I cannot be both an honorable citizen and a dishonorable advisor, and I cannot be an honorable advisor while also being a dishonest citizen.

People frequently observe that the United States tax code is a mess, and they are absolutely right.  The tax system is now the result of decades of parochial interests lobbying for various increases and reductions to benefit themselves. 

 I was a Russian major in college, learning Russian language, history, culture, and literature, and I loved learning about this important country.  I also learned about its problems, and its historical failure to form a truly democratic system.

While false, ugly, and bad news abounds these days, I am also seeing signs that more and more people now recognize that preservation and growth of all forms of valuable capital are vital to the future.

The President of the United States has recently raised tariffs yet again on Chinese products entering the United States, has demanded that US companies cease doing business in China, and has asserted that he has the right to enforce the latter.

While I believe in tradition, habit, and age, I also believe there is nothing like renewal, in trying new things, in entering a new phase, in making changes.  I try new things all the time, and encourage you to do the same in your life.

Review updates on several projects, efforts, plans, and actions that are intended to bring value and peace of mind to you, your family, loved ones, and anyone or anything else that you care about. 

Investing is not very different at all from planting an orchard.  It takes hard work to develop capital to buy (root) stock, a coherent strategy to implement, determination to respond to challenges along the way, prudent maintenance along the way, and time to permit growth to occur.

Warren Buffett’s annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders is must reading for investment professionals and always includes important tips for everyday investors as well.

On my desk sits a signed copy of The Clash of Cultures, a book by John C. (“Jack”) Bogle, the founder of Vanguard, one of the three most important people in the American investment industry over the last 100 years, a giant among giants who passed away at the age of 89 on January 16.

An “unofficial” bear market descended on stocks in the fourth quarter of 2018 despite ongoing strength in the US and other economies, and in early 2019 we are seeing weakening of some economies.

When markets hit rough patches, I relish being here for you, fulfilling your trust, and working harder than ever to put matters into perspective for you.

At a time of heightened market and political uncertainty, it is always worth re-visiting the investment principles that we believe in, and why we believe them.

Many people come to a financial advisor in the expectation that the advisor will get them more money.

As an advisor who has gone through two decades of market ups and market downs, I know very well that investors get very antsy in their portfolios when US stocks markets strongly outperform everything else.

Sound economic policies, in any economic system, must support both the preservation and growth of all forms of capital, not just money capital. On earth, the most important and abundant form of capital is natural capital - the earth’s land, water, and air – without which no other capital formation is possible.

While Cortes came to Mexico to conquer, our family is currently spending our annual summer travel by enjoying the many facets of this extraordinary country: its lovely climate, incredible cuisine, historic sites, great architecture, stunningly cheap prices, and especially its kind and industrious people.

Many in our nation report being conflicted about their feelings during this holiday given the deep level of civil and political strife now present in daily life.

Two recent new items caught my attention that illustrate environmental, social, and governance issues associated with business.

Scholarship, Leadership, Service, Character, Citizenship - In this often dismal time in the world, it is important to remember these five foundations that have brought success to so many for so long