I’ve had family and friends ask me about Bitcoin lately. I’m not surprised as the broader media picked it up that Bitcoin reached $100,000 in price. Since people I care about wanted to know what I thought, I felt the need to provide a note about it. As always, this isn’t advice, it’s just my
Bitcoin: My Thoughts and Experience Read More »
This is the Part 2 follow-up to my first post on the elections, titled Don’t Let the Emotions of Politics Impact Your Investment Decisions posted on November 16, 2024. Now that we have confirmation that the Republican party controls the White House, Senate and House of Representatives, there is a higher probability that the Republican
After the Election: Setting the Goalposts Read More »
Ok. Sometimes I really get an urge to say something. This is especially the case when it comes to politics and the financial markets. Politics can be emotional. I totally get it. I’m not a fan of the tribalism when it comes to politics. I have opinions, and so do others. Based on our own
Don’t Let The Emotions of Politics Impact Your Investment Decisions Read More »
Ok, I’m seeing more commercials for gold bars and coins, so I think it’s time to touch base on gold again. The Bloomberg Gold Subindex (Total Return) is up over 34% year-to-date as of 10/30/31, so gold-related companies getting on the commercial bandwagon now again to sell past performance to retail investors is not a
Gold Commercials Are Back, So Time to Revisit Gold Read More »
As an investment consultant and portfolio manager for different clients, I manage a number of different investment strategies. Once you understand my investment philosophy, you’ll understand why I manage these strategies the way I do. I share the investment commentary on these strategies here. U.S. CORE STRATEGIES The U.S. Core strategies provide long-term exposure to
Investment Strategies Update – Q3 2024 Read More »
Strong Equity and Bond Market Performance in Q3 Diversified investors were rewarded in Q3 as both equities and bonds rallied in the quarter. Supportive economic data and the anticipation of Fed rate cuts provided tailwinds for the financial markets. Equities were volatile during the quarter but showed resilience, with performance broadening out by the end
Market Update – Q3 2024 Read More »
The Milwaukee Brewers just lost the MLB Wild Card Series to the New York Mets. The Mets are moving on in the playoffs and the Brewers’ season has come to an end. I was actually at Game 1 with a great friend of mine, but Games 2 and 3 had me thinking about investing, as
Investing: Swinging at the Fat Pitches Down the Middle Read More »
SUMMARY Volatility finally picked up in the equity markets over the last couple of months. Patient investors waiting for a better opportunity and looking to add risk may have been rewarded if they “bought the dip”. In August we finally had the correction in artificial intelligence-related stocks, which I had been waiting for. Prior to
Outlook & Positioning – September 20, 2024 Read More »
Here Comes the Vol(-atility), Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo. Here Comes the Vol, and I say, it’s alright. A simple Beatles tune, but like the sun, volatility can rise up after being down for a while. But unlike the sun, the timing and frequency of volatility rising and falling are not consistently predictable. As you may have noticed, volatility
Here Comes the Vol, Doo Doo Doo Doo Read More »
As an investment consultant and portfolio manager for different clients, I manage a number of different investment strategies. Once you understand my investment philosophy, you’ll understand why I manage these strategies the way I do. I share the investment commentary on these strategies here. U.S. CORE STRATEGIES The U.S. Core strategies provide long-term exposure to
Investment Strategies Update – Q2 2024 Read More »
Mixed Equity Performance, Solid Bond Income Support in Q2 Equity markets were mixed in Q2 as high-quality, large U.S. companies tied to technology and artificial intelligence continued to drive market performance. Other cyclical areas of the market were a bit more challenged. Bond investors continued to be rewarded with higher yields and income generation. Interest
Market Update – Q2 2024 Read More »
SUMMARY Just choppin’ around, except for AI. Equity and bond markets continue to chop around, with continued strength in artificial intelligence-related technology/semiconductor stocks. Even stocks in the utilities sector rallied strongly for a bit under the narrative that artificial intelligence support will require significant energy needs. Energy stocks also rallied strongly until OPEC+ announced no
Outlook & Positioning – June 13, 2024 Read More »
Ok, so it’s getting old posting about this, but with the S&P 500 Index up strongly this year to 5308 on the index, we’ve started to see Wall Street strategists increasing their year-end forecast for the index. It never fails. Market is up = Strategists increase their year-end targets Market is down = Strategists decrease
Market Rallies -> Strategists Raise Forecasts Read More »
China is one of the largest economies in the world and its influence in the global economy is significant, so investors should consider paying attention. I manage a number of different strategies for clients, including strategies with exposure to international markets. Part of this exposure to international markets can be exposure to Chinese equities, so
Quick Look: Chinese Equities Read More »
Solid Economic Data Helps Drive Risk Assets Higher in Q1 Equity and credit markets rallied in Q1 as strong economic data and solid corporate earnings provided investors with cover to continue to support risk assets. Last year economists and investors believed that higher interest rates could push the U.S. economy into a potential recession, but
Market Update – Q1 2024 Read More »
Let’s take a Q1 review of the strategies I manage for clients.
Investment Strategies Update – Q1 2024 Read More »
Equity markets continue to chug higher and bonds remain choppy, but there are some potential opportunities to consider for longer-term investors.
Outlook & Positioning – April 5, 2024 Read More »
Feeling a bit nervous? Maybe fears of a sell off? Maybe even a little FOMO (fear of missing out)? The three popular U.S. large cap equity indices (S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, Dow Jones Industrial Average) have all recently hit new all-time highs. When you throw in dividends from a total return perspective, the highs are
Nervous at the bottom? Nervous at the top? Read More »
Ok, let’s try this again: Wall Street S&P 500 Index year-end forecasts for 2024. Remember last year, in my post dated Wall Street Strategists’ 2023 Outlook (Guess) on January 15, 2023, I listed various Wall Street firms’ forecasts for the year-end 2023 value of the S&P 500 Index. I never like these forecasts, but it
Wall Street Strategists’ Guesses for 2024 Read More »
Wall Street strategists dedicate significant time and effort to forecasting financial markets with some sense of precision. In my post last January 15th, 2023 titled “Wall Street Strategists’ 2023 Outlook (Guess)”, I indicated that Wall Street strategist forecasts were just guesses and putting any real faith in them may be futile. Below are the forecasts
Wall Street Strategists’ 2023 Forecast Review – Ouch! Read More »
