The Pathways Advisory Group, Inc. office will be closed for
Friday, December 21, 2018
Holiday Office Hours
The Pathways Advisory Group, Inc. office will be closed for
the following holidays:
Monday, December 24th, 2018
Tuesday, December 25th, 2018
Closed at Noon - Monday, December 31st, 2018
Tuesday, January 1st, 2019
Monday, January 21st, 2019
Monday, February 18th, 2019
Friday, April 19th, 2019
Monday, May 27th, 2019
Thursday, July 4th, 2019
Monday, September 2nd, 2019
In case of an emergency,
please contact Schwab directly at 1(800) 435-4000.
Happy Holidays!
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
It's Dividend Season!
Pathways Advisory Group, Inc. Evon Mendrin, CFP® |
If you’re investing in mutual funds, a curious thing tends
to happen each quarter. The value of your funds all suddenly dip! What is the
cause? A market calamity across every type of investment??
While regular market activity might affect the value too,
one key reason for the dip in prices is the dividend. Mutual funds hold a bunch
of stocks, bonds, and other investments. These stocks may pay dividends and the
bonds interest. To avoid paying taxes on this income themselves, mutual funds
are required to pass them on to you, the shareholder. This can be done
annually, but often each quarter. You may see larger capital gain distributions
at the end of the year as well.
That’s a good thing, right? Sure, you are able to benefit
from the cash flow of the many stocks and bonds you are invested in. However,
it does something funny to the price. Each quarter, mutual funds that pay
dividends will reduce their share prices by the same amount of the dividend
being paid out. This happens on the “ex-dividend” date, the first date you can
buy the mutual fund but not have a right to receive that quarter’s dividend.
For example, let’s say XYZ Stock Fund has a current price of
$10.00 per share. The fund is set to pay a $0.10 per share dividend on Friday.
So, on Thursday, the “ex-dividend” date, the price will drop by the same amount
to $9.90 per share.
This makes sense – why pay the same price to buy an
investment, but not have a right to the dividend everyone else is getting? So,
the price adjusts accordingly. And you, the current owner, still end up the
same financially. Your fund goes down $0.10, but you get a $0.10 cash dividend.
Why now? It’s now that time of year! In fact, the 17th
and 18th of this month marked the “ex-dividend” date for many of the
mutual fund we invest in. We hope this post sheds some light on the change in
prices.
Happy Dividend Season and Happy Holidays!
Find Evon on
Other Posts you might like:
Friday, October 26, 2018
Donating Required Traditional IRA Distributions
Pathways Advisory Group, Inc. Dustin J. Smith, CFP® |
As many of you know, you are required to take taxable distributions
from your Traditional IRA once you attain the age of 70½. Those of you that have experienced this
firsthand likely experienced a subsequent uptick in state and federal tax due. However, as touched on in 2016, donating these required Traditional IRA distributions
directly to a charity (otherwise known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (or
QCD) can help mitigate this uptick in taxation.
Why revisit QCDs now?
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (enacted late last
year) made them more attractive. The
fact that taxpayers can take the greater of their itemized deductions or the standard deduction
has not changed, but a near doubling of the standard deduction (along with the end of miscellaneous
deductions and a new limit for state and local taxes of $10,000), means that more
taxpayers will take the standard deduction in the future.
How will more standard deduction taxpayers make QCDs more attractive?
Charitable giving has been one
of the more popular itemized deductions in the tax code. Once Standard Deduction taxpayers realize
there is no longer a material tax benefit from their itemized giving, they will
look for alternatives.
If you take the
standard deduction and also happen to have a required Traditional IRA
distribution, donating the required distribution (or any portion of it)
directly to a charity (instead of writing a check yourself) effectively makes
the contribution deductible again.
How do QCDs work again?
Required Traditional IRA distributions, up to
$100,000, can be given directly to a qualified charity without incurring any
tax due. It’s tax-free money to the
charity and a non-taxable distribution for the taxpayer, yet still satisfies the
taxpayer’s distribution requirement (or a portion of it). Although it’s not technically
reported as a deduction, avoiding taxation on the required distribution is
effectively the same thing.
QCDs have
been around since 2006 but they will be much more prevalent now. For standard deduction taxpayers with required
distributions from a Traditional IRA, it’s time to consider switching all charitable
giving to direct gifts from a Traditional IRA.
Dustin J. Smith, CFP®
The above explanation
is summarized. It is not all inclusive. Please confirm all specifics with your
tax professional. For a more detailed summary of the 2018 Tax Laws alluded to
above take a look at this post from January.
