My Comments: I realize that many of you have no idea what happened in the 1970s. I’d like to forget some of it so you’re ahead of me. The OPEC Crisis was a move by oil producing nations in the middle east to cut supply drastically, which caused gas prices to jump dramatically and leave …
Continue reading The Largest Supply Side Shock Since The OPEC Crisis Of The 1970s
My Comments: OK, we’re a long way into Spring, but the dramatic push to finish taxes by April 15th is behind us. Time now to review and reflect before the heat of summer is here. These five ideas make sense to me. And yes, the approach I take with clients is a little different, ( …
Continue reading Spring Check-Up: 5 Investment Ideas For Your Portfolio
My Comments: This article was meant for me as a financial professional with fiduciary responsibilities. However, I think it’s important information for everyone. TDF stands for Target Date Funds. This is a Wall Street invention that attempts to create a special, presumably safe investment portfolio for you, Mr. and Mrs. American Investor. The investment allocation …
Continue reading Fiduciaries: Steer Clear of T. Rowe, Fidelity and Vanguard TDFs
My Comments: OK, maybe “funeral” is too strong but the bloom is clearly off the lily. I’ve been registered as a Democrat since I was in college. This was when you had to be if you wanted to vote in the primaries. The only people running were Democrats. I’ve called myself an economist since my …
Continue reading RIP Obama’s Stimulus: Funeral for a Policy Success
My Comments: I confess to having been naive when it comes to some people having a greater influence on political outcomes than others. But now I've read about this report, and what it claims, and my naivete is now boundless. Some friends and family stopped voting long ago. They have accepted that their votes are …
My Comments: I’m proud of the fact that I’m held to a fiduciary standard. It’s in my best interest as a professional to be held to the same standards as attorneys, CPAs, physicians, and the like. My focus has to be on what is best for my clients, and that’s a good thing. Readers of …
My Comments: Understanding the Social Security system and helping clients make the best choices has become a passion for me. Before a few months ago, I never realized there were a total of 97 months to choose from when signing up for benefits. I never knew the difference between the best month and the worst …
Continue reading 10 Numbers Everyone Should Know About Social Security
My Comments: When do you think Congress will adopt any intelligent process to fix ObamaCare so we can all get on with our lives? Anytime soon? Doubtful. As someone who has sold health insurance policies of one kind or another since 1976, I think of myself as fairly knowledgeable about the issue. In those many …
My Comments: It’s no secret that Social Security is a major issue these days. So many people are arriving at the magic number when you can apply. For financial advisors like myself, knowing most of the variables and being able to help clients and others make the best decision for themselves is important. When you …
Continue reading 10 Things You Should Know About Social Security
My Comments: Over the years I’ve had people wonder why I’m an optimist. They’ve decided I’m simply blinded by whatever it is that causes me to lean to the left instead of the right. To their mind, the world, and in particular America, is going to hell in a handbasket. I believe that for centuries, …
Continue reading Forecasts of US Fiscal Armageddon Are Wrong
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