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Tuning Out the Noise
Tag: Investments
A few words on the market volatility
We are sure you have already heard all about the “largest single-day point decline” for the Dow on Monday: down 1,175 points (or -4.6%). The dramatic headlines are all focusing on the “tremendous sell-off on Wall Street”, and market commentators are already taking credit for knowing that this was bound to happen because interest rates […]
To Bit or Not to Bit: What Should Investors Make of Bitcoin Mania?
December 2017 Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are receiving intense media coverage, prompting many investors to wonder whether these new types of electronic money deserve a place in their portfolios. Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin emerged only in the past decade. Unlike traditional money, no paper notes or metal coins are involved. No central bank issues the […]
Are emotions sabotaging your investments?
Do you recognize what role your emotions play in your financial life? Are your decisions swayed by fear, greed, confidence and regret? As a financial adviser, one of the first topics we always discuss with new clients is their financial and emotional tolerance for risk. It is equally as important that we understand their emotional […]
Willow Creek Commentary: Fall-2017
LESSONS FOR THE NEXT CRISIS It will soon be the 10-year anniversary of when, in early October 2007, the S&P 500 Index hit what was its highest point before losing more than half its value over the next year and a half during the global financial crisis. Over the coming weeks and months, as other […]
What to do when all your friends are making a killing in the stock market
The other day my wife turned to me and asked me if were invested in “stocks”. I sat there in shock. In our fifteen years of marriage she had never uttered one word, asked one question or showed any interest in our investments. I manage our money and would show her our balances and say […]
Does Excluding Energy and Utilities Diminish Returns for Sustainable Investors
Does excluding energy and utilities diminish returns for sustainable investors? At the request of the Sustainability Council at Dimensional Fund Advisors, on which Willow Creek Wealth Management is represented by its CEO Bruce Dzieza, DFA was asked to research the performance impacts of a portfolio that included no energy or utilities stocks – companies that […]
Willow Creek Commentary: Spring-2017
MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF YOUR DECISIONS Many people struggle with understanding their finances, in part because, as they accumulate wealth, their financial situations become more complex. Adding to the issue, research has shown that it is common for investors to view financial advisors only as investment managers, whose sole job is to manage money on […]
Can you spot a “Market Top”?
The current bull market in stocks reached its 8th anniversary on March 9th, and for about the last four years, professional investors and financial planners have been scratching their heads. The markets have gone up and up and up, and we all know that they won’t go up forever, which means there’s a correction looming […]
Broker vs. fiduciary: Who’s minding your finances?
Does your financial adviser have your best interests at heart? How can you be sure? Is your adviser a fiduciary or not? If you’re not sure, it may be a good time to find out. The fiduciary standard of care was laid out in the Investment Adviser Act of 1940. This standard requires registered investment […]