Find Dustin on
Other Posts You Might Like:
Friday, October 12, 2018
Perspective During "Turmoil"
If you’ve been anywhere near the news this week, you’ve
likely been made aware of the most recent “End of the World As We Know It.” Stocks had a rough day at the office, and globally we saw quite the decline. How bad was it? Well, if you do a quick Google search of “stocks”
and “bloodbath”, you can find more articles than you’d like explaining how the
sky is falling, such as:
- “Traders are betting that the global market bloodbath…”
- “Wall Street Bloodbath Paints Tech and Media Stocks Red”
- “Australian stock market plummets after bloodbath on Wall Street…”
- And of course, to help you get through the chaos – “5 Ultra-Safe Stocks to Survive the Wall Street Bloodbath”
To add to it, the financial news is sure to inform us that
the Dow Jones Industrial Average faced the third-worst points decline in history,
having dropped about 832 points. It’s enough to convince you the end is here and there’s
no going back. But what does that really mean? Are we really seeing such a
historically devastating event?
When looked at through the proper historical perspective, we
see that the day’s drop in the Dow Jones was hardly a devastating event. It’s
easy to view dramatic events through a microscope, looking only through a narrow lens. But what if we change lenses,
zooming out with for a wider perspective?
Let’s go one lens wider. 832 points may be the third-highest
point
drop, but as a percentage, it was only roughly 3.1%. That’s hardly historically devastating. For perspective, the 20th largest historical percentage drop in the Dow Jones was 7.07% (7/20/1933).
The largest ever? 23.52% (12/12/1914). A 3% dip is a drop (no pun intended) in
the bucket compared to that.
Data from us.spindices.com (10/11/2018) |
Interestingly, that huge drop was only 16.8 points. Using a points drop isn’t a helpful
reference when the value of the Dow Jones is so much higher than the past. In
1980, the Dow as a whole was only worth around 850 points! The index is currently valued at around 25,000. As Dustin
wrote about before, “the Dow just ain’t what it used to be.” Long-term, despite
the headlines, the stock market continues its march.
What about the performance of stocks for the year? Through
this lens, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is actually positive for this year
– just over 3%year-to-date. So is the S&P 500, a popular measure of large-cap
US stocks, gaining just over 4%.
US stocks as a whole are positive for the year, as the Russell 3000 index is up about 3%. Sure takes the sting out of one day’s
news.
With the widest lens of historical perspective, we also see
a decline like this is actually typical. Par for the course. Over the last 38 years, the
S&P 500 has had positive returns in 29 years (76%). However, we see an average
decline within each year of 13.8%. If we go back to 1946, we see similar results. That kind of drop, historically, is typical
within any given year, and doesn’t tell us much about how the year will end.
It’s amazing what perspective can do when faced with one
day’s dramatic event. Taking a step back gives us the opportunity to evaluate
what’s really going on and not overreact. Where do stocks go from here?
Impossible to say. Trying to predict where the stock market goes in the
short-term is a fool’s errand. Should we rush to action? Despite the “chaos” you see,
nope. Try to tune out the noise, keep a long-term perspective, and continue with the long-term investment
plan you’ve had all along.
Note: All returns data are as of writing, 10/11/2018. The data may have changed as of the
time you read this
Find Evon on
Other Posts you might like:
Friday, September 28, 2018
Credit Freezes Are Now Free!
Pathways Advisory Group |
Just over a year ago, Equifax experienced a data breach affecting the private information of over 140 million people. In a blog post responding to the breach, we highlighted a few ways to protect yourself from potential use of your information. One of the most useful methods is placing a freeze on your credit. A freeze restricts access to your credit file, minimizing the risk of new credit being established with your identity. One of the drawbacks of a freeze, however, was the fee required to not only initially apply the freeze but also each time you lifted and reapplied it.
One year later, thanks to a new federal law, we have a remedy for that pesky fee. Starting September 21st, credit freezes (and unfreezes) are now free of cost! You can now apply or lift a freeze with all three of the nationwide credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion without the unnecessary charges . This can be done by mail, by phone, or online. Once established, a freeze can be lifted entirely, for a period of time, or to provide access to a specific entity.
In addition, if you’ve applied a fraud alert to your credit file, they are now extended to one year instead of 90 days. They are still free, and victims of identity theft can still get an extended alert for seven years.
With all of the risks we seem to face when it comes to protecting our identity, it’s good to know one helpful tool was made a lot easier to use.
In addition, if you’ve applied a fraud alert to your credit file, they are now extended to one year instead of 90 days. They are still free, and victims of identity theft can still get an extended alert for seven years.
