Investment Committee

In our blog post from Monday, we alluded to ongoing discussions our Investment Committee has had regarding allocation positioning in this recent market turmoil.  As we mentioned, we have purposely kept the stock allocation below target during this period of volatility as an additional form of risk control.  Our investment committee has approved a systematic approach to rebalancing por

Our Investment Committee has been meeting daily to strategize on what actions to take given the intense market volatility we have experienced over the last month.  To date, we have purposefully not rebalanced back to target as an additional risk control measure.  We acknowledge that it is difficult to look forward with so much uncertainty and so many currently unanswered questions, bu

Stock market volatility has continued this morning, leading to the trigger of market-wide circuit breakers. Put simply, market exchanges have mechanisms in place to try to help reduce panicked selling. The New York Stock Exchange declined by more than 7% this morning at the open, which triggered the first circuit breaker that halted trading for 15 minutes.

The last few trading days have not felt comfortable but market sensitivity to a headwind like the Coronavirus is not surprising. While the fear of a more serious outbreak is a legitimate concern, progress towards containment with immaterial impact to global economic forecasts is still the expectation and therefore we recommend staying the course.

Three-quarters of the year are behind us now, and both stock and bond markets have had a strong year so far. Stocks and bonds typically do not experience simultaneous growth and certainly not of this magnitude for bonds.

Our last few portfolio updates have shared a recurring theme; we have taken gains in growth assets and moved to slightly more defensive positioning recognizing that we are likely later in the economic cycle.

A little goes a long way. Perhaps, a phrase many of us can relate to in some way whether we’re referring to a change in our spending habits, showing kindness to a stranger, or adding hot sauce to our dinner. Our investment committee works tirelessly to find opportunities, big and small, to drive better outcomes in the portfolios.

The end of the first quarter of 2019 has brought sunshine, baseball, and one of the best quarters US stocks have seen since the 90’s. While the sharp recovery from last year’s market declines has been a welcomed move, we are mindful that we have just celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the current bull market and the U.S. economy appears to be softening.

We hope that you and your family kept warm as the Polar Vortex sunk its teeth into the northern part of the country.  Our investment committee has been busy sinking its teeth into economic and market data after an eventful and volatile 2018. We have shared our current approach to the investment environment in our latest blog post.

All major US markets will be closed today for a national day of mourning in honor of George H.W. Bush. While it is meant to be a day to reflect on the life and legacy of our 41st president, let it also serve as a day to remind ourselves to take a breath after a challenging day of trading yesterday.