Normally we’re not big fans of the phrase, as it’s often used reflexively rather than with specific intent. On the contrary, we reference relativity often and with specific intent. For example, we regularly remind readers that expectations for greater relative return should be accompanied by expectations for greater risk. This month, we offer perspective on […]

Wasn’t so long ago that we were applauding more generous yields among our fixed income exposures for the greater income over the longer term that they may provide. This despite the nearer term drag from the impact that rising rates had on bond prices, the movement of the latter being inverse to that of the […]

Yet another quarter has gone by during which, were it not for the actions—or, rather more appropriately, expectations of forthcoming actions—by the Federal Reserve, equity markets otherwise might have turned in a rather more sober tally. With earnings growth waning against a backdrop of elevated valuations, perhaps too much hope rests on a nearer-term future […]

In last month’s commentary, we sought to support our desire to maintain international equity exposures with an argument in favor of the greater diversification they may provide. This month we want to offer a bit of a boost to the idea using a review that should be familiar. The rather subdued relative performance of international […]

Humans can be faulted for behaviors of all sorts, and our penchants when investing are not immune to such criticism. One of the more powerful biases is our tendency to see the recent past as a fuller record than it is. As went the past few years, so must have been the past few decades, […]

Our industry spends a great deal of time thinking about where a portfolio is invested and how those investments perform over time. Perhaps not enough time is spent discussing the force we think most impactful with regard to meeting long-term financial goals: savings. After all, without savings, there’s no portfolio. And no manner of fanciful […]