Legg-Mason ClearBridge's Senior Portfolio Manager, John Goode, provides his first quarter market review. "Tales from the Past and the Future Perspective about the future requires speculation about developments over a time period which often is not helpful for near and intermediate term investment decisions. However, there are times in history when it is necessary to step out on a thin intellectual limb and try to make sense of some of the very big developments that may be especially important over the next 7-10 years. In doing this, it is necessary to look back in time to understand how we got here and where we might be going. [+] Read More

Cambiar's commentary highlights a cautious view on energy and reviews the strategy's international approach following Japan's surge in Q1.  [+] Read More

Our focus isn’t on emphasizing just whether a company is good or bad but how people are reacting to it. How the sentiment changes. Fundamentals matter but how they interact with human behavior is what creates investing opportunities. Our view is: Stay in the middle of the boat, ignore the headlines and do well in some companies that people may not expect: healthcare in emerging markets or U.S. grocery stores, for example. Read more market perspectives in Eagle Asset Management's insightful whitepaper. [+] Read More

"The Fed may have axed the word patience from its commentary but I’m beginning to wonder if extreme patience may be called for." Eagle Asset Management's, Richard Skeppstrom, weighs in on the Federal Reserve's comments following the last Federal Open Market Committee meeting.  [+] Read More

Over the last few months, a string of global events have tested the markets. Whether it’s the spread of Ebola, the presence of terrorist group ISIS in Iraq and Syria, or the latest in the geopolitical chess match between Russia and the West, it seems there is no shortage of events that could impact the markets and your portfolio. The natural question on many investors’ minds is: will these events affect the upward market trend and is it time to adjust my portfolio? [+] Read More

We are fortunate to have a brilliant CFA here at WrapManager, Doug Hutchinson. At our weekly staff meetings, he has been testing our abilities with financial quizzes. These are great tests of your investment knowledge. Good luck! Scenario: ETF A has an expense ratio of 0.05% ETF B has an expense ratio of 0.20% Assume ETF A and ETF B track the same index and both track that index perfectly. So if the index returns 5%, then ETF A will return 4.95% (including the expense ratio) and ETF B will return 4.80% (including the expense ratio). Assume the index returns 5% a year for each of the next 3 years. Manager A invests $10,000 in ETF A at the start of Year 1 Manager B invests $10,000 in ETF B at the start of Year 1 What is the difference in wealth accumulation (in dollar terms) between Manager A and Manager B after 1 year? After 3 years? [+] Read More

JP Morgan’s quarterly Guide to the Markets provides a wealth of information about the economy, stocks, fixed income and international markets, mainly displayed in easy to understand charts and graphs. It represents a one-stop shop for information that is often hard to find and scattered among multiple sources. These are just a few pieces of information you will find in the Guide: The current state of the US and international economies Interest rates and inflation Annual returns and intra-year declines Fixed income sector returns Outlook for US, international and emerging stock markets Download the Guide Here [+] Read More

In response to the 2008 global financial crisis, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates to near zero in an effort to save the economy. As the US economy strengthens, it becomes more likely the Fed will reverse course,1 and the possibility of rising interest rates has some investors worried. Higher rates imply the cost of doing business (or buying a home, for instance) could become more costly, which could hurt the economy. Does this mean that rising interest rates could mean poor stock performance ahead? If so, are adjustments to your portfolio warranted? [+] Read More

Midterm elections are just a few months away, prompting many investors to explore the often-asked questions: how do political outcomes affect the stock market? Is it worth making any adjustments to your portfolio? We can look to past midterm elections for what may lie ahead for the markets and your investment portfolio. Why Do Midterms Affect the Market? 1. Less Legislating, More Campaigning This can be a net positive for the markets, given the lowered near-term possibility of new laws affecting the markets and the business community. [+] Read More