With all of the risks we seem to face when it comes to protecting our identity, it’s good to know one helpful tool was made a lot easier to use.
Find Pathways On
Other Posts you might like:
Friday, August 10, 2018
Keeping Clients' Rebates and Knowing Your Advisor
A news story earlier this year brought to light that Wells Fargo was
keeping mutual fund fee rebates rather than distributing those rebates back to
the clients. Well Fargo managed the
investment portfolio for a pension fund.
Some of the mutual funds have a revenue sharing feature that would kick
a rebate back to Wells Fargo. Those
rebates were supposed to go back to the pension fund but Wells Fargo kept them.
The story might cause some people to wonder if they’re
missing out on their own fee rebates.
This is yet another story highlighting the importance of knowing about the
advisors you hire. Pathways is a fee-only
investment advisor and financial planning firm.
We are paid solely by our clients.
We do not receive kick-backs, rebates, etc. from any of the mutual funds
that we use or from our primary custodian, Charles Schwab.
We primarily (almost exclusively) use the mutual fund
company Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA).
It is simply a match-up in investment philosophy and beliefs. We
believe they do an excellent job of applying academic research to real-world
investing in a cost-effective manner.
What can you do to protect yourself and have a better understanding of your advisors? Asking
your current or prospective advisors the following questions might be a good way to
start:
- How do you get paid? Only by your clients, or is there compensation from third-parties? The advisor should be able to answer clearly and with full disclosure.
- Do you act as a fiduciary? Meaning, are you required by law to put the interests of your clients above your own?
- Do you have a certification or designation, such as the CFP® certification, that holds you to high ethical and competency standards?
You might also find the Searching For an Advisor page on our website helpful. We wish the best
for your financial planning through the rest of 2018 and beyond!
Find Jeff On
Other Posts you might like:
- Thinking of Downsizing Your Home?
- Is Your Knowledge Expiring?
- Now and Then Story - Does It Sound Familiar?
Monday, May 21, 2018
Tax Form 5498
Have you received a tax form in the mail recently? If you did just receive a 2017 IRS Tax Form 5498, don't panic. Form 5498 is generated by investment custodians every May for Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs or Educational Savings Accounts with activity during the previous tax year and usually does not lead to an amended tax filing.
Tax Form 5498 is informational. The IRS reconciles this activity with your Tax Return. If you received this form, ask yourself: Did I contribute to a Roth or Traditional IRA last year? Did I roll money into an IRA last year? Did I contribute or initiate activity out of an Educational Savings Account last year? Did I convert IRA money to a Roth IRA last year? If any of this activity applies to you, you received Form 5498.
Contribution information is typically requested on an accountant's questionnaire. IRA rollovers and conversions generate a 1099-R. Either way, your accountant should already be aware of the activity. Then what should I do with my copy? In most cases, simply add it to your freshly started tax folder for 2018. As your accountant reviews next year's tax file, he or she can confirm that the activity was addressed.
The above explanation is summarized and generic. Please consult your tax professional with any specific questions.
Find Pathways on
You may also like these Posts:
Tax Form 5498 is informational. The IRS reconciles this activity with your Tax Return. If you received this form, ask yourself: Did I contribute to a Roth or Traditional IRA last year? Did I roll money into an IRA last year? Did I contribute or initiate activity out of an Educational Savings Account last year? Did I convert IRA money to a Roth IRA last year? If any of this activity applies to you, you received Form 5498.
Contribution information is typically requested on an accountant's questionnaire. IRA rollovers and conversions generate a 1099-R. Either way, your accountant should already be aware of the activity. Then what should I do with my copy? In most cases, simply add it to your freshly started tax folder for 2018. As your accountant reviews next year's tax file, he or she can confirm that the activity was addressed.
The above explanation is summarized and generic. Please consult your tax professional with any specific questions.
Find Pathways on
You may also like these Posts:
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Is Your Knowledge Expiring?
Pathways Advisory Group, Inc. Evon Mendrin, CFP® |
How much of what you read today will you still care about a year from now?
I was lucky enough to stumble upon a blog post by Morgan Housel of Collaborative Fund that proposed that very question. In the post, “Expiring vs. Long-Term Knowledge,” he challenges us to consider: what is the quality of all the stuff we read, and how much does it really benefit us?
With access to the internet, television, and radio, we are flooded with information. Media content is chopped down into bite-sized portions so we can consume more and more. Newsfeeds constantly update us on every bit of information, on any topic we want. How much of that content will you care about years from now?
