The Investment Risk No One’s Ever Heard Of
Knowledgeable investors are aware that investing in the capital markets presents any number of risks, including interest rate risk, company risk, and market risk. Risk is an inseparable companion to the potential for long-term growth. Some of the investment risks we face can be mitigated through diversification.1 As an investor, you face another, lesser-known risk […]
ViewAsset Allocation
If you live in or have visited a big city, you’ve probably run into street vendors – people who sell everything from hot dogs to umbrellas – on the streets and sidewalks. Many of these entrepreneurs sell completely unrelated products, such as coffee and ice cream. At first glance, this approach seems a bit odd, […]
ViewThe Business Cycle
What has upswings and downturns, troughs, peaks, and plateaus? Though such terms could easily describe a roller coaster ride, they are also commonly used to describe the business cycle. The business cycle – also known as the economic cycle – refers to fluctuations in economic activity over several months or years. Tracking the cycle helps […]
ViewRisk Perspective
Risk is a factor in any investment decision that you make. Your tolerance for risk is something that you will want to consider when you make decisions alongside your trusted financial professional. Your risk tolerance is balanced against your time horizon, meaning the time between now and when you anticipate needing your money. But is […]
ViewThe Utility of Sector Investing
There is a growing popularity among individuals to broaden their investment strategy beyond conventional allocations and investment styles. Some see sector investing as a way to seek new opportunities for enhanced portfolio performance.1 Because of its narrow focus, a sector investing strategy tends to be more volatile than an investment strategy that is diversified across […]
ViewDo Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices?
Investors are routinely warned about allowing their emotions to influence their decisions. However, they are not often cautioned about their preconceptions and biases that may color their financial choices. In a battle between facts & biases, our biases may win. If we acknowledge this tendency, we may be able to avoid some unexamined choices when […]
ViewInflation and the Real Rate of Return
The real rate of return is an important personal finance concept to understand. It’s the rate of return on your investments after inflation. The real rate of return indicates whether you are gaining or losing purchasing power with your money. So if inflation checks in at a rate of 6%, does that mean any investment […]
ViewTypes of Stock Market Analysis
There is no shortage of analysis for anyone interested in investing. A search for the term “stock market analysis” turned up over one billion results on Google and well over two billion on Yahoo.1 The majority of stock market analysis can be lumped into three broad groups: fundamental, technical, and sentimental. Here’s a close look […]
ViewYour Shifting Risk Tolerance
When you created your investment strategy, your asset allocation should have reflected your goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. But over time, any of those three factors may have changed, and your portfolio may now need adjustments to reflect your new investing priorities. It’s important to remember that asset allocation is an approach to […]
ViewA Primer on Dividends
When looking for income-generating investments, some investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. When a company makes a profit, that money can be put to two uses: Dividend Ratios Investors track dividend-yielding stocks by examining a pair of ratios.1 Dividend per share measures how much cash an investor is scheduled to receive for each share of dividend-yielding stock. […]
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