Insight Archives - Aspiriant The Leading Independent Wealth Management Firm

InsightApril 18, 2017

First Quarter 2017 Insight

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Principal

Like coaches, portfolio managers must have a well-conceived game plan. Aspiriant’s game plan is grounded upon one basic investment concept: return on investment. At a time when we don’t see many good investment opportunities, taking a defensive posture appears to be the best overall strategy. more >

January 1, 2016

Fourth Quarter Market Perspective
Jan. 2016

By David Grecsek
Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Principal

With a few notable exceptions, fourth quarter market returns partially recouped the downturn suffered during the third quarter. more >

November 1, 2015

Market Perspective
Master Limited Partnerships

By David Grecsek
Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Principal

The MLP sector is still in a formative stage of development, and its transformation into a more mature asset class with greater depth isn’t going to happen overnight. more >

October 1, 2015

Third Quarter Market Perspective
Oct. 2015

By David Grecsek
Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Principal

Third quarter market returns were driven by a pronounced “risk-off” mentality related to continuing concerns of growth, earnings and volatility. more >

July 1, 2015

Second Quarter Market Perspective
July 2015

By David Grecsek
Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Principal

Over the past year, the market has had difficulty assessing the magnitude of financial tremors emanating from epicenters around the planet. more >

April 1, 2015

First Quarter Market Perspective
Apr. 2015

By David Grecsek
Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Principal

With investors seemingly oscillating between optimism and pessimism and greed and fear, the first quarter of 2015 followed suit with the third and fourth quarters of 2014. more >

January 1, 2015

Fourth Quarter Market Perspective
Jan. 2015

By David Grecsek
Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Principal

Financial markets ended 2014 in similar form and fashion to the way they started the year: whipsawing back-and-forth between risk-on and risk-off. more >

December 1, 2014

Preparing for Stormy Seas
Dec. 2014

By David Grecsek
Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Principal

The last 5 ½ years have been an extraordinary time to be an investor. Rebounding off of lows in early 2009, global equity markets have delivered very strong returns… more >

December 1, 2014

Capital Market Expectation
Dec. 2014

By David Grecsek
Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Principal

Aspiriant’s investment team constantly performs research, creates tools and implements processes in an ongoing effort to improve our investment platform. more >

August 1, 2014

Second Quarter Market Perspective
Aug. 2014

By David Grecsek
Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Principal

After taking a breather in first quarter, financial markets resumed their torrid pace during the second quarter of 2014 with prices for all financial assets moving broadly higher. more >

April 1, 2014

First Quarter Market Perspective
Apr. 2014

By David Grecsek
Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Principal

After five years of stellar performance, and over a year of very low volatility, global equities became more "normal" during the first quarter of 2014. more >

January 1, 2014

Fourth Quarter Market Perspective
Jan. 2014

By Alana Garrop
Director, Aspiriant Funds Communications

Global equity portfolios continued to plow ahead in 2013 as the economy showed substantial improvements. more >

December 1, 2013

Five Years Later, Lessons Learned

By Lisa Colletti
Director of Planning, Principal

Five years have passed since the fall of 2008, the most acute phase of the 2007-09 financial crisis. more >

October 1, 2013

Third Quarter Market Perspective
Oct. 2013

By David Grecsek
Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Principal

Over the last three months, the Eurozone economy edged out of its recession, the Federal Reserve slowed down its plans for tapering its economic support, and US economic growth continued... more >

July 1, 2013

Second Quarter Market Perspective
July 2013

By Aspiriant News
Leading Independent Wealth Management Firm

Global equity markets continued to rally most of the second quarter…until an abrupt end in mid-June... more >

April 1, 2013

First Quarter Market Perspective
April 2013

By Aspiriant News
Leading Independent Wealth Management Firm

Amid improved expectations for economic growth and employment, global equity markets continued to rally, with U.S. markets outperforming the rest of the world in Q1 of 2013. more >

March 1, 2013

Looking Back, Looking Forward

By Aspiriant News
Leading Independent Wealth Management Firm

Market-based interest rates have floated upward despite continued guidance that policy-based interest rates will remain steady for several years. more >

January 1, 2013

Fourth Quarter Market Perspective
January 2013

By Aspiriant News
Leading Independent Wealth Management Firm

Amid reduced fears of an economic and currency collapse in Europe, European and emerging markets stocks staged a strong comeback in Q4. more >

October 1, 2012

Third Quarter Market Perspective
October 2012

By Aspiriant News
Leading Independent Wealth Management Firm

On renewed hopes for a recovery in the global economy, commodities and global equity markets rebounded strongly in the third quarter. more >