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. People rely on a lot of different information about costs to help inform these decisions. When you buy a car, for example, the sticker price tells you approximately how much you can expect to pay for the car itself. But the sticker price is only one part of the overall cost of owning a car. Other things like sales … [Read more...] about Getting What You Don’t Pay For
When Rates Go Up, Do Stocks Go Down?
Unlike bond prices, which tend to go down when yields go up, stock prices might rise or fall with changes in interest rates. Should stock investors worry about changes in interest rates? Research shows that, like stock prices, changes in interest rates and bond prices are largely unpredictable.[1] It follows that an investment strategy based upon attempting to exploit these sorts of changes isn't likely to be a fruitful endeavor. Despite the unpredictable nature of interest rate changes, … [Read more...] about When Rates Go Up, Do Stocks Go Down?
The Uncertainty Paradox
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is an absurd one. —Voltaire "The market hates uncertainty" has been a common enough saying in recent years, but how logical is it? There are many different aspects to uncertainty, some that can be measured and some that cannot. Uncertainty is an unchangeable condition of existence. As individuals, we can feel more or less uncertain, but that is a distinctly human phenomenon. Rather than ebbing and flowing with investor sentiment, … [Read more...] about The Uncertainty Paradox
Evolution of Financial Research: The Profitability Premium
Since the 1950s, there have been numerous breakthroughs in the field of financial economics that have benefited both society and investors. One early example, resulting from research in the 1950s, is the insight that diversification can increase an investor's wealth. Another example, resulting from research in the 1960s, is that market prices contain up-to-the-minute, relevant information about an investment's expected return and risk. This means that market prices provide our best estimate of … [Read more...] about Evolution of Financial Research: The Profitability Premium
Going Global: A Look at Public Company Listings
Trivia time: how many stocks make up the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index (a widely used benchmark for the US equity market)? While the logical guess might be 5,000, as of December 31, 2016, the index actually contained around 3,600 names. In fact, the last time this index contained 5,000 or more companies was at the end of 2005.[1] This mirrors the overall trend in the US stock market. In the past two decades there has been a decline in the number of US-listed, publicly traded companies. … [Read more...] about Going Global: A Look at Public Company Listings
Investment Shock Absorbers
Ever ridden in a car with worn-out shock absorbers? Every bump is jarring, every corner stomach-churning, and every red light an excuse to assume the brace position. Owning an undiversified portfolio can trigger similar reactions. Explore how spreading your portfolio across different securities, sectors, and countries can smooth the bumpy and unpredictable ride that lies between you and your long-term investment goals, with Dimensional Funds VP Jim Parker in the attached article "Investment … [Read more...] about Investment Shock Absorbers