The ClientWise Blog

Each quarter, Russell Market Research compiles the Financial Professional Outlook, the collected opinions of financial advisors from national, regional, and independent advisory firms on topics of market sentiment, advisor/investor conversations, and investor behavior.

From the very first investment mania in 1637, where single tulip bulbs sold for more than 10 times the annual income of a skilled craftsman, we’ve known that emotion plays a strong role in driving investor behavior.

Some of you grizzled veterans may remember this cover of BusinessWeek from August 13, 1979, that pronounced "The Death of Equities". I do. I was just entering the securities business...and openly questioning my career timing, or lack thereof. Little did I know that it was one of the best contrary indicators that I could hope for.

There’s a fascinating new report, published by Barclays Wealth that clearly indicates that a high percentage wealthy investors want investment rules. Indeed, 41% of high net worth individuals wish they had more self-control over their financial behavior

Dr. Eric K. Clemons is a professor of operations and information management at Wharton, and a pioneer in the study of the transformational impacts of information on the strategy and practice of business.

Recently, Dr. Clemons weighed in on Microsoft's $8.5 billion takeout of Skype. Although ClientWise is an executive coaching firm, and not in the business of providing investment advice, we found Dr. Clemons' comments to be insightful and illuminating...and wanted to share this interview with our subscribers.

Although the horrific crisis in Japan seems to be unfolding by the hour, we wanted to pass along this collection of interviews (dated 3/16/2011) from four experts, all who happen to be professors at the Wharton School.

As you Buffettologists already know, Warren Buffett released his annual shareholder letter over the weekend. By word and deed, he seems quite optimistic on the future course of the US from an investment vantage point.

Groupthink is a style of thinking that people can engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive group. When groupthink occurs, the desire for group unanimity overrides the motivation to realistically discuss and appraise different alternatives.

Pollyanna was a best-selling 1913 novel that was adapted to a 1960 Disney movie starring Hayley Mills (who won a special Oscar for her role). Pollyanna's philosophy centers on an optimistic attitude of life that she learned from her father called the "The Glad Game."

Last month, in an apparent attempt to burnish a bruised reputation, Alan Greenspan presented a 66-page kinda-sorta apology to the Brookings Institution entitled, "The Crisis."