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Demographics and Sovereign Debt
by Team of American Century Investments,
Events surrounding what the press calls the European Sovereign Debt Crisis have been in the news for much of the past year. Unfortunately, this label masks an underlying major contributing factor: demographics. The combination of long life expectancies, relatively early retirement ages, generous retirement benefits and a shrinking base of workers to support the growing proportion of retirees in the population will put tremendous burdens on the budgets of these countries.
The End of the Asian Bull Market
by Robert Huebscher,
A broadly diversified emerging market investor would have earned nearly 12% annually over the last five years, far outpacing investors in the US and other developed markets. Over the next five or even ten years, investors relying on emerging economies will not be as fortunate, however, according to Louis-Vincent Gave, CEO of the Hong Kong-based research and investment management firm GaveKal.
Year-end Letter to Clients: Investment Advice from Winston Churchill
by Dan Richards,
For the past 18 months, my draft letters have been designed to balance some of the extreme pessimism among many investors with an objective, positive outlook - the draft year-end letter for 2010 continues with that goal. In it, I borrow from Winston Churchill's insight into the difference between optimists and pessimists.
An Uncertain Future for Housing Prices
by Robert Huebscher,
A renewed decline in housing prices would surely impede economic growth. Yet that is a strong possibility, according to housing expert Laurie Goodman of Amherst Securities. Goodman was joined in Boston last week to discuss the housing market by Karl Case, who, along with Yale professor Robert Shiller, created the Case-Shiller index.
Black Gold, Texas Tea
by Robert Huebscher,
The flow of money into gold-related funds is, at least in part, driven by good intentions - hedging against dollar debasement, inflation, and systemic risk. As investors drive the price of gold to record levels, though, they are overlooking an equally compelling commodity hedge, one that the Beverly Hillbillies once dubbed 'black gold, Texas tea' - oil, that is.
Why Three Top Bond Managers Like Equities
by Robert Huebscher,
You'll rarely - perhaps never - hear a fund manager say that market conditions do not favor investing in their chosen asset class. That's why it was so remarkable when several prominent managers recently admitted that they favored equities over their own discipline - fixed income.
Ned Davis - Still Positive on Stocks
by Robert Huebscher,
Just over a year ago, Ned Davis correctly forecast a continuation of the cyclical bull market in stocks. In February of 2008, he foresaw that year's market upheaval, and a year later he predicted the rally that began in March of 2009. Today, Davis is moderately bullish on stocks, as long as the Fed maintains its policy of quantitative easing.
Reducing Portfolio Risk through Sustainable Investing
by Jon Quigley,
By incorporating a broad swath of extra-financial data as a risk factor and tilting a portfolio away from companies with poor environmental, social and governance policies, we can better reduce that portfolio's risk of extremely negative outcomes.
Finding Your Alternatives
In everyday life, you know that the first idea you think of to meet a need, or address a problem, may not always the best one. But when it comes to running a firm, far too many advisors never go through a proper brainstorming process to determine which option may be the best one for
their firm.
Waiting for Superman: The Fate of Teachers? Unions
by Charlie Curnow,
In 'Waiting for Superman,' the new documentary film about the shortcomings of American public education, director Davis Guggenheim argues that, in order to compete with rival school systems in Asia and Europe, the U.S. must rein in its teachers unions and embrace the free market principles of private schools and privately managed charter schools. Is this a fair assessment?
Identify the Human Factor
One of the most overlooked steps in goal-setting and goal-achievement is the human element in the planning process. Once you have clearly defined your desired outcome, and once you have identified and categorized the obstacles you have faced or expect to face, you must turn your attention to the people involved. This is the third of five articles in the S.H.I.F.T. series
Bernanke's Impossible Dilemma
by Robert Huebscher,
David Wessel, economics editor of the Wall Street Journal, examines the challenge Ben Bernanke faces. His goal is to provide full employment and price stability. Yet he faces a slowly growing economy, unemployment close to 10%, consumers deleveraging and spending frugally, renewed fears of banking system instability, and the threat of an asset bubble is growing somewhere in the markets. Monetary and fiscal policy options have been seemingly exhausted, and the public is losing confidence in all aspects of government.
Misconceptions in the Great Bond Bubble Debate
by Robert Huebscher,
Interest rates, many claim, have bottomed, making bonds the latest asset class worthy of the dreaded "bubble" label. Others counter that deflationary forces will prevail and that bonds offer the best risk-adjusted returns in the market. Which side of this debate you take matters profoundly, but making that call is not simply a matter of predicting the direction of interest rates, as is the typical focus of analysts.
