Protecting your investments before a stock market crash
Address this before a stock market crash, not after, writes Peter Watson Protecting your assets is the key to investment success. Perhaps consider diversifying your portfolio with more than one asset class and security type to mitigate downside risk exposure during times of market volatility. A popular question after severe stock market crashes is how […]
Questions for a potential financial advisor
A financial advisor’s role is to help clients work toward their financial goals. Finding a qualified advisor you feel comfortable with requires careful evaluation. Last week this column discussed hiring a financial advisor based on the services provided, and the cost of those services. Today we will consider some specific questions you might want to […]
Avoid Investment Fads
Sound investment strategies are based on long-term realities, not short-term fads. Unfortunately, human nature can make speculating and guessing too resistible to refuse. In reality, investing is not guesswork. Over the years I have had the opportunity to listen toNobel laureate Eugene Fama speak at investment conferences. Many regard Professor Fama as the person who […]
Evidence-based investing is highly recommended
I encourage investors to become familiar with publicly available facts and figures, and use the information to direct their investment strategy. Find out what works and what does not work and act accordingly. One of the best sources of investing evidence is provided by the SPIVA® Canada Scorecard and is available online. SPIVA® stands for […]
Financial diversification is good
The need for strong diversification within your investment portfolio has never been stronger. The world is changing very quickly. Escalating innovation and new technologies will have a disruptive effect on many businesses. Taking that into account, an investment you currently have in your portfolio may be a company that will soon become obsolete. Not convinced? […]
How to choose an investment advisor
Choosing a financial advisor is often a daunting task. At the Evidence-Based Investing Conference held in New York City in November, 2016, I had the opportunity to listen to one of the leaders in the investment industry, Bill McNabb, Chairman and CEO of Vanguard. Vanguard is one of the largest investment companies in the world […]
Disconnect between investor client and investment manager
There is a conflict of interest between the two major participants in the financial services industry. I anticipate this conflict will continue. Specifically, there is a disconnect between the investor client and investment managers responsible for managing mutual funds and other investment products. On the surface, it would appear that both investor clients and those […]
Investors are turning against stock picking
There is a major shift occurring in the investment world that should lead to increased investment returns. Investors are beginning to appreciate that stock picking, or owning actively traded mutual funds that pick stocks, is a losing proposition. Those who earn their livelihood from picking stocks will protest loudly, however, the mountain of evidence against […]
Investment decisions should be evidence-based
Evidence-based decisions are becoming more prevalent in all walks of life. Instead of subjective, ‘expert-based opinions’, evidence-based decision making objectively analyzes the best data available to make empirically supported decisions. One reason for this shift is the rapidly growing amount of knowledge humans have, due in part to the amount of research being conducted. There […]