The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting virtually everyone in our society, and our hearts go out to all who have suffered first-hand or through friends and family. As a former practicing physician, I cannot help focusing on the plight of our healthcare workers – including nurses, aides, support staff, Read more…
How You Can Benefit from a Down Market Using an Employer Stock Purchase Plan
An ESPP (short for Employer Stock Purchase Plan) is a super valuable benefit offered by your company that allow you to purchase your company stock at a discount. With the recent drop in the US stock market however, you might find that the price of your company shares is now below even the Read more…
7 Ways You Can Take Advantage of the Down Market
Volatility and risk are part of the stock market experience – it’s why stocks produce higher returns than less-risky assets over long periods of time. We say this often, it’s easy to forget when the market declines. Read more…
A Common Mistake Many Investors Make: Mental Rigidity
New ideas are always difficult to accept at first. This is never more true than when those new concepts conflict with our existing beliefs. Read more…
It's Not Free: Why You Need to Take a Closer Look at Commission-Free Trading
On October 7th, Charles Schwab started offering commission-free trading. TD Ameritrade nearly fell over themselves to follow suit and match their competitor, but neither brokerage was the first to make this offer to their customers. Vanguard, J.P. Morgan, and Interactive Brokers all beat them to Read more…
Asset Allocation
Asset allocation is the most important decision a long-term investor makes, and it’s one of the few things in the world of investing that is fully within your control. A famous paper published 1986 determined that asset allocation explains 93.6% of variation in portfolio returns. It’s worth noting Read more…
Thinking About Markets Like Piles of Sand
The idea of complex adaptive systems might sound overwhelming, but an experiment conducted by physicist Per Bak makes the concept easier to understand. Read more…
Time Beats Timing
It’s tempting to think about the possibility of buying and selling at just the right moment. Here’s a dirty little secret that most of the investment industry doesn’t want you to know: Time is more important than timing in investment success. Read more…
3(21) or 3(38): A Guide for Business Owners
Plancorp has worked with many business owners over the years to improve their corporate retirement plans. We have rarely come across a business owner who wanted more liability on their plate. Unfortunately, business owners frequently retain more than their fair share of legal liability—without even Read more…
Staying the Course in Turbulent Times: Apollo Lupescu
Thanks to all who attended Plancorp’s client appreciation event on March 13th 2019. We were thrilled to welcome Apollo Lupescu, Vice President at Dimensional, to discuss “staying the course in turbulent times.” Read more…
