A Surprise Winner Among Asset Classes

When I started at Dimensional in 2010, international stocks were popular — then they fell out of favor. But over the last five years, non-US developed value quietly led the pack. A good reminder of the challenge in predicting which markets win.

The Streak Illusion

Research on the hot-hand fallacy shows long basketball streaks don’t predict the next shot. The same logic applies to currency markets — whether the US dollar has a positive or negative year, next year’s direction is about a coin flip.

Family Cyber Safety: Three Things You Can Do This Weekend

The single biggest protection for your family is not a piece of software. It is a few quick agreements that everyone in the family knows by heart: a private code word for any emergency request for money, an understanding that nobody sends money in an unusual way without calling a family member first, and the freedom to ask without embarrassment when something feels off. Get those three agreements in place — and turn on two-factor authentication on your email and bank — and you have already defeated the vast majority of scams in circulation today.

Outpacing Inflation with Stocks

Average real returns for the broad US stock market, based on the S&P 500 Index, have been positive even in years when inflation was above the historical median. Average real returns for small cap and small cap value stocks have been even higher, implying investors should not shy away from tilting towards higher expected return stocks even if inflation expectations are elevated.

2026 First Quarter Market and Portfolio Results

Overall the market impact of the recent Geopolitical Event in Iran in the Middle East has been mild compared to past such events - SO FAR - we shall see how it settles out. Geopolitical events can be weeks but more often months. US small cap stocks and international stocks have been in favor overall compared to US large cap. Therefore diversified portfolios exceeded the return of the S&P500.

A Summary of Mutual Funds & ETF Performance & Attributes

Investment approaches based on a manager’s efforts to outguess market prices have resulted in underperformance for the vast majority of funds. When fund managers charge high fees and trade frequently, they must overcome high cost barriers as they try to outperform the market.

Stop Drop Report - How to recognize scams - imposters

Scammers are getting more savvy and increasingly personal. They may pose as investment professionals, leaders of trusted financial institutions, and even Schwab employees, all to gain your confidence and trust. With vigilance and a few tips on imposter tactics and techniques, you can recognize these fraudsters and steer clear of their traps.