One of our all-time favorite columnists, whose insights we’ve shared here before, is Jason Zweig of The Wall Street Journal. Jason authors “The Intelligent Investor,” a column named after Benjamin Graham’s classic book—often referred to as the ultimate guide on investing. (Warren Buffett calls it “the best book about investing ever written!”)

Jason’s opening line in his latest article sums up a core message you’ve seen here for years and in our client letters:

“Investing isn’t about mastering the markets; it’s about mastering yourself.”

Put simply, your behavior as an investor has a greater impact on your long-term returns than any market movement. This is where we come in—to help you stay calm and fully invested, whether markets are booming or turbulent.

As Benjamin Graham said in 1949:  

“The investor’s chief problem—and even his worst enemy—is likely to be himself.”

In today’s environment, staying steady is harder than ever with social media, trading apps, and online distractions. For more on why, we highly recommend Jason’s full article here, which includes links to further resources. And of course, we’re always here to talk through any of these topics—just give us a call or schedule a time here.

We’re thrilled to welcome Grace Kreifels to our team as a Lead Advisor! With a strong foundation in evidence-based investing, Grace brings invaluable experience from her eight years at Dimensional and prior tenure at Vanguard. As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), her expertise and dedication to her craft will be a tremendous asset to our national client base. We look forward to seeing her make a lasting impact on our clients’ lives.

Beyond her professional strengths, Grace and her husband, Zach, recently welcomed their first child, a son named Riley—and parenthood has already been an incredible adventure for them. True to the spirit of many of our clients, Grace has a passion for the outdoors and enjoys hiking, backpacking, surfing, biking, skiing, and camping (they even took Riley on his first camping trip at just three months old!). As the daughter of a Delta pilot, Grace’s love for travel started young and has taken her to more than 30 countries, immersing her in diverse cultures and experiences.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Grace!

As we rapidly approach the 8th Birthday of Odds On: The Making of an Evidence-Based Investor, the book (in all its formats) remains as relevant now as it did when it first launched in 2016. This is a testament to the timelessness of the Taking the Long View investment strategy.

Thousands of people have been exposed to a “new” way of investing, while many others have reaffirmed their beliefs in evidence-based investing. It is the best investment strategy when you take the long view and don’t try to gamble your life savings by timing the market, hitching yourself to a “guru,” or thinking that the “Magnificent 7” is an entertaining cocktail party topic but not the way to build and maintain wealth.

Many clients and friends of the firm, as well as our team members, have gifted Odds On in both its traditional hardback format as well as the audio version that Matt Hall reads to his listeners; however, some folks continue to ask for an “Executive Summary” or a shortcut to taking the long view. Here, we answer that wish with a two-page summary with key takeaways that we hope propels readers to read or listen to the entire “real thing.”

Virtually everyone who gifts Odds On is simply trying to help a friend or family member invest to maximize the odds of success. It’s great to pass on to younger family members, friends, and others who are curious about the path you’ve chosen as an investor and provides a fast and simple way for you to help those close to you.

Obviously, we’re ready to send each of these folks the book or audiobook, too, but this can satisfy an immediate need. For those who are ready, let’s schedule a time to talk by clicking this link.