A client asked me last week if she should buy SpaceX stock when it goes public. Another asked about OpenAI. A third brought up Anthropic. All three used the same word: “miss out.”
New Frontiers: Energy, Infrastructure, and Innovation Investing
Why where you own the future may matter as much as what you own
Financial planning helps you develop a better decision architecture to improve your life. If asked what financial planning is, you may think of cash flow planning, retirement planning, insurance, and estate planning. Financial planning also involves the design and management of your investment portfolio — the tool most likely to help you achieve your goals. Because financial planning is all about building a better future for yourself, your investment portfolio should be structured with an eye toward the future.
Crisis, Chaos, War, Oil … and Baking a Cake
Why a well-built portfolio is the only honest answer to the question everyone is asking right now.
I have been getting some version of the same question from clients for the past several weeks. It sounds something like this: “Reed, with everything going on — the war with Iran, oil prices spiking, inflation creeping back, AI wiping out jobs — how far is the stock market going to drop? Should I be doing something?”
Understanding Volatility: Why Short-Term Swings Don't Derail Long-Term Plans
Turn on financial news on any given day, and you're likely to hear words like "plunge," "surge," or "turmoil." Markets move — sometimes dramatically — and those movements can trigger a visceral emotional response, even for the most disciplined investors. But here's what decades of financial history consistently show: short-term volatility is not your enemy. In fact, it's an unavoidable feature of building long-term wealth.
Are Markets Overdue for a Reset?
Every market cycle eventually raises the same uneasy question: are we overdue for a reset? I hear it often from clients right now, and honestly, I understand why. The S&P 500 is hovering near 6,950 — essentially flat year-to-date after a turbulent stretch — the VIX recently spiked above 21, and headlines have ranged from new global tariffs to uncertainty about the Federal Reserve's next chair.
Resilience Pays Off: Lessons from 2025's Market Volatility
Is Your Portfolio Actually Winning? A Guide to Benchmark Comparison
Is Your Portfolio Quietly Drifting Off Course?
Many investors begin the year with a carefully constructed portfolio that aligns with their goals and risk tolerance. However, as the year progresses, that portfolio may evolve into something different from what was initially intended. Markets move, sectors rotate, and performance varies across regions. Without realizing it, your portfolio may have “drifted”, leaving you with more risk than planned or less exposure to the areas that now offer opportunity.
Why Digital Infrastructure Could be the Bright Spot for America’s Economic Future
Beyond One Stock Wonders: Why Portfolio Diversification Matters
I’ve been asked numerous times throughout my career about the importance of diversification in a portfolio. After all, why not just buy the “hottest stocks” or the hottest sector, as evidenced most recently by the “Magnificent 7” (Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla)? This portfolio would have had a 1,3-, and 5-year annualized return of 20.9%, 46.22% and 37.98%, respectively.
The Mid-Year Reset: 5 Strategic Moves to Transform Your Financial Future
As we cross the halfway mark of 2025, the coming months present a crucial window for strategic financial decisions. While many focus on summer plans, forward-thinking investors are laying the groundwork for sustained growth. Here are five key investment areas we consistently address with HIGHLAND clients.
What Baking a Cake Can Teach Us About Building a Better Investment Portfolio
What If We Planned for What Could Go Right?
The Long-Term Implications of Trump's Tariff War
Two Strong Years, a Crash Ahead? Debunking Market Myths and Behavioral Biases
How You Buy and Sell a Home is About to Change
The recent settlement between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and various plaintiffs marks a significant turning point in the real estate industry. This agreement, which resolves allegations of anti-competitive practices, took effect on August 17th and could substantially change how homes are bought and sold across the United States.