Shall we ruminate on Bitcoin? It's been kicking up a storm and has firmly put down roots in the financial landscape. But, as it goes with trendsetters, it's taken up a high octane hobby – a 100m dash in the stock market, up and down, and round and round. Not everyone's got the stomach for it, but the silver lining is, you don't have to buy the beast to feel the wind in your hair. While cryptocurrencies have their fan club, they've got the critics too, mostly due to their maddeningly inconsistent value. So, if you want to dip your toes into the crypto pool, but your investments are still learning to swim, advisors recommend keeping these not-so-stable assets to less than 10% of your total investments. Feeling adventurous? One of the wildcards in this scene is the price, which behaves like a roller coaster ride. In the early months of 2021, Bitcoin's price sailed twice as high, but just like that unpredictable ride, it dropped by 25%, just when you were enjoying the view. Despite crossing the trillion-dollar mark in market value, you have to play 'guess the asset' with Bitcoin — a game that's ongoing, with no clear winner. Some folks equate Bitcoin to shiny gold. However, unlike traditional assets that pay dividends, Bitcoin only excels at dancing it's own rhythm. Go for Alternative #1: Grayscale Bitcoin Trust You won't find a Bitcoin ETF on U.S. exchanges sitting around, but drop by Grayscale Investments and say hi to the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust. Crafted by clever fello… Read more

Hear Ye, Hear Ye: Wall Street's Crystal Ball Might Be a Tad Too Zen Guess what folks?! You remember the bull market in the 90s? Back when boy bands ruled the airwaves and high-waisted jeans were in vogue? Well, the stock market is currently sporting that same placid vibe according to a major Wall Street signal. And by placid, I mean super chilled – as peaceful as a Buddhist monk on a silent retreat. The Lowdown on the VIX Permit me to introduce you to the CBOE Volatility Index (or VIX for short). Ah, the VIX – our most evocative little ticker symbol – considered something of a psychic hotline for investor feels about market volatility. Being the Wall Street's go-to 'fear gauge,' it's practically a jitter-o-meter for Wall Street fortunes. Here's the kicker: right now, that jitter-o-meter is hovering just below 10. To give you a sense of scale, the VIX’s normal 25-year average is twice that number. The current lull is the lowest since Bill Clinton's first year in office. Just to contrast, flashback to the 2008 financial crisis – the VIX was somersaulting over 60, like a turbo-charged gymnast. Serene or Scary? You might think this Zen-like calm should be cause for confetti and champagne. Typically, a less spooky VIX suggests less perceived risk and by extension, a stronger argument for pumping up those equity investments. At least, that's what Jack Ablin, bigwig money man at BMO Private Bank, might tell you. But wait! Let's not put away our worry beads just yet. This peri… Read more