Does Your Marketing Match Your Business Structure?
by Kristen Luke,
Marketing strategies differ depending on the structure of a firm, writes Kristen Luke. Solos and silos focus on marketing the individual advisor while ensembles market the firm. Ensembles also tend to have more sophisticated marketing campaigns since they generally have larger marketing budgets and higher revenue streams.
The Misguided Promise of 529 Plans
by Robert Huebscher,
Along with the overall market, 529 plans suffered disastrous returns in 2008, leaving many families with insufficient funds to pay their tuition costs. The real problem, though, is not with the past performance of 529s. A misguided promise underlies the vast majority of 529 plans - that their heavy allocation to equities will provide acceptable risk-adjusted returns for the time horizons over which most parents invest.
Leadership Lessons from the Dance Floor
by Justin Locke,
The classic image of leadership is the symphony orchestra conductor, who, standing tall in front of his charges, ensures the perfect synchronization necessary to create the harmony, rhythm and melody that defines great music. That idealized artistic symbolism is not unique, though. An equally compelling example of leadership can be found on the dance floor, writes Justin Locke.
Postcard from Japan: Before the Dawn
by Andrew Foster of Matthews Asia,
Matthews Asia portfolio manager Andrew Foster recently returned from Japan, where he met with companies from a variety of industries. As in past trips, many of these companies seemed to be resting on their laurels, even as present growth was flagging. During this most recent visit, however, a subset of companies in different industries seemed to share a realistic outlook, combined with a sense of urgency to improve performance. Each of these companies cited the strength of the yen as a key factor that would allow them to execute overseas acquisitions, especially in the U.S.
It's a Break-out!
by Mike Hurley of Incline Capital,
While stocks are overbought and may well pull back over the short term, market internals are in good shape and suggest stocks will likely headed higher over the intermediate term. Specifically, both breadth and leadership are confirming the ?break-out,' with the next key question being how they compare if and when stocks will challenge their early 2010 highs. A key factor in the strength in equites has clearly been interest rates, which have moved sharply lower over the past six months. This has not only helped stocks move higher, but gold as well.
The Future of Oil
by Robert Huebscher,
No commodity impacts the global economy more than oil. When geopolitical threats loom, two questions often dominate discussion: Will the price of oil rise? And what will be the economic consequences? We review the key drivers of recent, current, and forecast oil prices, including a template for the necessary eventual alignment of supply and demand.
A Bass Player?s Perspective on Leadership
by Justin Locke,
A fascinating phenomenon pervades major symphony orchestras. Whenever a new guest conductor steps onto the podium, a musician will know - within two seconds or less - if they will be an inspiring leader. Justin Locke shares his experience as a professional bass player and the insights he gleaned as to what makes for great leadership.
Market Comment and Forecast Update
by David A. Rosenberg of Gluskin Sheff,
One can call it a 'growth recession,' but if Mr. Market wants to focus on the word 'growth' and ignore the word 'recession,' then one may well see ebullience take hold for a time. The most important factor right now is the prospect of significant downward revisions to earnings estimates in the next several months and quarters. The next great buying opportunity will be when the market has come to grips with or even overreacts to that. Therefore, patience over the near-term will be extremely important; now is not the time for impulsive buying behavior.
David Blitzer on How Indices Work
by Dan Richards,
Many investors read about the Dow Jones or S & P 500 index being up or down 200 points but don't really understand what this means. Today's interview with David Blitzer of S & P provides an explanation of how indexes work that can be shared with clients. This is a transcript of the interview.
This is No Way to Run a Railroad
by Michael Lewitt,
In the latest edition of the HCM Market Letter, This is No Way to Run a Railroad, Michael Lewitt says the railroad known as the United States economy is chasing its own tail these days. Driven by misbegotten fiscal and monetary policies that ignore the lessons of history in favor of discredited financial and economic theories, the economy is trapped in a cycle of boom and bust. Lewitt also comments on the bond market, the European stress tests, GM, and the private equity industry.
Build America Bonds Power the US States
A skeptical attitude toward new products has long served the best interests of advisors and their clients, almost without fail. However, in this guest contribution, Hildy Richelson argues that advisors should not be afraid to embrace one of the market's most prominent recent innovations: the Build America Bond (BAB).
