So What's in an Allocation ?

An agenda topic in many client meetings is portfolio allocation. Generally, when we talk about allocation, we’re referring to the percentage of equities (stocks or stock-owning mutual funds) and the percentage of fixed income (bonds or bond-owning mutual funds) held in your portfolio. We’re asking if the mix you currently hold remains appropriate or if it should be changed for some reason. Perhaps you plan to retire sooner than you had thought or you’re receiving an unexpected inheritance.

Why is allocation important? Because it’s the largest single factor determining the risk of your portfolio. We want you to

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Debt

Good news!!

I was 14 when I fell in love for the first time - with a sweet, 20-year old riding lawn mower! With keen business sense, I approached my dad with an offer: "I'll mow our lawn all summer AND pay you back if you'll ‘front me the money' for the mower." I had visions of riches as we closed the deal, and a week later I was proudly rolling down our street to my first lawn-cutting job. But as I mowed lawn after lawn (including ours) through the summer, I got weary of handing over all my profits to my dad. After two months, I celebrated my last payment ... and graduated with my "Debt Stinks" diploma from the School of the Real

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What Cancer Has Taught Me

We have all had one of those experiences or defining moments that changed the way we look at life.  Fifteen months ago, my world was rocked and changed forever when I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.  While navigating through many decisions about my health, I also found myself thinking about, and confirming, the things I believe in and value the most.    While not exhaustive, here are a few things I have confirmed:

People matter most.  There are so many things in life that occupy my mind and become the object of my pursuits.  Most are good things and deserve my attention.  But when push

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Independence Day

It'll soon be the Fourth of July - Independence Day - and we'll celebrate our nation breaking free from the bonds of King George and the British Empire. As I reflected on the upcoming holiday and the parades (and the thousands of calories of candy!), picnics, yard games, relaxing time with family and friends, and, of course, lots of fireworks, I thought about what financial freedom looks like.
One of the first things that came to mind with financial freedom is being free of all debt - including the mortgage. But is this even possible? Over the last three years, more Americans have become aggressive about paying down or eliminating their

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Thoughts on the Disaster in Japan

The devastation that's taken place in Japan recently as a result of the natural disaster is almost beyond human comprehension. Nature has a way of reminding us from time to time how truly vulnerable we are.

The added specter of a possible nuclear disaster only heightens the concern. The outcome of that situation could reverberate, not only in Japan, but in policy decisions around the world, for many years, as did the accidents at Three Mile Island in 1979 and Chernobyl in 1986.

At times of human tragedy, making observations about impact on markets and economies can seem insensitive, even inappropriate. We mean no disrespect, nor do we seek to

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Earthquakes, Oil, and Markets

I don’t know how many of you have DirecTV, but over the past two weeks I have become somewhat addicted to the DirecTV News Mix channel.  One channel with eight windows, simultaneously showing CNN, CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, Bloomberg, MSNBC, Headline News and The Weather Channel.  It is wall-to-wall, 24/7, non-stop “news.”
The opportunity for my “news” addiction came as a result of some back surgery that has kept me at home for a few weeks of recovery, allowing me to experience the nature and impact of this constant news barrage.  During my home-bound recovery, Japan has had an

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