My Comments: A recent report that airlines may be colluding on price is but one example of corporate excess that pervades our system. It’s not yet systemic, but given the opportunity, corporate America will take steps to advance its own cause at our expense. After 40 years as a financial planner, I’m sensitive to questionable …
Tag: investment advice
THE FOUR ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ALL BEAR MARKETS
My Comments: This article comes from January, 2009 and was written by Nick Murray. Two months later, the bear market that started in mid 2008 was over, though it took some time to realize. Meanwhile, we’ve been in a bull market for over six years now, and many are suggesting we are overdue for a …
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Here’s What the Next Recession Could Look Like
My Comments: There is no doubt that both politicians and financial people generate success by evoking fear in those to whom they are talking. Sometimes it’s legitimate, but much of the time its BS designed to persuade you to part with your vote and/or your money. What follows here is consistent with my belief that …
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Connecting the Dots
My Comments: Interest rates change. For the past 35 years, they’ve been on a downward trend, matched only by the down trend from 1861 to 1898. It’s a given that the Fed is going to start moving them up, probably in September. A stream of positive data supports a September rate hike, but summer storms …
A Dishonest History of the Last War
My Comments: I'm already very tired of this story. But given we are near the start of the next presidential election cycle, it’s not going away. Too bad. Articles like this one serve to improve my bulls@@t meter as I’m assailed by the media and bombasts trying to persuade me they are the ONLY ONES …
Republicans Dismiss Latino Concerns At Their Peril
My Comments: I’ve talked before about immigration issues. As an immigrant myself, I’m perhaps more sensitive to these issues, even though I arrived as a child from Europe. My father was looking for a better way to provide for his family and since he had lived here as a child and had a degree from …
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Exposing The Dark Side of Personal Finance
My Comments: In keeping with the prevailing assumption that anything you see on TV or read on the internet is gospel, financial planners are constantly trying to undo the “lessons” taught by certain celebreties who are more interested in selling books than they are in providing good information. Whenever I’ve attended regional meetings with hundreds …
Like It Or Not, All Advisors Are Now Fiduciaries
My Comments: In my capacity as a financial planner and investment advisor, I’ve long embraced a fiduciary standard. This means I’m bound morally, ethically and legally to do what, in my professional opinion, is in my client’s best interests. Corporate financial America (Wall Street in general, the insurance industry, money managers, et al) and their …
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Americans Need Jobs, Not Populism
My Comments: This post reflects my values about the role government should play in our society these day. Written by Jack Markell, it is long, congratulatory, somewhat self serving, but is so well articulated that I feel compelled to share it. Another resonance for me happens when I recall the two years I lived in …
Boondoggle U
Today is Memorial Day, a day to remember and honor those who have served our country. That so many came home wounded, and so many did not come home at all, more than justifies our reverence for their contributions to our society. Born in England in 1941, I also extend my thanks to my mother, …
Helping Define Your Financial Future 