Investment Management
Our investment strategy is based on 4 core principles:
1. Long-term success
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Warren Buffet has said that his favorite holding period is forever. At Stillwater Financial, we invest for the long term and don't believe jumping in and out of the market.
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2. Low-cost investments
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The cost of each investment can erode your investment performance. Keeping costs low is a big advantage over the long term.
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Think of your investments like a bar of soap, the more you touch it, the less there is of it.
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A typical mutual fund can have layers of fees. These include:
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12b-1 fees
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Transaction fees
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Commissions
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Fund management expenses (expense ratio)
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Higher cost doesn't equal higher performance. Stillwater Financial uses low-cost indexed mutual funds from Vanguard and Dimensional Fund Advisors which have a single, low expense ratio.
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3. Correct mix of investments
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A proven way to reduce investment risk is to spread out your money. Remember the old adage, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket"? Well, it's actually a very true statement when investing and it's called diversification.
How many baskets is enough and how much should be in each one? A Nobel prize was won answering these questions.
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Another great way to reduce risk is by balancing your investments between stocks and bonds. This is called allocation.
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