INSIGHTS FROM FIRST FOUNDATION

A First Foundation Blog

The Week Ahead – Book Report

Welcome to “The Week Ahead” where we take a moment to provide our thoughts on what we can expect in markets and the economy during the upcoming week.

For those who know me well, they know that I love to read. Most of the time I’m juggling anywhere between two to three books at a time. While I do read occasionally on my iPhone, nothing is better than kicking back on a couch with a paperback or hardcover in-hand. As one can imagine, during the week, investment professionals are constantly reading up on economic data, policy information, researching companies, learning about new innovations, etc.

My current nightstand books are both very unique and interesting in their own ways. The first is “Age of Discovery – Navigating the Storms of Our Second Renaissance” by Ian Goldin & Chris Kutarna. Philosophical in nature, the authors pose the idea that today’s era is mankind’s second renaissance. With new innovations, technologies, and new frontiers being mapped (Mars landing anyone?), it makes a very interesting read as some of the parallels are striking. Science. Faith. Art. Greed. Progress.

The second book is aptly named, “The Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel. An easy read of 19 short stories about one’s relationship with money. One of my favorite chapter’s in the book is titled “Nothing’s Free.” Market returns are not free – the fee being volatility. During out latest webinar we touched on our view that volatility will remain at elevated levels for the foreseeable future, primarily due to lower for longer interest rates and the massive amount of capital flowing through the system. 2020 was a perfect example for those investors who were able to pay the “volatility fee” saw strong results in all risk assets.

The week ahead will be the final week for the month of February and it’ll be jam packed with economic data. We’ll get the second reading for last quarter’s GDP (4Q2020) and an update on PCE. More importantly, we’ll have Fed Chair Jerome Powell presenting to Congress the FOMC’s semi-annual monetary policy testimony Tuesday and Wednesday. It’ll be another opportunity for the Fed to continue laying out the current progress of economic recovery and defending the need for continued support.

Data deck for February 20–February 26

Date

Indicator

Period

February 22

Leading Indicators

January

February 23

Case-Shiller Home Price Index

December

February 23

Consumer Confidence

February

February 23

FOMC Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report

----

February 24

FOMC Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report

----

February 24

MBA Mortgage Applications

----

February 24

New Home Sales

January

February 25

Initial Jobless Claims

----

February 25

Durable Goods Orders

January

February 25

GDP (Second reading)

4Q20

February 25

Pending Home Sales

January

February 26

Wholesale Inventories

January

February 26

Personal Spending

January

February 26

Personal Income

January

February 25

University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment

February

 

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION    

Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by First Foundation Advisors), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this blog will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this blog serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from First Foundation Advisors. Please remember that if you are a First Foundation client, it remains your responsibility to advise First Foundation, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. First Foundation Advisors is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the blog content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of the First Foundation Advisors’ current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request, or at firstfoundationinc.com.  Please Note: First Foundation Advisors does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to First Foundation Advisors’ web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility therefore. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.

Andrew Chan, CAIA, Co-Chief Investment Officer
About the Author
Andrew Chan, CAIA, Co-Chief Investment Officer
Mr. Chan co-leads the strategic investment committee and is responsible for overseeing First Foundation Advisor’s investment solutions platform which includes conducting investment manager research for both traditional and alternative investments as well as asset allocation guidance for portfolio construction. As a member of the investment committee, he provides market commentary and investment insights to clients. Additionally, Mr. Chan serves as a senior executive on the business strategy committee providing guidance on firm wide initiatives. With over 15 years of wealth management experience, Mr. Chan has played key roles across various aspects of investment and wealth management. Prior to joining First Foundation Advisors, Mr. Chan was most recently a portfolio manager at U.S. Trust where, in addition to his daily responsibilities, he served on numerous national committees including the investment manager committee, the portfolio model committee, and the strategic technology committee. He also served on the in-house strategic consultant committee reporting directly to the President of U.S. Trust. Mr. Chan is a graduate of the Wharton School Executive Program on Investment Management and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside. He is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA). Mr. Chan has previously served as an exam working group member and as an exam grader for CAIA. A member of the CAIA SoCal Executive Board since 2015, Mr. Chan has served as executive chapter head since 2017. Read more