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29 Apr 2016 Which is Worth More Money, Your Home or Your 401(k)?

Posted at 10:43h in The Friday Brief by Geoff Hall, CFP®, RICP®

It's an interesting question isn't it? Which is currently worth more money, your home or your 401(k)? It's sort of a trick question. Sort of. The point is, if you had to tell someone what your two largest financial assets were, there's a good chance you would list your home and your 401(k) in some order.

22 Apr 2016 Understanding Monte Carlo

Posted at 11:42h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

What is it about a glitzy gambling city on the Mediterranean, known as Monte Carlo, that could possibly diminish or eliminate the gamble we often associate with our lifetime-investing and planning? A second question sheds light on the first. Where do you think all that...

08 Jan 2016 Time For A Risk Check?

Posted at 13:19h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

It’s been a rocky start for 2016, continuing the choppiness that started in August. US stocks as measured by the CRSP US Total Market Index are down roughly 5% since the beginning of the year and almost 9% since the last market peak on June 22^nd.

04 Dec 2015 Would You Like to Outperform 80% of Other Investors?

Posted at 11:51h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

The obvious answer to the title question is 'yes of course,' but only one in five actually accomplishes it. Here's the fascinating part - anyone can join the elite 20% any time they wish and outperform 80% of other investors as long as the 80% continues doing what they are doing. By now, it's widely accepted that most actively managed portfolios, whether mutual funds, private accounts, or hedge funds, fail to beat the benchmarks against which they are measured. Yet most investors continue to chase the goal of market-beating returns, despite the low odds of success.