The True Costs of Average Inflation
Inflation exists all around us and has only recently come to the forefront of the discussion for one simple reason: It’s not a few things getting expensive anymore; it’s everything. Or at least it feels that way.
Entries by Steve Booren
Improving Investor Behavior – Your Personal Economy
On August 10, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released updated inflation numbers. While the top line number of 8.5% is still large compared with this time a year ago, the markets and some media outlets latched onto another statistic from the report. Compared to last month, the increase in the inflation rates was […]
The Line Between Improvement and Satisfaction
Imagine today is your last day on earth. Not a pleasant thought but stick with me on this. Looking back on your life, what will you have accomplished to make you proud, happy, and content? Think about that for a second. The question is worded precisely, one designed to encourage you to think about what […]
Improving Investor Behavior: The Strength of Endurance
My coach Dan Sullivan likes to say, “Amateurs practice until they get it right; professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong.” From athletics to engineering, medicine to money management, consistent practice is the secret sauce of victory. Professional athletes always have a coach and are insistent on training. Their regimens are scheduled, predictable, and […]
A Necessary Bucket of Cold Water
The markets have been off to a turbulent start for 2022. With the S&P 500 down about 15 percent since its peaks in January, this year marks one of the worst starts for investors since 1970. Any number of reasons may seemingly justify the drop: Federal Reserve actions, supply chain constraints, oil prices, the cost […]
Improving Investor Behavior: Mindsets During Volatile Times
If you’re an investor (and I hope you are), it’s probably time for a mental check-in. How are you today? How do you feel about everything going on in the world?
How Long Will a Bear Market Last?
The S&P 500 is down about 17 percent as of May 25, 2022, narrowly avoiding the traditional definition of a bear market at negative 20 percent. The NASDAQ has already fallen well into bear market territory with a loss of about 28 percent year to date. The DOW is down a hair over 12 percent. […]
Closing the Wealth Gap Starts with a High School Financial Literacy Requirement
What lessons do you wish you could teach your younger self? I hear many answers from people, but the most prominent is finance. I contend that we need to make personal finance a required subject for those graduating high school.
Correcting the Word: Correction
The markets are off to a rough start for 2022, with the S&P 500 down about 13.9 percent from its peak in January, according to data from LPL Financial. Global turmoil, inflation, supply chain disruption, and the Federal Reserve are all supposedly to blame. The media pundits call moments like these a “correction,” which is […]
The Gray Area of Good Investor Behavior
If you’re a frequent reader of this column, you know that I’m a large proponent of good investor behavior. Though I’ve spent a great number of column inches espousing the traits of investors I admire or those who have done well by adopting a particular investment style or strategy, I’m constantly reminded that figuring out […]
Improving Investor Behavior: The Peloton and Tiramisu
If you’re like me, you exercise a lot. Maybe not every day, but you try to hit the gym most days. You sweat, you grunt, you grind it out, every session. Exercise does two things: it makes you hungry, and it gives you a sense of pride or accomplishment. After a good workout, you might […]
What You Need To Know: Estate Planning
This 45 minute Zoom video call co-presented by Brown & Taylor will focus on common misconceptions about estate planning, four key documents you need, and other helpful insights about the planning process.
The Flaw of Average Inflation
The flaw of averages is the idea that plans made based on average assumptions are wrong on average. As an example, think about the statistician that drowned while crossing a river that was, on average, three feet deep.
Improving Investor Behavior: Show Me Where it Hurts
Even with a rising paycheck, people feel inflation. Whether it’s the cost of a can of soup or the price of gasoline, everything feels (and is) more expensive. Inflation puts a dent in household budgets and a psychological dent in attitudes. While the U.S. economy may be booming, the smaller economy of household budgets and expenses takes a hit.
Building Durability Into Your Plan and Portfolio
Never invest in anything that can kill you. Now I don’t mean cigarettes or other harmful items, but instead making the mistake of investing so much of your capital into one venture that its failure could knock you out. That’s the gist behind diversification. It’s an essential element of a durable portfolio, one designed to […]
Latest Commentary
Automation + Innovation = TransformationJune 22, 2026 - 12:51 pmAutomation allows people and businesses to do more with less. Innovation applies new ideas to create better products, processes and outcomes. When the two collaborate over time, entire industries change.
