Global diversification gives investors a valuable tool for managing risk and volatility in a portfolio. But smart diversification has an important side effect. It requires maintenance.
Global diversification gives investors a valuable tool for managing risk and volatility in a portfolio. But smart diversification has an important side effect. It requires maintenance.
Choosing a basic stock-bond mix is an important first step in portfolio design. Although the decision may appear simple, it can have a profound impact on your wealth.
Pundits have been predicting the rise of inflation for some time now, arguing that interest rates are so low that “they have nowhere to go but up.”
The reality, however, has been the opposite and real interest rates have reflected this; the current yield on a 1 year US Treasury bond is near zero and even 10 year US Treasury bonds are only yielding about 2 percent.
Inflation is a reality, of course, and while it is practically impossible to correctly predict when it will rear its ugly head, it is prudent to hedge against the pernicious effect inflation has on purchasing power and overall real returns.
So what are the possible ways for investors to prepare for potentially higher inflation? This article explores two basic ways to address inflation uncertainty and highlights asset groups that may prove useful.
Dear Clients,
The credit rating downgrade of US Treasuries discussed in a previous communication has come to pass. Yesterday, S&P lowered the rating for US Treasuries to AA+ from AAA.
As noted in that earlier communication, it is likely that the impact of this action on the Treasuries market will be muted. Given that S&P has been warning about this action for some time it’s effect has been priced into the market so practically speaking we already have our answer regarding its impact. We will see on Monday how the Treasuries market will react further since the official announcement came after the market close yesterday. So far, yields on US Treasuries have been dropping as investors seeking security have increased demand for US debt. The conventional wisdom is that this rating downgrade, and the threat of further downgrades in the future, will reverse this trend and cause yields to rise as investors demand higher interest payments in return for incurring the relative increased credit risk that a AA+ rating reflects.
A version of this letter was originally sent on July 24, 2011
Dear Clients,
I am sure that you have been following with concern the political drama unfolding in Washington around the issue of raising our nation’s debt ceiling. At this moment, it is not clear what the final resolution of this issue will be and it appears that negotiations have hit an impasse. The markets will start to vote shortly in Asia when exchanges open on their Monday. Our market will certainly react as well to these events and will continue to remain volatile as long as the impasse continues and we get closer to the August 2 deadline when fiscal debt is expected to exceed revenues.
Client-Centered Planning for Life
santa clara
portland
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A fee-only advisor is someone who is compensated solely by the client with neither the advisor nor any related party receiving compensation that is contingent on the purchase or sale of a financial product. As a result, fee-only advisors avoid the conflicts of interest which could arise if they received compensation for the products and services they recommend. Simply put, fee-only advisors work solely for their clients and only make recommendations that are in their client's best interests.
A fee-only approach contrasts with the typical brokerage firm compensation structure which relies on commissions and transaction-related fees. Essentially, these firms receive 3rd party compensation for selling investment and insurance related products. Recently, some firms have begun using the term "fee-based" to try to distance themselves from the conflicts inherent in a commission model. Unlike fee-only advisors who never receive commissions or 3rd party compensation of any kind, fee-based advisors continue to receive 3rd party compensation in addition to receiving some fees directly from clients.
We do not believe that either a pure commission or a hybrid compensation model is capable of delivering unbiased advice to clients. We therefore adhere to a fee-only approach and believe it is the best way to ensure that we carry out our duty of undivided loyalty to our clients. Our membership in NAPFA, the national trade organization of fee-only financial advisors, is further evidence of our commitment to the fiduciary standard of care.
The logo for the firm is based on the image of the Aegis from Greek mythology. The Aegis was the shield of Zeus, fashioned for him by Hephaestus. The word aegis has entered modern English to mean protection or security.
Our goal is to be a trusted advisor, guide and educator for our clients as they endeavor to realize their most cherished life goals and objectives. We always place client’s interests first and work hard to ensure that the recommendations we make truly reflect their core goals and personal values. We also endeavor to be a strong advocate for our clients and guide them successfully through the many life transitions we all experience.
Given our client-centric focus and commitment to placing client’s interests first, we believe the Aegis is a fitting symbol and this is the reason it comprises the central element of the logo for the firm.