The reason that ‘guru’ is such a popular word is because ‘charlatan’ is so hard to spell.
William J. Bernstein

On December 29th of 2017 the SPX closed at 2673.   As of this writing, it would take a return of over 7% on the last trading day of this year to break even (this does not account for any dividends paid by the index).  Even as recently as December 3rd the index hit a high of 2800, but eventually sold off to a low of 2351 on the 24th of this month.  We have rallied back from those lows, but volatility remains elevated as markets look to continue a turbulent path into the new year.  The reasons for the outsized selloffs and rallies are numerous and of little use.  Predicting what will happen next seems even more useless.  Markets go up and down in a seemingly random fashion, incorporating news and data into the daily pricing.   But what the market does pay attention to is the FED.  I’ve opined in previous commentaries how the FED runs the game.  Markets do better when monetary policy is in a relative state of easing and markets struggle when conditions seem to be tightening.  Technical and fundamental analysis have their place in shorter time frames, but they’re based on history and limited in telling what the future holds.

 At Salt Creek we don’t predict.  We focus our efforts on meeting the return objectives set forth by the client and by keeping risk contained.  Our tool bag allows us several ways to do this.  Last quarter we increased our cash position and are now contemplating other options as we get ready for the rebalance on February 1st of next year.  Making directional bets on the market is not what we strive to do.  We offer an allocation of various asset classes, incorporating various risk and return factors to diversify and manage risk within the portfolios.  Understanding our processes and adhering to our strategy are essential components to what we do on a daily basis.  Next year’s predictions about returns in the market will be plentiful, varied and useless.  Better to devote time and resources to improving operational efficiency and risk management because the next year will not be like the last one or any other.

SCI HIGHLIGHTS

 

SCI Monthly Webinar

SCI leaders Bob Dunne and Jim Baldwin will discuss SCI heading into 2019.

Tuesday, January 8th
@ 12:00 pm CDT

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: 
Click here for Conference Login 

Meeting ID: 325 159 0655
Dial In Audio: 669-900-6833

 

Ocean Park’s Market Minute

Ocean Park CIO Terri Spath welcomes you to 2019!

Click below to view this week’s Market Minute:

https://www2.sierrainvestment.com/2018/dec/28

 

SCI Video Content

Stay tuned. LSIA VP Bob Dunne and LSS Business Development Associate Zak Sandeman are working on multimedia content for you and your clients to provide more color on the specifics of the Salt Creek Investors asset allocation strategy.

Feel free to reach out to Bob Dunne to make any requests or suggestions:

rmd@lasallest.com

 


LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, LLC
940 N. Industrial Dr.
Elmhurst, IL 60126

Copyright © 2017 LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, LLC., All rights reserved.

As you consider the information provided with the Salt Creek Investors Asset Allocation Platform (the “Program”), please review the following:

The information and descriptions provided about the Program are for educational and information purposes only and should not be used or construed as investment advice, an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, a recommendation for any security, or suggest any course of action. LaSalle St. Investment Advisers (“LSIA”) does not guarantee that the information or descriptions supplied about the Program are complete or timely. LSIA makes no warranty with regard to any results obtained from the Program or its deployment. LSIA is not responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by relying on information provided about the Program. The allocations presented herein are illustrations and completely hypothetical. None reflect actual investments or investment results and do not reflect allocation of any individual portfolio. Asset allocation and its results vary over time. Other allocations or asset investment categories not offered in the Program may have characteristics similar or superior to those illustrated. Past performance of any model or allocation is no prediction of future results. Neither the Program nor any system/model can predict the future of any market or price movement in a market. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee against the risk of investment loss, including risk of loss of principal. Information provided regarding the Program is as of the date of publication and may change at any time without notice. Information has been included which was obtained from third parties and is believed to be reliable and complete. LSIA does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of such information. LSIA is a registered investment advisor and does not provide tax, accounting or legal advice ‒ the information and/or descriptions provided do not constitute such advice. More information regarding LSIA and its investment strategies can be found in the LSIA brochure, ADV Part II, which is available online or through LSIA. Asset allocation may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to invest, potential participants should consult with an investment adviser to determine an appropriate investment strategy and methodology which meets the investor’s specific financial needs, objectives, goals, time horizons and risk tolerance. The information and description provided herein has been made without consideration of any investor’s particular suitability for investing in the Program. Asset allocation also involves investment in various asset classes which are not insured by the government. Investing in fixed income and/or high yield securities involves additional concerns including interest rate risk, credit risk and reinvestment rate risk. Investing in securities outside the United States may entail greater risk than investing in domestic U. S. markets. These risks typically include political and economic uncertainty of foreign countries as well as currency exchange fluctuations, including foreign currency exchange rates, political risks, different methods of accounting, financial reporting and foreign taxes. The prospectus accompanying a security should carefully be reviewed before investing. The services described herein are available to persons residing in any state where they would otherwise be contrary to local law or regulation.