Buckle Up! The New Bear Market Has Begun!

My Comments: The writer has a powerful message to send. He was right about this back in 2008 but that doesn't mean he's right this time. I have clients and prospective clients asking when the next downturn is going to begin. And yet there are many articles that suggest it’s still a long way off. …

Continue reading Buckle Up! The New Bear Market Has Begun!

US Cable Barons And Their Power Over Us

My Comments: Professionally, I live in the world of finance and investments. Regulation is pervasive, most likely increasing, since there is a pervasive threat of abuse by the big players. I think it would help all of us to have a level playing field, including individuals, corporate America, and society as a whole. I cannot …

Continue reading US Cable Barons And Their Power Over Us

The Rise of Tactical Asset Allocation

My Comments: Yesterday I talked about investment risk, and how we, both clients and advisors alike, should understand it. Today, I’m reposting an article that describes, for me, a way to help clients achieve their perceived objectives, and keep the risk element under control. As before, risk is not to be avoided, but to be …

Continue reading The Rise of Tactical Asset Allocation

Should Your Investments Include Europe?

My Comments: Europe has been in the news a lot recently. President Obama is/was over there, it’s the 70th anniversay of D-Day, the Ukraine is a basket case waiting to get resolved, and so on. And all this time, people have investments and between dealing with the heat of summer and the need to take …

Continue reading Should Your Investments Include Europe?

There Isn’t Going To Be A Crash Anytime Soon

My Comments: Last week I posted an article that suggested you be very cautious with your investments going forward. This article says “never mind”, all is well, keep going. Unfortunately, from my perspective, both are completely rational, plausible, and probably accurate. Which means that I have no earthly idea how this is going to play …

Continue reading There Isn’t Going To Be A Crash Anytime Soon

How Will The Federal Reserve Raise Interest Rates?

My Comments: There is little argument that sooner or later the Fed will start to push interest rates up. And when they do, there is going to be confusion about how fast and how far they push. This in turn will cause some volatility and timing issues on Wall Street. But all this is part …

Continue reading How Will The Federal Reserve Raise Interest Rates?

3 Reasons The Current Equities Market Is Exhausted

My Comments: Many of my clients are asking how come their investments are not as exciting as what they hear on TV these days. And my standard answer is that exciting comes in two flavors, great and frightening. For the most part, I’m trying to help them avoid the frightening part. For many years I …

Continue reading 3 Reasons The Current Equities Market Is Exhausted

Our Flawed Financial System is Reflected in Bitcoin

My Comments: What exactly is a bitcoin? I’ve been reading about them for many months now and I’ve yet to understand how I would spend one if it happened to show up in my change at Publix. Chances are it never will. But... The image suggests they are made of metal. But that runs counter …

Continue reading Our Flawed Financial System is Reflected in Bitcoin

10 Bear Market Catalysts To Watch For

My Comments: I guess it's human nature to abhor a vacuum. If there isn't a crisis, we invent one. We’ve had 5 years of mostly good times in the markets, since about the first of April in 2009. The second chart below kinda proves that. From a timing standpoint, we’ve had people predicting the end …

Continue reading 10 Bear Market Catalysts To Watch For

Spring Check-Up: 5 Investment Ideas For Your Portfolio

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