Yesterday we entered a bull market with the Dow advancing 20% from it’s most recent low. Big deal. We are certainly seeing price discrepancies, especially in the fixed income market and have tied down some attractive yields for potentially years to come. The key to investing in markets like these is to stay focused, be patient, and always be ready to make a move when the research begins to show some real values. I have no interest in worrying if the coast is clear. That’s not investing. But seeking values certainly is. You have spoken and I have listened. Here’s what you told … [Read more...]

Before you hear about my conversations with successful Americans like yourself, let's take a quick step back and look at where the market has been over the last 20-years and consider that if you're receiving dividends they help you dollar cost average through thick and thin. Every day during this crisis, I'm hearing about what you're doing to survive and thrive, and thanks to you, I've gained some valuable on the ground intelligence. Here's an email I received after a relaxed morning call with a client who is certainly prepared to live off the grid: One thing I didn't mention... It … [Read more...]

“Don’t let the cure be worse than the problem,” a thoughtful, and weary President Trump explained last night to America in a tone that was right on the money for the situation at hand. President Trump explained how we all need to do our part and that America was not built to be shut down and out of business. We need to flatten this curve and be open for business (my emphasis) because that’s what America does best. Let’s lead by example. Now that America is in day nine of self-isolation we’ve learned quite a bit about our politicians and how many are looking at this as an … [Read more...]

When it feels like things are changing by the hour, a week feels like a year, and three weeks a lifetime. That’s how I feel this morning as I write to you from Newport, having scrambled home Monday, cutting short our ski vacation in Telluride, CO. Last Friday, at this time, we were waking up to a few inches of wet snow and windy conditions. We skied in what felt like a snow globe being shaken madly by a five-year-old. Visibility was nil. It snowed most of the night, and on Saturday (the mountain having been resurfaced with seven inches of light powder) we cut fresh tracks all morning … [Read more...]

You’ll recall it wasn’t too long ago that investing legends Warren Buffett, Jack Bogle, and my father in law Dick Young were calling for a prolonged period of reduced returns. Not only for the stock market but for bonds, as Dick Young’s North Star was scraping the bottom of the charts as if it had fallen out of the sky. At the time, Dick Young wasn’t predicting a pandemic like the coronavirus, he was simply studying what was in front of him just like he does today, and concluding that it looked pretty darn ugly. You see, when the risk-free rate of return costs you money (after … [Read more...]

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CBS News' Norah O'Donnell that life may not get back to normal for up to two months. Two months is a long time. Here's a bit of the back and forth between O'Donnell and Fauci: O'DONNELL: We know the symptoms of COVID-19 are dry cough, fever and shortness of breath. If someone has those symptoms, should they go to the emergency room? FAUCI: No, thank you for the question. They should stay home, call the health care provider, call their physician or even call the emergency room and say, these … [Read more...]