Citing an observation by MIT’s endowment fund, Housel describes two types of knowledge: expiring knowledge, which has no long-term value, and long-term knowledge, which is valuable over time. He lays out the differences:
“Expiring
knowledge catches more attention than it should, for two reasons. One, there’s
a lot of it, eager to buzz our short attention spans. Two, we chase it down,
anxious to squeeze out insight before it loses relevance.
Long-term
knowledge is harder to notice because it’s buried in books rather than blasted
in headlines. But its benefit is huge. It’s not just that long-term knowledge
rarely expires, letting you accumulate it over time. It’s that compounds over
time. Expiring knowledge tells you what happened; long-term knowledge tells you
why something happened and is likely to happen again. That “why” can translate
and interact with stuff you know about other topics, which is where the
compounding comes in.”
There’s an abundance of expiring knowledge! I count four
applications on my cell phone alone dedicated to giving me short-term, mostly
useless content. What does this information really teach that I can use far
into the future? Sadly, not much.
Contrast that to the truly useful information buried in books, research papers, journals, and podcasts. Consider some of the greatest books to have been written – knowledge to have stood the test of time. Consider Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor (originally written in 1934), Nick Murray’s SimpleWealth, Inevitable Wealth (Published 1999), Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People(1936), Robert B. Cialdini’s Influence (1984) and Michael Gerber’s The E-Myth (1986).
The advice and knowledge within these books are still as relevant today as they were when first published – and those are on business and finance alone! Not to mention subjects such as history, construction, engineering, automobiles, music, faith, art, and science.
Many of us may not remember the newspaper articles we read in 2011, but – like Housel, we may remember details of great books we read in 2011 and how it affected our thinking.
Even some of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time attribute their success to reading good content. Warren Buffett once remarked, “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.”
As Housel writes, it’s not just that long-term knowledge rarely expires, but that it compounds! It begins to spread into other areas in your life! Skills you learn from one piece of writing can carry over to other hobbies or work. Long-term knowledge gives you the deeper why’s, what’s and how’s. It helps to sort through the expiring stuff, to know what to pay attention to and what to ignore. In the same way, relying on short-term knowledge for decision making can compound in your life as well.
Investing is a great example – the hottest market headlines are always fighting for attention, and yesterday’s headlines are forgotten. Even data from companies – such as quarterly earnings, performance, expenses, and cash flow – expire in short-term value once the next quarter comes.
These bits of information compete against long-term research and discipline. How easy it is to make quick, emotional decisions from an article we’ve read – forgetting about the long-term plans we’ve established.
So, what are we to do? Housel writes:
“I try to ask when I’m reading: Will I care about this a year from now? Ten years from now? Eighty years from now?
It’s fine if the answer is ‘no,’ even a lot of the time. But if you’re honest with yourself you may begin to steer toward the enduring bits of knowledge.”
As for me, I think I’ll go ahead and blow the dust off the
stack of books I’ve been neglecting. News on the latest Donald Trump tweets
will have to wait.
Find Pathways on
- Thinking of Downsizing Your Home?
- Recent Volatility and the Headlines You Don't See!
- What’s your Money Mind®?
Friday, April 6, 2018
Now and Then Story – Does It Sound Familiar?
Pathways Advisory Group, Inc. Dustin J. Smith, CFP® |
We are in the peace-of-mind business. This is one of the reasons we focus more
heavily on knowledge and expectations than short-term results. We would all like returns to be predictable
and consistent, but this expectation is unrealistic and unfounded. The actual results tell a much different
story.
Big Bang Theory Executive
producer Dave Goetsch realized this through his own investing experience. He
felt true stress and anxiety during the Great Recession, but understanding and
accepting the unpredictable nature of markets completely changed the way he
viewed recent results.
Long-term
optimism doesn’t have to depend on short-term results. Hopefully, you can relate to the peace-of-mind
he shared in a recent Now and Then story. You can read his story by clicking here or by using the link below. Enjoy and
have a great weekend!
Dustin J. Smith, CFP®
Find Dustin on
Source: http://bit.ly/goetschnownthn
Other Posts you might like:
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thinking of Downsizing Your Home?
Pathways Advisory Group, Inc. Jeff Karst, CFP® |
Have you ever thought about downsizing your home but worry
about new property taxes?
A little background
Proposition 13 was passed overwhelmingly by California
voters in 1978. It establishes the tax
base when you purchase a property and that base value increases 2% per
year.
Assume you purchased your house in
1987 for $125,000. Your current tax base
would be about $230,000 (assuming no re-assessments). If the home next door sells for $699,000 the
new buyer’s property taxes are roughly three times higher than what you pay
each year.
