My Comments: I’ve never been a gold bug. My mother collected silver but that had nothing to do with silver, or gold, as an investment. But it should be included in the category most of us call “alternative investments”, along with real estate, precious metals and other commodities. I make sure my clients include alternative …
Continue reading Where Does Gold Go From Here? Let’s Use 40 Years Of History As Our Guide
My Comments: Reader of this blog know that I try to include meaningful comments about investments and investment outcomes. Over the years, I’ve done well for some clients and done poorly for others. And while the past is history, there are always lessons to be learned. I have a personal mandate to try and do …
Continue reading Investors’ Next Disappointment Will Come From Risk Mismanagement
My Comments: Don’t be fooled by this headline from the U.S. News & World Report. There is nothing “simple” about it. In relative terms, maybe, but in absolute terms, not a chance. If it was easy, few people would be entering their retirement years with not enough money. That being said, a sixth step would …
Continue reading 5 Simple Ways to Achieve Your Financial Goals
My Comments: Last week I attempted a definition of the word FIDUCIARY. My goal was to somehow increase the chances that financial professionals who use the term “advisors” are in fact fiduciaries, and as such, bound by law, by tradition, by ethics, to act and behave in their clients best interests. As a reminder, there …
Continue reading What the Dept. of Labor Might Do With the Fiduciary Rule
My Comments: A quick check using your smart phone will reveal that this word, used as a noun, means “... a person to whom property or power is entrusted for the benefit of another.” In addition, it can be used as an adjective, an example of which is fiduciary capacity or fiduciary duty or fiduciary …
My Comments: There are just as many ways to lose money with bonds as there are with stocks. The risk is different; what happens to interest rates in the future vs corporate earnings and their relative size. That’s an oversimplification but you get the idea. The chart above shows interest rates from 1790 – 2012. …
My Comments: I’m conflicted. On one hand I’m disturbed by the growing threat to our individual privacy as demonstrated by what the NSA has been doing and will continue to do. On the other hand I’m disturbed by the threats I feel coming from those on the right who are more inclined to live in …
Continue reading The Imperial Presidency is Quietly Striking Back
My Comments: I made a reference last week to the effect that what happened when the Russians took over part of the Ukraine had only a temporary effect on the markets. Today’s comments are directed toward those who hate Obama and everything he stands for. The gist of those who daily and routinely criticize our …
Continue reading Reset the Reset – Visa Bans Will Not Deter Putin
My Comments: Yesterday, I reposted an article that claims virutally all economists are in agreement that the stimulus pushed by this administration served to keep us from falling into a drepression, and that the major argument was whether the stumulus should have been stronger. Here is an article from last week that considers the mental …
My Comments: So, is it 1929 all over again? Is the world as we know it coming to an end? We're doomed, I tell you, DOOMED!. Well, maybe not. As a financial planner and investment advisor, I try to have something posted about investments at least once a week. I’m not sure if I’m successful, …
Helping Define Your Financial Future 