This One Concept is Critical to Investing Success

On By Hannah ButcherIn Investing, Markets

Making sense of stock price movements is a challenge for all investors. Share price fluctuations often seem illogical…they go up when we think they should go down, and they go down when we think they should go up. Here’s why.

Capital markets are forward looking mechanisms, meaning at any given moment, they reflect a certain set of expectations for the future. From GDP, to Federal Reserve monetary policy, to corporate earnings, etc., market participants en masse set expectations for nearly every economic measure. Markets move when actual results deviate from these expectations. If results are better than expected, prices often move higher and vice versa.

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Are Your Retirement Account Beneficiary Designations as Important as Your Will?

On By Amanda WaldenIn People, Personal Finance

Do you remember the last time you checked the beneficiary designations on your retirement accounts? Better yet, do you remember who is presently listed? If you answered yes to either question, you’re a step ahead of many. If you answered no, it is time for a beneficiary designation review.

Your retirement account beneficiary designations are powerful. They are legally binding and supersede your will and trust instructions. For that reason, ensuring your beneficiaries are correct and up-to-date is the best way to be certain your retirement assets are distributed exactly as you wish at the time of your passing.

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Investors’ Handling of Market Corrections is Improving

On By Hannah ButcherIn Markets, People

Humans are hardwired to avoid danger, including financial dangers. This instinct causes many investors to panic and make costly mistakes during periods of market turmoil.  A Fidelity study, however, found several positive trends among investors during the recent 4th quarter market correction. It is encouraging to see these trends and, since market corrections occur regularly, it is crucial investors repeat the actions in future market downturns.

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John Meyer Recognized for Prowess in 2018 CBC Stock Picking Contest

On By Hannah ButcherIn People

MCM’s own Director of Portfolio Management, John Meyer, scored a podium finish in the recently completed Cincinnati Business Courier 2018 Stock Picking Contest! John finished in the top 2 of 28 Cincinnati-region investment professionals. The average total rate-of-return of his 5 stock picks was +10.4% in a year when the S&P 500 Index was negative -4.4%. That’s +14.8% total outperformance versus the broader market. John’s top gainer was Veeva Systems Inc. (VEEV), a cloud-based life sciences software company. Veeva gained +58.8% in 2018.

The 2019 CBC Stock Picking contest is already under way and John is going for the win this year.

2018 CBC Stock Picking Contest

 

 

 

Inherited IRAs: Know the Rules

On By Alison BelewIn Investing

The traditional Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) was established in the US in 1974.  Today, many IRA account assets are being passed to beneficiaries, most often as inherited IRA accounts.  Inherited IRAs come with their own rules, which differ from traditional IRA accounts.  Those rules dictate how inherited assets can be titled, and how and when they can be distributed to each beneficiary.

Memorizing the entire list of rules is extensive. We summarized some of the finer points that impact how the rules apply when inheriting IRA assets.  They include:

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Off Wall Street But Not Off Track

On By Nate MachelIn People

Meyer Capital Management, LLC, welcomed me as a new-hire investment professional in June 2018. I arrived with 138 credit hours, two majors, and three prior internships as part of four wonderful years at the University of Dayton. During this time, I leveraged UD’s experiential learning philosophy to its fullest advantage. I traveled twice to New York City presentations and forums, learned basic technical analysis from a seasoned commodity trader, and worked as a health care analyst for the student-run 30-million-dollar Dayton Flyer Fund. Co-managing the Fund and contributing to its growth inspired me to pursue professional portfolio management which led me, fortunately, to MCM.

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Don’t Fear the End of the Current Bull Market

On By Hannah ButcherIn Investing, Markets, Personal Finance

Investors of a certain age recall all too well the end of the last bull market. From late 2007 to early 2009, the S&P 500 Index fell 56% and lost a staggering $11 trillion in market value. That painful memory has many of today’s investors wondering how long the current bull market will last and how they can protect their portfolios from its eventual, inevitable demise. The simple answer, surprising as it may sound, is “don’t worry about it.” Rest assured, I have not lost my mind.

Study after study shows that most investors buy-high and sell-low. This is because they’re convinced they can correctly identify the beginnings and endings of bull and bear markets when, in fact, they can’t… no one can. As a result, the millions of Americans who sold in 2008 when stocks were low missed out on the extraordinary gains that began in early 2009 and persist today.

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A Hazard to Your Wealth

On By Hannah ButcherIn Investing

When I was an undergraduate studying finance, the idea of buying and selling common stocks sounded thrilling. It captivated me. I read accounts of day traders making millions, supposedly, by just sitting at their computers and buying low and selling high. How easy does that sound!? All I needed was a handful of well-placed trades each day and I was sure to be retired by age 30. Yet, as I delved deeper into the world of finance, and subsequently began my career as a professional portfolio manager, I learned those day trading stories were far from the reality of successful long-term investing.

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How Much Will I Need to Retire?

On By jpmeyer96In Investing, Personal Finance

Almost everyone has wondered, or will wonder, about this question as they progress through their careers and, especially, as they approach retirement.  After working most of their lives, this is understandably a million (or multi-million) dollar question that weighs on people’s minds as they prepare to spend more of their time finally doing exactly what they want.

Retirement Savings

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The Path to Maximizing Your 401(k) Benefit

On By Alison BelewIn Investing

It is common to hear adages like, ‘Max out your 401(k),’ or ‘Make sure you contribute as much as your employer will match,’ and it is wise to follow these pieces of advice.  However, a less commonly heard, but equally important question to consider is, “How will my 401(k) benefit be maximized during my tenure at my job?”  To ensure you take full advantage of your employer sponsored retirement plan benefit, begin by understanding the details of your plan, and asking questions, specifically:

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