When to be a Contrarian Investor Paul Fain, CFP® As an investor, do you follow the crowd or march to your own beat? If more the latter, you might be a contrarian: “A person who opposes or rejects popular opinion.” When is it appropriate to be a contrarian investor? When markets are experiencing extreme highs…
Inflation is challenging. Take a breath and re-balance your investment portfolio Paul Fain, CFP® “I will survive!” sang Gloria Gaynor in the 1970s. Back then, it could have been a battle cry: Oil prices surged, inflation peaked at 14%, and the U.S. stock market plunged 45%. Almost 50 years later, we are facing challenges…
Rollercoaster markets don’t have to take you for a ride Paul Fain, CFP® It is Disney World’s 50th anniversary. If your investment portfolio was a Disney ride, what would it be? Maybe Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride or Space Mountain? Despite the bumpy ride, most every theme park ride ends up where it started. In the third…
Don’t let FOMO or a golfing buddy rule your investing decisions | Paul Fain, CFP® Where do you get the financial information upon which you base your investment decisions? If we are being honest, the answer for many people is probably: a family member, a cable television show, or a magazine or newsletter. “Well Paul, you…
Want results from your investments? Don’t get emotional | Paul Fain, CFP® Famed investor Benjamin Graham once said, “The investor’s chief problem, and even his worst enemy, is likely to be himself.” DALBAR, a financial market research firm, conducts an annual study of investor behavior. With 25 years of data, the study’s conclusion is frighteningly…
After a Long Year, There’s More Clarity Ahead For Investors | Paul Fain, CFP® After a long year, these spring days seem particularly sweet. Unlike 2020, when uncertainty was so widespread, we now see more clearly looking ahead. The recent government checks to consumers, plus the big infrastructure project on the drawing board, could boost…
Tempted to Speculate? Don’t Risk More Than You Can Afford | Paul Fain, CFP® It’s madness, March Madness! It is always fun to fill in a NCAA basketball tournament bracket, whether for family bragging rights or for the office bracket pool. As the tournament unfolds, most of the basketball powerhouses smash lesser rivals while a…
New Baby in the Family? Here’s Some Financial Advice | Paul Fain, CFP® In the midst of much trial and tribulation around our country, can I share a personal story on the lighter side of life? I’m a first-time grandpa. This experience is good beyond my imagination – all the joy with none of the…
Should I Buy GameStop Stock? | Paul Fain, CFP® Hello all! Just when you thought it couldn’t get any wackier!? It did. Several weeks ago, my son asked me if I had seen what was happening with GameStop, AMC and Blackberry stocks. My honest reply was, “No, but are those companies still in business?” In…
Expect the Unexpected for the 2021 Stock Market, and Plan Accordingly | Paul Fain Last year was a paradox: The second quarter was the worst GDP performance on record. However, November was one of the best months for the stock market on record, led by long-lagging small caps and value stocks. The Russell 2000 Index…