“I busted a mirror and got seven years bad luck, but my lawyer thinks he can get me five.” – Steven Wright Seven years ago California was facing a severe budget crisis. The state’s expenses exceeded revenues, creating an unsustainable path for the state’s finances, which ultimately unwound with the Great Recession in 2008. By … Continued
“You wish to surrender to me? Very well, I accept.” – The protagonist Westley in the novel The Princess Bride In the novel The Princess Bride, later made into a cult film, The Dread Pirate Roberts is not one person but several characters who successively take the same name in turn. The arrangement thrives because … Continued
Many Americans seem to have a love affair with Europe, but following several choppy years that included a long recession and a sovereign debt crisis, many investors have taken the region off their radar screen. Without question the countries that make up the E.U. vary wildly, yet when combined they represent the largest economy in … Continued
In an effort to fulfill evolving client needs, Sand Hill has recently launched a Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) portfolio available to all clients across each one of our investment strategies. While Sand Hill has been investing in the SRI space at the request of clients for numerous years, the launch marks the beginning of a … Continued
A couple years ago my husband and I took our three children to Disney World. My son, who was six years old at the time, wanted so desperately to be brave like his older cousins. He reluctantly walked with me, locking elbows, through the line for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. As we approached … Continued
The U.S. stock market performance during 2013 can be described as nothing other than extraordinary. Not only were new highs achieved, but overall return levels were the highest in 15 years for the S&P 500 and the highest in 18 years for the Dow. While the markets rose significantly, the underlying economic condition was less … Continued
“Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won.” – Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, following his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo (1815) The Battle of Waterloo is best known for Napoleon’s last stand against the British under the command of the Duke of Wellington. While the military … Continued
Few asset classes performed more poorly than gold in 2013. But with the recent run-up in the precious metal into the start of 2014, investors are asking: is now the time to buy? Before you start stocking your basement with bullion, however, let’s take a look back at gold’s history. Gold is notorious for long … Continued
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” – Keyser Söze, from the 1995 film “The Usual Suspects” When censors first sat down and watched the movie Psycho, they deemed it to be too violent. In response, Hitchcock reviewed with them the violent scenes frame-by-frame. To their amazement, there was … Continued
“It is tedious to tell again tales already plainly told.” – Homer, The Odyssey The ancient Greeks were great storytellers. That tradition continues to this day – for better and, unfortunately, for worse – as the world has witnessed over the last several years. We fear that just as King Odysseus faced obstacles and headwinds … Continued