Nothing goes up forever.  Likewise, the stock market rhythm of boom and bust creates a tendency for long-term breaks after many years of gains. When we step back and examine a stock market chart, we may observe multi-year periods of both strong gains and stagnation:  ​​As you know, we have recently experienced many years of...Read More

“The most important lessons learned in investing are learned in the tough times.     ~Howard Marks Bear markets are inevitable.  If you are eighty-five, you have seen 14 and if you are forty, you have seen 5.  This chart tells how many bear markets occurred in your lifetime:  This next chart highlights some historical declines...Read More

We have all experienced a tremendous amount of change during the first half of this decade! In his article, The Most Volatile Decade, Ben Carlson notes the paradox for investors during these last five years: “The booms and busts are happening faster than ever yet the market continues to charge higher.” “Although this decade has seen a...Read More