It's time to downsize
The kids have long moved away and you’re ready to downsize to
a smaller, more manageable home. Assume your
home sells for $699,000 (similar to your neighbor’s) and you purchase a smaller
home for $450,000. You have a smaller,
more manageable home that should cost less.
The only problem is your tax base was $230,000, so your property taxes
will double.
Or maybe not…
There is a once in a lifetime exemption to retain
your property tax base if you downsize your home. Proposition 60 allows you to transfer your
base value when you downsize (the new home costs less than your previous home)
within the same county.
You or your
spouse must be over age 55 to apply for the exclusion. The California Board of Equalization has a page dedicated to Frequently Asked Questions about Proposition 60.
You may not be able to transfer all the trees and shrubs
from the old home, but you may be able to transfer the nice, low tax base!
Find Jeff on
Other Posts you might like:
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Tax Time is Here, and Your 1099s Should Be Too!
We have been informed that all Schwab 1099s have been mailed out as of February 28th. Schwab extended their mailing date into February to reduce the number of corrected 1099's, but corrections are still a possibility. The forms should be available online through your Schwab login. Please give our office a call if you have any questions.
Good luck with your taxes, and happy filing!
Find Pathways on
Other Posts you might like:
Friday, February 16, 2018
Recent Volatility and the Headlines You Don’t See!
From February 1–8, the US market (as measured by the Russell 3000 Index1) fell over 8%, resulting in many investors wondering what the future holds and if they should make changes to their portfolios. Financial news outlets were quick to jump on the commotion, as you’ll find headlines filled with “chaos,” “turmoil,” and “panic.” However, here are a few of the headlines2
“Another normal year in the market, as stock prices decline.”
“Recent decline offers little insight about the future.”
Exhibit 1 shows calendar year returns for the US stock market since 1979, as well as the largest intra-year declines that occurred during a given year. During this period, the average intra-year decline was about 14%. About half of the years had declines of more than 10%, and around a third had declines of more than 15%.
However, despite substantial intra-year drops, calendar year returns were positive in 32 years out of the 37 examined. As you can see, the recent decline is normal behavior for a functional auction market and tells us very little about the future.
“Market timing isn’t the answer.”
Market prices aggregate the information and expectations of all the thousands of market participants better than we can individually. Information that’s available and the opinions of investors everywhere are built into current prices. If that’s true, stock mispricing can’t be systematically exploited. Meaning, we can’t time market!
This point, supported by the fact that a substantial proportion of stock returns come from just a handful of days, leaves long-term investors with plenty of incentive to remain invested.
Exhibit 2 helps illustrate this point. It shows the annualized compound return of the S&P 500 Index going back to 1990 and shows the impact of missing out on just a few days of strong returns.
“Market timing isn’t the answer.”
“Investors wisely staying in the game.”
Market prices aggregate the information and expectations of all the thousands of market participants better than we can individually. Information that’s available and the opinions of investors everywhere are built into current prices. If that’s true, stock mispricing can’t be systematically exploited. Meaning, we can’t time market!
This point, supported by the fact that a substantial proportion of stock returns come from just a handful of days, leaves long-term investors with plenty of incentive to remain invested.
Exhibit 2 helps illustrate this point. It shows the annualized compound return of the S&P 500 Index going back to 1990 and shows the impact of missing out on just a few days of strong returns.
The bars represent the hypothetical growth of $1,000 over the period and show what happened if you missed the best single day during the period and what happened if you missed a handful of the best single days. The data shows that mistiming or being on the sidelines for the best single days substantially lowered returns for the entire period.
There wasn’t a whole lot of rejoicing the past few weeks, but should savers really fear these types of market declines? For those regularly contributing to their investments, the short-term volatility will actually aid their long-term returns. How? The assets they want to buy just went on sale! “Savers rejoice as stocks go on sale.”
Figure 3 shows the historical growth of US Large and Small cap stocks. Since 1926, there have been tremendous amounts of ups and downs. Some were quite serious (Great Depression, the 1973 crash, Dot-Com Bubble, Great Recession). We were reminded these last two weeks that stocks carry risk. Yet long-term results reward disciplined investors, even through all the short-term volatility. So rejoice, savers, and keep saving!
Conclusion
While market volatility can be nerve-racking, reacting emotionally and changing long-term investment strategies can prove harmful. With each new decline, try to look past the noise and remember the headlines that you don’t see.Video
For more insight, view this video about expected returns before, during and after market declines. Market highs and market declines offer little insight about future expected returns (for the long-term investor).
1Frank Russell Company is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes.
