The idea behind this post comes from an article by Gordon A. Schaller Several years ago you purchased a life insurance policy. You did this even though you always thought life insurance was a bad investment with returns of only 3-4%. However, this policy was supposed to be different; the premiums could be flexible and …
Continue reading Volatility Can Kill Your Variable Life Insurance Policy
By Edward Luce A driver is stuck in a jam in Washington. A man knocks on his window: “Terrorists have kidnapped Congress, and they’re asking for $100m otherwise they’ll burn them with gasoline,” the man says. “We’re going from car to car to get donations.” What are people giving on …
By Liz Ann Sonders - Senior Vice-President and Chief Investment Strategist at Charles Schwab Today, housing represents a record low of US gross domestic product at about 2 per cent compared with more than 6 per cent at its 2005 peak. But the psychological impact of housing on individuals, the stock market and the broader …
Continue reading Time for Policymakers to Get Real on US Housing
OK. Enough woe and gloom, technical mumbo jumbo, esoteric financial jargon, rain and cloudy skies. Where's the sushine, for God's sake? This is Homecoming Weekend! If this isn't time for a little levity, when is the time? Law of the Perversity of Nature: You cannot successfully determine beforehand which side of the bread to butter. …
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN CITIGROUP is lucky that Muammar el-Qaddafi was killed when he was. The Libyan leader’s death diverted attention from a lethal article involving Citigroup that deserved more attention because it helps to explain why many average Americans have expressed support for the Occupy Wall Street movement. The news was that Citigroup had …
By Gil Weinreich, AdvisorOne October 24, 2011 After years of housing market decline that has weakened the economy and depressed consumer sentiment, a number of analyses are strongly suggesting that a turnaround in the beaten sector may finally be at hand. Indeed, the market seems to be adding its endorsement to these analyses, with the …
Here is your Weekly Insights update from Curian’s Asset Management Group. This informative capital market update is designed to help those of you who want to manage your own money. Stay informed about important developments in economics and the markets… CONTINUE READING…
( I swore to myself that I would have a post today with a "positive" message. Sorry.) By Howard Gleckman on October 26th, 2011 The Metlife Mature Market Institute has released its annual survey of the cost of long-term care services, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult day programs, and home care. And the …
An article from the Financial Times by Dr. Lawrence Summers The central irony of the financial crisis is that while it is caused by too much confidence, too much borrowing and lending and too much spending, it can only be resolved with more confidence, more borrowing and lending, and more spending. Most policy failures in …
Continue reading Why the housing burden stalls America’s economic recovery
By William H. Byrnes, Esq., Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M. (A quick note: For those not already in the know, “Crummey" refers to a tax court case. The "powers" granted as a result of the ruling allows a person to effectively transfer meaningful amounts of one’s assets downstream to the next generations without causing you to …
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