Newsletter Q3 2018
/in Commentary, NewsletterWhile the trade wars and accompanying global tensions that follow such a policy are troubling, we are hopeful that the current administration is being political ahead of the mid-term elections and hoping to activate its base. A little softening in rhetoric and trade policy or better trade deals would go a long way to alleviating […]
Newsletter Q2 2018
/in Commentary, NewsletterThe domestic economy is robust and is not showing any signs of slowing. Job growth is strong and unemployment is low, but we are starting to see some small signs of inflation. A majority of companies are exceeding Wall Street revenue and earnings expectations with the help of lower tax rates and healthy demand. The […]
Newsletter Q1 2018
/in Commentary, NewsletterAs contrarians, we are taking advantage of this correction and the positive macro environment to increase equities by 2% to 3% in client accounts (based on your investment objective/risk tolerance) which is a slight overweight from our neutral allocation. We will be funding this allocation by decreasing your bond allocation. If the stock market corrects […]
Newsletter Q4 2017
/in Commentary, NewsletterIn keeping with the turn of the year and renewed resolve, we would like to begin 2018 by encouraging all of our clients to make their health a top priority starting now. It may be unusual for this advice to be coming from your financial people, but time and again we see how important a […]
Newsletter Q3 2017
/in Commentary, NewsletterWe continue to advocate a diversified portfolio of quality, reasonably valued assets based on your investment objectives and risk tolerance. We believe that this has and will prove to be a successful investment strategy over the long-term. That being said, we will continue to make changes as prudent. We have taken profits on outsized positions […]
Newsletter Q2 2017
/in Commentary, NewsletterAs of this writing, the gridlock in DC has remained strong. The markets seem to celebrate this fact daily as Republicans have been unable to accomplish much of anything with their majority-on the legislative front – no border wall, little success on immigration laws, no repeal or replacement of the Affordable Care Act, no tax […]
Newsletter Q1 2017
/in Commentary, NewsletterWe will focus on a long term, disciplined approach and will not overreact to the current political landscape and/or short-term financial market events. Our firm tagline is Identifying Opportunity, Navigating Risk. Our focus is on both, but at this time we are placing risk management at the top of our priority list on behalf of […]
Newsletter Q4 2016
/in Commentary, NewsletterWhere does that lead us? As contrarians, we have added to dividend paying stocks especially the beaten down and vilified healthcare sector. We are also positive on technology, mid and small cap stocks and international equities. As for bonds, we continue to have a diversified allocation and think much of the anticipated interest rate hikes […]
Newsletter Q3 2016
/in Commentary, NewsletterAs contrarians, we maintain an overweight to equities and will continue to allocate to weak areas within the equity market. We are using equity volatility to upgrade portfolios into either higher quality dividend-paying companies and stocks with a margin for safety. We continue to favor higher quality companies that are attractively valued, with solid balance […]
Newsletter Q2 2016
/in Commentary, NewsletterWe remain vigilant and ever watchful but also hopeful. The market has climbed a wall of worry as it always does when it rallies. Will it get through the new highs this time or simply be another failed test? We don’t know; no one does. But we will keep ensuring that every position in our […]
Newsletter Q1 2016
/in Commentary, NewsletterThere were two very different eighths to the quarter that made up the first three months of 2016. January started with a plunge, the worst start for U.S. stock markets in more than eight decades. Fears included: a hard landing/significant slowdown of the Chinese economy, the Bank of Japan’s pursuit of negative interest rate policy, […]
Newsletter Q4 2015
/in Commentary, NewsletterAfter several years of the Federal Reserve (“Fed”) maintaining a zero interest rate policy, it elected to raise the federal funds rate by 0.25% this past December- the first hike in a decade. The move was widely anticipated and telegraphed by the Fed. Conversations turned quickly toward anticipation and timing of the next raise. We […]