Find us on
or at our Website!
Other Posts you might enjoy:
2These, of course, aren’t actual headlines. Just
simple truths you won’t always see in the papers!
or at our Website!
Other Posts you might enjoy:
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Super Bowl Prediction (Go Eagles!)
Evon Mendrin Pathways Advisory Group, Inc. |
The Big Game is just around the corner, and you know what that means - stock market predictions!
Our very own Jeff Karst wrote back in 2012 how successful the Super Bowl has been at predicting how the stock market performs through the rest of the year. The "Super Bowl Indicator" predicts that if the NFC team wins, the S&P 500 will be up for the year. If the AFC team wins, the S&P 500 will decline. Six years later that track record continues with an outstanding 80% success rate! With that kind of success, who needs economists?
However, what that really shows is we can find a connection and correlation between any two things if we really wanted to. Take the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Indicator or the Men's Underwear Indicator as further examples - we often try to find connections where it's simply pure coincidence.
As Jeff writes, it's silly to base our investments on the results of a football game. The preferred way, he says, is a well-diversified, long-term strategy that relies on the fundamental principal that companies will continue to find ways to be profitable.
But just in case - let's go Eagles!
Find Evon on
Other Posts You might like:
Friday, January 19, 2018
2017 Market Review
Another year goes by, and it’s time for another Market
Review. This guest post by Dimensional Fund Advisors' Bryan Harris reviews how
global stock markets went against the predictions in 2017 and how difficult it
is to guess which countries or asset class will do best in
any given year. Ultimately, there is great wisdom in diversifying your
investments broadly across countries and types of assets and remaining disciplined
for the long term.
Bryan Harris Dimensional Fund Advisors |
At the beginning of 2017, a common view among money managers
and analysts was that the financial markets would not repeat their strong
returns from 2016. Many cited the uncertain global, economy, political turmoil
in the US, implementation of Brexit, conflicts in the Middle East, North
Korea’s weapons buildup, and other factors. The global equity markets defied
their predictions, with major equity indices in the US, developed ex-US, and
emerging markets posting strong returns for the year.
The broad global advance underscores the importance of
following an investment approach based on diversification and discipline rather
than prediction and timing. Attempting to predict markets requires investors
to not only accurately forecast future events, but also predict how
markets will react to those events. The 2017 markets were a good reminder that
there is little evidence suggesting either of these objectives can be
accomplished on a consistent basis.
Instead of attempting to make predictions about future
events, investors should appreciate that today’s price reflects the
expectations of market participants and information about future expected
returns. The following quote by the late Merton Miller, Nobel laureate,
describes this view:
“Everybody has some information. The function of the markets
is to aggregate that information, evaluate it, and get it incorporated into
prices.” —Merton Miller
The chart above highlights some of the year’s prominent
headlines in the context of global stock market performance as measured by the
MSCI All Country World Index-Investable Market Index (MSCI ACWI IMI). These
headlines are not offered to explain market returns. Instead, they serve as a
reminder that investors should view daily events from a long-term perspective
and avoid making investment decisions based solely on the news.
In 2017, the global economy showed signs of stronger growth,
with 45 countries tracked by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) all on pace to expand.1 Economic outlook and the
expected impact on future cash flows are among the many variables markets
consider when setting prices. Therefore, investors should remember that growth
in the economy is not always linked to stock market performance.
2017 Market Perspective
Equity Market
Highlights
Global equity markets posted another positive year of
returns in 2017. The S&P 500 Index recorded a 21.83% total return and small
cap stocks, as measured by the Russell 2000 Index, returned 14.65%, both above
their long-term average return of 11.96% and 11.73%, respectively, since 1979.
Returns among non-US equity markets were even higher. The
MSCI World ex USA Index, which reflects non-US developed markets, logged a
24.21% return and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index a 37.28% return2, making this
the fifth highest return in the index history.
As the S&P 500 and other indices reached all-time highs
during the year, a common media question was whether markets were poised for a
downturn. History tells us that a market index being at an all-time high
generally does not provide actionable information for investors.
For evidence, we can look at the S&P 500 Index for the better part of the
last century. From 1926 through 2017, the frequency of positive 12-month
returns following a new index high was similar to what is observed following
months of any level. In fact, over this time period, almost a third of the
monthly observations were new closing highs for the index. The data shows that
new index highs have historically not been useful predictors of future returns.3
Global Diversification Impact
Developed ex US markets and emerging markets generally
outperformed US equities. As a result, a market cap-weighted global equity
portfolio would have outperformed a US equity portfolio.
