My clients often ask me how I manage my own money. I’m happy to answer this question.
Not everyone should invest the same way
Investments aren’t a matter of “one size fits all.” All folks have their own personal circumstances, risk tolerance, and goals. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend you copy my portfolio because my needs are probably different from yours…. Read more
Though there are many questions you should ask when selecting someone to help you handle your money, consider these three:
#1 Who is the subject of the first meeting
At your initial meeting, the advisor should spend much more time asking you questions than lecturing about who he is…. Read more
Here’s a story that I’ve watched unfold many times in my conference room. Do you recognize yourself, or perhaps your parents?
She made a lot of money
I sat with a new client, a woman whose husband of over 50 years had handled all of the money decisions, and she proudly told me about all of the successful stocks that he had chosen…. Read more
If you discover a small loss in your portfolio, what should you do?
The first thing is not to get discouraged. Not every loss is necessarily a bad thing.
A chess idea that can make you a better investor
Once, when I played a game of chess with my children’s chess coach,… Read more
The problem with a lot of financial advertising these days is the “one size fits all” attitude. Financial companies market their product to everyone, even though we’re all different.
How to find the right investment
Here’s what Nobel Prize winner of Economics Robert Merton personally told me: goal-based investing is the best formula to reach financial success…. Read more
When working with people to set up and handle their U.S. brokerage accounts (including IRAs, joint and custodial accounts), we’ll often consider “market capitalization,” or “market cap,” which refer to the size of a company. Investing in different size companies carries different levels of risk and potential for growth and dividends…. Read more
People often buy bonds to increase their returns. With so many bond-buying strategies available it’s critical for you to know what types of bonds you should buy.
When you should pay more for bonds
A premium bond costs more than its par (face) value, which means, for example, that you might pay $1100 for a bond that will only pay you back $1000 when it matures…. Read more
Many financial planners advise having a well-diversified portfolio, meaning that you should spread your assets between various types of investments rather than putting all of your eggs into one basket. The definition of “diversification” is important, since your portfolios may not be as diversified as you think.
Why diversify?
The purpose of diversification is to decrease the portfolio’s level of risk while still accruing a healthy return…. Read more
Are you careful or impulsive?
If you make a spur-of-the-moment decision instead of carefully planning your next move, you may end up someplace that you wish you weren’t. This is true in many aspects of life, including investing.
It’s easy to make a decision based on fear of losing money rather than looking at all the facts…. Read more
As a financial advisor handling U.S. brokerage accounts, I’m often asked the following question:
“I just received some cash that I’d like to use within the next 6 to 12 months. I’ve deposited it in the bank, but it’s barely earning interest. What should I do with this money?”
What are the options?… Read more
