The French Enlightenment philosopher, writer, historian Voltaire once wrote: “The Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.” Adapting one of history’s pithier jibes to the realm of financial advice, we think the so-called passive index is most often neither passive nor an index, and it is most certainly not investing. Investors should take heed.

Episode 13 features Adam Eaglston, the Chief Investment Officer of Formidable Asset Management. Formidable is an active and adaptable financial services company. They employ a disciplined process and build client portfolios and develop financial plans.

August Update - Key Takeaways: Returns for equities continue to be dreamy in 2023, while GDP growth remains resilient, other factors point toward a dose of reality, while investors remain transfixed by the attraction of stereotypical growth at any price, we look for opportunities elsewhere.

As summer comes to an end—Formidable would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our summer interns for all their great work. We wish Sathya Panchu and Pierce Kreider the best of luck as they return to Cal-Berkeley and UNC, respectively. We’re all excited to see what they do next, and we will miss them round the office. Good luck, gentlemen.

Key Takeaways: Seven (7) stocks, fueled by AI mania, account for all the market’s return in 2023, employment and economic growth remain resilient, but so does inflation, with everyone piled onto the same side of the ship, we look for opportunities elsewhere.

As we reflect on the financial landscape of May 2023 and the overall Year-to-Date (YTD) performance, it’s impossible to ignore the profound impact of Brandi Carlile’s timeless ballad, “The Story.” Just like the song’s poignant lyrics, the investment markets have been on a journey of ups and downs, embracing uncertainty, resilience, and the power of a compelling narrative. Let us delve into the tale of the investment world through the lens of “The Story.”

On today's Drill Down, Vince Molinari discusses the current appeal of ETFs with Adam Eagleston, Chief Investment Officer of Formidable Asset Management LLC. They discuss the benefits of growing ETF portfolios and Adam's role in assisting investors in achieving long-term objectives.

Key Takeaways: The second largest bank failure in U.S. history was not enough to take stock indexes lower in April, a smaller and smaller cohort of megacap stocks continues to account for almost all of the market’s returns, and current expectations for the paths of earnings and interest rates are almost certainly mutually exclusive yet serve as the foundation on which index investors are relying.

Few things are less pleasant than doing your taxes. Whether you are a DIYer or pay an accountant, going through the toil and trouble of compiling tax information is never fun.

Key Takeaways: Not even a banking panic could keep the S&P 500 from posting gains for March and Q1, renewed hopes for a Fed pivot sent investors flocking to the perceived safety of megacap tech stocks, with the NASDAQ triumphantly entering an official bull market, and however, just as Napoleon’s return from exile was short-lived, we believe the euphoria of a new bull market will be fleeting, though opportunities will be found in less conventional parts of the market.