Just when you thought it was safe to ...I'm doing a bit of research on the Sharpe and Information ratios, and am finding loads of confusion. This may end up becoming an article, but for now I'll share with you some "facts," at least as I understand them, regarding the...

Apparently, this is the first time since 1888 that Thanksgiving and Chanukah overlapped (I wasn't around, but my friends Steve Campisi and Herb Chain recalled the event; both are significantly older than I) , and it won't occur again for 70,000+ years (I doubt that...

So proud, I'm showing off; hope you don't mind.Our third grandchild and first granddaughter.Born to our son, Christopher, and his lovely wife, Monica.Specifics:Born 11/25/2013At 4:18 pm8lbs. 13oz21 inchesRenza in name = Monica's momElizabeth in name = Chris' mom; aka,...

I was in Australia (both Sydney and Melbourne) last week, (1) speaking at a conference, (2) conducting a conference workshop, and (3) teaching our two-day attribution class. It was a very hectic time, and I failed to do any posting, which is a bit unusual for...

It may seem like a stretch, but the very esoteric and complex mathematical area topology and performance attribution have something in common: mapping. Topologists map points from one surface to another, while PMPs (Performance Measurement Professionals) map weights...

I have had the opportunity to engage in conversation with several folks over the past month or so regarding the CFA Institute's "Principles for Investment Reporting." I remain generally opposed; actually, perhaps more so.For a document that promotes "transparency," it...

Yes, this IS a dilemma: do you invest the money into providing your performance and risk measurement team the training they need to do a good job, and run the risk they'll leave, or avoid teaching them and save the money?Fortunately, most firms see the wisdom in...

I have begun to read Mass Flourishing, by Edmund Phelps, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. He begins with the following: “Flourishing is the heart of prospering – engagement, meeting challenges, self-expression, and personal growth…A person’s flourishing comes from...

In this weekend's WSJ, Jason Zweig discusses how investors too often make poor contribution/withdrawal decisions (see "How Investors Leave Billions on the Table").He mentions how Pimco's Total Return fund had a 12-month return (as-of September 30) of -0.74%, that...

The words in this post's title appear in Nobel Laureate in Economics Leon Lederman's The God Particle. I can't say exactly why, but when I read it those words struck me.A stunning implication.I once read that good writers write one word at a time; I believe Lederman...