Investments

It is prudent not to have your assets all subject to a single country’s economic failure or success.

Just because the dollar strengthens for a quarter does not mean you should abandon this strategy.

Many investors don’t understand why a bond, which pays a fixed rate of interest and then at the end of the term pays a fixed amount of principle would have its price fluctuate.

Rather than deciding between active or passive investing, the debate now rages about what type of index fund is best.

Some of the monthly commentary on resource stock returns.

Some of the monthly commentary on the returns of global investments.

Some of the monthly commentary on the returns of the emerging markets.

Some of the monthly asset class returns.

Here are some of the monthly returns for countries high in economic freedom.

Some of the monthly commentary on the returns of foreign bonds.

Some of the monthly commentary on the returns of US bonds.

“Here are a few of the things we’re worried about – and the ways in which our firm is preparing for them.”

The U.S. stock market rose in May, while most foreign markets declined. The yield of the 10-year Treasury note rose by 37 basis points, Meanwhile global bond markets were slammed.

This kitten isn’t afraid of the markets. Be more like this kitten.

The optimum asset allocation to physical gold and silver is 0%. Instead, we recommend you use resource stocks as an inflation hedge.

“Why Buffett thinks investing in gold is stupid”

This edition of the Wealth Management Carnival we focus on investing. We have some helpful definitions of investment vehicles and instruments, advice on what to go for and what to avoid, and all kinds of opinions on that roller coaster ride: Financial Markets.

A blended investment style for all markets can lead to high returns with low risk.

If Bogle is against ETFs, why does Vanguard run so many of them?

Expense ratios and commission prices are easily determined on brokerage or fund websites. But the third expense, the bid/ask spread, is not readily disclosed and will require some additional digging to determine.

Mid-cap value should be part of any U.S. stock allocation which wants to remain invested in the markets, but is worried about potential corrections.

To understand this newest dimension to DFA’s investment strategy, you need to begin with an understanding of the three-factor model described by Eugene Fama and Kenneth French.

Follow-up information for 2013 AAII presentation “Dynamic Portfolio Construction in the Context of Comprehensive Wealth Management.”

2012 has come to a close, and 2013 is off to a good start. For those interested in reflecting on the past year, we’ve collected some 2012 year-end market commentary by Marotta Wealth Management Staff.

Despite a steady diet of bad news, most markets around the world climbed the proverbial “wall of worry” to log strong returns. Major market indices around the globe delivered double-digit total returns.

Asset Allocation means always having something to complain about.

Long-term government bonds outperformed stocks over the past 20 years ending 2011, but the next 20 years may be a very different story.

Here are some large cap stocks with very low 12 month trailing P/E ratios.

Wealth Management Carnival #8: This edition of the Wealth Management Carnival deals with investments, how-to tips, and some advice you may want to incorporate into your 2013 Resolutions.

Passive investing is like a ginger bread house, a sweet and beautiful harmonious selection of treats which work well together to build your financial house.

How To Market Time The Fiscal Cliff? Don’t even try.

With the enormous increase in the taxation of dividends, high net worth investors may be tempted to abandon dividend-paying stocks entirely. This is not necessary.

Faster is not always better. So says an energetic 83-year-old Jack Bogle, the Vanguard Group founder who has spent most of his career striving to protect the individual investor.

I found it very interesting that Bogle directs much of his criticism at the mutual fund industry and even Vanguard itself. Bogle argues that fund companies should be doing a better job challenging the excesses of executives and corporate managers.

This week’s carnival is concerned with investments, investing styles, and how to stay focused. There are just about as many investing philosophies as there are investors, so read a range of opinions and form your own.

Four reasons not to abandon a brilliant allocation that includes emerging markets simply because of short term fluctuations.

MarketWatch is seeking a top-notch writer who will bring a fresh perspective on money to the world’s investors. We believe that fresh perspective ought to include the idea of freedom investing.

Sometimes the medium term trend seems to weigh more heavily in our minds than the long or short term trends.

In the Wealth Management Carnival, we share 7 Interesting Articles from other sources. From advice to diversify investments to index fund criteria to choosing a bank, this month we found seven articles that discussed various investing ideas.

The entire selling point of the immediate fixed annuity is a lower return in exchange for a guarantee. But when analyzed, the purchase price is a loss from which you can never recover.

“Real estate investment trusts should be much more than an optional selection in a balanced investment portfolio.”

“A growing link between municipal bond and U.S. stock performance could be very bad if equities fail to rise robustly over the next few years.”

Direct ownership of gold has become more popular, despite some lingering fear that the government could again ban private gold ownership. With ongoing concerns about the global financial system and gold hitting a record high, many people are interested in this “safe haven.”

Generally speaking, financial complexity is a curtain behind which the finance industry can extract its fee. When the curtain is pulled back, convertible bonds fail to add value for four specific reasons.

In another edition of “you can make the numbers say whatever you want” two financial industry studies are contradicting each other.

Sector rotation would suggest that we are still at the beginning of a market recovery. This is probably the bottom of energy stocks.

Portfolio construction begins with the most basic allocation between investments that offer a greater chance of appreciation (stocks) and those that provide portfolio stability (bonds). There is no such thing as a safe investment that pays market rates of return.

Emerging market bonds are an attractive way to get a higher yield, but historically they have come with higher volatility and a high incidence of default. But that has been changing.

David John Marotta was interview on radio 1070 WINA’s Schilling Show discussing why you shouldn’t hold gold or cash, how governments can destabalize economies, and what investments you should hold instead.

Huge financial incentives motivate a newly minted public stock to attempt to keep their best foot forward just long enough for the early investors to maximize their profits.