Courage in the Storm
October 26, 2022
Categories:
There are days and there are decades. Then, there are days when decades happen. I quickly realized upon waking up at 2 AM on September 28, 2022, that this was going to be one of those days.
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Sound Money
Perspectives on Money, Credit, & Financial Markets
Volatility Returns
March 7, 2020
Categories: Markets, Bear Markets, Bonds
Volatility has returned to global financial markets. As seen in figure 1 below, the Volatility Index (“VIX”) has spiked to the highest level since 2015. However, looking further back, the VIX is nowhere near the Great Recession of 2008-2009. History proves that volatility in financial markets is nothing new. However, since early 2009, the US markets have enjoyed a low period of volatility.
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5 AM Alarm
January 12, 2019
Categories: 2018 Review, Asset Allocation, Bonds, Bond Market
As I have aged, it seems my alarm clock goes off earlier and earlier. As a child, I somewhat dreaded waking up early in the morning unless it involved golf or some other sporting activity. Early morning Bible studies were thrown in the mix as I entered college. I have many older mentors to thank for motivating me to get up early and study the Bible. As I started my career, an earlier wake-up was the norm. Of course, once kids came along, the alarm clock was somewhat useless as babies became the new alarm clock (which went off multiple times every night). More recently, I have picked back up the hobby of running. With a busy family and work life, early mornings are the best time to “get my run in”. I have come to enjoy the solitude and peace of the early morning.
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Expectations
October 14, 2016
Categories: Asset Allocation, GMO, Investing, Markets
Every four years we elect a new President. Every four years the most gifted athletes in the world compete in the Olympic Games. I don’t know about you, but this election cycle is driving me crazy! So why don’t we talk about the Olympics instead. Meet Clayton Murphy. Just 21 years old, Murphy earned a bronze medal in the 800 meters this past summer in Rio. It was the first time an American has medaled in the 800 meters since 1992. He finished in a time of 1:42.93, which was the third-fastest American time ever and faster than his previous personal record time of 1:44.30. He was an improbable bronze medal winner. Murphy’s goal coming into the Olympic Games was to simply make the final. Murphy commented after the race,
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