Craig L. Israelsen, Published in the AAII Journal in November 2019 (Updated in January 2020 with full-year 2019 performance)
As found in the Merriam Webster dictionary the term “benchmark” has the following definitions:
With the start of 2020, now is an ideal time for investors to review their forward-looking investment objectives, understanding these objectives are affected by short- and long-term needs and changing requirements.
This fact sheet provided by the CFA Institute will help you work with your financial adviser to determine how to best meet your financial goals. If you are an independent investor, we think you too will find this fact sheet worthwhile for helping you to better manage your investment portfolio(s). Continue reading Defining Your Investment Objectives
Saving is a key principle. People who make a habit of saving regularly, even saving small amounts, are well on their way to success. It’s important to open a bank or credit union account so it will be simple and easy for you to save regularly. Then, use your savings to plan for life events and to be ready for unplanned or emergency needs.
As the close of 2019 quickly approaches, investor’s should start thinking ahead, reviewing and taking advantage of tax saving strategies. Here are three important tips that will help investor’s manage tax consequences, while helping to better manage their investment portfolio(s).
Continue reading 2019 Year-End Tax Planning Tips for Investors
Highlights:
> Investors have a natural bias to invest domestically.
> Exposure to international stocks can improve portfolio performance over the long term.
> How best to invest internationally is a subject of considerable debate.
Continue reading The Inherent Value of Global Diversification
Diversification is for folks who don’t know the future—which is all of us. Think of it this way, if you knew the future perfectly would you ever diversify your portfolio? Of course not. You would simply pick the single ticker that was destined to produce the highest return. End of story.
Continue reading The Purpose of Diversification: A Review of the Past 49 Years
Stock prices fluctuate for a myriad of reasons. Understanding a number of the possible causes for price fluctuations will help investors make better portfolio management decisions.
Continue reading Stock Prices Fluctuate for a Myriad of Reasons
As we’re now past the halfway point of 2019, we pass along this reminder that now might be an ideal time to review your portfolio and identify if any rebalancing changes may be necessary to reach long-term goals. Here’s a multi-step guideline that you will find helpful to accomplish this important portfolio management task.
Craig L. Israelsen
It’s that time again…for a performance review of key market indexes. In addition, we’ll examine the performance of a broadly diversified 12-index portfolio model. The indexes in this analysis represent the following broad asset classes: US equities, non-US equities, real estate, resources/commodities, US bonds, non-US bonds, and cash.
For many investors, an investment record keeping system consists of shoe boxes in a closet, unopened envelopes in a kitchen drawer, or other similar disorganized collection of investment statements. For such investors, these investment record keeping systems provide little, if any, educational benefit for managing your portfolio.
Continue reading Organizing Your Investment Records For Successful Investing