The S&P 500 Index’s 21.83% return marked its best
calendar year since 2013 and placed 2017 in the top third of best performing
calendar years in the index’s history. Despite these returns, the US ranked in
the bottom half of countries for the year, placing 35th out of the 47 countries
in the MSCI All Country World Index (IMI).
Delving into individual countries, country level returns
were mostly positive. Using the MSCI All Country World Index (IMI) as a proxy,
45 out of the 47 countries posted positive returns. Country level returns were
dispersed even among those with positive returns. In developed markets, returns
ranged from +10.36% in Israel to +51.39% in Austria. In emerging markets,
returns ranged from –24.75% in Pakistan to +53.56% in Poland—a spread of almost
80%. Without a reliable way to predict which country will deliver the highest
returns, this large dispersion in returns between the best and worst performing
countries again emphasizes the importance of maintaining a diversified approach
when investing globally.
China provides an example highlighting the noise in
year-to-year single country returns. After a flat-to-negative return (USD) in
2016, Chinese equities returned more than 50% (USD) in 2017, making China one
of the best performing countries for the year.
Currencies
Most major currencies including the euro, the Australian
dollar, and the British pound appreciated against the US dollar. The
strengthening of non-US currencies had a positive impact on returns for US
investors with holdings in unhedged non-US assets. This may surprise some
investors given that the US dollar has strengthened against many currencies
over the past five- and 10-year periods.
However, just as with individual country returns, there is
no reliable way to predict currency movements. Investors should be cautious
about trying to time currencies based on the recent good or bad performance of
the US dollar or any other currency.
Premium Performance
In 2017, the small cap premium4 was generally
positive in developed ex US markets and negative across US and emerging
markets. The profitability premium5 was positive across US, developed
ex US, and emerging markets, while the value premium6 was negative across those
markets.
US Market
In the US, small cap stocks under-performed large cap stocks
and value stocks under-performed growth stocks. On a positive note, high
profitability stocks outperformed low profitability stocks as measured market
wide.
Although US small cap stocks, as described by the Russell
2000 Index, provided a healthy 14.65% return in 2017, the US small cap premium
(as measured by the Russell 2000 Index minus the Russell 1000 Index) was
negative, ranking in the lowest third of annual return differences since 1979.
However, over the 10-year period ending December 31, the small cap premium was
positive.
US value stocks returned 13.19% in 2017, as measured by the
Russell 3000 Value Index. While double-digit returns from value are appealing,
US growth stocks performed even better, with a 29.59% return as represented by
Russell 3000 Growth Index. The difference between value and growth
returns, as measured by the Russell 3000 Value Index minus Russell 3000 Growth
Index, made 2017 the fourth lowest year for value since 1979 and pulled the five-year
rolling premium return into negative territory.
Even over extended periods, under-performance of the
value premium or any other premium is within expectation and not unusual. Over
a 10-year period ending in March 2000, value stocks under-performed growth
stocks by 5.61% per year, as measured by the Russell 1000 Value and Russell
1000 Growth indices.
This underperformance quickly reversed course and by
the end of February 2001, value stocks had outperformed growth stocks over the
previous one-, three-, five-, 10-, and 20-year periods. Premiums can be
difficult if not impossible to predict and relative performance can change
quickly, reinforcing the need for discipline in pursuing these sources of
higher expected returns.
The profitability premium was positive in 2017, with US high
profitability stocks outperforming low profitability stocks. Viewing
profitability through the lens of the other premiums, high profitability stocks
outperformed low among value stocks while underperforming among growth stocks.
The complementary behavior of premiums in 2017 is
a good example of the benefits of integrating multiple premiums in an
investment strategy, which can increase the reliability of out-performance and
mitigate the impact of an individual premium under-performing, as was
the case with value among US stocks in 2017.
Developed ex US Markets
In developed ex US
markets, small cap stocks outperformed large cap stocks while value stocks
under-performed growth stocks. High profitability stocks outperformed low
profitability stocks.
Over both five- and 10-year rolling periods, the small cap
premium, measured as the MSCI World ex USA Small Cap Index minus the MSCI World
ex USA Index, continued to be positive.
Similar to the US equity market, value stocks posted a
healthy 21.04% return for 2017 as measured using MSCI World ex USA Value Index.
However, growth stocks performed even better with a 27.61% return,
as measured by the MSCI World ex USA Growth Index.
The profitability premium was positive in developed ex US
markets viewed market wide. Looking within size and style segments of the
market, high profitability outperformed low profitability in all but the large
growth segment.
