We think now is a good time to speak to people individually to provide an update of our investment thinking going forward. Recently, some indicators we watch, such as the Warren Buffet Market Indicator, have signalled it may be time for investors to pay closer attention to financial markets.   During these uncertain times we would...Read More

Independence. Yes please.  To us, “independent financial advice” sounds like the only kind that should be available. Yet the landscape is dominated by advisors who can only be described as conflicted or handcuffed –  options that don’t sound like they have a customer’s best interest at heart. Founded on the principle that our independence ensures...Read More

Odds of making money in the stock market since 1926 (S&P 500) 1-Day1-Week1-Month1-Year3-Years5-years10-years15-years54%57%62%74%83%88%94%100% In an article for the Motley Fool on January 1, 2024, Anthony Di Pizio encourages investors in the stock market (S&P500) to hold on for at least 10 years. Even if someone invests at the top of the market, the longer they...Read More

Recently, the S&P500 has experienced a correction of more than 5%. Since it has been a while that we have seen markets decline it is helpful for us to be reminded this is normal behavior for stock market investments. For investors to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Knowing and preparing for volatility is important...Read More

How some investors lost money on a fund that averaged 30 percent returns annually  Author: Sam SivarajanSource: The Globe and Mail, July 28, 2023 Imagine investing in a fund that returned an average of approximately 30 per cent a year for more than a decade. Interested? Sounds like a recipe for a winning portfolio. Except...Read More

The fascinating chart below sums up nearly 100 years of investing in stocks, bonds, and guaranteed investments, through numerous geopolitical events, economic and inflation cycles. There is a tremendous amount of valuable historical information contained on one page. Take a look and if you have any questions call us to discuss a strategy how we...Read More

The most important part of an investment return is the amount of risk taken to achieve it. Investors should always be in control of their level of risk. Even if two portfolios achieve the same return, the one that takes less risk to do so is the better option. Improving risk-adjusted returns is a critical...Read More

What we mean by stewardship is to take care of peoples’ investments as though we are managing our own money and we do invest in the same portfolios of funds that we recommend for our clients. We practice the same financial planning strategies that we recommend as well because we want life to be more...Read More

We started CommonWealth Financial Strategies at Queensbury Securities, because after many years in the financial industry, we believed we could offer a better way for people to steward their investments that is in their best interest.  Financial Advisors Should: Focus on client investments that meet their needs rather than chasing fads   Offer pension-style portfolios constructed...Read More

Dollar Cost Averaging is a disciplined method of investing which can deliver significant benefits over time. Spreading purchases out monthly over the calendar year means your investments are less affected by market timing. Accumulating wealth in stocks by systematically moving money into a number of diversified funds represents an efficient way of saving and investing....Read More