All Things in Moderation
The First Quarter 2021 is off to a good start. Most people are eager to return to normal with travel, dining, and shopping this summer. Financial markets are no different...Continue reading→
The Power of Small, Quiet Acts
Today, let’s pause and take a moment to reflect on the wondrous powers of small, quiet acts. Pandemic aside, there have been plenty of great, big year-end reviews and year-ahead teasers, clamoring for your current attention. Describing 2020 as an “everything rally,” One Wall Street Journal columnist wrote, “Investors ended one of Wall Street’s wildest …Continue reading→
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2020 – Third Quarter 2020
Has 2020 left you feeling like the fabled Sisyphus, forever pushing a boulder up a steep hill? Thankfully, with multiple COVID-19 vaccines in the works, there’s hope the load will lighten in the new year, fast approaching. While we prepare for a fresh start, here are six financial best practices for year-end 2020 and beyond...Continue reading→
How to Master the Markets by Mastering Ourselves – Second Quarter 2020
Before we dive into the usual quarterly investment insights, here’s some fun trivia: Did you know you have to count to 1,000 before you’ll find the letter “a” in a spelled-out number? We thought you could use that break from the torrent of mid-year market commentaries on 2020’s bipolar extremes. The general theme has been how quickly global markets sold off and came back...Continue reading→
Hunkering Down in Turbulent Times – First Quarter 2020
“What the imagination can’t conjure, reality delivers with a shrug.” —Trumbo (movie voice-over) Brace yourself. Your First Quarter 2020 report is likely to leave you feeling at least a little disheartened. No matter how much we’ve written about preparing for perilous times like these, planning for it versus actually enduring it is like watching a...Continue reading→
IPOs: Profiles Are High. What About Returns? – Fourth Quarter 2019
Initial public offerings (IPOs) often attract initial public interest—especially when familiar brands become broadly available to investors for the first time. In recent months, investors have had the opportunity to buy shares of ride‑hailing networks Uber and Lyft, workplace productivity services Zoom and Slack, and other high-profile businesses ranging from Pinterest to Beyond Meat.Continue reading→
In recent months, two themes have dominated investor conversations: AI investing and the renewed belief in gold as a timeless safe haven. Both trends have resurfaced at the exact moments when crowd enthusiasm is high. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at the gold safety myths and the rising excitement around artificial intelligence as we enter the final stretch of 2025.
It’s our pleasure to report on the progress of your long-term financial plan through what proved to be a highly instructive first half of 2025. If markets seemed unusually dramatic, it’s only because they were, but not in ways unfamiliar to seasoned investors. Let me begin by restating a few principles that have guided us…
The first quarter of 2025 served as another vivid reminder that while history doesn’t repeat itself in investing, it often rhymes. We entered the year amid considerable volatility, as the largest technology stocks fell into bear market territory, triggering the seventh-fastest 10% correction in the S&P 500 since 1929. This correction gained momentum following President…
Over the years, I have spent more ink cautioning investors about the perils of bear markets rather than celebrating bull markets because discipline is tested in tough times. However, as evidenced by today’s somewhat stretched valuations, let’s talk about the other great pitfall: the fear of missing out (FOMO).
“The first rule of compounding is to never interrupt it unnecessarily.”
—Charles T. Munger
As we navigate a world of shifting dynamics, it’s wise to stay grounded in the fundamentals.
I am pleased to update you on our progress in the first half of 2024. Before examining the current market landscape, it is worth reflecting on what our disciplined approach has delivered so far.
While strong market performance is encouraging, it can also trigger a less favorable response within the investment community. On the opposite end of the spectrum from selling during market downturns, some restless investors might be tempted to chase after speculative trends, no matter how closely they resemble past “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) frenzies.
The unpredictability of markets became evident in 2023, as The Wall Street Journal aptly reported: “Almost no one thought 2023 would be a blockbuster year for stocks. They could hardly have been more wrong.” As we step into the new year, it brings the opportunity to reflect on the intricacies of the equity markets, not…
Contemplate how invaluable your steadfastness is to those you love and care for. This is the gift you give.
As we find ourselves at the midpoint of the year, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the long-term journey we’ve embarked upon together in the realm of investments. The financial landscape has unveiled its latest chapters, and I am pleased to share our insights and observations with you.