A Case Study: John and Cathy are in their 50s, and have begun to think about retirement. They have four children – one of whom, Matthew (age 25), suffers from a disability. The disability is not pronounced enough for Matthew to need full time care. In fact, for many years John and Cathy have been working hard to help him... Read More
The Power of Incremental Change
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. -Robert Frost "The Road Not Taken" I had a conversation with a friend recently regarding the merits and joys of running. My friend told me about a run one early, weekend morning. He watched a perfect Portland... Read More
Does your advisor have your best interests at heart? A 4-Step Framework
Some decisions in life (like choosing a grocery store) do not require a great deal of thought. These choices are relatively minor, and typically a product of convenience. On the other hand, some decisions (like doing business with a new business or firm) are much more substantial, involve in-depth analysis, and a level of mutual trust. That’s because unlike a... Read More
7 Tips for Protecting Your Financial Information
Online security has been a hot topic of conversation lately, and it’s easy to see why. It seems like every week we’re hearing a story about another breach, and many people are becoming wary about the accessibility of their financial information. It’s hard to forget mega retailer Target Corp.’s recent data hack, deemed one of the biggest cybercrimes of all... Read More
Globetrotting With Your Portfolio
Recently on the Cordant blog, we examined equity valuations in the US market, and whether US equities are unreasonably expensive. We concluded that while US valuations are high, they are not wildly so - and could very well remain high given the current low rate, low inflation and low volatility environment.While predicting a market correction, or timing the market in... Read More
Is The Market Too Expensive?
“Far more money has been lost by investors preparing for corrections, or trying to anticipate corrections, than has been lost in corrections themselves.” – Peter Lynch US Equity Valuations The last five years have been pretty great for equity investors — particularly investors in US equities. The US equity market rewarded investors with an 18% annualized gain over the last... Read More
4 Hidden Investment Expenses that May Be Undermining Your Returns
"What does it cost?" It’s no secret that effectively managing your wealth requires an intentional approach to selecting your investments. But what many don’t realize is the importance of identifying and considering the costs associated with certain investment vehicles. Investment fees can be a big detractor from the net returns you end up realizing in your portfolio. Therefore, it’s crucial... Read More
Maintaining your Investment Strategy in Retirement
Previously on the Cordant blog, we discussed the importance of building an optimized portfolio in retirement. Taking an intentional approach to selecting and managing your assets is crucial to developing an effective investment strategy – particularly in retirement, when these decisions can have a significant impact on the amount you can prudently spend. While building an optimized portfolio is important,... Read More
Why I Left Wall Street
We’ve shared a bit about the story of our business - but my personal journey is not as widely known. The fact is – before founding Cordant in 2010, I spent almost 10 years at a major Wall Street firm, as a Wealth Advisor and (later) Senior Vice President. Many considered my time there successful - I built a strong... Read More
How to Select & Manage your Assets in Retirement
Preserving your quality of life in retirement is no simple task. It requires not only a holistic approach to your overall wealth management, but also a deliberate focus on building an optimized portfolio. Being intentional with your investment decisions can add tremendous value to your portfolio in retirement. Therefore, when designing a portfolio and managing your investment assets in retirement,... Read More