Aequus Newsletter

Surviving Economic Uncertainty

Monitoring what’s happening in the U.S. economy isn’t always easy. Seemingly small events that happen within our borders or overseas can sometimes have a huge impact on the markets and the economy. Adopting the right mindset and following a few common-sense rules may help you survive regardless of short-term events.

Do You Suffer from Decision Fatigue?

By John Tierney
    Three men doing time in Israeli prisons recently appeared before a parole board consisting of a judge, a criminologist and a social worker. The three prisoners had completed at least two-thirds of their sentences, but the parole board granted freedom to only one of them. Guess which one:

Case 1 (heard at 8:50 a.m.): An Arab Israeli serving a 30-month sentence for fraud.
Case 2 (heard at 3:10 p.m.): A Jewish Israeli serving a 16-month sentence for assault.
Case 3 (heard at 4:25 p.m.): An Arab Israeli serving a 30-month sentence for fraud.

How Are ETFs Different From Mutual Funds?

You’ve probably heard of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), but you may not have a clear idea of how they work, how they differ from mutual funds, or how they might fit in your investment portfolio. Here’s your chance to take a closer look at ETFs and examine the characteristics they share with mutual funds as well as those that set them apart.

Magical Thinking: Impact on Financial Distress, Decisions, and Behavior

By Dr. William “Marty” Martin
During times of distress, it is normal and adaptive to believe that you can affect a situation or circumstance even though you know deep inside that you have absolutely no control. Reflect for a moment about high-performing star athletes who go to bat with their “lucky rabbit foot” believing magically that the “lucky rabbit foot” will cause them to hit more baseballs and run to home plate more often. In reality, we all know that the “lucky rabbit foot” does not actually cause the outcome of the game to change. Do investors also engage in magical thinking by believing that if they do or don’t do something that this will influence the randomness in the stock market?

Share Aequus With Others

According to investment firm Charles Schwab, a typical independent advisory firm gets over 88% of its new clients through referrals. Indeed, of the new clients Aequus adds each year, most were introduced to us by current clients. If you know someone who might find our services of value, tell them about Aequus. We offer a full range of services customized to meet each client’s needs.

Cicily’s Prescription for Success

by Cicily Maton
During a recent conversation with a colleague, I told him how well my recovery from knee surgery was going. He asked, “What did you do?” I told him my preparation for my medical procedure was not unlike how one might prepare an investment strategy.