Quarterly Letters

7/18/2017

The Department of Labor (DOL) Fiduciary Rule has garnered much media attention since it was first proposed several years ago. While the media has scrambled to understand the Rule and pen compelling articles and blog posts, an equal amount of confusion has developed. While this letter is not the appropriate source for a detailed look at the ruling that took hold on June 9, 2017 (and is still in a comment period that may change the Rule), we point out the primary concern regarding the issues.

04/09/2017

Dear Clients and Friends,

Many conversations in the first quarter rotated between the bleak New England weather, the current state of politics, and the abundance of news, fake or otherwise.

01/23/2017

Dear Clients & Friends,

As we look back on a year filled with surprises (from its opening days onward), it’s natural to wonder what to expect in 2017.

10/10/2016

Dear Clients and Friends,

The fourth quarter seemed to arrive even faster than usual this year. Perhaps it was the summer’s relative market calm. Despite the never-ending newsfeeds, global markets mostly worked through the white noise. We even celebrated a few milestones.

07/11/2016

Dear Clients and Friends,

There is an interesting phenomenon playing out in the financial press, in the form of a missing word that speaks volumes about human nature. The word is: “referendum.”

04/19/2016

Dear Clients and Friends,

Once a year, we make mention of Warren Buffett’s annual letter to shareholders due to our shared belief systems regarding disciplined investing. While his most recent letter to shareholders provides plain-spoken insights in his trademark feisty and witty way, we’ve decided to revisit his 1994 letter because of its relevance today.

01/26/2016

Dear Clients and Friends,

Happy New Year from all at Monument. We wish you all the best for a happy and healthy 2016. We are writing to summarize the economic highlights of 2015 and offer our thoughts as to what the highlights may (or may not) tell us about future equity and bond market returns. Also, we are delighted to announce that we have been recognized as 2016 Five Star Wealth Managers* which will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of Boston magazine.

7/14/2015

“Because I said so.” These were the watchwords when we were young. Then we grew up, and our days of blind obedience were replaced by the expression: “If I only knew then what I know now.”

For those of us who find ourselves saying the aforementioned expression, here’s a summer mind-bender for you. You are ahead of the game; at least in terms of your long-term investment strategy, you are ahead of the game. You do know now that which you will still want to know in the future.

4/10/2015

For 50 years, Warren E. Buffett has been at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway, among the largest publicly held companies in the world. For 50 years, Buffett has been publishing annual letters to shareholders. With our evidence-based, diversified investment strategy, we don’t typically focus on particular companies’ annual announcements, nor do we typically share them as recommended reading.

01/20/2015

Dear Clients and Friends,

Happy New Year – we wish you all the best for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2015. In 2014, we had the good fortune of adding two new employees, Laura Floyd and Tyler Murphy. We have also been recognized as 2015 Five Star Wealth Managers* that will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of Boston magazine.