Emerging Markets
In emerging markets, small cap stocks under-performed large
cap stocks and value stocks under-performed growth stocks. Similar to the US
equity market, high profitability stocks outperformed those with low
profitability.
Value stocks returned 28.07% as measured by the MSCI
Emerging Markets Value Index, but growth stocks fared better returning 46.80%
using the MSCI Emerging Markets Growth Index. The value premium, measured as
MSCI Emerging Markets Value Index minus MSCI Emerging Markets Growth Index, was
the lowest since 1999.
Though 2017 generally marked a positive year for absolute
equity returns, it marked a change in premium performance from 2016 when the
size and value premiums were generally positive across global markets. Taking a
longer-term perspective, these premiums remain persistent over decades and
around the globe despite recent years’ headwinds. It is well documented that
stocks with higher expected return potential, such as small cap and value
stocks, do not realize these returns every year. Maintaining discipline to
these parts of the market is the key to effectively pursuing the long-term
returns associated with the size, value, and profitability premiums.
Fixed Income
Both US and non-US fixed income markets posted positive
returns in 2017. The Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index gained 3.54%.
The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index (hedged to USD) gained
3.04%.
Yield curves were upwardly sloped in many developed markets
for the year, indicating positive expected term premiums. Realized term
premiums were indeed positive both globally and in the US as long-term
maturities outperformed their shorter-term counterparts.
Credit spreads7, which are the difference between
yields on lower quality and higher quality fixed income securities, were
relatively narrow during the year, indicating smaller expected credit premiums.
Realized credit premiums were positive both globally and in the US, as
lower-quality investment-grade corporates outperformed their higher-quality
investment-grade counterparts. Corporate bonds were the best performing sector,
returning 6.42% in the US and 5.70% globally, as reflected in the Bloomberg
Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index (hedged to USD).
In the US, the yield curve flattened as interest rates
increased on the short end and decreased on the long end of the curve. The
yield on the 3-month US Treasury bill increased 0.88% to end the year at 1.39%.
The yield on the 2-year US Treasury note increased 0.69% to 1.89%. The yield on
the 10-year US Treasury note decreased 0.05% for the year to end at 2.40%. The
yield on the 30-year US Treasury bond decreased 0.32% to end the year at
2.74%.
In other major markets, interest rates increased in Germany
while they were relatively unchanged in the United Kingdom and Japan.
Yields on Japanese and German government bonds with maturities as long
as eight years finished the year in negative territory.
CONCLUSION
The year of 2017 included numerous examples of the
difficulty of predicting the performance of markets, the importance of
diversification, and the need to maintain discipline if investors want to
effectively pursue the long-term returns the capital markets offer. The
following quote by David Booth provides useful perspective as investors head
into 2018:
“The key is to have the correct view of markets and
how they work. Once you accept this view of markets, the benefits go way
beyond just investing money.”
—David Booth
[1] Wall Street Journal, “Everything Went
Right for Markets in 2017—Can That Continue?”, 29 Dec. 2017.
[2] All non-US returns are in USD, net
dividends.
[3]
Dimensional Fund Advisors, “New Market Highs and Positive Expected Returns,”
Issue Brief, 5 Jan. 2017.
[4] The small cap premium
is the return difference between small capitalization stocks and large
capitalization stocks.
[5] The profitability premium is the return
difference between stocks with high relative profitability and stocks with low
relative profitability.
[6] The value premium is
the return difference between stocks with low relative prices (value) and
stocks with high relative prices (growth).
[7]
Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Corporate Option Adjusted Spread.
Source: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.
Sources:
Frank Russell Company is the source and owner of the
trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. S&P
and Dow Jones data © 2018 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P
Global. All rights reserved. MSCI data © MSCI 2018,
all rights reserved. ICE BofAML index data © 2018 ICE
Data Indices, LLC. Bloomberg Barclays data provided by Bloomberg. Indices are
not available for direct investment; their performance does not reflect the
expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be
considered investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell securities. There
is no guarantee an investing strategy will be successful. Diversification does
not eliminate the risk of market loss.
Investing risks include loss of principal and
fluctuating value. Small cap securities are subject to greater volatility than
those in other asset categories. International investing involves special risks
such as currency fluctuation and political instability. Investing in emerging
markets may accentuate these risks. Sector-specific investments can also
increase these risks.
Fixed income securities are subject to increased
loss of principal during periods of rising interest rates. Fixed income
investments are subject to various other risks, including changes in credit
quality, liquidity, prepayments, and other factors. REIT risks include changes in real estate values and property taxes, interest
rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, supply and demand, and the
management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer.
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP is an investment advisor
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)