How should you be reacting to a market meltdown? Markets go up. Markets go down. Sometimes suddenly and deeply. Before you jump off a cliff take a deep breath and remember that how you decide on reacting to a market meltdown will make a big difference to your bottom line now and later. Rarely is it a good idea to panic. Investing is a lot about two emotions: fear and greed. Those who end up ... Read More
Diversification
Greek Default: Investing When the Sky Is Falling
With Greek default imminent, what's next? Investing when the sky is falling is a stomach-churning exercise. You have to have faith - in yourself, your investment managers and your plan - as well as a medicine cabinet filled with bottles of Tums. But really, what does the impending default do to your long-range investment plan? What does any bad news do to your bottom line? Yesterday, global ... Read More
Retirees: Your Asset Allocation Should Be More Tactical
Amid the ruins of the last market meltdown of 2008-2009, you'll find the finance theory of Asset Allocation and the idea that all an investor needs to do is 'Buy and Hold.' As good and practical as that advice is, it was awfully hard to avoid the emotional panic created by such an extreme. So investors and financial advisers like me were put to the test about our beliefs in the idea of 'efficient ... Read More
Debt Ceiling Crisis: What Investors Should Do
Investment Forecast: Cloudy with chance of default and variable recession. Trying to read the tea leaves and make prudent investment decisions for clients - or yourself - has been complicated by the headwinds out of Washington lately. The debt ceiling crisis exposes investors to a real risk of loss. Crystal Ball Predictions Depending on how you read your crystal ball, any and all of the ... Read More
Low ETF Fees Attract Investors
Can you keep a secret? Affluent investors are becoming big fans of Exchange Traded Funds (ETF). While Wall Street may want to continue to pick your pocket through higher-cost mutual funds, you can lower your costs and need to get to know about ETFs. Wall Street doesn't want you to know that you may not be getting the best deal when it comes to your investments. Most people invest through ... Read More
Better International Investing Tips
Better international investing, like all investing, starts with a plan and not just a tip from a friend. Investors are always on the lookout for the 'Holy Grail' in investing. I'm often asked 'what's hot?' There's a tendency in human behavior and certainly in behavioral finance to go where the crowd goes based on the idea that collectively there's safety in numbers and "they" must know something ... Read More
Investment Tips for New Years Resolution
It's the beginning of a New Year. Now what? Time to put actions to words. It's time to get moving on those New Year's resolutions. Fran Tarkenton, a football legend and successful businessman, once said, "People don't change their behavior unless it makes a difference for them to do so." Changes That Make A Difference to Your Investments So, it's a New Year and a "new you." Here are some ... Read More
Secrets to Long Term Investing Success
Portfolio Management Secrets of a Successful Investor Investors Ask: How do I improve my investment performance? We're all familiar with the disclosure at the end of all the commercials and print ads: Past Performance Is No Guarantee of Future Results. If that's true, then how can you be sure that someone is doing better than the market? Well, the short answer is: You Can't. But there ... Read More
3 Investment Tips to Improve Your Performance
Often I am asked "How Can I Improve My Portfolio's Performance?" Investing can be as much art as it is science. In my opinion it may actually be more art than science. I really think investing is all about emotion and all the statistics, charts, graphs and academic white papers provide a rational cloak to mask this simple fact. This is true when we buy anything or make a decision about a ... Read More
Life Insurance – A Misunderstood Asset Class
Do you want to clear a room or stop a conversation fast? Talk about life insurance. Mention life insurance to someone and the reaction is something like hearing nails across a chalk board. Folks will either run for fear that you're going to try to sell them something or their eyes will glaze over. Most folks don't want to talk about it. The topic is boring. And it's kind of weird to talk ... Read More
