the research puzzle : a blog by tom brakke

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analogies and anomalies Mar 14, 2012
Much discourse in the investment world relates today's situation to one of the past. Therefore, the ability to see through the fog of comparison is very important.
degrees of difficulty Oct 10, 2011
Lumping similar kinds of investment vehicles together for performance comparison is the way of the world. But there's an important dimension that's often forgotten.
bond math Aug 29, 2011
No matter the asset class or investment strategy, there are limitations that exist to the generation of attractive returns. Beware managers who don't acknowledge them.
picturing process Jun 2, 2011
Investment firms and advisors market their wares using pitch books, but the pages that are meant to illustrate how they do what they do are often counterproductive.
up on the farm May 23, 2011
Going back to the land is a popular investment theme of the day, but what economic calculations support the notion? It's time to pencil out some answers.
a street named desire Aug 30, 2010
"All the world's a stage," wrote the Bard, and another play hundreds of years later prompts analogies to the world of investments.
everything is relative Jun 1, 2010
A relentless focus on comparative performance has resulted in patterns of decisions by the buyers and sellers of investment services that are good for neither.
the cave and the flow May 14, 2010
Dealing with the deluge of information at our disposal requires us to consider when to submerge ourselves in it and when to seek understanding elsewhere.
pictures with warren Mar 3, 2010
Our images of great investors and business managers can impede our ability to objectively see whether they have a plan for the future that makes sense.
structured myopia Feb 25, 2010
The structuring of investment organizations often is done along lines that ignore the way that information flows through the markets.
unpegged Feb 10, 2010
In trying to determine what to pay for a stock, investors use all kinds of calculations and metrics. Unfortunately, one of the most common just isn't very good.
thinking about doing Feb 4, 2010
You have an investment task, be it a job or a hobby. How much time do you spend contemplating your approach versus executing it? An Olympic lesson for us all.
the performance parade Nov 30, 2009
When it comes to judging which research firms are best, investment people naturally look to some measure of performance. Beware the traps.
situational awareness Oct 26, 2009
As the plane went cruising over my head last week, I didn't know it would become an international story, but one quote led to inescapable metaphors worth pondering.
thus spake the king Sep 24, 2009
Making investment decisions in a group setting is fraught with issues. Let's return to the table and focus on the leader of the group for now.
first name basis Jul 16, 2009
As market players gain fame, it is easy to identify too closely with them. You never know when they are going to lose their luster.
the mysterious waffle Feb 25, 2009
Brokerage firms are in the habit of paying handsome sums to get those that can produce commissions to come to work for them. By the way, those commissions come from you.
the art of triangulation Dec 22, 2008
To avoid the tunnel vision that accompanies much decision making, it is good to force a three-sided attack on the problem.
the tide went out Dec 12, 2008
The spectacular frauds that make headlines reinforce the need to apply exacting standards and processes to the due diligence of investment products and managers.
feeling the pressure Dec 4, 2008
When "everyone else is doing it," it might be time to step back and assess whether it is time for you to go along or time to stand apart.
about that dashboard Sep 12, 2008
What do the dials, gauges, and warning lights say about how you are meeting your goals and those of your firm?
wall street runs this world Aug 26, 2008
We are in a time of contraction and confusion in the financial markets, and at many of the most important firms. Maybe things could be done differently.
out of position Jul 16, 2008
An errant move has left you or your firm with what seems like an insurmountable goal; maybe it's time to think about golf.
growth promises Jul 7, 2008
The story of Starbucks is yet another in a long line of situations where reaching to meet Wall Street expectations has been a failed strategy.
check your aspect ratio Jun 6, 2008
A horse race on television provides a moment of reflection about whether the frame of reference that we employ matches the subject matter at hand.
parabolic dreams May 28, 2008
The emergence of price charts with a certain geometric look attract attention and spawn dreams of opportunity that may not come to be.