Stableford Capital Insights

The S&P 500 increased 6.4% during December, driven by the US – China preliminary trade deal and continued Fed stealth Quantitative Easing. While some of the details still need to be worked out with China, there seems to be a détente for now. This break allows markets to view the world order through rose colored glasses.

Not all investment strategies are created equal, or yield the desired high returns with low risk. While an index fund investing strategy may be appealing in its ease of use and promised diversification, there are often hidden downsides. Index funds alone may not be the most efficient way to grow your wealth. Here we evaluate the different benefits of investing in index funds versus single stocks, as well as the often unforeseen pitfalls of mutual funds.

Thanksgiving brings about a season of giving thanks and joy – of feasting and football, including the Stableford Turkey Bowl! We are thankful to be able to work with and for such extraordinary people. And one of the most important things we can help give to our clients at this time of year is peace of mind. By continuously watching the ever changing investment environment, and providing timely information through our market blasts, we proactively look ahead to help ensure the unexpected doesn’t interfere with the life they planned.

The S&P 500 increased 3.4% during November on the hope that a trade deal with China would be signed and belief that the economy had bottomed. Investors were getting nearly euphoric, and measures of value were beginning to look stretched (though a slight correction at the beginning of December rectified some of this).

Five years ago, many outsiders said it could not be done. They thought there was no way ‘another’ registered investment advisory could stand toe-to-toe with the older Private Wealth Management firms and Banks. Five years ago, our founder realized that Financial Advisors, their tools and vehicles were undergoing the most profound change the Financial Industry had seen in thirty-years. In order to be a part of the next generation, Stableford would have to address five areas: authentic portfolio management of individual stocks, custom tax and ESG solutions. index-replication technology and zero bound trading costs. Well, we proved the skeptics wrong, and not only are we going strong, we are exceeding expectations.

The S&P 500 increased 2% during October as investors began to believe that the economy is beginning to re-accelerate. This move off the recent October lows was propelled by diminishing fears of recession and trade wars. Recent high frequency economic survey data has recently begun to turn upward, and the US – China trade war has moved toward (at least a temporary) détente.

Family office wealth management helps you plan ahead for upcoming taxes, as well as significant life changes before they happen. As your family office partner, Stableford is by your side through the good and bad events, advising on the best tax planning strategies to protect your family’s wealth. Ultra high-net-worth families are especially prone to major effects of change, so it’s important to be prepared. That is simply part of our integrated advisory approach.

After a volatile August, the S&P 500 increased 1.3% during September as fears of the global slowdown began to dissipate. The respite may be short lived however, as early October ISM surveys indicate a contraction in the manufacturing side of the economy. The key question from here is whether the contraction will spread from the relatively small manufacturing component (approximately 10%) to the much larger services side of the US economy.

When selecting variable or fixed indexed annuities, it’s important to consider how each will affect your overall financial investment strategy. Both come with the added benefit of taking payouts for life, so you don’t have to worry about outliving your investments. But they each have downsides, too. So which is best for your financial investment strategy? Potentially both.

The S&P 500 fell 1.8 % during a volatile August as the Federal Reserve’s -25 basis point move on July 31 proved too hawkish versus expectations. Yields on the 10 Yr US Treasury fell 50 basis points to 1.5% in August as well.