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Happy Earth Day: Sustainable Investing

By Matt Hargreaves / April 22, 2019 / Comments Off on Happy Earth Day: Sustainable Investing

Sustainable Investing Sustainable investing is no longer a niche investment approach. Growth has rapidly increased over the last 20 years (see graph at right)[1]. In a 2015 survey, the Morgan Stanley Institute of Sustainable Investing found that 71% of individual investors are interested in sustainable investing[2]. Sustainable investing seeks to provide strategies, products and solutions…

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2018 4th quarter commentary

By Matt Hargreaves / January 22, 2019 / Comments Off on 2018 4th quarter commentary

4th Quarter 2018 Commentary Leonard Rickey Investment Advisors Market Summary After reaching all-time highs in late September, the S&P 500 fell nearly 20% in three months, including more than 7% in one week, and finished the year down for the first time since 2008. If the S&P 500 had ended the month where it closed…

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Happy Thanksgiving: Charts we are thankful for

By Matt Hargreaves / November 22, 2018 / Comments Off on Happy Thanksgiving: Charts we are thankful for

We posted five scary charts on Halloween (see here) and wanted to post five charts we are thankful for on Thanksgiving.   1) Higher Interest Rates Higher interest rates was on our list of scary charts as well. It goes to show how financial data, and statistics in general, can be construed positively or negatively…

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Market Corrections

By Matt Hargreaves / November 16, 2018 / Comments Off on Market Corrections

Market Corrections One of the most noteworthy elements of the current bull market has been its remarkable consistency. Currently in its ninth year, this advance has been marked by extremely low volatility with very few selloffs. Still, history tells us that bull markets eventually give way to selling pressure, either temporary corrections or more damaging…

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Capital Gains-FAQs

By Matt Hargreaves / November 15, 2018 / Comments Off on Capital Gains-FAQs

Capital Gains – FAQs What is a capital gain? A capital gain is the profit when you sell a capital asset, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds or property. The profit is your gain over the original price you paid and you must pay tax on that gain. For example, if a stock is bought…

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Happy Halloween: It’s time for some scary charts

By Matt Hargreaves / October 31, 2018 / Comments Off on Happy Halloween: It’s time for some scary charts

The financial world can be a scary place. It seems like there is always something to fear in the market. Fortunately, our worst fears usually don’t come to fruition.  To get in the Halloween spirit however, we have posted five scary charts to keep you up tonight. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for the…

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Market Update

By Matt Hargreaves / October 19, 2018 / Comments Off on Market Update

Market Update Stocks recently had their largest drop since February with the S&P 500 Index losing more than 5% in two days, although they have since staged something of a recovery. A combination of higher bond yields, a deepening U.S. trade conflict with China and elevated valuations all added up to the abrupt sell-off.  It…

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3rd Quarter 2018 Commentary – The Death of Diversification?

By Matt Hargreaves / October 10, 2018 / Comments Off on 3rd Quarter 2018 Commentary – The Death of Diversification?

Market Summary The third quarter of 2018 was the best quarter for U.S. stocks (as measured by the S&P 500 Index) in nearly five years. Tax cuts continued to push U.S. corporate profits higher with corporate America on track for another quarter of 20% growth in the third quarter[1]. The S&P 500 Index reached an…

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2nd Quarter 2018 Commentary

By Matt Hargreaves / July 20, 2018 / Comments Off on 2nd Quarter 2018 Commentary

Market Summary Record U.S. corporate profits and healthy U.S. economic data helped U.S. stocks to positive returns. Both the technology-focused Nasdaq Composite Index and small cap U.S. stock, as measured by the Russell 2000, reached new all-time highs. Small cap stocks aren’t as exposed to global trade which, along with political uncertainty, a strong U.S.…

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Stock Market Valuations

By Matt Hargreaves / June 21, 2018 / Comments Off on Stock Market Valuations

Stock Market Valuations With the U.S. stock market (as measured by the S&P 500) at its second largest and second longest bull market ever (Source: LPL Financial), valuations have risen to near record levels. Matt Hargreaves, our Chief Investment Officer, has put together a short video to help you understand what we mean when we talk about market…

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