Portfolio goals

It’s almost Election Day in the US once again. For those who need a brief civics refresher, every two years the full US House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate are up for reelection.

Costs matter. Whether you’re buying a car or selecting an investment strategy, the costs you expect to pay are likely to be an important factor in making any major financial decision.

As of August 21, the longest-running S&P 500 rally (by some counts) was born out of “the ashes of the financial crisis.” Then came mid-September – ten years since the beginning of the financial crisis of 2008 – along with the usual flurry of “decade after” reflections.

As an investor, your happiness depends on having realistic expectations about returns and viewing market events in proper context. These two factors can drive your sense of financial well-being and influence your financial outcome.

The month of August marked an important milestone for the long-running bull market.

On August 22, the bull market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, extended its run to 3,453 calendar days (CNBC, various sources), becoming the lengthiest bull market in history, or at least since WWII.

With school back in session in most of the country, many parents are likely thinking about how best to prepare for their children’s future college expenses.

Now is a good time to sharpen one’s pencil for a few important lessons before heading back into the investing classroom to tackle the issue.

The yield curve is flattening (or growing steeper)! …Yield curve spreads are widening (or narrowing)! …The yield curve has inverted (or normalized)!

Headline-grabbing yield curve commentary somehow sounds important, doesn’t it? But what is a yield curve to begin with, and what does it have to do with you and your investments?

If there’s one thing you can count on in both life and investing, it's uncertainty. It’s why we save and invest to begin with. We save and invest today, hoping our money will grow. We act on our aspirations for a bright financial future - but we never know for sure.

Have you ever embarked on a home improvement project? You are confident you can complete the task, but you are unfamiliar with the details.

A “how to” clip is usually available on YouTube, but there isn’t a practical way to reach out with follow-up questions.

The path to success in many areas of life is paved with continual hard work, intense activity, and a day-to-day focus on results. However, for many investors who adopt this approach to managing their wealth, that can be turned upside down.