2018 was less than kind to investors as all major asset classes finished in negative territory. Cash was the best performing asset for the first time since 1994 and only the 10th time since 1926.
Diversification is still vital for investors to obtain and maintain wealth. A mix of stocks, bonds and...
Who cares that the current bull market has risen more than 260% when stocks have dropped 7% in the past month? Does it matter that stocks have generated an average annual return of 10% for the past 100 years or markets rise 75% of the time when this year will be negative? Stocks have outpaced bonds...
Global markets have dropped considerably the past three months. The Dow Jones has fallen about 8% as investors react to negative headlines about trade wars, Brexit, interest rates, and several other issues. They have been selling stocks to buy bonds or park money in a cash account. These remedies ma...
Estate planning is vital for people with significant wealth. A properly structured plan can aid in the successful distribution of your assets to those you love. Transferring assets to your beneficiaries, while avoiding estate taxes, is paramount for most individuals.
Estate planning is primarily a...
Growing up in Southern California I spent a considerable amount of time at the beach – Huntington, Newport, Laguna and Mission - boogie boarding, body surfing, snorkeling, or scuba diving. On occasion I’d get stuck in a riptide.
Riptides are dangerous and can be life threatening. The most important...
At lunch a few weeks ago, a friend of mine said he didn’t want his son to be average. I was struck by his comment because all his kids do well in school and they’re exceptional athletes. I then spent some time pondering the word – average. What is average? According to Merriam-Webster it means a sin...
The hot topic this week is the yield curve, or more importantly, the inverted yield curve. What the heck is a yield curve? It’s a collection of interest rates, or yields, plotted on a chart. Rates begin with the one-month U.S. Treasury Bill and end at the 30-year U.S. Treasury Bond. The curve plots...
The fall foliage in New England is amazing – full of splendor and beauty. I lived in Connecticut for a few years and the color of the fall leaves were always spectacular. However, they eventually fell off the trees and someone had to pick them up.
Raking leaves is not an activity I enjoy, a daunt...
Financial planning is important, but life planning is better. A financial plan indicates a finite service, a one-time event. Life planning takes financial planning to a higher level. It’s enduring, vibrant, and active. It’s proactive. It’s forever, and forever is a long time!
I’ve run several marat...
Having the right map is paramount if you want to arrive at your destination. Navigating the high seas and distant lands requires a detailed map, so does driving across town to pick up a gallon of milk. A map of Los Angeles is of little use in New York. A ski map of Crested Butte provides no guidance...
Cash is King! The King is Dead! Long live the King! An unusual thing is happening this year – cash is outperforming stocks and bonds. Allocating your investments to T-Bills has been a winning trade this year.
According to Deutsche Bank, 90% of the 70 asset classes they track are in negative territo...
When interest rates start to rise, stocks will fall. Not only will they fall but our economy will tumble into a recession. Corporate credit will evaporate. Home ownership will cease. All dire consequences.
It’s true, rising interest rates do cause economic headwinds. But rates have been rising. In...