Category Archives: Uncategorized

A favorite (and costly) pastime of investors is to invest in assets that have recently done well. This happens in good times as investors seek better returns, and they happen in bad times as low-yielding investments such as cash are more attractive than money-losing stocks. In other words, investors chase returns. By investing in whatContinue reading “Chasing Returns”

For centuries mankind has been searching for happiness. Regardless of culture, social status, or beliefs it seems that we are all connected by our desire to be happy. What makes someone happy and how much happiness we feel may be subjective. But there are a few fundamental principles that tend to detract and add to anContinue reading “If Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness, What Does?”

Memorial Day is a time of remembering, reflecting, and honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today. The act of remembering often brings feelings of gratitude, love, and a desire to do good to others. It is positive and empowering. While remembering can be very powerful with respect to certainContinue reading “The Power of Remembering”

The ability to think clearly and draw correct conclusions is necessary in everyday life, especially when it comes to making important decisions. But thinking critically is not natural; it’s not the way our brains are hardwired. Instead, we are hardwired to follow the path of least resistance, which often results in hasty and suboptimal decisions. This is especially prevalent when uncertainty, anxiety, and emotions are high.

Most investors would love to find the Holy Grail of investing – an investment that provides great returns with very little (or no) risk. Many investors consciously acknowledge that such an investment doesn’t exist. But we may still be attracted to that investment because of how badly we wish it would exist. And sometimes hopeContinue reading “The Holy Grail of Investing”

Investors express discomfort when things are uncertain. This is especially true when experiencing “heightened uncertainty,” such as with the current Eastern European conflict. However, uncertainty is not just a circumstance of economic and investment markets, it is a fact of life. Our future, by definition, is uncertain. There are times when the future is lessContinue reading “Investing Amid Uncertainty”

Selling a security is something that investors ponder from time to time. Whether that security is an individual stock, a mutual fund, or an index fund, investors are left with the question of what to do with the proceeds. No matter the reason for selling, it is important we have a well-thought plan for whatContinue reading “The Challenge of Selling”

Most investors love economic and market forecasts. With the markets so uncertain and volatile, our brain craves some sort of idea of what the future holds. But the markets are unpredictable – evidenced by the fact that no one can consistently predict them with accuracy. Of course, a certain forecast will be right from timeContinue reading “A Dependable Forecast for 2022”

Every December we get inundated with forecasts for the following year. These forecasts range from expected GDP and interest rates to stock market performance. We are naturally attracted to forecasts because they purport to tell us what is going to happen, and they often are supported by persuasive reasoning and statistical analysis. After listening toContinue reading “Tis the Season of Forecasts”