Markets Reach New Highs in 2020 Global equity markets pulled back in October, turned in some astonishing returns in November, performed admirably for the month of December and closed out the fourth quarter of 2020 with new record highs. While many are happy to see 2020 in the rear-view mirror, the performance for the last quarter and for all of 2020 for the major U.S. indices was nothing short of impressive, especially given the headwinds of COVID-19 and the drama
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After the long year that has been 2020, 2021 is just a couple days away. This is a time when many of us reflect on the year we have had and think of resolutions and goals we can set for ourselves in the coming year. But just as it has been an unprecedented year, our resolutions for the coming year may be unprecedented as well. A recent survey by OnePoll on behalf of Affirm, a consumer finance company, found some interesting trends. The survey asked 2,000 Americans about their ideas for the new year after
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Today, many people find themselves bombarded by a constant stream of financial news from television, radio, and the Internet. Yet, does all this “information age” data really help you manage your finances any better now than in the past? Often, what are considered old-fashioned practices, such as performing periodic financial reviews, can lead to greater success in the long run. Why not spend a few hours reviewing your finances? The changes you make today could result in increased savings. Consider
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Consider whether a donor advised fund helps build a more generous world November brings us Thanksgiving – a day for simply giving thanks. The 11th month also brings us Black Friday and Cyber Monday – two days encouraging us to shop. And since 2012, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving also offers us #GivingTuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving where we can come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give back. According to GivingTuesday.org, approximately $511 million was raised online
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The Masters reminds us that traditions (like annual financial planning) strengthen bonds and offer security Scheduled annually for the first full week of April, the Masters is the first major of the year. Except in 2020. On March 13th, Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, told the sports world that the Masters Tournament, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals would be postponed. Then on April 6th, just a few days before
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Should stock market investors hope for a unified or a divided Washington? Does the party occupying the White House affect the U.S. stock markets and other economic measurements? How does the party controlling Congress affect markets? While it’s interesting to review history and try to answer those questions, before we draw any conclusions, we should at least acknowledge that “past performance is no guarantee of future results.” That is especially true this year as virtually everyone would agree that COVID-19
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A Very Solid Third Quarter Global equity markets continued their rebound from earlier this year, despite struggling in the final month of the quarter. By the time the third quarter closed, investors saw that: The DJIA ended the third quarter up 7.6% The S&P 500 ended up 8.5% NASDAQ ended up 11.5% for the quarter It should be noted that the positive third quarter came after what many will see as validation of that September Swoon theory – when the
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Why long-term investing success is about time in the market, not timing It is only natural that investors would want to find some way to sit out bear markets and get back just in time for the next bull run. The belief that you can foresee the direction of the stock market is a seductive one. Some investors are confident that they can time it perfectly and snap up equities when prices are low and shift into cash or bonds
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Stock markets have been very strange this year. We witnessed the fastest sell-off in history between February and March, with the S&P 500 falling more than 30%, only to enjoy the best recovery ever, reaching an all-time high on August 21. Institutional investors and especially pension funds have gone from panicking to completely reconsidering their long-term asset allocations. What we thought would be the biggest stock market crash in history has led to a fundamental reconsideration of the key risks
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September has historically been the worst month of the year for investors So much for the notion of “Sell in May and Go Away.” If you subscribed to that so-called market strategy in 2020, here is what you would have missed: The S&P 500 was up: 5% in May; 8% in June; 5% in July; and 0% in August. And don’t forget, those four months of S&P 500 gains were on the heels of April’s 12.7% increase. Five consecutive up-months
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