As investors look towards 2012, there are many difficult issues facing markets and the world economy. On a global level, the unfolding crisis in the eurozone, continuing unrest in the Middle East, slowing Chinese growth and a host of other issues threaten to further derail markets in the coming year - or at the very least keep them in a state of heightened volatility. In the U.S., the upcoming presidential race, high unemployment and spiraling debt have left markets mired in uncertainty, with more of the same sure to follow.
Here at Seeking Alpha we recognize just how difficult it is for investors to construct intelligent portfolios against the current market backdrop and we'd like to do our part to help. Since the beginning of December, we've been talking with top financial professionals - Portfolio Managers, RIAs and Wealth Managers - to see how they plan to position client portfolios in the coming year.
Each interview subject brings their own unique investing philosophy, backed by years of real world experience, to tackle a range of macroeconomic and geopolitical issues likely to weigh on markets in the coming year and beyond. We've asked them to be as detailed as possible, referencing the specific stocks, bonds, ETFs and mutual funds they plan to use to position their clients. The result is an interview series that is equal parts high-minded theory and practical portfolio advice.
Here's wishing all of our readers a happy and successful new year.
Below you will find the series in chronological order, with new articles added as soon as they appear on the site. We hope you enjoy.
- Roger Nusbaum Positions For 2012: Looking Beyond The U.S. For Equity, Fixed Income Exposure
- Lowell Herr Positions For 2012: Weighting Emerging Markets Over Developed Ones
- James Kostohryz Positions For 2012: 100% Cash The Only Way To Play This Market
- Paul Frank Positions For 2012: Sticking With U.S. Equities For Now
- Larry Swedroe (Passively) Positions For 2012: Avoiding Stock And Sector Picking, Economic Forecasting, And All Other Forms Of Speculation
- Edward Maran And Connor Browne Position For 2012: The Value Proposition For Equities Is The Best It's Been In Decades
- Paul Nouri Positions For 2012: Gauging Healthcare's Upside Potential
- Eric Parnell Positions For 2012: Getting Defensive With Utilities, Consumer Staples, Precious Metals, TIPS, Agency MBS
- Jerry Jordan Positions For 2012: A Surprising Bet On Renewed Consumer Spending
- Gary Gordon Positions For 2012: Shunning Developed World Treasuries In Favor Of Emerging And Corporate Debt, MLPs
- Eugene Profit Positions For 2012: Loading Up On Legacy Large Cap Infrastructure Tech
- David Nadel Positions For 2012: Bullish On Precious Metal Miners
- Robert Olstein Positions For 2012: Looking For Hidden Balance Sheet Strength
- Tom Lydon Positions For 2012: Emerging Market Stocks And Bonds Trump Developed Ones
- John Del Vecchio Positions For 2012: Finding Shorts Among Some Overpriced Consumer And Technology Names
- Casey Smith Positions For 2012: A Comprehensive ETF-Based Portfolio Strategy For The Next Year
- Alex Gurvich Positions For 2012: Finding Opportunity In A Sector Rotation Strategy
- David Merkel Positions For 2012: Overweight Insurers, Information Technology, Energy
- Robert Abad Positions for 2012: Emerging Market Debt In The Year Of Living Dangerously
- Lee Munson Positions For 2012: Keeping Risk Constant
- Jeff Miller Positions For 2012: Biggest Mistake Investors Can Make Right Now Is Underweighting Stocks
