Do Record Low Yields And Record High Stocks Spell Trouble?

My Comments: This week I’ve focused my posts on what other people think is likely to happen to your money if you have it invested in stocks and bonds. It’s pretty obvious that no one has a clue. Until a lot of stuff gets sorted out, my recommendation is to go to cash and sit …

Continue reading Do Record Low Yields And Record High Stocks Spell Trouble?

Stocks Could Jump 15% This Year if Earnings Rise

My Comments: I wish someone would tell me what the hell is going on! One day I’m told the market is healthy and we should expect the DOW to increase dramatically. The next day there is an equally credible message that the market is way overpriced and to expect a crash. Then today, though written …

Continue reading Stocks Could Jump 15% This Year if Earnings Rise

Why Interest Rates Are Lower Than Ever

My Comments: Please keep reading… Paul J. Lim  July 6, 2016 If you think the financial panic over Brexit is over — because stocks have bounced back somewhat from their initial sell off — think again. As scared investors continue to seek shelter in boring government bonds, fixed income prices have soared while yields on …

Continue reading Why Interest Rates Are Lower Than Ever

UP or DOWN?

My Comments: Do you know what’s going to happen? Me neither. Here are two very opposing opinions of what the markets will do in the coming days. If it makes you afraid, you are not alone. My only bright spot is a program that grew by over 50% in 2008. Will it do it again? …

Continue reading UP or DOWN?

Can You Afford to Live Longer?

My Comments: Many of you know that I’ve recently started a series of workshops that focuses on how the Social Security system works. It’s an attempt to help those who will soon become eligible, or are already eligible, better understand a very complex and not user friendly institution in American life. One assumption that is …

Continue reading Can You Afford to Live Longer?

Will Trumpism Outlive Trump?

My Comments: Before you criticize me for posting what appears to be a political comment, consider what I think is the takeaway phrase from the following dialog: “Trump doesn’t matter, Trump’s voters do”. There’s a reason there are so many pissed off people on both sides of the Atlantic. And unless and until our elected …

Continue reading Will Trumpism Outlive Trump?

How to Invest in Mutual Funds

My Comments: Mutual funds have been around for about 100 years. Some genius decided to create a new investment model, a stand alone investment. With one investment you now could own shares of hundreds of stocks, in smaller amounts. And the rest is history. Today there are more funds to choose from than you can …

Continue reading How to Invest in Mutual Funds

Claiming Social Security at Full Retirement Age is Often a Mistake

My Comments: The headline above should probably read ‘Sometimes’ instead of ‘Often’. It depends to some extent on when you die. Since that date is completely unknown, the only solution is to play the odds, and my recommendation these days is to assume you will live to be 100. That’s the conservative approach. Unless you …

Continue reading Claiming Social Security at Full Retirement Age is Often a Mistake

The End Of The Fossil Fuel Age As We Know It

My Comments: I grew up in WW2 England, in my uncle’s house, and he had a car in the garage. My father was in the Royal Tank Regiment, doing what soldiers do in a war. My life as a small boy was relatively normal. Petrol (gasoline) was rationed but I recall going for a drive …

Continue reading The End Of The Fossil Fuel Age As We Know It

A 34-Year Tailwind For Stock Market Returns Has Run Out Of Steam

My Comments: Many in my profession have been waiting for a market correction of significance for at least the past 18 months. Obviously it hasn’t happened yet, but unless you expect the sun to rise in the west, it will happen, and probably sooner rather than later. More and more commentary surfaces every day that …

Continue reading A 34-Year Tailwind For Stock Market Returns Has Run Out Of Steam