The 88-Year History Of U.S. Capital Markets From 1926-2013: What Happened When?

My Comments: With 2013 now in the rear view mirror, the compelling question is what is likely to happen in 2014. Every projection, mine, yours, experts of every stripe, have only the past available to offer insights for predicting the future. Here is someone who has created tables based on five and ten year results …

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Forecasting the Year Ahead, and Preparing to Be Wrong

My Thoughts: If this were my original work, the ttle would more likely be “My Best Guess for the Markets in 2014.” The emphasis is on guess and it only exists because as a so called expert, I’m supposed to know. Only I don’t. I think I know what I’m having for supper tonight because …

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The Worst Investment Advice I’ve Heard All Week: Barry Ritholtz

My Thoughts: I can see! Sort of! But I have to wait a couple of weeks to get my new glasses. In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving to all, and here is a idea that some of my clients have asked me about. Personally, I like to effect a rebalance every 12 months. by: BLOOMBERG NEWS …

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The Five Phases of a Bubble

My Comments: This is a little more from Jeffrey Dow Jones, the writer who started a conversation recently about a bubble no one had yet heard about. Many of us in the investment world are expecting a market correction soon. The overwhelming question is when and how severe. But there is little question that it …

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A Long Walk Off a Short Cliff

My Comments: An area of expertise that I claim, involves a topic known as “captive insurance companies.” This concept applies to successful small business owners and the companies they own. These folks are in the news a lot lately because they get talked about in the context of the Affordable Care Act and what some …

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Time to Retire the Idea of Retirement

My Comments: The idea of retirement has been part of my psyche since day one. My parents had friends while I was growing up who were retired and there was discussion about retirement in the household. Over the following years, the idea was mainstream, expected, and normal. Now, not so much. When you think about …

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J.P. Morgan Weekly Market Recap – October 14, 2013

My original idea was to post these every week or so. Many people like to make their own investment decisions and this recap is a great way to gain insight into what is going on globally. This weekly broadcast from J. P. Morgan will give you some insights as to what is going on right …

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ESTATE PLANNING IS NOT JUST FOR THE WEALTHY

My Comments: As a financial planner for many years, one of the skill sets I’ve tried to develop, mindful that I am not an attorney, is estate planning. Until recently, this topic was mostly focused on the “death tax issue”. When someone died, and died with a lot of money or property, the financial threat …

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13 Things Employers Must Do to Be PPACA-Ready

My Comments: Ted Cruz notwithstanding, the implementation of the PPACA is going to be confusing and there are going to be folks lost in the shuffle. This legislation is a BIG DEAL, one that I’m persuaded was absolutely necessary and one that my 3 year old grandson will accept as normal when 20 years from …

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What Makes American Health Care So Expensive?

My Comments: In the early 90’s, when then First Lady Hillary Clinton championed what I think they called health care reform, I found myself on board with this idea as I was paying a ton of money for a high deductible health insurance plan for my wife and I. I was self-employed, which means no …

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