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Risk Management 101 (Part 3)

Key Points

  • A histogram can be used to visually interrogate the distribution of a security’s returns.
  • These returns typically resemble a bell-shaped curve when viewed as a histogram.
  • A random variable that follows this type of bell-shaped distribution is said to follow a normal distribution.
  • There are certain characteristics of a normal distribution that can be helpful when investigating the returns of stocks, given an understanding of the assumptions involved in such analysis.
    Continue reading → Risk Management 101 (Part 3)
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Risk Management 101 (Part 2)

Key Points

  • Volatility measures the dispersion of returns of a security, which can be estimated by calculating the standard deviation of historical returns.
  • Based upon this standard deviation measure, and an understanding of a stock’s average historical return we can estimate a stock’s range of expected returns.
  • This information can be useful in determining whether a particular stock lies within one’s risk tolerance when making investment decisions.
  • However, there are many assumptions associated with this analysis, which must be taken into consideration. Continue reading → Risk Management 101 (Part 2)
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Risk Management 101 (Part 1)

Key Points

  • Sound investing comes down to focusing on what you can control, while still maintaining a solid understanding the risks associated with what you cannot.
  • Risk Management involves understanding and controlling for the uncertainties related to the financial markets (systematic risk) or a particular company (idiosyncratic risk).
  • Risk-adjusted return can be quantified by the ratio of expected return divided by risk.
  • Volatility is a common, although imperfect measure of risk.

Continue reading → Risk Management 101 (Part 1)

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Passive is the New Aggressive (Part 6)

Key Points

  • Over long periods, a passive investing approach in index funds is more likely to lead to an outcome that falls in line with a given benchmark.
  • With an active investing approach, where mutual fund fees are higher, outcomes are far less certain.
  • As such, the long-term opportunity cost of an active approach can be significant, and perhaps even disastrous.

Continue reading → Passive is the New Aggressive (Part 6)

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Do Not Let This Hobby Ruin Your Retirement.

The World’s Most Expensive Hobby (Part 1)

Key Points

  • Hobbies can provide lasting benefit by allowing individuals to refocus their efforts away from their careers towards alternative forms of enjoyment.
  • Nevertheless, active investing as a hobby might not be the best use of one’s free time.
  • Not only are the chances of adding value from this endeavor very slim, but also, the costs associated with investing unwisely can profoundly impact one’s long-term goals and aspirations.
  • As an example, most investors often overlook opportunity cost when making investment decisions even though this particular expense can be significant.

Continue reading → Do Not Let This Hobby Ruin Your Retirement.