investing

Indexing is not the same as smart, low cost investing. With indexing, you accept the market performance of an index designed to measure market performance. A key point here: market indices are designed to measure performance, not as investments...

One month away from the general election, everyone is talking about how the next President will affect the stock market. Opinions vary based upon political leanings, but most believe there is a connection. I recently reviewed some research from...

As an investment adviser, people ask me all the time “how’s the market doing”, and I always try to answer politely. Believe it or not, I never watch CNBC and unless I’m trading that day, I don’t monitor intraday volume and pricing. I’m too busy...

updated April 25, 2018 If your advisor is not on the same page with you, it makes it harder to weather downturns. There are five very basic service points your advisor should be hitting, and if she is not, you should consider making a change. ...

With billions of dollars exchanging hands each day, continual fluctuations in prices, and constant media chatter about the “market”, it’s easy to lose sight of what we are actually purchasing when we buy publicly-traded stocks. Let’s try to...

We headed into our first semi-annual client reviews of the year last week with a certain level of apprehension. A big drop in the market right out of the gate wore heavily on my mind. Are we headed into a bear market? Maybe. We’ve been through...

For many years now, the Department of Labor has been steadily attacking business as usual in the retirement plan selling business. Based upon the Pension Protection Act of 2006, final regulations were put in place in 2012 to insure full...

As you invest and save more, the movement of money between accounts becomes a larger part of your financial life. Here is some good information on the process, safety protocols, and different options available for moving money between accounts: ...

“Buy when there’s blood in the streets” – Baron Rothschild During the Panic of 1871 in Paris, when everyone was selling, Baron Rothschild (according to the story) was buying. This makes a lot sense, but it’s hard to translate into action due...

Back in the 90’s I sold a lot of variable annuities. I worked for a large financial services company that strongly encouraged the use of variable annuities and there were some advantages. For one, it was a great way to gain access to multiple...

In most of my recent client meetings I am being reminded that retirement is an outdated term. We try to use the term “transition” but that does not fit as a good description either. However; finding the right word is not the real issue rather...

For most of my career in private wealth management, one of the greatest challenges has been maintaining client sell discipline in a down market. Interestingly, I rarely hear a peep from my clients in an up market about selling out of their...

My dad was a Stockbroker for many years before he went to work with my grandad in the newspaper business. He had played the game, knew the rules, and explained it to me pretty clearly one day while we were sitting on the back porch of our house...

Yes, I love market risk! The risk associated with the stock markets is completely beyond our control so most investors would not make such a bold statement. Instead, many make it harder than it has to be by timing the market, making sector or...

Our Depression by Rob Schulz, CFP® April 24, 2012 Instead of the “Great Recession”, I have started calling the downturn of 2008 “Our Depression” because of the significant change in behavior, values, and attitude I have witnessed over the last...

by Rob Schulz, CFP® June 24, 2011 There is a lot of negativity out there and the stock market has reacted with increased volatility. If I were a gambler, I would bet the market will continue it’s downward trend over the course of the summer. But...

by Rob Schulz, CFP® April 20, 2011 The SEC is currently looking into authorizing a universal fiduciary-duty regulation under the Dodd-Frank financial reform law. If carried out this would subject large conglomerate financial services firms to...

by Rob Schulz, CFP®February 4, 2011 Over twenty years ago my dad died from a sudden heart attack. Since then my life has been marked by many Critical Financial Events (that’s the understated term I use in my practice for a planning opportunity)...

by Rob Schulz, CFP® June 6, 2011 I always ask my clients “why” when we discuss their financial goals and objectives. Why do you want to reduce debt? Why do you want to save for retirement? Reducing debt and saving are not goals, they are...

by: Rob Schulz, CFPSeptember 13, 2010 I read an interesting article in the New York Times the other week. The article by Graham Bowley entitled: In Striking Shift, Small Investors Flee Stock Market, the first line states “Renewed economic...

Year End 2007 Market Commentary For 2007, the volatility in the equity market over the course of the year was significant. Most economists point to these factors that affected the equity markets last year, and will likely continue to influence...

By: Rob Schulz, CFP® June 25, 2010 A large insurance company is currently running an advertising campaign, “Do You Know Your Number?” and I like it so much I am going to steal it! You should know your number because the first step towards a...

by Rob Schulz, CFP® 09/22/08 Q. The financial world is in a panic. Exactly what is going on? A. In addition to a recession and bear market, we are now experiencing a massive deleveraging as financial institutions that have lost access to capita

May 2009 It was almost one year ago when the mortgage meltdown came to roost in my head, and it’s been there ever since. Like many in my industry, I had been watching mortgage foreclosures mount since the fall of 2007. However; I didn’t fully ...

One of the most important lessons learned over the last few years in the stock market is that volatility kills a poorly managed portfolio. How? Let’s do the math: Examplele 1: Fred invested $100,000 in Investment A that earned 50% in the first...