By Steven Smith | Financial Planning , Peak Thoughts , Tax Planning , Waypoints , Wealth Management
As of this writing the new tax bill hasn’t yet been signed by the President. But it already seems to have been sealed and delivered. So at the slight risk of being too fast out the gate, here is a summary of the vast new law which goes into effect on January 1, 2018 – […]
Continue readingBy Steven Smith | Investment Management , Newsletters , Wealth Management
Stock markets around the globe had their best first six months in years. In the second quarter, The S & P 500 (total return) Index gained 3.09%; bringing the total increase to 9.34% thus far for the year. US Large Cap Growth Stocks returned 4.67%. While Large Cap Value returned only 1.34%. After years of […]
Continue readingBy Steven Smith | Financial News , Investment Management , Money , Newsletters
Amidst continued slow global growth, particularly in Europe, the Federal Reserve is remaining cryptic as to when it will begin to raise interest rates. Foreign central banks are keeping their interest rates extremely low as well. US economic growth remains sluggish, but is still better than most of the rest of the world. The Fed […]
Continue readingBy Steven Smith | Investment Management , Meanderings , Money , Risk Management , Wealth Management
In our estimation, the last week of the United States Supreme Court’s 2013/2014 term was a watershed for Modern Portfolio Theory and the Efficient Market Hypothesis; two essential components in the notion that publicly available information is rapidly incorporated into the prices of securities traded in a robust public market. For a generation now, intelligent […]
Continue readingBy Steven Smith | Investment Management , Newsletters
The stock market continued its extraordinary rally off the 2009 Great Recession lows, shaking off an actual 2.9% fall in GDP and a sharp increase in sectarian violence in Iraq. Stocks, bonds and commodities all rose in the first half of 2014; the first time that has happened since 1993. The S & P 500 […]
Continue readingBy Steven Smith | Financial News , Investment Management , News , Newsletters , Risk Management , Wealth Management
It seems like only yesterday that we were peering over the abyss of the fiscal cliff. Last New Year’s Eve, even after the 2012 elections were over, the political standoff appeared to be continuing. Taxes were set to rise, sequestration was about to kick in and the debt ceiling was once again about to be […]
Continue readingBy Steven Smith | Current Newsletter , Financial Lifestyle , Financial News , Life Transitions , Peak Thoughts , Risk Management , Wealth Management
Senior financial abuse has become an epidemic in this country. But there are ways to recognize it and try to prevent yourself or a loved one from becoming a victim.
Continue readingBy Steven Smith | Current Newsletter , Financial News , Investment Management , Meanderings
My earlier post on Professor Eugene Fama’s Nobel Prize in Economics needed a bit of a side bar tying together my thoughts on a couple of the ironies exposed by his award.
Continue readingBy Steven Smith | Current Newsletter , Financial News , Investment Management , Meanderings , Risk Management , Wealth Management
Dr. Eugene F. Fama, one of my few heroes, recently won the Nobel Prize in Economics. It sure is nice to have the work of such great and thoughtful men on which to build a business – and a life.
Continue readingBy Steven Smith | Current Newsletter , Financial News , Investment Management , Newsletters
Dimensional Funds Advisors’ Quarterly Market Review provides an in depth, but accessible, view of the performance of the global capital markets. Also included is a brief tip on how to ride the “emerging markets tiger” in your portfolio.
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