Improving on Buy and Hold: Asset Allocation using Economic Indicators
by Georg Vrba, P.E.,
Most long-term stock market investors follow a buy-and-hold strategy, one that makes big losses unavoidable when major downturns strike the stock market. This strategy assumes that an investor cannot know when to switch from one asset to another and that if one avoids the bad days of the market, one is also likely to miss the best days. In this guest contribution, Georg Vrba presents a way to resolve this dilemma, based on various economic indicators that provide timely buy and sell signals for the S&P 500 index.
Misconceptions about Risk and Return Uncovered
Our beliefs about risk and return determine how we construct portfolios and manage risk. Research over the last decade suggests that a number of the ideas on which many investors and advisors rely lead to portfolios that are too highly exposed to market risk. In this article, we review a number of ideas that determine how we select assets and how we determine what to expect from those assets.
Cerulli Survey Results: New Themes in Advisors? Portfolio Strategies
by Bing Waldert,
New ideas, such as tactical asset allocation and the use of alternatives, have seen some uptake even before the market crisis, particularly within large institutions, but they are receiving increased attention as solutions for risk-averse clients. This article examines some of the evolutions, using data from a Cerulli Associates survey of Advisor Perspectives readers conducted in June and July of 2010.
A Proven Path to Gaining Client Assets
by Dan Richards,
When Dan Richards talks to successful advisors about their business objectives, for most increasing assets is at the top of their list. Some advisors mistakenly believe, though, that winning a greater share of assets from existing clients is driven by performance.
Is the Market Efficient?
by Adam Jared Apt,
After Marxism, no economic theory today may be as derided and despised as the hypothesis of market efficiency. The idea is often misunderstood, sometimes willfully. So what does "market efficiency" mean? In the latest installment of his series for the educated layman, Adam Jared Apt provides some answers.
Debt, Taxes and Politics
by Doug Short,
Doug Short provides charts of gross federal debt as a percentage of GDP, with estimates to 2015. As the charts illustrate, there is logic to the ratio increases within the historical context of two World Wars and the Great Depression. Likewise, the steadily decreasing ratio over the next 35 years enabled the tax cuts in 1964. With the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts expiring this year, will the gross federal debt be a factor in determining the direction of future tax rates? Who knows? This is, after all, a congressional election year.
Market Thoughts and the Long-Term Outlook for Inflation
by David A. Rosenberg of Gluskin Sheff,
The bull market in bonds will end reasonably close to the point in time that inflation (or deflation) bottoms. This is because the major economic factor that correlates consistently with the direction of market-determined interest rates, at least for long term Treasury Bonds, is CPI Inflation. Core inflation should recede from around 1 percent now to near 0 percent in the next 12-to-24 months, which would imply an ultimate bottom in the long bond yield of 2.5 percent and 2 percent for the 10-year T-note.
Why Immediate Annuities Make Sense
As they approach retirement, baby boomers are increasingly concerned about how best to manage their portfolios during the decumulation phase of their lives. One of the challenges for advisors and investors is understanding what role annuities should play, if any. Geoff Considine shows that immediate annuities should be an important part of a decumulation strategy.
The Opportunity in Build America Bonds
by Jeff Westergaard,
While the unique aspects of Build America Bonds (BABs) and recent Treasury Department actions are meaningful, the risks to investors have been over-emphasized. BABs remain an attractive vehicle for investors and issuers, and the market for them is likely to grow.
Jeremy Siegel on Why Stocks are Undervalued
by Dan Richards,
The Wharton School's Jeremy Siegel remains an outspoken proponent of stocks for the long run, as he demonstrates in this interview with Dan Richards. In the transcript of this interview, Siegel explains why equity investors should not be deterred by sour economic forecasts or by signals of apparent overvaluation based on Shiller P/E ratios.
It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn (of Earnings Reports)
The gold market looks like yet another bubble. Over the last three years gold gained 85 percent while the broader Commodities Index declined 19.8 percent. The current surge, however, is related to 'fear factor' trade compounded by huge hedge buying of gold futures. Meanwhile, even after the rally of the last week, stocks still look cheap. The S&P 500 should close out 2010 with a gain of 8 percent, which is 9 percent higher than current levels. Corporations flush with cash and with surging revenues and earnings are a buy.
