Weekly Articles by Osbon Capital Management:
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The Kids and Your Money, Revisited
We first wrote about kids and money in May 2014. Here’s an updated version, circa 2016, sparked by real client conversations. What are parents talking about now? Education – price and value – seem to be top of mind, along with some other topics that may be just what you are thinking about.
Would You Buy Your Own Home Now?
It was an interesting question from a client: would you buy the home you live in right now? And could you? Many people cannot afford today to buy the home they currently live in. That’s true mainly for older people who bought their homes 10, 20, 30 years ago, but it’s also true for younger owners in some areas. Prices are way up in many markets and even those whose incomes have risen a lot might not want to buy that $2m home they paid $400k for back in the day. Is your house a good deal?
Are My Investments Socially Responsible?
We get this question often, and welcome the discussion. Are my investments contributing to global warming, questionable GMO food practices or gun manufacturing? Will my portfolio help or hurt the next generation? What will I say to my kids/grandkids/friends when they ask me if I invest responsibly? Fortunately, there is a way to know how you are doing, and the responsible choices you have.
6 Ways To Know If Your Investments Are Right For You
How do you know your investments are right for you? It’s a fair question to ask, and one your investment advisor can and should answer. Here’s a six-point checklist to evaluate what you own.
Why I Started Osbon Capital
A client asked me to describe the “aha moment” I had as an investor. It’s a two part answer. First there was the ‘aha’ that even with all the smartest people and best resources on Wall Street, we kept coming up short for our individual clients. Then there was the second enlightening ‘aha’ moment that I had to start Osbon Capital to do better for those individuals, because Wall Street never would.
Active Management Can’t Catch A Break
“Passive funds grow 230% to $6tn”. Attracta Mooney wrote that headline in the usual spare Financial Times fashion. This is just one more data point in the dramatic flow of assets from actively managed portfolios to index, aka passive, investment strategies. This seems to be happening even more quickly than the industry expected. Why? And what’s it mean for you?
Sell in May and Go Away: Mythbusters Edition
We’re talking about ye olde investor adage to sell out of your positions on the 1st of May and buy back on the 1st of November. The idea is to avoid losses during the supposed summer lull. That’s the intention. But remember Yogi Berra used to say: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Was he right?
A Win For The Good Guys
The good guys are you. This win comes courtesy of the US Department of Labor (DOL) who made it official last week. Anyone advising individuals on their retirement accounts must “act like a fiduciary.” What does that mean? Fiduciary is the highest standard in investment management. It means you must put the interests of the person you represent first in all situations. Sounds obvious, but it hasn’t been. We’ve embraced the fiduciary standard since Day One of Osbon Capital in 2005. Many firms can operate without it. This DOL ruling is a big step forward. Here’s why.
Which Rockstar Investor Are You?
Let’s try something different this week and have some fun, too. Have you ever wondered what kind of Rockstar Investor you are? Take the quiz to find out. (Disclosure: no professional investment rockstars were harmed in the making of this project). Max Osbon- mosbon@osboncapital.com
