The time period between the peak of the Dotcom Bubble in 2000 and the bottom of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2009 is widely considered the worst period of investment returns since the Great Depression. During that time period, the Nasdaq Composite lost nearly 70% of value and the economy is still reeling from the consequences of the GFC today. Common sense would say that investing at the top of the Dotcom Bubble would be a terrible decision, right? Well, it actually depends on how you invest. If you [...]

Don’t forget about the dividend! This is one of the most important investing principles as dividends add value to a portfolio.  They can provide a cushion for investors when growth of principal can be hard to come by, they can enhance total return over a long period of time by compounding reinvestments, and they can be the source of income for retirees who choose to live off the dividend rather than draw down principal. Since the beginning of the millennium, dividends reinvested into the S&P 500 are responsible for 33% [...]

When you’re in a traffic jam on the highway, you may find yourself trying to merge into whichever lane is moving fastest at the moment, only to find yourself falling behind drivers that stayed in one lane the whole time. In the same way, you may feel the urge to time the stock market, attempting to put your money in and take it out at just the right moment—a behavior that can work against you. The market fluctuates, sometimes unpredictably, and often discipline and a steady hand are more effective [...]