Quit Monkeying Around!

In the world of investment management there is an oft-discussed idea that blindfolded monkeys throwing darts at pages of stock listings can select portfolios that will do just as well, if not better, than both the market and the average portfolio constructed by professional money managers. If this is true, why might it be the case?

Read More
Ryan Cole, CFP®Comment
Timing Isn’t Everything

Outguessing markets is more difficult than many investors might think. While favorable timing is theoretically possible, there isn’t much evidence that it can be done reliably, even by professional investors. The positive news is that investors don’t need to be able to time markets to have a good investment experience.

Read More
The Power of Financial Markets

This 2-1/2 minute video explains how security prices are set—and change—based on the collective knowledge of buyers and sellers. Armed with this information, investors can be more confident about the power of investing in financial markets.

Read More
Ryan Cole, CFP®Comment
Why You Should Play with FIRE

There are a host of benefits to practicing the key tenants of the FIRE movement. Saving aggressively in your 20s, 30s and 40s combined with tax savviness can lead to tremendous wealth creation. And with the creation of wealth comes the ability to choose where, how, if and when you work, which is why you should begin playing with FIRE. 

Read More
Ryan Cole, CFP®Comment
Midterm Elections: What Do They Mean for Markets?

It’s almost Election Day in the US once again. While the outcomes of the elections are uncertain, one thing we can count on is that plenty of opinions and prognostications will be floated in the days to come. In financial circles, this will almost assuredly include any potential for perceived impact on markets. But should long-term investors focus on midterm elections?

Read More
Ryan Cole, CFP®Comment
Alternative Reality

In recent years, “liquid alternatives” have increased in popularity considerably. This sub-category of alternatives consists of mutual funds that may start from the same building blocks as the global stock and bond market but then select, weight, and even short securities in an attempt to deliver positive returns that differ from the stock and bond markets.

Read More
Ryan Cole, CFP®Comment
Where's the Value?

While a positive value premium is never guaranteed, the premium has historically had a greater chance of being positive the longer the time horizon observed. Even with long-term positive results though, periods of extended underperformance can happen from time to time.

Read More
Tuning Out the Noise

For investors, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the relentless stream of news about markets. Being bombarded with data and headlines presented as impactful to your financial well-being can evoke strong emotional responses from even the most experienced investors.

Read More