investing

By Jeff Bernier

When the Great Recession hit just over a decade ago, investors faced an immense challenge as the S&P 500 lost about 50% of its value and even a diversified portfolio was down approximately 30%. Let’s face it: it was a scary time.

By Jeff Bernier

The fear of missing out. We’ve all experienced it. In fact, it’s so prevalent that it even has a popular acronym: FOMO. And while FOMO probably doesn’t create disastrous consequences in most of life, for investors, it can be the thing that turns a solid, long-term strategy on its head.

By Jeff Bernier, CFP®

Investment fads are nothing new.

By Jamie Stolz, CFP®

My son is 3 years old—an age that can be one giant test of patience for any parent. At the moment, my biggest parenting challenge is grocery shopping. Why? My son is absolutely obsessed with pushing the grocery cart through the store… without my help. For a child who can barely reach the cart handle, this can make shopping adventurous at best, and, at worst, downright dangerous if Mom isn’t paying attention!

By Jeff Bernier

Years ago, Peter Lynch was famously quoted, offering this sage guidance for investors: “Buy what you know.” It’s a mantra that many investors have held as gospel ever since. But is it really wise advice?

By Jeff Bernier

I was at a conference years ago when a speaker walked onto the stage, looked directly at the audience, and asked this question: “At what age are you going to die?”

It may sound morbid, but he was making a great point. Everyone in the audience had a different answer, and every answer was based on ideas they had formed based on how long their parents and grandparents lived, their own health and lifestyle, and much more. If you’re like most people, you have ‘your number’ in your head. But what most people don’t consider is that modern medicine, better living conditions, more healthy work environments, and other factors all add up to create much greater longevity. According to recent research , the life expectancy of a 50-year old has increased by an incredible 33 years over the past century. What the facts tell us is that almost everyone’s number—including yours—is probably flat out wrong.

If you’ve ever been to Las Vegas, you know just how tricky gambling can be. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. If you’re winning, the guy next to you admires your skill. If you’re losing, he’ll pity your bad luck. And whether you’re playing craps or black jack or a simple slot machine, every game you play gives you just enough wins to keep you smiling and playing, and just enough losses to keep the casino thriving. In the end it’s the casinos—not the gamblers—that are the biggest winners. There’s a reason they give you all those free drinks while they’re raking in your chips!

Seeing the loser’s game for what it is might be easy in Vegas, but for investors, the writing on the wall isn’t always so clear.