Markets were relatively calm during the third quarter of 2016, yet they delivered some attractive returns overall. In the United States, all three major U.S. indices posted record highs twice during a single 7-day period in August, reported CNBC.com. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) experienced a 51-day streak without at least a […]
The Markets Blame it on the central banks! After 44 consecutive sleepy, summer days when Barron’s reported the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index opened and closed without a 1 percent move in either direction, the index tumbled last week – and so did indices in other markets around the world. What roused investors from complacency? […]
How do you measure stock market valuation? If you look at conventional measures – like price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios – then U.S. stock markets appear to be pricey. The Wall Street Journal reported trailing 12-month P/E ratios are high when compared to 10-year averages. High P/E ratios haven’t dampened investors’ interest in U.S. stocks, and share […]
December is historically a robust month in the Equity markets as measured by the S&P 500. This period of time has even given birth to the famed nickname the “Santa Clause” rally. This year, along with the strange El Nino Weather pattern in the Northeast, we are left to wonder is Santa Clause indeed going […]
You may have heard of tax loss harvesting. Some people harvest losses every year, while others do so only when they have taken significant capital gains or have received more income than expected during a given year (perhaps they sold a business, received an inheritance, or collected a sizeable bonus). Tax loss harvesting occurs when […]
After the last three weeks the market has recovered some of its losses, so why aren’t we buying? This is a question that we get a lot after we have taken protection and raised some cash in client portfolios. Everyone gets nervous that they are missing out on some extra gains, but truthfully the high […]
A number you’re probably not looking for is 1.5 billion. That’s the number of pounds of pumpkins grown every year. History.com said that’s more than twice the weight of the Empire State Building. Here are a few other interesting statistics related to Halloween:1 9 billion pieces of candy corn are sold each year (about 36 […]
As volatility has been spiking in the equity market, I just have to ask, do you have a strategy? Often when I meet with potential new clients this is a question I pose. More times than not they look at me as if I am speaking a foreign language that they can’t quite understand. As […]
The old saying “time flies” is never truer than when you are preparing to send your child off to college for the first time. You think back to when she started school, and all of the milestones she’s attained since. Middle School, Braces, First Dances, First Sleep Away Camp, High school, first time driving, getting […]