Chris Reilly’s note: When it comes to investing, the headlines are loud... the markets are volatile... and emotions run high. But what if there was a simpler way—one that doesn’t rely on gut instinct, hype, or trying to “predict” the next big move?
That’s exactly what our unique Cornerstone Club advisory, headed by RiskHedge publisher Dan Steinhart, offers.
Cornerstone uses a rules-based approach that puts your investing decisions on autopilot. This system has generated 302% returns—even in the toughest markets of our lifetimes—and has helped smart investors beat the market for more than 50 years.
Cornerstone just notched its best month of 2025. And the portfolio is still fully allocated, signaling lots of opportunity.
Here’s my talk with Dan, who shares more...
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Chris Reilly: Dan, Cornerstone just had its best month of 2025. What’s the real takeaway for readers?
Dan Steinhart: Honestly, it’s not about the month itself. The takeaway is that the system is doing what it’s designed to do: capture big trends without getting emotional. Last month’s numbers were nice, sure, but what’s more important is how we got there. Cornerstone stayed disciplined while the market threw all sorts of curveballs. That’s the real story.
Chris: Discipline isn’t a “sexy” word, but clearly it matters. How did it play out last month?
Dan: Let’s talk gold (GLD). After five months of consolidation, it broke out past $3,900/oz to an all-time high. People were debating if it was “too expensive” or “done moving.”
Cornerstone doesn’t debate—it looks at the trend and asks one question: Is it strong enough to own? Yes or no. We’ve been in GLD since March 2024 when gold was $2,200/ounce, and we’ll hold it until the system says otherwise. That kind of clarity is what keeps members positioned while others are second-guessing themselves.
Chris: Most investors buy on fear or greed. They see a rally and jump in late. They see a dip, panic and sell. You’re saying Cornerstone avoids that by enforcing discipline and sticking to the plan...
Dan: Exactly. And I get it—markets are unpredictable, headlines are everywhere, and it’s human nature to react. But emotion often leads to mistakes. Cornerstone removes that. We don’t chase Twitter noise or panic over a government shutdown. We just follow the rules and act accordingly.
Cornerstone tells you what to invest in, and when. If a major asset class is “working” somewhere in the world (prices are going up), Cornerstone makes sure you own it. And it ensures you don’t own falling or underperforming assets.
One strong month is nice, but what really matters is stacking rational, rules-based decisions month after month. That’s how wealth is built safely, without losing sleep.
In short, Cornerstone is built for consistency.
Chris: I know the Cornerstone system starts from a proven principle: To have the most robust portfolio, you should own a mix of quality financial assets from all over planet Earth. Can you share more on that?
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Dan: So “mix” means you don’t just own stocks. You must own all the major asset classes: stocks, bonds, commodities, and real estate.
“All over planet Earth” means you don’t just own investments from your home country. Americans should own stocks from emerging markets and Europe. They should own foreign bonds. They should own a mix of quality assets from everywhere.
BUT—and this is where many folks go wrong—you don’t need to own everything all the time. There’s a time for every investment.
For example, interest-rate-sensitive sectors are hurting. REITs and long-dated Treasuries both lost ground.
Cornerstone has wisely kept us away from these sectors.
Chris: What else is Cornerstone saying today?
Dan: It’s bullish. We’re fully allocated. And every sector we own posted gains. We’re half in US stocks, a third in foreign stocks, and one-sixth in gold.
Chris: Readers often ask, “How much can I realistically expect to earn?”
Dan: Returns fluctuate. But if you stick with a rules-based plan, avoid emotional mistakes, and stay consistent, the results compound.
I like showing this chart.
The green bars are the greatest investors of all time. It’s a worthy goal to earn 15%+ per year like they do, but don’t count on it. The blue bars are returns of simple “do nothing” styles—stocks and 60/40 portfolios. Anyone can easily be in that range by simply buying “the market.”
The red bar is how most people do:
The first job of any smart investor is to get into the range of the two blue bars above.
That’s your #1 job, above all else. Figure that out first.
Then, and only then, should you think about more advanced things with higher upside, like individual stock picking.
The great news is the Cornerstone method gets you in between the green and blue bars.
Chris: How would you say Cornerstone fits in with the rest of our advisories?
Dan: Cornerstone is a strategy for part of your core portfolio. If RiskHedge is a tree—Cornerstone is the roots and the trunk. Our other services are the branches.
I recommend using Cornerstone to manage part of your core portfolio and then building around it with our other, more specialized, higher-upside ideas like cryptos, both big and small tech disruptors, and trading.
Chris: Thanks, Dan.
And reader, if you’re interested in Cornerstone, please go here. Dan answers everything you need to know about this service... and at that page, you’ll also see a special limited-time discount.
Chris Reilly
Executive Editor, RiskHedge