Category: Economy

It’s About Closing the Gap

Content provided by Rusty Vanneman, CFA – CLS Chief Investment Officer As investment advisors and counselors, our job/mission/calling is to close the gap — the behavior gap. The behavior gap is the reason most investors’ portfolio returns don’t even come close to achieving market returns. Their emotions (such as fear and greed) have them chasing… Continue reading It’s About Closing the Gap

Don’t Confuse Brains With a Bull Market

Content provided by Paula Wieck, CLS Manager of Investment Research/Portfolio Manager I had the opportunity to speak to several advisors last week about their businesses.  A couple of these conversations resonated with me, particularly because this subject has come up frequently. One advisor’s client was contemplating whether or not to relieve him of his services… Continue reading Don’t Confuse Brains With a Bull Market

Chasing Disappointment

Content provided by Josh Jenkins, CLS Associate Portfolio Manager Last month, Portfolio Manager Grant Engelbart contributed to this blog, an entry titled Emotional Volatility. In it, Engelbart advocated a pragmatic approach to managing ones wealth. One that ignores the endless volume of market noise and the visceral and often illogical decisions it promotes.  Instead, he… Continue reading Chasing Disappointment

Emotional Volatility

Content provided by Grant Engelbart, CFA, CLS Portfolio Manager My father recently asked me about an email he received promoting a “special newsletter.”  You know the kind – “The Dow Will Plummet to 6,000! – subscribe now and save yourself!” These type of doomsayers have always been around, except they become particularly loud at points… Continue reading Emotional Volatility

Bulls, Bonds, and Free Lunches

Content provided by Josh Jenkins Q: About a year ago, analysts predicted the bull market in bonds was over. But today, CLS says it is still intact. What changed? Going into 2014, I think the expectations on Wall Street were definitely for an increase in interest rates moving forward. During 2013, when the Fed began… Continue reading Bulls, Bonds, and Free Lunches

Are U.S. Equities Overvalued?

Content provided by Kostya Etus, CLS Associate Portfolio Manager The word “overvalued” has been thrown around a lot lately, specifically when referring to the U.S. stock market. But, this kind of classification needs to be put into perspective and backed up with data. The idea of elevated valuations is that they tend to lead to… Continue reading Are U.S. Equities Overvalued?

The Value of International Investing

Content provided by J.J. Schenkelberg Lately, we have been talking a lot about the attractive relative valuation of international stocks versus the S&P 500.  We can see it in the earnings numbers and valuation reports.  But, I don’t think anything really brings to light the relative opportunity with international stocks like the charts below.  Pictures… Continue reading The Value of International Investing

Mid Caps vs. Large and Small Caps

Content provided by Scott Kubie, CLS Chief Strategist Small cap U.S. stocks have failed to keep pace with their large cap counterparts this year, by a wide margin. Through November 21, the Russell 2000 was up only 1.9%, while Russell’s large cap index, the Russell 200, was up 13.3%. The surprise this year has been… Continue reading Mid Caps vs. Large and Small Caps