September 30, 2021

For a very unusual reason, it was especially difficult to write this edition of Stan’s World. It wasn’t because anything was wrong; it was because I was continually distracted by the commotion under my office window. Frankly, the police were no help at all in quelling the disturbance.

They were making a movie!

September 30, 2021

When the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at more pedestrian numbers, like 6,000, 8,000, or even 10,000, market drops of 600, 700, and 800 points caused quite a stir. That reaction was logical, as a drop of 600 points when the Dow was at the 10,000 level meant a loss of 6%. A drop of 600 points when the Dow is at 30,000, however, represents a loss of 2%. Yes, it’s still a loss, but a drop of that size in today’s stock market means a substantially smaller loss to a diversified portfolio.

September 30, 2021

In a brief titled “Rising rates don’t negate benefits of bonds,” Vanguard¹ addresses arguments that target why investors shouldn’t own bonds in a low interest or rising interest rate environment. They start with a point we’ve made ad nausea over the years: “…the role bonds play in a diversified investment portfolio – to be a shock absorber at times when equity prices head downward.”

August 15, 2021

Across the board, businesses in America were ill-prepared to power down when COVID hit and were even less prepared when the economy started to reopen a few months later. Once supply chains were effectively shut down, ratcheting up has proven far more difficult.  

August 15, 2021

Whether you’re a retiree, on the cusp of retirement, or anticipate that you someday will retire, there’s a good chance either (a) retirement didn’t turn out the way you thought, or (b) the retirement you’re anticipating will be dramatically different than what actually will occur.

August 15, 2021

Over the years, we’ve written frequently about the potential perils of trying to time markets. Often, we refer to the need to make two critical decisions, both at precisely the right time: when to sell and when to re-buy. Both decisions are equally important, and erring on either (or both) can be costly. A new study adds yet another reason, which might be surprising to learn: moving in and out of stocks actually adds volatility to a portfolio.

June 30, 2021

Those of a particular generation may recall a commercial on TV for a hair restoration company. The late Sy Sperling would look into the camera and say: “I’m not just the president of Hair Club for Men, I’m also a client.” (Perhaps I also should have been a client of Hair Club for Men, but that ship has sailed.) If we replace the words ‘Hair Club for Men’ with S.F. Ehrlich, I could do a similar commercial. I’m referring to the “I’m also a client” comment because I usually try to give myself the same advice I give to clients. 

June 30, 2021

If you’ve seen this movie before, raise your hand. Every year, business writers and market observers try to steer their audiences to their portfolio choices du jour. Small-cap growth? Dead! Large-cap value? Buy! International? Never! Emerging markets? Garbage! Bitcoin anyone?

June 30, 2021

Security is very important to us, and we think it should be equally important to you. That’s why we frequently include articles about what you need to do to help protect yourself against identity and other theft.

May 15, 2021

Though I like to believe it’s my Honest Abe appearance that encourages total strangers to reveal things to me that wouldn’t normally be discussed with other strangers, it’s more likely that we’re all so desperate for social contact that people are willing to talk to anyone. Even me.