“The trick is to stop thinking of it as ‘your’ money.” – IRS auditor. Where are we, at the end of August? It seems that every month there is something interesting to say about the crazy variation in stock market performance. Here is the most surprising fact:  the New York Stock Exchange Composite index (average  Continue Reading >

“Every day, self-proclaimed stock market “experts” tell us why the market just went up or down, as if they really knew. So where were they yesterday?” – Anonymous. Where are we, at the end of July? The markets rebounded strongly in July from a mediocre month in June. It was one of those months where  Continue Reading >

One of the funny things about the stock market is that every time one person buys, another sells, and both think they are astute. William Feather Where are we, at the end of June and half way through the year? Last month I talked about the stock market being weird and unpredictable and that has  Continue Reading >

A long term investment is a short term investment that failed. Chevy Chase Where are we, at the end of May? May was a weird month, as they go. The NYSE Composite Index, which measures all the stocks on the exchange was breakeven (actually 0.09%, see below). The other indexes, as you will see were  Continue Reading >

The problem with the person who thinks he’s a long-term investor and impervious to short-term gyrations is that the emotion of fear and pain will eventually make him sell badly. Robert Wibbelsman Where are we, YTD and at the end of April? Between January 26 and February 8 of this year, the stock market dropped  Continue Reading >

The stock market is like a small row boat on a rough sea, bouncing around as it drifts, whereas the macro economy is like a large ocean liner, very ponderous and difficult to maneuver but without such a rough journey. Clive Granger Rather than being distracted by the volatile moves in prices over the past  Continue Reading >

“I do the opposite to what I feel I should do. When I’m feeling sick in my stomach, it’s time to buy. When I feel great, it’s time to sell” – Elaine Gazarelli, Wall Street analyst. Where are we, at the end of February? We can look back on February now as the month where  Continue Reading >

“The market may be bad, but I slept like a baby last night. I woke up every hour and cried” …. old stock market joke……. Where are we, at the end of January? If you’ve been reading this newsletter for the last year, I’ve been wishing for a healthy drop in the stock market. What’s  Continue Reading >

January 8, 2018 Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.  Lao Tzu Where are we, at the end of December? It would have been hard to predict a year that was as great as 2017. The S&P 500 was up every single month and has risen for 14 consecutive months,  Continue Reading >

Where are we, at the end of November? November was another great month for the stock market in a long string of great months. Clients keep calling me and wondering when the good times will end. There are so many pundits out there (especially with specialized products to sell) who keep calling for the end  Continue Reading >