With the rise of Big Data and increases in computing power, analyzing more data has become feasible in a variety of fields. It has impacted investing through the rising popularity of sustainable investing. Almost $9T is invested in sustainable investments in the US as of 12/31/16, up 33% in just two years. Read more
If you were inspired by the young people leading marches against gun violence around the country on March 24th in the March for Our Lives and want to do something to have an impact, one action you can take is to make sure you don’t own any stocks of companies that manufacture guns in your portfolio. Read more
In honor of International Women’s Day (March 8th), it seemed appropriate to write about how women can become more financially empowered. For various reasons, including longer life expectancies, women are more likely than men to be on their own at least once during their life. Yet many women aren’t comfortable managing their personal finances and often defer to the men in their lives to do it for them. Read more
Fortunately, I haven’t received too many questions from clients about bitcoin and crypto-currencies, but it is a very popular topic these days and I’ve heard it brought up many times in various forums. I thought I’d share my thoughts on the topic, so you can be better prepared to respond to those people who might be suggesting it’s the investment of a lifetime. Read more
A Massachusetts woman recently won the biggest lottery prize in US history – $759 million. She did what many lottery winners do and contrary to what most financial planners would advise, which is to quit her job and take the prize as a lump sum of $480 million before taxes, instead of installments over a period of years.
As the US presidential election cycle enters its final days leading up to the election on November 8th, it’s hard to avoid all the “experts” opining on the impact of the elections on the investment markets. Some may wonder if they should somehow change their portfolio in light of election results.
We are surrounded by a cacophony of media and purported “experts” trying to tell us how to make money in the investment markets. It’s human nature to think we can outsmart those around us. The problem is – research shows that following this type of advice is actually detrimental to your long-term investment success.
Recent media related to Michael Lewis’s new book “Flash Boys” and an opinion piece in the New York Times titled “The Hidden Cost of Trading Stocks” might cause the ordinary investor to wonder if they should even bother investing if the playing field is so uneven.
I recently moderated a panel on behavioral finance for the Financial Women of San Francisco. It’s a relatively new field that barely existed when I was in business school in the late 90s. Its basic premise is that people make irrational financial decisions due to their human biases.