial intermediation, equals the net return actually delivered […]
A Look at the Future
As we venture into 2010 and beyond, I would like to share some information about our firm, Rockbridge Investment Management. We have a clear vision for why we exist as a firm. While our vision guides what we do on a daily basis, it is important to know where we stand today and set goals […]