Economic Commentary and Investment Update
In 2022, the war in Ukraine and resulting sanctions, COVID supply chain shocks, and a re-ordering of global trade have leveled a solid bodycheck on the US and global economies. Even the strongest skater is likely to wobble under such circumstances. We’ll highlight a few themes which have occupied and at times confounded investors in…
Read MoreTranslate This Page
Recently I saw these words at the top right corner of my computer screen: “Translate this page.” My mind was deep in critical thought at the moment, and at first the message didn’t register. Momentarily, however, my eyes wandered back. “What?” Then I started laughing, realizing that Google was offering to translate this page into…
Read MoreSustainable Capitalism
Larry Fink would like you to know that he’s a capitalist. He’s the founder and CEO of Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, so it makes sense that he would be. However, Mr. Fink has drawn criticism in the last few years for his annual letter to CEO’s, in which for the last several years…
Read MoreRussia, Ukraine, and Your Portfolio’s Path Forward
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, on top of inflation concerns in the US and elsewhere, markets have recently been subject to greater volatility as well as declines in value. “Markets,” a term used to describe all global investors, price assets based on available information and the implications they derive from it. It’s reasonable, then, for…
Read MoreYear-end Charitable Gift Planning in 2021
In the last few years, so much has changed about charitable gift planning. We offer a bit of recent history on the changes, and suggest some strategies that may help you reduce your tax bill while supporting the charities of your choice. In 2018 the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) raised the standard income…
Read MoreLet’s Talk About Risk
By most measures we’re experiencing the longest bull market in our history, starting in March of 2009 and briefly dropping by 30% in March of 2020, before recovering after the shortest bear market ever. As a result, we’re sharing the marketplace with a generation of investors who have never experienced a protracted bear market. These…
Read MoreBack to School: Getting the Most from Your 529 Plan
If you have college-bound children or grandchildren, it’s worth learning about 529 plans. These tax-advantaged savings plan for college expenses are named for the internal revenue code section authorizing their use. 529 plans invest after-tax dollars, ideally to grow for several years before the funds can be withdrawn tax-free, if used for qualified education expenses.…
Read MoreDon’t Chase the Bus
“Never run after a bus or a stock. Just be patient — the next one will come along for sure.” André Kostolany André Kostolany was a Hungarian-born stockbroker who prospered during the reconstruction of Germany after WWII. He was known for his pithy insights into investors’ behavior, and his pragmatic understanding of the equity…
Read MoreCryptonite
As of this week the S&P500 is up 40% over the last year, and in the same time period Bitcoin is up over 300%. Why aren’t we all investing in Bitcoin? The recent volatility has shown us that it’s not a suitable investment for every portfolio. Part of Bitcoin’s recent wild ride can be attributed…
Read MoreShelter in Motion
It’s possible that my wife, Peggy, and I have applied the State of California’s now one-year-old “Shelter In Place” order slightly differently than some. Oh, we’ve been compliant; even diligent. We place ourselves in the presence of others only sparingly, wear masks, and otherwise quite carefully adhere to our state and county guidelines in an…
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