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Investing Ideas
A Potential Turning Point in the Battle Against COVID-19
This piece is approved to use with clients.
Delivering better-than-expected trial data, a vaccine candidate from Pfizer and BioNTech could mark the beginning of the end of the pandemic and boost confidence in an economic recovery, now underway.
Investing Ideas
Evaluating Stocks as Growth Continues to Grow
This piece is approved to use with clients.
Portfolio Manager Doug Rao discusses the phenomenon of concentrated market leadership and what that means for long-term investors.
Key Takeaways
- When market returns are driven by a handful of stocks, active investors face difficult decisions, especially when underweighting or not owning these stocks may significantly impact portfolio performance.
- The recent phenomenon of large-cap tech stocks driving a significant portion of stock market gains may be justified by the fact that these companies are strongly tied to themes related to digital disruption.
- Investors may benefit from focusing on competitively advantaged companies positioned to profit from these themes, which have only accelerated amid the COVID-19 pandemic and are likely to persist over the coming months and years.
Investing Ideas
Sustainable Design in Consumer Products
This piece is approved to use with clients.
An in-depth look at the role of sustainability in consumer products.
Key Takeaways:
- The apparel sector is well known for its detrimental effects on the environment. However, as consumers become more aware of their own environmental footprints, there has been a surge in demand for sustainable goods.
- A circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.
- Companies including Nike, Adidas and DS Smith have incorporated a circular approach to the design and production of their goods, creating durable and long-lasting products with a reduced environmental footprint.
Portfolio Construction Insights
Nationwide: Valuing annuity benefits for required minimum distribution and Roth conversions purposes
When deferred annuities are owned by qualified accounts these guarantees must be taken into account when calculating required
minimum distributions (RMD) and the taxable amount of a Roth IRA conversion.
Portfolio Construction Insights
Nationwide: The position of life insurance in financial diversification
The importance of a diversified portfolio
Leveraging Technology & Data
The Digital Investor: Financial attention through multiple digital channels
A new Vanguard paper explores clients' use of digital channels—desktop or laptop computers, mobile phone, and mobile apps—to interact with their financial institutions and breaks down how digital use has changed over time.
Portfolio Construction Insights
Risk Speedometer: Easing off the brake
In January, the 1-month risk speedometer continued to remain below its 5-year average, recording a score of –0.61 and landing slightly above the 25th percentile of rankings. Similarly, based on the 3- and 12-month speedometers, the appetite for risk remained low.
Leveraging Technology & Data
We all use technology, but what's the right tech strategy?
Noni Robinson, head of Bank and Institutional in Vanguard FAS, chats with Bill Martin, CIO of INTRUST Bank, about technology in the advice space.
Investing Ideas
Vanguard's Principles for Investing Success
Vanguard's guidance for investors is centered on four core principles: Define clear goals, choose diversified portfolio holdings that balance risk and potential reward, minimize cost, and stay disciplined over the long term.