Posted on

Bull Case and Bear Case for Investing in Treasury Bonds Right Now

Today, I wanted to provide two opposing views of the merits of investing in U.S. Treasuries in today’s environment.

Whenever I make investment decisions for clients, I always try to consider arguments both in favor and against the investment. It’s important to understand both sides of any issue and do our best to remove our own personal biases and emotions from the decision. In this particular case, with regards to U.S. Treasuries, both sides of the argument contain valid points causing stark disagreement among even the most respected managers and pundits. Continue reading “Bull Case and Bear Case for Investing in Treasury Bonds Right Now”

Posted on

Don’t Let The Tax Tail Wag The Investment Dog

There are a few folks I’ve been speaking with over the last couple months that are interested in working with me but are hesitant to move forward because they don’t want to sell any investments. This is largely due to the large capital gains they have embedded in some of their long-held investment positions.

Before I discuss the potential problem with this line of thinking let me express that (1) I am very sensitive to taxes when managing portfolios and (2) I do manage around concentrated positions with large capital gains when appropriate using a variety of methods (e.g. options strategies).

The problem with this line of thinking is that you’re letting the tax tail wag the investment dog. The best way to illustrate what I’m talking about is with a simple example. Continue reading “Don’t Let The Tax Tail Wag The Investment Dog”

Posted on

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Executive Summary: I work out at a gym whose motto painted on the wall is “Stronger Than Yesterday.” This motto has nothing to do with anyone else. It’s solely about being better than you were the day before. It’s about constantly improving and doing the right things each day to continue moving in the right direction. Focus on the process. Enjoy the journey. It’s the same when it comes to your finances. Don’t worry about anyone else. What they are doing is irrelevant. Get your plan in place and then do the right things everyday to keep marching towards the goal of true financial independence…financial freedom…whatever that may mean for you. Continue reading ““Comparison is the thief of joy.””

Posted on

Over 22 Years To Get Your Money Back?

They say to “buy and hold,” but is that really the best approach? I don’t believe it is for many people. Let me explain why…

Below is a fantastic chart from Michael Lebowitz. The chart shows how long it took an investor to regain their purchasing power after major U.S. stock market peaks going back to 1900.

The time-frames to breakeven (net of inflation) have ranged from 14 to 29 years with an average of about 22 years! Think about that for a moment. Twenty-nine years is about as long as most people’s entire retirement!
Continue reading “Over 22 Years To Get Your Money Back?”