You may have observed that when you sell most mutual funds before the end of trading on any given day (1 PM Pacific Time), the cash typically shows up in your account the next trading day.  This is known as a one-day trade settlement cycle. When you buy funds, the shares appear in your account…
Read more

I don’t suppose worrying is ever a good idea.  If there’s something in your life that you are concerned about, and you have the ability to change it, then you can (and should) do so.  If you have no control over it, worrying about it won’t improve anything and might even negatively impact your health. …
Read more

Did you know that there are two different standards for investment advice depending on who provides it?  Advisors (or salespeople) at  brokerage or insurance companies are legally allowed to recommend an investment that may cost you more than alternative investments (thus providing them with more income) and that may not meet your risk or return…
Read more

In my last post I demonstrated the importance of understanding how data is presented when comparing the performance of different investments.  When utilizing a cumulative performance chart, the key takeaway was that the starting point has a significant impact on the perceived results.  In our example, we compared the Dow Jones Total Stock Market US…
Read more

I was having a discussion the other day with someone about investing in international equities.  Her belief was that international stocks have significantly underperformed U.S. stocks for a long time, and therefore she did not see any value in adding them to her portfolio.  As proof, she cited the following chart from the Wall Street…
Read more