Monthly Investment Updates
What you need to know
July 2023 Investment Update
We find joy in challenging commonly accepted investing beliefs. One belief we find unhelpful is the obsession with prediction. It’s fascinating how predictions often fall short, and we can’t help but shed light on some glaring examples. The S&P 500 is nearing its all-time high and has shown strong performance in the first half of the year, despite many experts predicting its decline. Blindly following expert advice can lead to pitfalls. Our latest Monthly Note explores 2023 predictions and their actual outcomes so far, along with the intriguing relationship between stock prices and anticipated news. Let’s challenge the status quo and pursue investment strategies that lead to success.
June 2023 Investment Update
In this month’s Investment Update, we delve into how our systematic investment strategies have adapted to the market conditions witnessed thus far in the year. We recognize that trend-following strategies are not flawless, nor are they intended to be. However, based on our experience, they generally position you with a higher probability of capitalizing on what is working, regardless of the prevailing market environment.
May 2023 Investment Update
In this Monthly Note we discuss the value of having a systematic investing process in the context of return chasing. Buying last year’s winners is an all-too-common thread in the investment world, as well as a behavior rooted in human nature. It is our belief that a better approach is to employ a set of simple rules that circumvent these potentially harmful behaviors.
April 2023 Investment Update
In this monthly note, we consider both the bull and bear case for equities. We also highlight why our focus remains on controlling what we can control by being disciplined about our systematic investing process. Focusing on a repeatable process, and not short-term outcomes, is how we will achieve the long-term strategic goals for our clients.
March 2023 Investment Update
In this Monthly Note, we look at the current environment as a good news/bad news scenario and discuss the merits of systematic investing through the framework of risk management and timeframe selection.
February 2023 Investment Update
In this month’s note we discuss our own refrain – “first time in a while” – which captures how we are increasing exposure in certain asset classes for the first time in many months (or years). Using our systematic investing process helps us remain adaptive and nimble, eliminates our “memory” of the distant past, and focuses us on what is happening in the moment
January 2023 Investment Update
In this Monthly Note, we discuss our systematic investing process in the context of 2022’s market environment. While the short-term destination is out of our hands, we think we have more control over the long-term outcome and the ride to get there. In our estimation, utilizing a rules-based process provides investors with a more pleasant experience and path.
December 2022 Investment Update
In our view, the incredible thing about being consistently good is that if you can manage it for a long enough period, you often accomplish something truly great. For example, consistently beating a benchmark in a way that is behaviorally- and tax-friendly for clients allows them to maximize their financial potential. Coupling that with a robust process for planning and managing relationships allows an advisor to build a tremendous business.
November 2022 Investment Update
Despite the increases in October, major indexes year-to-date continue to repeat the same patterns of new lows followed by lower highs. Until this cycle is broken, our research and systematic investing rules tell us that moving equity exposure back to even our baseline allocations is simply too much risk for the potential reward.
When you are exposed to falling asset prices and have no plan for how to respond, years like 2022 can be agonizing. That’s typical of bear markets.
