Value vs Growth Investing
Looking at their recent track records doesn’t do much to settle the debate. Over the past decade, as a whole, value stocks have not performed as well as growth stocks. But looking at a larger body of cumulative data, reaching as far back as 1926, this has not always been the case. Let’s dive in […]
Navigating the Storm: A Deep Dive into Stock Market Volatility
When you hear the term “volatility,” you might immediately think of a wild roller coaster ride. In the world of finance, however, volatility represents more than just adrenaline—it’s a powerful force that shapes investment decisions, influences economic confidence, and ultimately defines the opportunities and challenges within the stock market landscape. Understanding the Pulse of the […]
Understanding Money Market Funds
A money market fund, not to be confused with a money market account, is a type of mutual fund that invests in instruments like cash equivalents and short-term debt-based securities, which can also include U.S. Treasury Bonds.1 Safety First These funds are designed to be easily accessible and are often considered cash equivalents. Their primary […]
How Will The Economy React To AI?
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are already invading every aspect of our lives. Debates are ongoing about how it will infiltrate individual industries. Governments are working to understand AI and determine how to regulate something that affects much more than the digital space. Its potential uses are being realized everywhere, from musicians turning 50-year-old demo recordings […]
A Primer On Dividends
When looking for income-generating investments, some investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. When a company makes a profit, that money can be put to two uses: It can be reinvested in the business. It can be paid out to the company’s shareholders in the form of a dividend, a taxable disbursement typically made quarterly or monthly. […]
A Look At Diversification
Ancient Chinese merchants were said to have developed a unique way to manage their risk. They would divide their shipments among several different vessels. That way, if one ship were to sink or be attacked by pirates, the rest stood a good chance of getting through. Thus, the majority of the shipment could be saved. […]
Best-Performing Asset Classes
According to Yale University’s Crash Confidence Index, only about 24% of investors are confident the stock market will not crash sometime during the next six months.1 If fear leads investors to avoid the entire investment class, they may limit their potential returns. For example, for most of the 10-year period between 2012 and 2022, stocks […]
The Business Cycle
What has upswings and downturns, troughs, peaks, and plateaus? Though such terms could easily describe a roller coaster ride, they are also commonly used to describe the business cycle. The business cycle – also known as the economic cycle – refers to fluctuations in economic activity over several months or years. Tracking the cycle helps […]
Portfolio Allocation
The first half of 2020 has seen a dramatic increase in stock market volatility. After beginning the year by gaining 4% through mid-March, the S&P 500 lost roughly 35% over the next four weeks. Four months from that bottom and the index now sits at break-even for the year. While it is always a good […]
IRA Conversions
Prior to 2010, Roth conversion were subject to a $100,000 AGI limit which prohibited some from taking advantage of the tax free growth of a Roth IRA. Since that restriction was removed, Roth conversion have become increasingly popular. Tax rates, historically remain at very low levels enticing many to opt to pay their taxes in […]
