Inflation Aware Investing
You know the old saying, “What goes up must come down.” Currently everything seems to be going up at the same time.
November 8, 2021 Financial Perspectives
You know the old saying, “What goes up must come down.” How is it that currently everything seems to be going up at the same time? Signs of inflation like oil prices, labor prices, trade deficits. And yet markets are going up with stocks at all-time highs. Bond prices are rising this week when often, bond prices move inversely to stock prices. Government spending is certainly going up, consumer spending is going up and tax rates seem to be poised to rise as well. What do all these upwards mean for investors?
October 11, 2021 Financial Perspectives
Friction can slow can down any machine. What was humming along only minutes or weeks ago, can labor under the strain of too little oil, a little sand in the gears, you name it. The US economy and markets have been seeing an increase in perceived frictions over the past month. Can we get back to smoother operations?
August 24, 2021 Financial Perspectives
Is it possible to be too smart? Can a problem or set of circumstances be overanalyzed? Is there such a thing as too much information? There’s some evidence out there that this is indeed possible! Kent Kramer shares our perspective on what’s been happening in and around financial markets recently and what we think successful investors should be thinking about – without overthinking it!
April 12, 2021 Financial Perspectives
One of my favorite comedians has always been Steve Martin. One of his funnier routines was “let’s get small.” Lately small company stocks have been outperforming their large company counterparts and it’s hard not to notice. What is a small company and why the outperformance recently?
March 22, 2021 Financial Perspectives
Many indicators say the US and global economy are growing at rates faster than expected. Most of this is welcome news given the past 12 months. But is there a danger the economy could overheat? Inflation continues to be on the minds of some, should it be on yours as well?
February 22, 2021 Financial Perspectives
Every week it seems there is a new story about which investment, which “trade”, is making amazing money. Each new story brings a sense of urgency, act quickly before it’s too late. You can’t afford to miss out on this one. There are at least 3 important risks investors should pay attention to, some are urgent, some are important, some are both, some are neither.
My Favorite Blog Posts and Podcast Episodes from 2020
Many of my favorite content pieces from 2020 reflect on the themes of uncertainty, risk, change, and remaining optimistic in the face of unsettling circumstances.
January 11, 2021 Financial Perspectives
2020 had some very real rollercoaster moments – the question for markets and the economy is whether there is any reason to think they won’t hold up during and after our latest ride?
December 21st, 2020 Financial Perspectives
1:07 - In the News: Vaccines, Employment, and Markets
4:09 – Bitcoin and Tesla Market Performance
5:00 – Bitcoin: What is it?
9:08 – Bitcoin Risks
4:09 – Bitcoin and Tesla Market Performance
5:00 – Bitcoin: What is it?
9:08 – Bitcoin Risks
December 7th, 2020 Financial Perspectives
1:10 - In the News: COVID-19 Surges, Vaccines, and Employment
3:32 – November Market Review
4:14 – Equity Factors
4:41 – Macroeconomic Factors Overview
5:00 – Style Factors Overview
7:07 – Style Factors in the Market
3:32 – November Market Review
4:14 – Equity Factors
4:41 – Macroeconomic Factors Overview
5:00 – Style Factors Overview
7:07 – Style Factors in the Market
The Biggest Risk to Investors Remaining in 2020?
Aside from COVID-19, what represents the biggest risk for investors in the second half of what is turning out to be a historic 2020?
August 21, 2020 Financial Perspectives
0:50 - In the News: August 10th - August 21st
2:46 - What Is “Aseasonality” and Why Can It Lead to Impatience?
4:30 - Historical Disruptions
5:50 - Behavioral Biases: Why Does This Seem So Bad?
June 8, 2020 Financial Perspectives
1:45 - Last Week's News
3:06 - Last Week's Financial Highlights
4:40 - How Will the US Pay for All This New Debt Spending?
7:54 - What Does GDP Mean for the Stock Market?
3:06 - Last Week's Financial Highlights
4:40 - How Will the US Pay for All This New Debt Spending?
7:54 - What Does GDP Mean for the Stock Market?
May 29, 2020 Financial Perspectives
0:55 - This Week's News
2:39 - This Week's Financial Highlights
4:36 - Why Is the Stock Market Up When the Economy Is Down?
5:12 - Stock Prices Are Forward Looking
8:06 - Average Returns After Downturns Have Been Positive
2:39 - This Week's Financial Highlights
4:36 - Why Is the Stock Market Up When the Economy Is Down?
5:12 - Stock Prices Are Forward Looking
8:06 - Average Returns After Downturns Have Been Positive
May 1, 2020 Financial Perspectives
0:58 - The Week in Review
3:54 - March vs. April Markets
5:17 - Historical Look at the S&P 500
7:03 - Economy is Not the Market
3:54 - March vs. April Markets
5:17 - Historical Look at the S&P 500
7:03 - Economy is Not the Market
April 24, 2020 Financial Perspectives
Kent gives a quick recap of market performance so far this year and why it’s important for investors to stay invested. He also takes a look at the oil price shock and how oil and energy prices have affected the economy historically.
April 17, 2020 Financial Perspectives
Kent gives a recap of the market over the past week including a look at the current state of unemployment. He also takes a look back at the past 20 years of asset class returns.
April 9, 2020 Financial Perspectives
Chief Investment Officer, Kent Kramer gives an investment recap from the past week and discusses portfolio positioning.
April 3, 2020 Financial Perspectives
In this Foster Group update, Chief Investment Officer, Kent Kramer gives an investment recap from the past week and discusses bear markets, recessions, and recovery.
March 20, 2020 Financial Perspectives
In this Foster Group update, Chief Investment Officer, Kent Kramer discusses current circumstances in the bond market.