fortune teller sign

Forecasting: An Illusion of Knowledge

Have you ever tried shaking one of those magic eight balls found in the toy aisle? You know the gist: Ask a random but important question like, “Will the Broncos win the Super Bowl this year?” Then get a generic answer like, “Ask again…
hand over chart

How Your Financial Plan Should Drive Your Investment Allocation

In the world of finance, there is a popular sentiment that aligns with the philosophy of the renowned investor, Warren Buffett: "Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving." This nugget of wisdom speaks to the…
okay

The Problem with Pessimism

With markets improving and the overall economy strengthening, why is everyone so negative about our country’s current financial state? By many measures, I believe our economy is far better than people’s sentiment toward it. The last two…
neon bond sign

Own or Loan? Equities vs. Bonds

With interest rates on the rise, we’ve had an uptick in people asking us about bonds and whether it makes sense to re-evaluate fixed income in a portfolio. For readers of my column, you might remember that I’m not a fan of bonds for one…
basketball shot

Investing Nuggets 49 Years in the Making

The Denver Nuggets were one of 5 NBA teams to never appear in an NBA Finals series. Operative word "were", as they are set to tip off tonight against the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the first NBA Finals in franchise history. It has been 49 years…
punching bag

Quit Beating Yourself Up

Netflix has a new documentary chronicling the Bernie Madoff story. My wife and I aren’t the biggest TV watchers, but we started the series at the recommendation of a friend. If you haven’t heard the name, Madoff was the architect of arguably…
roller coaster

3 Reasons Why Market Volatility Shouldn’t Get You Down

It's easy to feel like your investments are on a rollercoaster ride on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Looking at historical market data shows us that, while potentially unnerving, short-term market fluctuations are normal. This holds…
wright brothers

Two Lessons from History

As a child, I found history class to be an insufferable bore. The study of people well before my time in circumstances far different than anything I would likely encounter seemed like an act in futility. But age brings wisdom, and as a chronologically…
brooklyn bridge
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The Balance of Trust and Anxiety

At the time of its construction, the Brooklyn Bridge was one of the largest structures the world had ever seen. Opening in 1883 to connect Brooklyn with Manhattan, it was twice the size of any other suspension bridge. But the then-modern marvel…
aw drive thru 1970s

Are the Markets Singing a Familiar Tune?

Just over 50 years ago on January 11, 1973, while Carly Simon was on the radio singing her new number-one hit “You’re So Vain,” the S&P 500 closed at a then all-time high of $120.20. Unbeknownst to the U.S., many things were about…
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Bullish on Humility, Gratitude, and Discipline

It has been a year for humility as many of the traditional methods of managing risk inside portfolios have been taxed. It has been a year of consciously focusing on gratitude for all that we have and all that has gone well. It also has been a year where the value of our disciplined commitment to planning has never been more highlighted. 
bear in the woods

Overcoming Bear Market Mindsets

The S&P 500 is down about 24% as of October 3, 2022, effectively creating a new low for the year and placing it well within a bear market by the traditional definition of 20%. The NASDAQ is down about 33%, and the DOW is down about 20%. Any…
waves near lighthouse
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Ready for a Recession?

Instead of suggesting the likelihood (or unlikelihood) of a recession, I'd like to offer this: If we ultimately experience a recession, consumers are in a far better position to weather the economic downturn than they have been in decades.
pumping gas
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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.
roller coaster

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?