Lowell Herr | ITA Wealth Management

Ring of Fire Rendition: A Music Interlude

November 12, 2014 By Lowell Herr

As an interlude to investing, take a little time to listen to this rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” Hope you have a good sound system and the subwoofer is attached. http://rare.us/story/a-cappella-group-re-imagines-johnny-cashs-ring-of-fire-and-its-mind-blowing/ The song was written by June Carter Cash. Lowell

Fama-French 5-Factor Asset Pricing Model

October 8, 2014 By Lowell Herr

Motivated by a question related to the Morningstar style box, what factors motivate the ITA investment philosophy. Is the style box or SAA model valid even when the securities used to populate the various boxes are highly correlated? The SAA model came on hard times during the Great Recession when seemingly low correlated investments all […]

Schubert: Quintet in C

August 17, 2014 By Lowell Herr

Schubert’s Quintet in C is the CD recommendation for this week. Part 2 or the Adagio is one of my favorite sections of this Heinrich Schiff recording of the Alban Berg Quartet. Here is a positive review I found on Amazon. Here is another fine recording of this same piece by Schubert. “Many consider Schubert’s […]

Eight ETF Portfolio: Early Results

August 15, 2014 By Lowell Herr

Yesterday I presented the eight (8) ETF portfolio in the Aristotle review. Here are early results as to how that portfolio would have performed from 6/30/2006 through 8/14/2014 or over eight years of data. The portfolio is up over 133% while the VTI index is up over 88%. This model looks promising.

Ceremonial Music for Trumpet and Symphonic Organ

August 10, 2014 By Lowell Herr

Ceremonial Music for Trumpet and Symphonic Organ is the recommended CD this week. Rolf Smedvig is the featured trumpeter and Michael Murray is on the organ. Of the positive reviews on Amazon, this one provides an overview of what to expect from this music. As a former trumpet player, I thoroughly enjoy this sound. […]

Why I Use Index ETFs

August 7, 2014 By Lowell Herr

Why I use Index Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Let me count the ways. Simplicity: It saves the work of stock analysis. Increases probability of success: A literature search of index investing vs. active stock picking will have the honest researcher coming down on the side of index instruments. The literature is replete with this information […]

Where To Begin If You Have Never Managed a Portfolio*

July 30, 2014 By Lowell Herr

If someone asked you what to do with an inheritance or 401(k) sum of money, what advice would you give them? Here are some basic ideas for a novice investor. Assume the money is in your checking account and available to be invested. Open up a broker account with a discount broker. For example, go […]

Regression Analysis and The Schwert Effect

July 21, 2014 By Lowell Herr

Regression Analysis is the investment communities effort to apply the scientific method to portfolio analysis. Let’s take a little time to explain what is meant by Regression Analysis. As you might remember from your math and science classes, data is plotted on an Y – X axis. For example, in physics it is common […]