Market Commentary
Our latest market observations and research.
A Good Start to 2017, But Has the Stock Market Advanced Too Far, Too Fast?
Despite the Federal Reserve raising interest rates once again and all the political cross-currents, it turned out to be a good quarter for the stock market and a slightly positive one for bonds. Your portfolio participated broadly on the upside to mark another...
When will Rising Rates Deliver a Knockout Blow to an Overvalued Stock Market?
A major anxiety amongst stock market participants revolves around two key factors that appear to be on a collision course. The first is an overvalued stock market. The second, is an emerging trend of rising interest rates. We made the case for rising rates last year,...
40 Years of Investment Consistency Amidst Volatility
Summary No one knows the specifics of new economic policies nor when they will begin to affect the economy, but our view from Main Street, Walnut Creek is the positive aspects will outweigh the negatives. Contrary to conventional wisdom, stocks responded very well to...
Election 2016: 7 Crucial Investment Questions Answered
Our Investment Advisory clients experienced nine months of solid performance despite numerous stiff headwinds in 2016. The headwinds started in the opening weeks of the year with a vicious stock market selloff, Brexit related volatility in June, still sputtering...
A Turn in the Tide: The Case for Rising Interest Rates
The purpose of this article is to make the case for a primary trend rise in yields. If this assumption turns out to be correct, it is within the realm of possibilities that this same rally may also be a turn in the tide for the initial advance in a new, very long-term...
2016 Fall Financial Market Outlook
Summary This update focused on the challenges facing investors. Retired investors are especially challenged to both protect and grow their portfolios in today’s low return world. We started by highlighting the dual challenges of high stock market valuations coupled...