VCM Wealth is a registered investment advisory firm that provides an array of wealth management services to institutional and individual clients.

January 2016 Commentary

 

Investors and money managers alike were happy to say goodbye to 2015 as the S&P 500 closed the year on the downside for the first time since 2008. So far, 2016 has not fared better in its first week with global markets suffering.

There is much uncertainty and bad news out there to justify the negative sentiment:

  1. Oil continues its slide which many believe is a telling sign of a global slowdown
  2. There is fear of a slowdown in China and such has seen its stock market halt a few times due to mass selling
  3. The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since June 2006 and has hinted at 3 or 4 more in 2016
  4. North Korea has an H bomb (ok, probably not)

Continue reading “January 2016 Commentary”

October 2015 Commentary

Quarter Review

Everywhere we looked last quarter flashed signs of a pullback:

  • The 3rd quarter is typically the worst quarter
  • A slowdown in China
  • The Fed may raise interest rates
  • A collapse in oil prices

It’s no wonder that at one point we saw the S&P 500 decline over 10% from its highs for the first time in 3 ½ years. The headlines left many investors jittery about living through another major market pullback like we’ve seen on 3 other occasions since 2000. What I routinely reminded our clients is that, historically, we get a 10% pullback annually. So waiting 3 ½ years, we were long overdue. Continue reading “October 2015 Commentary”

April 2015 Commentary

Quarter Review

The volatility we saw in the 4th quarter of 2014 continued throughout the first quarter of 2015. The primary driver of the volatility was an increased expectation amongst economists that the U.S. Federal Reserve would raise interest rates as early as June. A second factor was sub-par earnings reports that produced a perceived slowdown in US production.

For the quarter, the S&P 500 squeezed out a slight gain of less than one percent. Conversely, the international markets (EAFE Index) produced a gain of over 5%. The shift signaled a belief that the similar European and Japanese monetary policies, which helped US markets for the last few years, are beginning to have the same positive effects across seas. Continue reading “April 2015 Commentary”

Vavra Capital announces new SMA product

Vavra Capital Management is pleased to announce the opening of it’s first separately managed account product. The strategy aims to outperform a 60/40 weighting of the Wilshire 5000 Stock Index and Lehman Aggregate Bond Index utilizing a portfolio of exchange traded funds (ETFs) while maintaining a similar risk level. The VCM Balanced ETF Strategy will be available directly through Vavra Capital or through any advisor on TD Ameritrade, Schwab, Fidelity or Pershing’s institutional managed accounts platform. For more information, please contact Vavra Capital directly at info@vavracapital.com or (610) 489-3018.

November 2013 Commentary

Our June commentary happened to be timely and fortuitous when I suggested the 5% pullback in the US markets sparked by the Federal Reserve hinting of a bond buying taper was “unwarranted” and an “overreaction” and would be “short-lived” and create a “buying opportunity”. Since then the S&P 500 has risen almost 13% to an all-time high of around 1800. Continue reading “November 2013 Commentary”