iSectors
Commentary
Stagflation! Is Now the time to buy Precious Metals
by Scott Jones of iSectors,
It is believed that during stagflation, investors tend to turn to gold as a safe haven asset as the economic and financial conditions are uncertain. Additionally, gold is seen as a hedge against inflation, as its value is not tied to any currency or government.
Commentary
Bitcoin Is the Best Thing That Could Happen to Clean Energy
by Vern Sumnicht of iSectors,
Implying that Bitcoin is an existential menace that jeopardizes human existence because of its “carbon footprint” is hyperbole.
Commentary
3 Ways to Protect Clients' Investments This Year
by Chuck Self of iSectors,
Stock market participants for most of the past few years have eschewed protection. It was all about making large amount of gains. Almost every advisor lost clients from “cocktail party” conversations about who had made the most money recently.
Commentary
What Happened in the Surprising Equity Sectors of 2016
by Chuck Self of iSectors,
Energy was the best performing sector in 2016, up 27% compared to a positive 11% for the S&P 500.
Commentary
3 Ways You Can Reduce Retirement Readiness Risk
by Chuck Self of iSectors,
Since we just finished tax time (or filed an extension to delay facing the reckoning until October), it is a good time to review your tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Whether you have five or 35 years until think you will retire, you will want to make progress to full retirement readiness.
Commentary
ETFs … They Aren’t Your Father’s Oldsmobile
by Vern Sumnicht of iSectors,
For 12 years, we used active asset management, that is, professional money managers and/or actively managed mutual funds. After the dot.com bear market in 2000, we became more and more dissatisfied with the cost and performance of professional money managers. After much research….
Commentary
Why Are All The "Oil Dividends" Missing? Where Have They Gone?
by Chuck Self of iSectors,
The advance release of the U.S. 4th quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) numbers was disappointing. After running at a 4%+ pace in the middle of 2014 and between 2% and 4% earlier last year, the fourth quarter 2015 GDP rose only 0.7%. Household consumption growth fell and non-residential business fixed investment declined after rising earlier in the year. Government spending has recovered but that was the only bright spot in the report.
Commentary
2016 Investment and Market Outlook
by Vern Sumnicht of iSectors,
In the famous words of Warren Buffet, “be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful,” I think it would be easy to argue that investors are fearful, and therefore, they should be greedy (or buying stocks, not selling them). Currently, it seems as though oil prices are linked at the hip to the stock market.
Commentary
How to Show Valentine's Day LOVE with Precious Metals
by Chuck Self of iSectors,
After a rough start in the stock market this year, it is a relief that Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Market participants, including financial advisors’ clients, can use a little love about now. One of the most tangible ways that advisors can show affection to their clients at this time is to add precious metals exposure to their portfolios.
Commentary
A Market Correction Isn't Unusual…Look for Growth Later This Year
by Vern Sumnicht of iSectors,
As we saw at the close of last week’s market and really the entire first half of January, 2016 has had a difficult beginning. There are a number of market concerns that have resulted in a correction in the first half of January and they revolve around.
Commentary
Advisors Need to Know How to Address Their Clients’ Market Concerns
by Chuck Self of iSectors,
Given the recent 10% stock market decline from the May 2015 highs, financial advisors are receiving calls and emails from concerned clients. If a client called me, my extended elevator speech would be...
Commentary
Safety First: Model Portfolios for the Coming Volatile Year
by Chuck Self of iSectors,
2016 will likely be a “Jekyll and Hyde” market. As financial advisors meet with their clients at or around the beginning of the new year, they should be mindful of these economic and market trends.
Commentary
Optimal Diversification Portfolio for Upcoming Interest Rate Environment
by Chuck Self of iSectors,
Historical patterns in interest rates leading to the current trend; Macroeconomic activity supporting future rising interest rates; Recommendations for optimizing client portfolios in such an environment
Commentary
Is Modern Portfolio Theory Dead?
by Vern Sumnicht of iSectors,
A response to an article titled, “Modern Portfolio Theory is Dead.” The point is to simply ask which of the principles of Modern Portfolio Theory are no longer true. I think it’s more than obvious that these sound principles of investing that have been with us for more than 50 years will be here 50 years from now.
Commentary
Finding Appropriate Investment Strategies for Client Portfolios
by Chuck Self of iSectors,
Financial advisors (FAs) utilizing outsourced investment management processes face a significant number of choices. Recently, there were 675 exchange-traded fund (ETF) investment strategists in Morningstars database. How does one narrow the list of choices for further investigation effectively?
