Sailing with the Tides – First Quarter 2018
Embarking on a financial plan is like sailing around the world. The voyage won’t always go according to plan, and there’ll be rough seas. But the odds of reaching your destination increase greatly if you are prepared, flexible, patient, and well-advised. A mistake many inexperienced sailors make is not having a...Continue reading→
Recent Market Correction – Fourth Quarter 2017
After a period of relative calm in the markets, in recent days the increase in volatility in the stock market has resulted in renewed anxiety for many investors. From January 27 to February 8, the U.S. market (as measured by the S&P 500 Index) fell more than 10%, marking the first stock...Continue reading→
Key Questions for the Long-Term Investor – Third Quarter 2017
Focusing on what you can control can lead to a better investment experience. Whether you’ve been investing for decades or are just getting started, at some point on your investment journey you’ll likely ask yourself some of the questions below. Trying to answer these questions may be intimidating, but...Continue reading→
Stock Investing at All-Time Highs – Second Quarter 2017
As stock markets, once again, continue to hit all-time highs, investors take this news not with celebration, but with trepidation. Modern stock markets have been worrying investors with new highs since they were created several centuries ago. For example, in 1955, Benjamin Graham, the great...Continue reading→
The Uncertainty Paradox – First Quarter 2017
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is an absurd one. —Voltaire “The market hates uncertainty” has been a common enough saying in recent years, but how logical is it? There are many different aspects to uncertainty, some that can be measured and some that cannot...Continue reading→
The Power of Markets – Fourth Quarter 2016
In 1958, economist Leonard Read published an essay entitled “I, Pencil: My Family Tree as Told to Leonard E. Read.” The essay, narrated from the point of view of a pencil, describes the “complex combination of miracles” necessary to create and bring to market the commonplace writing tool that has been used for generations...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.