Long-term successful equity investing is neither intellectual nor financial, but temperamental: it is how one reacts, or chooses not to react, to market declines. As the new year kicks off, I thought it would be helpful to briefly recap our shared investment philosophy (I hope you agree), and then share... read more →
Feb
04
Dec
06
This past Sunday marks a most significant anniversary in the economic and financial history of the United States, and I could not let it pass without comment. When properly appreciated, it can serve as an importantly teachable moment. For it was a quarter century ago, on the night of Thursday,... read more →
Sep
21
There was a little bit of a downturn in the stock market yesterday, around 1.7% if I recall. I really didn’t pay attention too much to the news. So, what of it? In the few fleeting seconds I was forced to watch a news story yesterday, I heard “plummet”, “collapse”... read more →
Jul
07
As America continued to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2021, the economy and the equity markets made significant progress. My midyear report to you is, as always, divided into two parts. First is a brief recap of our shared investment philosophy; second is my perspective... read more →
Jan
14
Once in a very great while, there comes a year in the economy and the markets that may serve as a tutorial—in effect, a master class in the principles of successful long-term, goal-focused investing. 2020 was just such a year. On December 31, 2019, the Standard & Poor's 500-Stock index... read more →
May
12
a note from Bob on April 29, 2020 News broke this morning that we were all anticipating - the economy shrank 4.8% in the first quarter. This should be a surprise to absolutely no one. I want to share with you my perspective on this news and what you may... read more →
May
12
a note from Bob on March 31, 2020 Congress and the President have been working overtime passing legislation to fight the effects of the Coronavirus. One recent item (the CARES Act) allows you to completely forgo your Required Minimum Distribution for 2020. This is an RMD holiday and presents some... read more →
May
12
A note from Bob on March 21, 2020 A couple of weeks ago, the S&P 500 entered “bear market territory” by closing down 20% below its previous all-time high. We have been reminded what seems to be hourly of this truth by the financial press. Maybe it’s just me, but... read more →
Apr
26
It’s common practice for the president or CEO of a company to include a letter to shareholders in the annual report. Berkshire Hathaway’s chairman and CEO, Warren Buffett, doesn’t buck the trend. His annual letter (https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/2018ltr.pdf) captures plenty of attention, and this year was no exception. The focus is on... read more →
Jan
28
PART ONE: GENERAL PRINCIPLES It will be worth restating, even in the context of a letter primarily focused on the year just past, my overall philosophy of investment advice. It is goal-focused and planning-driven, as sharply distinguished from an approach that is market-focused and current-events-driven. Every successful investor I’ve ever... read more →