Investors who follow our approach can look back on 2013 with satisfaction as global equity markets provided calendar-year returns well above historical norms. But rather than ponder market outcomes, we once again remind our readers that it is far more productive to focus on those factors that are within their control.• I will understand my …
In February 2010 the newly elected government of George Papandreou announced that Greece’s 2009 deficit was much larger than previously reported and revised it upward to an alarming 12.7 percent of GDP. This figure was more than double the previous government projection, and was later revised yet again, to 15.4 percent. This turned out to …
Imagine sitting in a bar in which you are introduced to someone said to have an uncanny ability to predict whether the Yankees will win or lose their next game. Further suppose that you know for a fact that for the previous six games he has walked into this bar the day before each game …
Bill Gross rocked the mutual fund industry in late September by resigning from Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO), the firm he founded in 1971, to join Janus Capital. Much of the ensuing media coverage has focused on the human drama surrounding his decision, rather than the important lesson this episode provides for investors. PIMCO describes …
Sept. 2014 – Investing and the Cult of Personality Read More »
Volatility is back. Just as many people were starting to think markets only ever move in one direction, the pendulum has swung the other way. Anxiety is a completely natural response to these events. Acting on those emotions, though, can end up doing us more harm than good. There are a number of tidy-sounding theories …
The field of finance is among the most successful branches of economics thanks largely to rapid advances in computer technology that began in the early 1960s. In particular the Fama-French three factor model, which has been tested exhaustively over many time periods and throughout global markets, has emerged as the pre-eminent standard for evaluating alternative …
As the New Year dawns, we find it hard to remember a time when troubling headlines were more pervasive. Many may wonder how the stock market, which is known to react swiftly to news, has once again reached a new high. The fact is, despite these disturbing developments U.S. capital markets have grown attractive relative …
Since its founding, our parent organization, the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), has been dedicated to conducting independent, scientific, economic research to educate individuals, thereby advancing their personal interests and those of the Nation. American Investment Services, Inc. (AIS) was created in order to extend this mission specifically within the field of personal finance …
Newly appointed SEC Chair Mary Jo White has been busy. During recent House Financial Services Committee oversight hearings she was grilled over high frequency trading (also known as“HFT”, or “flash trading”), a controversial practice that has dominated the financial news. On another front the Commission has been tasked under the Dodd-Frank Act with “harmonizing” the …
College grads often wonder whether to pay down student debt first or to save for retirement. Financially savvy folks recognize the need to save for retirement sooner than later, but they also know the detriment of carrying a large debt burden. To answer this quantitatively, you must compare your expected rate of return on retirement …
May 2014 – Pay College Loans or Save for Retirement? Read More »
American Investment Services, Inc. (AIS) is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser* founded in 1978.
AIS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of:
*Registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
The information provided does not constitute investment or tax advice and it should not be relied on as such. It does not take into account any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your tax and financial advisor. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. All material has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. There is no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information and AIS shall have no liability for decisions based on such information.
Any mention of commercial products or reference to commercial organizations is for information only; it does not imply recommendation or endorsement by AIS nor does it imply that the products mentioned are necessarily the best available for the purpose.