Content provided by Paula Wieck, CLS Portfolio Manager At the start of 2015, some market pundits doubted the ability of large-cap stocks to outperform small caps due to the strengthening dollar. Typically, dollar strength bodes well for small-cap companies because they do much of their business locally. Larger companies tend to do more business across… Continue reading Large Caps vs. Small Caps Debate
CLS Blog
The Key Principles to Managing Portfolio Risk
Content provided by Joe Smith, CFA, CLS Senior Market Strategist Volatility has gradually picked up this year. This should be no surprise to investors since we have seen exceptionally low volatility over the last few years. Volatility inevitably reverts back to historical trends and should be expected to rise as markets focus on company-specific fundamentals and… Continue reading The Key Principles to Managing Portfolio Risk
Party Like It’s 1999!
Content provided by Rusty Vanneman, CFA, CLS Chief Investment Officer The current stock market environment feels a heckuva lot like the late 1990s. Large-cap growth stocks, particularly some high-profile Internet companies, are leading the way now, just as they did then. Value-oriented investors, including some of the most well-known portfolio managers, are getting shellacked. The… Continue reading Party Like It’s 1999!
5 Factors for 2016 and Beyond
Content provided by Kostya Etus, CLS Associate Portfolio Manager 2015 is coming to a close which means it’s time to reflect on the year that was. But, more importantly, it’s time to plan for the year that will be. Planning for the future (for anyone and anything) has to start with the three basic questions:… Continue reading 5 Factors for 2016 and Beyond
Likelihood of Interest Rate Hikes and Their Effect on Your Portfolio
Content provided by Josh Jenkins, CFA, CLS Portfolio Manager Recent guidance from the Federal Reserve (Fed) suggests it may finally be ready to lift interest rates at its next meeting on December 16, and the market has taken note. According to Bloomberg, as of December 10 the probability of a hike was 80%. Bloomberg has… Continue reading Likelihood of Interest Rate Hikes and Their Effect on Your Portfolio
Managing the Aspirational Portfolio
Content provided by Scott Kubie, CFA, CLS Chief Strategist In Omaha, some of the people whose names appear on buildings or near the top of philanthropic donor lists have two sources of wealth: their businesses and their early investments in Berkshire Hathaway. The story goes that in 1960 Warren Buffett invited 10 doctors to dinner… Continue reading Managing the Aspirational Portfolio
What Do ETF Strategists Stand For?
Content provided by Joe Smith, CFA, CLS Senior Market Strategist Over the last 20+ years, exchange traded funds (ETFs) have captured the hearts and minds of investors. These investment vehicles have empowered everyday investors to build portfolios that help them reach their financial goals – with greater transparency, lower costs, and more precision. ETFs have… Continue reading What Do ETF Strategists Stand For?
Fixed Income ETFs: A Don’t Buy?
Content provided by Marc Pfeffer, CLS Senior Portfolio Manager One of the newest trends in the densely populated world of ETFs now includes fixed income. As investors turn to the safety of bonds in anticipation of higher interest rates, fund companies are launching new, and increasingly complex, fixed income ETFs. But as I recently told… Continue reading Fixed Income ETFs: A Don’t Buy?
Recency Bias, Emerging Markets, and the Lost Decade
Content provided by Case Eichenberger, CLS Client Portfolio Manager I recently had the opportunity to study at the world’s first recognized collegiate business school – the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. I was there for a week-long program as part of my CIMA certification, where I was able to learn from some of… Continue reading Recency Bias, Emerging Markets, and the Lost Decade
Fed Takeaways: December is Alive!
Content provided by Marc Pfeffer, CLS Senior Portfolio Manager We saw two key changes in the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)’s October statement. First, the committee removed this earlier mention: “recent global and financial developments may restrain economic activity somewhat and are likely to put further downward pressure on inflation in the near term.” That… Continue reading Fed Takeaways: December is Alive!