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How to Play Offense & Defense in a Portfolio: Part 1 – Defense
I wanted to do a two-part series, one focused on the benefits of holding defensive business models that tend to perform well in more difficult economic periods, and one focused on playing…
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Fiduciary Responsibility, Know Your Customer, Focus on Suitability: How Advisors Can Act in Their Clients’ Best Interests When It Matters Most
Investors and advisors have a lot on their plates these days and keeping clients engaged while helping them protect themselves and sleep at night is as difficult as it’s ever been. I thought I…
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The Coming Squeeze On Bank Deposit Rates
Since Quantitative Easing (QE) was first unleashed in the 2008 Great Financial Crisis (GFC), the Fed has generally found it easier to grow its balance sheet than shrink it. Their huge bond…
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Why Allocate at Least 20% to a Strategy Designed to Play Both Offense and Defense
Nobody really knows with certainty where the market will go. Rather than time the market, investors could allocate at least 20% to a strategy that is designed to thrive over the long-term in…
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Helping Investors Thrive: Focusing on What We Can Control
In my 30-year career working in financial services, I have been a Financial Advisor, a professional trader, and a long-term investor of iconic brands (along with a host of other roles in the…
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February HANDLS Market Recap: Back to Earth
After a strong rally in January, both equity and fixed income markets took it on the chin in February. The Core Large Cap Equity category returned -4.0% as the Federal Reserve’s monetary…
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Buffett On Buybacks
Warren Buffett defended stock buybacks in Berkshire Hathaway’s annual letter, pushing back on those railing against the practice he believes benefits all shareholders.
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The Fed Pivots To Financial Stability
Commercial banks have long benefited from depositor lethargy regarding rates. Although we now have a de facto guarantee of all commercial banking deposits, not just those up to the $250K…
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Regime Changes Require Portfolio Changes
In the "return generation business", institutional investors have a big edge over retail investors. The WHY is what's most important: institutional investors have access to the smartest asset…
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Speak Loudly Because You Carry A Small Stick
The big question facing the Fed is whether they should increase the Fed Funds rate by 25bps or 50bps on March 22, 2023. If Jerome Powell cared for our advice, we would tell him to take the…
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How the Yield Curve Predicts Market Volatility
The 3-month and 30-year yield curve can provide valuable insights into the state of the economy and future market volatility. By paying attention to the shape of the yield curve, investors can…
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Americans Work More Remotely
Real estate investors are keenly attuned to the Fed’s efforts to curb inflation. The Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund (VNQ) is down 18% over the past year, lagging the S&P500 which is –6% and…
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