I believe it is imperative for investors to understand the difference between volatility and risk. Though often used synonymously, these are two very distinct ideas. We think success can be increased by clearly understanding the distinction between these financial principles. Let’s start by taking a look at risk.
When I evaluate companies for investment there’s always one character trait I look for, disruptive innovation. These troublemaker companies aren’t content with the status quo and dare to be different. They seem to spring up in well-established business models like the lone tree in the desert all the while wondering why they’re the only ones […]
March 9th, 2015 marks the sixth anniversary of the end of the last market correction. That day the Standard & Poor’s 500 ended at 676.53 versus today’s closing level of 2,100. But the significance of the sixth anniversary is not one of value, but of time and the frequency of bear markets. Historically there have […]
Ever heard the phrase “Back up the truck”? It’s a slang term among professional investors referring to the purchase of a large position in a stock or other financial asset. Typically this is a way of saying an investor is extremely bullish on a particular investment, using imagery that conveys the truck backing up to […]
As we wrap up yet another year of incredible progress we want to take a moment to look back over the events of this past year. Experience reminds us this exercise is crucial to maintaining a long-term perspective both personally and professionally. Let’s take a look at the predictions, the surprises, and the lessons we […]
In the book Thinking, Fast and Slow author Daniel Kahneman famously describes how people are generally loss averse when it comes to money decisions: “Losses loom larger than gains. The ‘loss aversion ratio’ has been measured in several experiments and is usually in the range of 1.5 to 2.5: 1.” In other words, people are […]
Have you ever noticed how noisy the media is when it comes to finance, investments, or even your retirement? I often have a news program on – but usually have the sound turned to “mute.” That’s the volume I tend to prefer. Glancing up at the TV last week, I saw a clever ad from […]
Do you ever get the feeling that it’s more popular to be a pessimist than an optimist? Have you ever noticed how bearish financial forecasters seem smarter than those who are bullish? I first heard this point from Ron Baron at the Baron’s Investor Conference this year. Since then I’ve been paying special attention to […]
Why do you invest? It’s a simple question, but one so few people consider. Investors often fail to understand their reason for making investments, for saving money, or for what they invest in. They fail to ask themselves the fundamental question for making an investment – to discover their “why.” I believe the biggest why […]
If January taught us anything, it was that 2013 was truly an exceptional year for the equity market averages. Falling uncertainty, solid corporate earnings, and a rebounding economy all contributed to rising stock prices and exceptional performances for many portfolios. But as we’ve seen so far this year, 2014 could be more difficult. With that […]
Join Prosperion Financial Advisors for an informative session on maximizing your social security benefits, presented by Rob Kron* of BlackRock. *Rob Kron is not affiliated with LPL Financial To view the presentation in Powerpoint, please click here. To download the brochure “Understanding Social Security” please click here.
People often think of retirement as freedom from work. It’s the day they step away from their career, collect a gold watch, and set sail for the Bahamas. While retirement does usually include the opportunity to resign from the 9-to-5 grind, it also offers liberties people don’t usually consider. Here are four freedoms we encourage […]
A common question we receive at Prosperion is “where all the tax-advantaged investments?” Last week John Booren covered two simple ways to reduce taxes on income, but certain types of investments also have the potential for tax benefits. Specifically there are two under-appreciated and often overlooked investment strategies I’d like to discuss, municipal bonds and […]
I’m a big believer in perspective. I believe the right perspective influences how we interpret the world and is key to seeing all the opportunity around us. These past few weeks we’ve been sharing some perspective on investor behavior and being a successful investor. I believe maintaining the right perspective is paramount. There are two […]
Rather than provide the standard yearly wrap up, I thought it would be best to address the two most frequent questions I’ve been receiving. First, what was surprising about 2012? Second, what’s the outlook for 2013? Let’s begin with 2012. To many, the financial markets delivered a surprise in 2012 with the Standard and Poor’s […]
Most investors instinctively define risk as market volatility — the uncomfortable reality of stock prices rising and falling over time. When markets drop sharply, the losses feel immediate and visible. Investors see account balances decline, and the headlines only amplify their fear — creating an emotional impact that is powerful and persuasive.
But volatility is only one kind of risk.
