Category Archives: Stock Brokers

The Calculus of Trust

The bestselling book “Freakonomics” chronicles the search for the hidden incentives behind all sorts of behavior.  It characterizes the field of economics as the study of incentives – how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing.  “Freakonomics” gives entertaining examples of how odd results can [...]


An Option for Those Uncomfortable With Stock Picking

According to a recent survey by AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, preliminary findings indicate fewer than two in 10 Americans are confident of their ability to invest in the stock market, although 60 percent still believe equities are important in a portfolio.
With such a huge gap between those feeling comfortable investing in stocks themselves and [...]


Tracking 9 ETF Portfolios – Surprise Winners and Losers So Far in 2008

The famous professors at Yale have proven that asset allocation accounts for 90% of a portfolio’s return and that stock picking and market timing account for less than 10%.   So what a great time to look at how different asset allocations are faring in this market!
In 2008 it turns out that asset allocation decisions have everything [...]