Some investment professionals work hard to make their work confusing. They believe they have a vested interest in creating investor confusion. They use jargon that can intimidate and make it difficult for you to understand relatively straightforward concepts. But investing is actually not that complicated. We'll explore three different methods that investors use to make decisions about their money, and we'll talk about where you should be with your own approach to your portfolio. Exhibit 1 … [Read more...] about Rising Above the Noise
Insights
A Look Back at 2016
Every year brings its share of surprises. But how many of us could have imagined that 2016 would see the Chicago Cubs win the World Series, Bob Dylan receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, Donald Trump elected president, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average close out the year a whisker away from 20,000? The answer is very few—a lesson that investors would be wise to remember. Click HERE to read DFA's latest brief, "A Look Back at 2016," and learn how truly difficult it is … [Read more...] about A Look Back at 2016
2016 Market Review
In 2016, the US market reached new highs and stocks in a majority of developed and emerging market countries delivered positive returns. The year began with anxiety over China's stock market and economy, falling oil prices, a potential US recession, and negative interest rates in Japan. US equity markets were in steep decline and had the worst start of any year on record. The markets began improving in mid-February through midyear. Investors also faced uncertainty from the Brexit vote in June … [Read more...] about 2016 Market Review
Q4 2016 Market Review Posted
You've lived through 90 days of alarming financial headlines and wild speculation of what's to come. Enjoy a few minutes of thoughtful reflection with our Q4 2016 Market Review. Included is the 2016 Annual Market Review. This report features world capital market performance and a timeline of events for the past quarter and total year 2016. It begins with a global overview, then features the returns of stock and bond asset classes in the US and international markets. Our Market Reviews are … [Read more...] about Q4 2016 Market Review Posted
New Market Highs and Positive Expected Returns
There has been much discussion in the news recently about new nominal highs in stock indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500. When markets hit new highs, is that an indication that it's time for investors to cash out? History tells us that a market index being at an all-time high generally does not provide actionable information for investors. For evidence, we can look at the S&P 500 Index for the better part of the last century. Exhibit 1 shows that from 1926 … [Read more...] about New Market Highs and Positive Expected Returns
How to Respond to a Data Breach
Time is of the essence, whether your personal data has been compromised as part of a larger targeted cyberattack, or you are the victim of an individual cybercrime. You'll need to take immediate action to minimize the impacts. These are steps Scottsdale Wealth Planning recommends to clients within specified timeframes after discovering their data has been breached. WITHIN THE FIRST 24-48 HOURS Contact Scottsdale Wealth Planning by email or by telephone at 480 550-8555, regardless of … [Read more...] about How to Respond to a Data Breach