April 2018 Newsletter

Client Portal Access :  www.golden-trail.com - Client Login

New Portfolio Reporting and Client Portal

A little more than a week ago, we rolled out a major upgrade to client portfolio reporting capabilities. People who have signed on to the client portal really like the new, user-friendly reports.     Also, we have heard some frustrations with the login process. It requires two-step verification, which means you need to enter a code that is texted to your cell phone. While this is a bit clumsy, it boosts security to a level we feel is appropriate.  If you have not done so, please log into your new secure portal. Once you set it up, you will have access to your portfolio reports and a secure vault to foster collaboration with your adviser.  You can log in using the link in the email we sent or from our website: www.golden-trail.com - Client Login.   We encourage you to call us and let us walk you through the login and give you a tour of your reports. We are here to help with any questions or issues.

Market Update

The case for diversification was made again in the first quarter of 2018. Bonds were soft from the first day of trading and have been mildly negative for the entire first quarter. Stocks, on the other hand, got off to a positive start before declining more than 10% to leave the S&P 500 in negative territory for the year. We would consider this movement in stocks to be part of the normal ebb and flow of markets.

The relative stability of bonds versus stocks was evident during the nine-day period through the first part of February when stocks dropped 10%. Bonds were off less than 1%. During this period, the wide variety of investment strategies that we call “alternative” performed in between stocks and bonds.   While we would like to think that gains in stocks like we saw in 2017 would continue, we are not surprised by the pullback. One of the most important variables in the movement of stocks is the level of corporate profit. Profit has been strong across many industries. Should strong profits continue as it appears likely, this bodes well for stock prices into the future.

Interest Rates are Rising... What Does That Mean For Bonds?

Bond returns have been negative for the year to date period. As rates have gone up, bond prices have gone down. And, after many years of extremely low interest rates, the Fed has been slowly raising interest rates since 2016.   So, why wouldn’t we get out of bonds?   read more

You Have Enough Money to Retire...So Now What? Congratulations! You’ve decided it’s time to retire and embark on the next chapter of your life. You’ve met multiple times with your financial adviser and feel confident all your ducks are in a row. You’re excited about the future and having more time to do what you want to do. So, now what?  read more

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