Investing
Volatility feels bad but your behavior is the big risk
The importance of learning the difference between volatility and riskBy Bob || October 13, 2025Risk, reward and probabilitiesThere is a basic concept in investing which is good to review. If you accept a higher level of risk, you should be compensated with a higher...
Who is the customer? Why Passive wins.
Active asset managers seek the endorsement of Financial Advisors. Investors seek the advice of Financial Advisors. Who is the customer? The long term performance of low cost passive funds wins hands down.
Investing: It could be simple
Investing could be so simple yet some financial advisors create unnecessary complexity to justify their fees
The Haystack has all of the winners that you need
The Haystack has the winners that you need By Bob Peters || August 1, 2024Avoid getting poked by the needle The phrase, finding a needle in a haystack, connotates the near impossibility of finding someone or something. When it comes to investing it may not be quite...
Time: The same investment can be either risky or prudent
The same investment can either be risky or prudent depending on your time horizon. Volatility and expected future returns should align with your short, intermediate and long-term goals.
Diversification wins in the long run
Capitalism, a Free Market and Creative DestructionBy Bob Peters || May 20, 2023The lifespan of a business is fragileWhen you invest in equity securities of businesses by buying either an individual company stock or a low cost, highly diversified Exchange Traded Fund...
Part 3: Interest Rates matter and how Inflation is fought
The US Government borrows at the risk free rate. All other investments need to provide a higher rate of return. Fighting inflation is painful.
Part 2: Diversification, the Power of Staying the Course, Duration and Jane 
Part 2: Pursuing Diversification, the Power of Staying Invested, Savings vs Investing, the importance of Matching, DurationBy Bob Peters || November 20, 2022What I hope you take away from this blog post -Some people will be compensated with the stock of their...
A link to a Compound Interest calculator that shows you the power of investing early in your life.
Albert Einstein described compound interest as the eighth wonder of the world. The power of regularly Investing Wisely, at an early age, will generate a tremendous amount of wealth for you. Set up your Budget to give you a line of sight on your path to Financial Security.
A 5:48 video by Warren Buffett where he explains Intrinsic Value
Investing is putting money out today and getting money in the future. Intrinsic Value is determined when and how much cash you are likely to get in the future. All those future cash flows are discounted back using a discount rate correlated to the US Government 10 year Treasury bond. The math is fairly simple; the discounted present value of future cash. What is much more difficult is to estimate how much cash and when you will receive those cash payments. If you do not perform this analysis then you are speculating, not Investing Wisely. You don't need to do this analysis if you invest in a low cost diversified exchange traded fund holding many businesses.
45 minute video on Finance, business financial statements, risk/return and the power of compounding interest: William Ackman, "Everything you need to know about Finance and Investing in Under an Hour"
This video has been viewed over 6.5 million times and was delivered via the Big Think Channel. William uses a fictitious "Bill's Lemonade Stand" to illustrate assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses, cash flow, debt vs. equity, compound rates of return and more. Well presented and worth a look if you are interested in a basic overview of what goes into the determination of intrinsic value and long term wealth creation.
A Podcast: "Rational Reminder: Charles D Ellis: The Losers Game"
Trying to beat the market is a fools game. There has been rigorous research that shows that active management loses to passive management. Charles Ellis, former Chairman of Yale's investment Committee explains why, in today's world where information is ubiquitous, it's a losers game to try and pick stocks OR to expect a financial advisor or money manager to beat the market.
A Website: "Professor Hendrik Bessembinder: Another reason why selecting individual stocks does not pencil"
You will be barraged by people who earn their living by selecting individual securities (aka "active" vs. "passive"). They will be very persusavive but I suggest that it is nearly impossible to find a needle in the haystack. Since 1926, 50% of total stock market returns have been from 86 companies. I encourge rethinking stock picking if you (or a hired money manager) think you can pick less than one third of one percent of all businesses. If you don't find the 4.3% of all businesses you are destined to perform worse than treasury securities.
A Website: "The Merriman Financial Education Foundation"
After Paul Merriman sold his Registered Investment Advisory practice over 10 years ago he founded the Merriman Financial Education Foundation. This non-profit is solely committed to education and receives no compensation for managing money. There are no conflicts of interest. The Foundation leans heavily on established academic research to support a very simple pathway for long term wealth creation. The site has links to free books, articles and tables that support an effective and simple approach to investing for the long term.
Recent Posts
Sunk Costs: Know when to hold’em, know when to fold’em
Decision Making can be improved by understanding sunk costs. Perseverance is about sticking with good bets, not resuscitating bad ones.
Volatility feels bad but your behavior is the big risk
The importance of learning the difference between volatility and riskBy Bob || October 13, 2025Risk, reward and probabilitiesThere is a basic concept in investing which is good to review. If you accept a higher level of risk, you should be compensated with a higher...
Poor Richard and Seed Corn for your future
Your financial security can be enhanced from the lessons learned on the farm. Don’t eat the seed corn.
Diversification is good but requires good Behavior
Diversification. How losing in the short term leads to winning in the long term. Diversification is good but requires good Behavior.