DIY Direct Indexing
Direct Indexing or VTSAX? Is Direct indexing a good option for the average DIY investor? The standard of care is VTSAX (or VTI), a 3-fund portfolio, or 6-10 ETFs for factor investing. When will direct indexing be better than […]
Category Archives: Investments
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First Step of Investing: Never Sell Low
Never Sell Low My first advice as the first step of investing is never to sell low. Asset allocation is the most important decision an investor has to make after deciding to invest. Still, a first step before that is […]
Structured Product as a “Hedge”
Structured Product as a Hedge Are you being sold structured products as a hedge? What is a structured product, and why should you avoid them? Or, if you are convinced that they do offer downside protection, what do you need […]
What is a Buffered ETF?
What is a Buffered ETF? What is a Buffered EFT? Buffer or buffered ETFs have been around since about 2018. The idea: you have some downside protection and a chance at growth. Does that sound familiar? Yup, another structured product! […]
Sartre’s Investment Advice for You
Portfolio Makeover by Jean-Paul Sartre If you are considering retirement in a couple years, it’s time to prepare your portfolio. While “Portfolio Makeovers” are popular, a superficial change in the appearance of your portfolio is not enough. Jean-Paul Sartre […]
How Often Does the Yield Curve Stay Inverted for 2 Years?
How Often Does the Yield Curve Stay Inverted for 2 Years? The yield curve has been inverted for two years, and we have not had a recession. How common is the yield curve to be inverted for so long? […]
Risk Tolerance and Asset Allocation
Asset Allocation depends on Risk Tolerance Risk Tolerance and Asset Allocation are tied at the hip and depend on age and recency bias. How you understand risk—and how you balance the stock/bond proportion in your portfolio—is the most important decision […]
What Should I do With Highly Appreciated Equities?
Selling Your Winners: Tax Strategies What are some strategies for selling your winning equities? If you have highly appreciated equities, what should you do with them, considering tax strategies? It is a common problem, as people sell their losers and […]
Chaos Theory and the Misbehavior of Markets
Mandelbrot, Chaos Theory, and The Misbehavior of Markets Stock market returns are not just random—they are randomly random. That is, stochastic. While I love the word stochastic, it and Chaos Theory are poorly understood by ordinary people. This is […]