Investments

Event recording from January 27, 2020.

Affiance Financial's Seth Meisler and Marc Usem share their take on what to expect from the markets in 2020 and beyond. In their 2020 Market Forecast Presentation, Seth and Marc take a look back at 2019, examine the Fed’s great balancing act, and explain why they are “cautiously optimistic” about the future.

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

“It’s the way the human brain works: when enough events occur in a pattern, we stop thinking and go into macro mode.” N. K. Jemisin

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.