Blog

Cutting Through the Noise


February 27, 2023

By Tom Bradley

Memories fade and scars heal. In investing, just a little too fast

A good read from Joe Wiggins on investor behaviour.

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November 25, 2022

By Tom Bradley

If you wait for certainty ...

'If you wait for certainty you'll miss the market.' These words of wisdom from Bob Hager refer to the notion that by the time the concerns and risks of the day are resolved, stock prices will already be significantly higher.

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August 30, 2022

By Tom Bradley

Words of wisdom on quick versus careful decision making

Words of wisdom from Baillie Gifford, a Scottish growth manager that's been under pressure recently due to a stretch of underperformance.

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June 17, 2022

By Scott Ronalds

When investing becomes a test of mettle

Investing has been a test of mettle lately. We look back at some words of advice from the spring of 2020 that are also hopefully helpful in these bumpy markets.

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January 20, 2022

By Tom Bradley

When to sell

Selling is an underrated skill in investing. It’s also an area where investors act less rationally. Here are a few words of wisdom on the topic from Howard Marks.

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June 29, 2020

By Tom Bradley

A few words on expertise

It’s human nature to look for insight and foresight in wild times like we're experiencing now. But it’s not the time to bet the farm on one view of the future.

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October 15, 2019

By Tom Bradley

Getting what you deserve from the markets

The struggle between thinking long term and making decisions based on short-term information and feedback is a mighty one. Here's a great video that brings it to life.

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January 7, 2019

By Salman Ahmed

Fear of the unknown

Some words of wisdom from the steadiest of hands in this charged environment.

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June 13, 2017

By Tom Bradley

When good is better than perfect

There's no such thing as a perfect portfolio.

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December 8, 2016

By Tom Bradley

Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable

Words of wisdom on dealing with uncomfortable moments in the markets.

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June 14, 2016

By Tom Bradley

The older I get ...

Tom's post-holiday reading prompted some words of wisdom from a mentor: "The older I get, the more I realize that simpler is better."

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June 6, 2016

By Tom Bradley

Walking the dog

A great investing analogy centered around a man walking his dog.

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June 19, 2014

By Tom Bradley

Bubbles

As I noted in an earlier post, I heard Cliff Asness of AQR Capital Management speak last month. He’s a fun guy to listen to, illustrated by his comment, “There’s a bubble in the use of the term bubble.” He didn’t claim to have come up with this clever line, but he ...

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January 7, 2014

By Scott Ronalds

Factors That Drive Lifetime Returns

Another sketch for the archives from Carl Richards. Richards is an American fee-based financial planner and author. His sketches appear in the New York Times Bucks Blog ...

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August 20, 2013

By Scott Ronalds

Here's to the Crazy Ones

I saw the movie Jobs last night in spite of a number of poor reviews. Just like Apple’s first prototype, I’d say it was just O.K. The flick ended, however, with one of Apple’s great commercials (spoiler alert), the 1997 ‘Think different’ ad: Here’s to the crazy...

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July 3, 2013

By Tom Bradley

Better Investors - One Article at a Time

“I long ago concluded that regression to the mean is the most powerful law in financial physics.” ... “Approximately 99% of the time, the single most important thing investors should do is absolutely nothing.” ... “This time is never different.” In an article last...

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March 5, 2013

By Tom Bradley

Wien's Wisdom

I came across a wonderful piece on the Blackstone Blog last week (I apologize, but I can’t remember who pointed me there). It’s entitled, ‘Byron Wien Discusses Lessons Learned in His First 80 Years’. As the title implies, Mr. Wien is an industry veteran and has lots...

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October 24, 2012

By Tom Bradley

Stupid Way to Invest

The Report on Business today published excerpts from an interview with John Bogle, the father of indexing and founder of Vanguard. We found one of his answers on the wealth management industry particularly poignant. “Today, that profession with elements of...

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October 19, 2012

By Scott Ronalds

Things You Can Control

Another timeless sketch from Carl Richards. Richards is an American fee-based financial planner and author. His sketches appear in the New York Times Bucks Blog and he writes a column for Morningstar (USA). Through simple drawings, he makes complex financial concepts easy to understand. We admire that.

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July 30, 2012

By Scott Ronalds

The Rear View Mirror

A great, timeless sketch from Carl Richards. Richards is an American fee-based financial planner and author. His sketches appear in the New York Times Bucks Blog and he writes a column for Morningstar (USA). Through simple drawings, he makes complex financial concepts easy to understand. We admire that.

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February 9, 2012

By Scott Ronalds

Invest Like a Champion Today

Warren Buffett’s perspectives on investing are worth their weight in gold (or better yet, stocks). Invest in things you understand. Wait for the right pitch. Don’t follow the herd. Buy things you’d be comfortable holding forever. In a recent article in Fortune...

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November 14, 2011

By Tom Bradley

Old News

“I think the future of equities will be roughly the same as their past; in particular, common-stock purchases will prove satisfactory when made at appropriated price levels. It may be objected that it is far too cursory and superficial a conclusion; that it...

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September 26, 2011

By Tom Bradley

The Usual Suspects

"The risks are the usual: what you don’t know; what you’re not thinking about; probably the biggest risk is what you are 100% sure about.” Bruce Berkowitz, Fairholme Capital Management, in a speech at Columbia University earlier this year...

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September 9, 2011

By Scott Ronalds

Forecasting

"The stock market has forecast nine of the last five recessions" - Paul Samuelson (Nobel Economist)

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June 8, 2011

By Tom Bradley

Steady Freddie. Stanley's Coming.

A 7-game playoff series is a unique animal. It’s a roller coaster ride with potential mood swings after each game. It reminds me a lot of investing actually. As I sit here with my Canucks jersey on, I feel like the boring realist. I’ve celebrated each victory and got pissed off after each loss, but in between, I've refused to get too caught up in the hyperbole. I've found myself in a few conversations that go...

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