Investments

By Seth Meisler, CFA, CPA/PFS, CFP®, BFA™ and Marc Usem

From October 1, 1999 to September 30, 2009, a period of ten years, the S&P 500 had an annualized return of –0.2% (this includes dividends reinvested). Emerging markets had an annualized return of 11.7%. Fast forward a decade to the next set of ten year returns from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2019. During these last ten years, the annualized return of the S&P 500 was 13.2%, while the ten year annualized return of emerging markets was just 3.7%.

By Kyle Berg, CFP®, BFA™

One of the reasons our clients hire us is to help make the complex world of investing easier to navigate. Sometimes it seems that those who work in financial services speak their own language. There tends to be a disconnect, or miscommunication, when we try and bring complex financial terms down to a more simple level. This is often the case with risk tolerance and risk capacity. While they sound similar, they hold very different meanings and can affect your financial plan in very different ways.

By Seth Meisler, CFA, CPA/PFS, CFP®, BFA™ and Marc Usem

Summertime is one of the big times of the year for blockbuster movies. This seems somewhat ironic, since summer is also a great time to get outdoors. Nevertheless, if we were to give the last quarter a movie title, the one that comes to mind is “Twister.”

Our clients have long shown an interest in socially responsible investing, and we’ve worked to accommodate these requests individually over the years. It only makes sense that we would, seeing how well socially responsible investing fits with our mission: working to make people’s lives better.

By Seth Meisler, CFA, CPA/PFS, CFP®, BFA™ and Marc Usem

The road to success is dotted with many parking spaces. — Will Rogers

Event recording from January 28, 2019.

By Seth Meisler, CFA, CPA/PFS, CFP®, BFA™ and Marc Usem

This Is What Volatility Feels Like

The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next. — Ursula K. Le Guin

We believe the stock market’s 10% decline from the September 20th high is due to a confluence of three major fears for investors. First is the fear of rising interest rates and the Federal Reserve Bank’s monetary policy. Second is the fear of slower corporate earnings growth. Third is the fear of trade wars, especially with China. We believe that recent stock market weakness reflects temporary risks and is NOT a precursor to deeper economic problems.

October. This is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August, and February. — Mark Twain

The year is half over and despite the stock market’s ups and downs, the total performance for the year is neither too good nor too bad. As of June 30th, U.S. markets were up, with the S&P 500 up 2.65% year to date. International stocks gave up some of last year’s gains, dropping roughly 5% year to date. And emerging markets, which had a stellar 2017 (being up 37%), gave back about 8% this year, primarily due to an appreciating dollar.