Tennis – Hit Winners Or Avoid Losers
I recently read Howard Marks’ latest memo, “Fewer Losers or More Winners?” and it reinforced in me that this guy is a true trend follower in his own way (even if he doesn’t realize it yet). Marks is widely regarded as one of the most insightful and influential investors in the world, and his memos…
Read MoreIf It’s Not Repeatable, It’s Not a System
Anyone who knows me will not be surprised to hear that I read “Atomic Habits”…again. In 2018, James Clear wrote this remarkable book that has reportedly been purchased every 15 minutes since publication*. Additionally, his 3-2-1 Thursday newsletter is followed by more than 2 million people. Before I finish this blog, he will have sold…
Read MoreAre You Working IN Your Business Or ON Your Business?
When I talk to executives and business owners as part of my work with family offices, private equity firms, and boards, I often hear comments like this: “I want to grow my business, but I do not have the time to address [you name the issue].” The REAL issue is often that they are so…
Read MoreMotivation? Or Discipline?
How many times have you stopped and considered the real meaning of words used every day? More importantly, how often do you challenge your own notion of that meaning by looking it up? Recently I heard a friend and father I respect tell his son that discipline is more important than motivation. He said, “Motivation…
Read MoreLeading With Gratitude
Recently I was skimming through minutes from a weekly Blueprint Investment Partners Leadership Team meeting and something made me stop and chuckle. Each person had shared some good news from their week, and one had offered that she and her husband managed to shop for AND assemble several pieces of IKEA furniture without any squabbling.…
Read MoreIs it Human Nature To Distrust Simplicity?
A colleague recently shared a blog that in essence questioned why quantitative investment strategies, and specifically trend following, was not more widely embraced by the investment management industry. It was a compelling question that prompted me to consider a larger one: Is it human nature to distrust simplicity? The Blueprint Investment Partners team bantered back…
Read MorePredicting The Future
When something happens that has never happened before, do we assert it was unpredictable? Monday the front month contract for WTI crude oil went negative in price and traded there, as holders attempted to get rid of the obligation to take delivery. How much can I pay you to take my oil? Amazing. Times like…
Read MoreForecast: Unpredictability With a Chance of Irrational Behavior
Blueprint Investment Partners hosted a behavioral finance webinar last week with our friend Jay Mooreland, author of “The Emotional Investor.” The event motivated me to re-read his book, which I highly recommend. It also reminded me of the investment industry’s annual prediction cycle about what to expect for the coming year and how the market…
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