When the equity market sets a new all-time high, many people become anxious about what will happen next. It turns out that new market peaks are common, occurring 1,144 times from January 3, 1928 through May 31, 2017, or once a month on average.

The Active Equity Renaissance is a series of posts by AthenaInvest's Founder and CIO, C. Thomas Howard, PhD, and Jason A. Voss, CFA, retired co-Portfolio Manager of the Davis Appreciation and Income Fund. It proposes an alternative to modern portfolio theory (MPT), and pokes holes in MPT’s underlying assumptions. Ways to improve active management returns are discussed throughout.

Read the Series on Enterprising Investor 

The last eight years have been a good period for equity investing. But can it last? As the old saying goes, “Markets climb a wall of worry.” There is certainly plenty to worry about: looming market corrections, elections in Europe, and political uncertainty.

Advisors integrating planning into their practices face new challenges. Of critical importance is the advisor’s ability to translate client needs into financial solutions and to communicate how those solutions meet their goals. Needs-based planning builds confidence in the advisor and helps clients avoid costly emotional decisions which can sabotage long-term results.