Deficits Monetary and Moral
by Michael Lewitt,
"The word 'deficit' has come to epitomize not only our economic dilemmas but also our moral and intellectual failures to address them in an era that should be boasting of new breakthroughs in the social and physical sciences," writes Michael Lewitt in the latest installment of his HCM Market Letter, Deficits Monetary and Moral. "Instead, our ability to solve complex problems is weighed down by flawed and corrupted government processes and the lack of courage to forthrightly change them."
Improving on Morningstar's Ratings: Moving Beyond Past Performance
Past returns provide little or no help in choosing the best fund going forward, and Morningstar's stars are the best known example of this failure. In this guest contribution, Tom Howard presents new evidence of the failure of past performance to predict future returns, and shows how his strategy-based rating methodology offers measurably better predictive power.
Niall Ferguson on Japan, China, and the US
by Dan Richards,
Harvard's Niall Ferguson is arguably today's leading economic historian. In part two of this interview, Ferguson explains why he fears the future is bleak for Japan, why China may someday be the leading global superpower, and what all this means for the US. We provide a video and a transcript.
Debt-to-GDP, Federal Tax Brackets and Politics
by Doug Short,
Doug Short provides charts of gross U.S. federal debt as a percentage of GDP since 1900, with key historical events and presidential administrations highlighted. As the charts illustrate, the recent financial crisis and steep market decline triggered a dramatic acceleration in the ratio. With the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts expiring this year, will the gross federal debt be a factor in determining the future direction of the country's tax rates? Who knows? This is, after all, a congressional election year.
Asset Allocation Matters, But Not as Much as You Think
by Robert Huebscher,
The market downturn has caused a rethinking of many core principles underpinning investment advice, chief among them the role of asset allocation. We talk with Yale's Roger Ibbotson about the impact of market returns and active management in explaining return variance and the role of asset allocation going forward.
Why Wall Street Won't be Reformed
by Robert Huebscher,
Michael Lewitt, author of the highly respected HCM Market Letter, has just released a new book, The Death of Capital. In this interview, he identifies the challenges facing those who seek to regulate Wall Street, and why most of the proposed reforms are likely to fail.
Insight on the Current Status of the Housing Market
by Team of American Century Investments,
Both existing and new residential homes sales have seen impressive increases in volume over the past several months ending in April. Two factors will likely weigh on residential home sales for the remainder of this year, however. The first factor is the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit. The second is the rate of economic recovery and growth in employment for the remainder of this year. Over the next one to three years, little can contribute more to recovery in the residential housing market than reduced unemployment accompanied by rising incomes and increased consumer confidence.
Europe: Value or Value Trap?
by Dan Trosch, CFA,
European equities seem much cheaper than in the US, says Dan Trosch of Fortigent in this guest contribution. Europe trades at a 26% Price to Book discount and a 20% Price to Cash Earnings discount to the US. Some European industries and stocks are deservedly cheap and value traps; other industries and stocks are attractive and will benefit from global growth in exports and other macro trends.
Three Ways to Improve Safe Withdrawal Rates
Using Monte Carlo analysis, Geoff Considine examines three ways safe withdrawal rates can be increased beyond the baseline 4% guideline. He compares and quantifies the benefits of increasing diversification beyond equities and bonds, increasing allocations to fixed income, and employing tactical asset allocation.
Market Musings: Manic-Depressive Mondays
by Doug Short,
On Friday CNBC ran a piece observing that Mondays have strongly outperformed the other days of the week in 2010. Doug Short provides two pairs of tables that allow us to compare the behavior of weekdays during two nasty bear markets and the rallies that followed. Monday has indeed behaved strangely over the past decade. The key factor is whether we're in a bull or a bear market. Now that CNBC has publicized the 'buy on Friday, sell on Monday concept,' however, Short wouldn't put much 'stock' in this strategy going forward.
Correction Should Be Nearing Completion
The worst of the downturn should be behind us, but it will likely take some additional time before markets can repair themselves. Looking ahead, one positive factor is that market valuations have become more attractive in recent weeks, as prices have dropped while earnings have increased. Over time, additional clarity around the situation in Europe and financial market reform in the US should provide a measure of stability; and a sense that the economic recovery remains on track should help spark a turnaround in the recent aversion to higher-risk assets.
Search Engine Marketing for Financial Advisors
by Dan Sommer,
How do you take advantage of search engine marketing as a financial advisor? The goal of search engine marketing is to ensure that your website appears on as many results pages as possible for queries that relate to your business, and in this guest contribution Dan Somer explains the details of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising.
Results 6,351–6,400
of 6,445 found.
