2024 - That Was Fast!
I think this new year came so fast that I not only got backed up on writing this commentary, but also, thankfully, did not seem to have time to make New Year’s resolutions .....
On Life Transitions...And Some Keys to Financial Success
My dad, as he got older, would respond to people who said positive things about him aging well that “…there are three stages in life - ‘childhood’, ‘adulthood’, and ‘you...
Fastening Our Seatbelts for 2022!
Last October, I wrote about the need to be prepared for typical fourth quarter volatility. Well, it looks like it was postponed until 2022 and all crammed into January.
Importance of Keeping Perspective by Jack Moller, CFP®
Before writing this post, I looked up Webster’s online dictionary and, among others, found the above definition for the word “perspective”. And, honestly, as I recently “celebrated”...
Inflation, Recession, War...Oh, My! by Jack Moller, CFP®
“It’s the Economy Stupid!” (credited to Bill Clinton’s campaign manager James Carville in the 1992 presidential race) After several crazy years with the focus on Covid...
Paradigm Shifts by Jack Moller, CFP®
I’ve been thinking about the concept of paradigm shifts and also trend changes. It seems important to consider these topics in the world today when so much disruption...
A Few Thoughts as We Enter the Last Quarter of 2021 by Jack Moller, CFP®
As we have entered this traditionally most volatile time of the year for markets, I wanted to share a few thoughts that I think are important to keep in mind and to help us maintain our peace of mind if market swings get “uncomfortable”.
What Would Bill Think About This Market? by Jack Moller, CFP®
Last quarter I wrote an article based on how I would respond to the oft asked question, “What do you think about this market”? I realize that today I am writing on the one-year anniversary of my dad’s passing...
What Do I Think About This Market?
People often ask me this question. The short answer is that I have great confidence that the market will head higher over the long term. In the short term, I really have...
Positioned for Regime Change - Staying Truly Diversified
The plain and simple fact is that while stocks do go up over time, relative performances of different asset classes tend to go in cycles. These cycles are often impacted...
So Many Topics - What to Choose
There really is so much going on to write about during this unprecedented year of the pandemic. As I write this column, we have just (mostly) finished one of the most acrimonious elections in history...
Bill Moller – 1927-2020 RIP
With a combination of sadness and gratitude, I’m writing this month with the news that my father Bill Moller passed away peacefully a few weeks ago after a short illness. He was not only my dad but also my partner and co-founder in starting this business as well as being my market mentor.
(Relative) Bargains Everywhere!
Last month I wrote about the three previous, what I called, “panic markets” in order to give perspective and remind ourselves that these severe drops do end, and eventually lead higher to new all-time highs.
My Fourth "Panic Market"
During this coronavirus-induced market crash, the stock market has fallen nearly 30% from its mid-February all-time high. At some point the marking down will cease and those who have been able to take advantage of the lower prices will be happy to have done so.
The Upside Down World of Investing
We Are Certainly Living in Interesting Times in the Markets! Last month I wrote about the plethora of bonds in the world yielding less than zero. In other words, lenders are actually paying borrowers to borrow money
The Race to Zero and Below
Aka: the “Case of the Missing Interest” or “The Inverted Yield Curve Goes Mainstream” I need to apologize in advance if I overuse superlatives in this post.
Ever Changing Narratives
It has been interesting to step back during the Covid-19 crisis and take a look at the various themes, or narratives, being promulgated by the popular, as well as the financial, press.
Journal of Beliefs
Twenty years ago, I began an exercise designed to help clarify our investment philosophy and further refine the firm’s policies. The task was, each day for a month, to write down one “belief”.
Keeping to our Knitting - Restating of Key Principles
Last month I wrote about the folly of market timing. In particular, I mentioned how many uncertainties seemed to have resolved, yielding perhaps an “all-clear” signal.
The Virtues of Not Having a Market Opinion
Following up on last month’s commentary when I listed some of our key principles, I thought I would delve further into the area of trying to predict the market as I’m often asked what I think is going to happen next.
When the Dollar Cracks
Weakening U.S. Dollar Might Signal Shifting Winds The U.S. dollar has been quite strong since the high in U.S. stocks set in January of 2018. As the markets are approaching new highs...
