For the first time since the stock market crash of 2008, consumer confidence with the stock market has returned. According to legendary Washington Post columnist, Michelle Singletary, investors have had a bumpy ride over the past decade. In the process, they have been rewarded with annual returns of approximately 12%. More Americans own stocks. This… Continue reading →

Investors should consider using cash-equivalent investments, such as money market funds or CDs, to make sure that your idle cash is generating attractive short-term gains. Source: The Wall Street Journal May 6, 2023. What Investors Should Know About Money-Market Funds and CDs Investors are turning to these cash-equivalent investments, some of which are yielding 5%… Continue reading →

The Rebalance tried-and-true adage remains the same, echoed by this NYTs columnist: it is nearly impossible to beat the stock market. The most prudent long-term investing strategy is to “own” the entire stock market through low-cost, broad exposure index funds. Source: The New York Times April 14, 2023. With the Odds on Their Side, They… Continue reading →

With the perspective of time, the calls for the death of the 60%/40% investment strategy came too soon. The click-bait articles of 2022 did not deter the Rebalance long-term investors. Source: The Wall Street Journal April 12, 2023. The 60-40 Investment Strategy Is Back After Tanking Last Year The recovery has emboldened investors who didn’t… Continue reading →

  If you are working an extra few years after you have already retired, there are important implications on how to effectively access your Social Security. This can be a complicated planning challenge. Giving this level of complexity, you might want consider using a Certified Financial Planner. If you don’t have one yet, give Rebalance… Continue reading →

  Elections are here. As the midterm elections approach, investors frequently ask about the linkage between electoral politics and the movement of stock prices. As Jeff Sommer points out in one his recent New York Times columns, history carries weight even if this time “feels different.”   Source: The Market Usually Rises After the Midterms.… Continue reading →

Retiring can be a very stressful stage for many people. Daily routines, life purpose, and long-term goals, all come to an inflection point at once. The recent downturn in the financial markets has added an extra layer of unknowns to an already difficult time for those going through retirement. Having a clear perspective about the… Continue reading →

Former Federal Reserve Chairman, Paul Volcker, will be remembered for many policy decisions that still outlive his tenure. More specifically, the lessons learned from his handling of the Great Inflation of 1973-81 will be amongst the most relevant. As we live through a similar economic challenge today, it is important to remember the role that… Continue reading →

Big investment funds have a public face, a famous money manager who is constantly “talking up his fund” on financial television shows. By contrast, index fund investing is hard to comprehend. The Financial Times journalist Robin Wigglesworth got curious about those “missing faces” and wrote a fascinating history of how indexing got started. The resulting… Continue reading →