In this episode of Intelligent Money Minute, I had the pleasure of interviewing Larry Swedroe, head of Financial and Economic Research at Buckingham Strategic Wealth, on what an intelligent investor should do when an asset class falls out of favor.
All Risk Investments: Enduring the Ebb and Flow
Larry emphasizes a fundamental truth: every risk investment, whether it’s stocks, bonds, commodities, or others, experiences prolonged periods of underperformance. Investors often underestimate these cycles, mistakenly assuming that three, five, or even ten years are lengthy evaluation periods. However, historical evidence proves otherwise, with instances where the S&P 500 trailed behind treasury bills for 13-year durations occurring three times since 1929.
The crux of Larry’s advice centers on diversification across various unique risks, aligning with one’s risk tolerance. This strategy, substantiated in his book, “Your Complete Guide to Factor-Based Investing,” promotes the inclusion of assets proven to offer premiums over time. Diversifying globally and including varied sources of risk—be it stocks, bonds, commodities, or currencies—reduces dependency on any single investment, mitigating the impact when a particular asset class is out of favor.
Intelligent Investing: A Holistic Approach
Larry Swedroe’s wisdom underscores the importance of persistence and diversification in an investor’s journey. When faced with an asset class in decline, staying committed to a diversified strategy tailored to individual risk tolerances is key. We invite you to engage with us in exploring your unique risk profile and leveraging our financial technology to fortify your investment journey.
For those seeking a financial advisor or aiming to reevaluate their investment strategies, we extend an invitation to connect with us. Our goal is to help you minimize financial stress and maximize your life’s potential through informed, tailored financial decisions.
We’ll be interviewing Larry on several podcasts regarding markets, passive investing, and diversification, so be sure to subscribe to our Intelligent Money Minute podcasts.
Larry was among the first authors to publish a book that explained the science of investing in layman’s terms, “The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You’ll Ever Need.” He has since authored seven more books.
Larry Swedroe Bio
Since joining Buckingham Strategic Wealth in 1996, Chief Research Officer Larry Swedroe has spent his time and energy educating investors on the benefits of evidence-based investing.
In his role as chief research officer and as a member of the firm’s Investment Policy Committee and Board of Directors, Larry regularly reviews the findings published in dozens of peer-reviewed financial journals, evaluates the outcomes and uses the result to inform the firm’s formal investment strategy recommendations.
Larry’s dedication to helping others has made him a sought-after national speaker. He has made appearances on national television shows airing on NBC, CNBC, CNN and Bloomberg Personal Finance. Larry is a prolific writer, contributing regularly to multiple outlets, including Advisor Perspectives and ETF.com.
Before joining Buckingham, Larry was vice chairman of Prudential Home Mortgage and senior vice president at Citicorp.
Larry holds an MBA in finance and investment from NYU and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Baruch College.