My Comments: Investing money for the faint of heart is at best, a guessing game. Too much in ‘safe’ bonds and you get hammered when interest rates rise. Too little in ‘risky’ stocks at the bottom of a market trough and you get hammered when the next upturn happens. As explained here, the ups and …
Month: March 2016
Why You’ll Need to Own More Stocks After You Retire
My Comments: For many of us, retirement once seemed like a glorious goal to achieve. Now that many of us are here, the light isn’t so bright. As a financial planner, both for myself and others, the landscape is very different from what it was as little as twenty-five years ago. The fundamentals are the …
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How To Retire Despite Low Interest Rates
My Comments: Don’t expect interest rates to increase anytime soon. Decisions by the Fed will influence the prevailing level of interest rates but in the background is the everpresent supply and demand curve. This simply states that the price being paid (interest rate) is a function of how much there is available compared to the …
Here’s The Big Economic Risk The Federal Reserve Is Willing To Take
My Comments: In the world of finance, especially here in the US, what the Fed does is a huge determinant of how our lives play out when it comes to our money and purchasing power. People have made and lost fortunes on their expectations of what the Fed will do next. Here is ‘projection’ about …
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Keeping America Great (Again)
My Comments: Despite what some so called "leaders" are exclaiming, America is still a great place to live, work and dream. Sure, there are some troubling issues to deal with, but tell me, was there any point in time when there was perfection. I don't believe you can. Personally, I’m far more interested in what …
Bernie and Hillary re Black America; A Study in Contrasts
My Comments: By know you know I’m a registered Democrat who is unlikely to vote for Donald Trump. But I still have reservations about my support for the Democratic Party nominee. Among the writers I follow is Joel Klein. He writes about American politics and our role in the world. In the column that appears …
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You Can’t Keep Your Money Safe And Grow It At The Same Time
My Comments: The market continues it’s turmoil and there is no end in sight. Yet. Clients and people with whom I talk have two major fears. The first fear is outliving their money and the second is, with interest rates at historic lows, how do they earn enough for it to be meaningful. Life has …
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Read This Before You Take Social Security Benefits
My Comments: Social Security is a complicated topic. If you are not yet 70 years old, and/or have not yet committed to how you will take your Social Security benefits, you should read this. With so many variables, the typical process for making a good decision is total confusion for most people, even financial planners. …
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Britain Is Sleepwalking Into A New Recession
My Comments: Never mind for the moment whether Britain decides to leave the European Union or not. They are now a key player in the world economy and a critical player in the world’s efforts to push back against terrorism. Removing themselves from the EU “…because we had it better before…” is similar to the …
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Oil Wars; Saudi Arabia May Have Screwed The Pooch
My Comments: If you are concerned about how fracking is an environmental threat, this might interest you. Much of our collective angst is driven by the runup to next November’s presidential election. All the while, however, there are forces at work beyond our control that will greatly influence how our lives play out over the …
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Helping Define Your Financial Future 