The Past Week In Markets & Protective Action Against Covid-19 A few weeks ago global stockmarkets were at record highs, supported by data on the US economy which indicated continued growth ahead. But as Covid-19 made its way to Europe and the US, markets turned quickly into the fastest declines on record with extreme intermittent volatility. With worst case scenarios being extrapolated fear of a recession has moved to the forefront of many minds. The
Read more →Firstly, the health issues Much has been written on the medical and health issues of COVID-19 in recent weeks by people far more knowledgeable than I am, and much more will follow in the weeks to come. Nonetheless, there is no doubt we are going to see a huge increase in the number of cases of the virus in the coming days and weeks. This is not due to any new pattern in the spread
Read more →It’s that time again when many commercial organisations are looking to kickstart their year off with a big marketing event so that they can display their wares in a good light and, hopefully, generate substantial new business volumes over the coming 12 months. The Financial Services Industry is no different. In the next few weeks, if past years’ experiences are likely to be repeated, I will receive invitations by at least 6 different investment fund
Read more →With the progress of technology we have got used to instant gratification. We use the internet to research whatever grabs our immediate attention and we use social media to pass this information on. Similarly Reality TV has become a staple in many people’s everyday activity – they watch it, they talk about it and they share commentary through social media. Whether we like it or not short term focus is the order of the day.
Read more →Every so often I meet a personal investor who will tell me that now is the right time or the wrong time to invest, depending on whether the markets are going up or down as well as depending on that individual’s past experience. Despite having 30 years of investment experience I never get into an argument with them because I know something they don’t. Namely, very, very experienced investment professionals rarely, if ever, out think
Read more →Some years ago I became involved in using psychometric tools to analyse human behaviour in a financial context. Since then I have been more watchful of both individuals and group dynamics as people go about their daily routines. The skipping of breakfast, grabbing a coffee on the way into work, eating a sandwich at the desk, playing 5 a side football on the way home or the 9 holes of golf on early spring evening. Indeed, we all have our
Read more →We all know the phrase of “not putting all of your eggs in the one basket” but when it comes to investing especially if an investor has not experienced poor investment returns in a while (or possibly, even ever) this approach gets consigned to the category of applying to other people only. If it’s the one thing that a lifetime of being invovled in investments has taught me is that poor returns always follow good
Read more →A little over nine years ago a new personal financial qualification, the Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning was introduced by University College Dublin in conjunction with support from the Life Insurance Association, the Institute of Bankers and the Institute of Taxation. Those who successfully completed this program were then able to sit a further exam with a view to obtaining the international accreditation Certified Financial Planner™ (also referred to as CFP®). This accreditation is regarded
Read more →The more that I earn my livelihood from financial services the more I see the same commentary appear again and again. Call me a cynic but it’s about time that the financial media be it print, TV or digital copped itself on and stopped trying to sensationalise basic issues. With the advent of reality TV, the move to reality investment market TV leaves, at times, the likes of the X Factor and Big Brother in the shade. Every
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