Category Archives: Asset Allocation
A Fresh Look at Risk
Investing is risky. That’s no secret. But I find that many investors get fixated on the elements of risk that matter least and ignore the risks that matter most. When I meet with new clients I try to focus the … Continue reading
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Set it and forget it?
Finally, investing is fun again. The stock market is up more than 100 percent over the last four years. Bonds continue their 30-year record of positive returns. Gold’s been on a long winning streak and real estate is back on … Continue reading
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Small changes, big impact
Does one percent matter? If you’re watching the balance in your portfolio for one year, the difference between an eight percent return and a seven percent return can be a fair amount of money, but won’t really change your life. … Continue reading
Why do allocations change?
Good question, and one asked recently by a potential client. When should asset allocations change in a portfolio? The when, why and how of allocation changes should be as transparent as indexing itself, and it is.
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2012: Despite the headlines, a strong year
Fiscal cliff, high unemployment, euro crisis, stalled economy, divisive election, Congressional gridlock, US debt downgrade, nuclear threat. If you watched the news in 2012, you’d be convinced it was a dismal year for the markets. But it wasn’t. Quite the … Continue reading
Don’t let gravity get you down
“I never want to lose money.” This sounds like a modest and reasonable investment goal, one that would be far easier to achieve than one that, for instance, aims for significant growth over a long time span. But is it? … Continue reading
Pursuing better
Now and then a great business emerges because it does something no one else can through a breakthrough technology or discovery. But far more often, success comes to those who simply “do things better.” This may mean improving the auto … Continue reading
The big picture, literally
When we ask what your portfolio looks like, we mean it literally. We find that a visual representation of a few critical metrics can tell us a lot about your portfolio and how it can be expected to perform. Let’s … Continue reading
Posted in Asset Allocation, Investment Strategy, Risk
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How Massachusetts Invests
If you had $50 billion to invest, how would you do it? Let’s take a look at the investment strategy of the Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management board (PRIM), which invests that sum for the benefit of state employees, teachers … Continue reading
Will the real gold please stand up?
Here’s a one question market performance quiz: Since 1993, which hypothetical portfolio performed best? A) 100 percent in SPY (An ETF that tracks the S&P 500) or B) 100 percent in gold. If a lump sum of $1000 was invested … Continue reading
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