Because of the “September Effect,” superstitious investors often steer clear of the market this time of year, claiming that it has historically produced low returns for the month of September.

As we enter mid-August, daily new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have spiked. We saw about 190,000 new daily cases on July 20, up from approximately 20,000 in the prior month, but the death rate remains low. Despite this backdrop, the economy continues to achieve new highs.

Custom indexing appears to potentially be the next disruptive force in asset management. In the same way the invention of the exchange-traded fund (ETF) took assets away from mutual funds, custom indexing will likely compete for assets with ETFs and mutual funds in the years ahead.

International small value stocks have played an important role in portfolios over the past 50 years by providing strong returns and diversification benefits to global investors. Investment research analyst Jonathan Fuller outlines the reasons why investors may want to consider allocating a portion of their portfolio to international small cap stocks.

Skateboarding, karate, surfing, sport climbing, and BMX freestyle are newer sports added to the Olympics in recent years. We will use this exciting global tradition to work our way through a mid-year market update.

Most index ETFs that invest in emerging markets hold a large allocation to China, roughly 30-40 percent, giving investors broad, diversified exposure. But if you’re thinking about buying individual Chinese stocks, Danny Noonan, an investment research analyst, suggests that you exercise caution.

While buzzwords like inflation, gold, and Bitcoin draw attention, markets do not appear overly concerned by inflation. And even if inflation rears its ugly head, do gold and Bitcoin actually represent hedges against the risk? Senior investment research analyst Eamon Verdone examines the answer to this question in his blog post.

Most investors are familiar with the sage advice to “buy low and sell high.” But what happens if the market approaches another record? Senior investment research analyst Eamon Verdone looks into this question and provides historical context.

While few can afford the philanthropic reach of well-known billionaires, mainstream investors can now align their investment portfolios with their personal beliefs. Senior investment research analyst Eamon Verdone provides more information about ESG Investing and how it may impact performance.

Investors are always looking for a roadmap that will reveal the path to market-beating returns. For long-term investors, we can look to one of the market’s worst kept secrets: value investing.

Investment research analyst Danny Noonan looks back at the recent strong performance of value stocks and discusses possible scenarios for 2021.

Buying company stock as part of your 401(k) plan may be beneficial from a tax perspective.