Insight Archives - Aspiriant The Leading Independent Wealth Management Firm

Investment ManagementApril 23, 2019

First Quarter 2019 Insight

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

When it comes to stitching the seam between the financial markets and the real economy, our federal government appears to be running out of thread. Read how government fiscal and monetary policies impact asset valuations and economic growth. more >

Investment ManagementJanuary 22, 2019

Fourth Quarter 2018 Insight

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

As you strive to reach your financial goals, you need to be prepared for bumps along the way so you don’t get derailed. Learn how risky IPOs and disappointing corporate earnings signal a prolonged downturn and why we see a return to active portfolio management to achieve better performance. more >

Investment ManagementOctober 23, 2018

Third Quarter 2018 Insight

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

Like the advances made by scientists to understand natural disasters, Aspiriant has developed a robust early warning system to anticipate market cycles and prepare investors for volatility. Find out why we believe we're approaching a period of lower market returns. more >

Investment ManagementJuly 24, 2018

Second Quarter 2018 Insight

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

Resisting the allure of popular assets and maintaining discipline while investing can be challenging. But all too often, instant popularity ends in prolonged desolation. Learn why at times like these, when stock prices become increasingly irrational, investors must remain steadfast and vigilant. more >

Investment ManagementApril 20, 2018

First Quarter 2018 Insight

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

Our Investment Strategy & Research team continues its comparison of investing to gambling, both of which combine chance with skill. Learn how to recognize when you have “limited outs” and minimize risk-taking in your portfolio before you “draw dead.” more >

Investment ManagementFebruary 23, 2018

Fourth Quarter 2017 Insight

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

It may seem like investing is akin to gambling. Although luck certainly plays a role when it comes to investing, we believe skill determines long-term performance. Learn how we interpret what the market “tells” us and what it might mean for investing. more >

Investment ManagementJanuary 2, 2018

Market Perspective: New Tax Legislation

By Marc Castellani
Managing Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Partner

The president has signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. What does that mean for the economy? Managing Director Marc Castellani of our Investment Strategy & Research group details our views on the tax reform's potential effects. more >

Investment ManagementDecember 5, 2017

Foundational Elements: Speculator or Investor?

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

Investors hold U.S. equities expecting periods of low returns. Speculators tend to operate under FOMO, the fear of missing out. Read how Sir Isaac Newton succumbed to FOMO. more >

Investment ManagementNovember 3, 2017

Foundational Elements: Focus on Fair Value

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

We advise investors to focus on the fair value of an investment while avoiding market noise. In our new Foundational Elements series, the story of Warren Buffett's purchase of a farm is a good example. more >

Investment ManagementOctober 24, 2017

Third Quarter 2017 Insight

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

The U.S. stock market continued to fly high in the third quarter. However, similar to 1999, the current market value of the S&P 500 appears to have far outpaced its fair value. As a result, we believe U.S. equities have become less attractive and are priced to generate low returns going forward. more >

Investment ManagementJuly 31, 2017

Second Quarter 2017 Insight

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

The long-term growth rate of the U.S. economy charts the flight path of equity values. Our newest Insight highlights the factors, or the fuel, affecting economic growth. more >

Investment ManagementApril 18, 2017

First Quarter 2017 Insight

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

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 strategy. more >

Investment ManagementJanuary 1, 2016

Fourth Quarter Market Perspective
Jan. 2016

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

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

Investment ManagementNovember 1, 2015

Market Perspective
Master Limited Partnerships

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 >

Investment ManagementJuly 1, 2015

Second Quarter Market Perspective
July 2015

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

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

Investment ManagementApril 1, 2015

First Quarter Market Perspective
Apr. 2015

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

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 >

Investment ManagementJanuary 1, 2015

Fourth Quarter Market Perspective
Jan. 2015

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

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 >

Investment ManagementDecember 1, 2014

Preparing for Stormy Seas
Dec. 2014

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

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 >

Investment ManagementDecember 1, 2014

Capital Market Expectation
Dec. 2014

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

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

Investment ManagementAugust 1, 2014

Second Quarter Market Perspective
Aug. 2014

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

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 >

Investment ManagementApril 1, 2014

First Quarter Market Perspective
Apr. 2014

By John Allen
Chief Investment Officer, Partner

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 >

Investment ManagementJanuary 1, 2014

Fourth Quarter Market Perspective
Jan. 2014

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

Investment ManagementDecember 1, 2013

Five Years Later, Lessons Learned

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

Investment ManagementOctober 1, 2013

Third Quarter Market Perspective
Oct. 2013

By David Grecsek
Managing Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Partner

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 >

Investment ManagementJuly 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 >

Investment ManagementApril 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 >

Investment ManagementMarch 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 >

Investment ManagementJanuary 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 >

Investment ManagementOctober 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 >