“All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.”” Mark Twain Many investment markets are now at a loss this year. And many are at a loss to explain why. The below chart plots the returns year-to-date through October 27th of the SP500 (orange line), International Stocks (white line), US
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*Our firm’s AI Market Commentary dated as of 8/19/2023 has been updated with an important footnote because, without additional clarifying information, it can be interpreted as stating that we are using AI more extensively and more directly for investment selection than we intended to represent. Our AI Market Commentary previously stated that, “We are also
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“If you’re not confused, you’re not paying attention.” Tom Peters (author of In Search of Excellence) The Good Have you heard about the recent “terrible” economic news?Unemployment is at its lowest level in over 50 years, as shown by the below graph: Meanwhile, there is still a 2% larger gap between jobs and workers than there was in
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Over these past two decades there has been much discussion about how we are continually entering into a new normal. This year, however, we are back to the “old normal”, at least as far as financial markets are concerned. We are back to a place where one can earn money on their savings accounts. The below
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As of Monday (6/13), the US stock market has officially hit Bear Market territory (i.e., a fall of at least 20%). The S&P 500 closed down some 21% year-to-date. The tech-heavy NASDAQ 100 closed down almost 31% year-to-date. This is considered normal, as so-called bear markets tend to occur every several years. The last one
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Dylan B. Minor PhD, MSBA, CFP®, ChFC, CLU Chief Strategist and CIO This quarter I have had some client questions about the “shape of the recovery.” That is, many are wondering what the economic recovery will ultimately look like, and by corollary what stock markets might look like. To begin such a discussion, it is
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Dylan B. Minor PhD, MSBA, CFP®, ChFC, CLU Chief Strategist and CIO These are forceful and huge steps. The Fed is doing whatever it takes. Mark Sobel, former U.S. Treasury official In this note, I provide an update on financial markets and the economy, an overview of some of the important features of the new
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Dylan B. Minor PhD, MSBA, CFP®, ChFC, CLU Chief Strategist and CIO This past Thursday (March 12th) marked the end of the longest bull market, at least by some measures. Stock markets fell 25-30% from previous peaks in February. Interestingly, many of the best returns of the stock market occur after the worst ones. Indeed,
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Dylan B. Minor PhD, MSBA, CFP®, ChFC, CLU Chief Strategist and CIO Forget not your past, for in the future it may help you grow. J M Barrie As they say, hindsight is 20/20. So it is that a look to the past two decades can prove helpful, as we are already 20 years into
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Dylan B. Minor PhD, MSBA, CFP®, ChFC, CLU Chief Strategist and CIO With most things, the average is mediocrity. With decision making, it’s often excellence. You could say it’s as if we’ve been programmed to be collectively smart. The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki The ‘wisdom of the crowds’ is the most ridiculous statement
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