If you are at or approaching retirement age, today you live in a different reality than the one you were born into. When you came into this world, there was a fear that someday you could become a burden to your own children, but it was only a remote possibility. Life expectancy was shorter, and […]
Many of us are, as of this writing, furiously rushing to finish up our tax filings and swearing on all we hold sacred that next year we’re going to get an earlier start. If that describes you, then just dialing down your anxiety level would be reward enough. But if you start early enough – […]
You’ve heard it a thousand times: “Buy real estate. They’re not making it anymore.” And it is good advice even if it’s as hackneyed as that other line you’re likely to hear in the same exchange: “Location, location, location!” But what kind of real estate? The two broad classifications – commercial and residential – have […]
Over the past two or three years, many investors have focused more on companies’ performance in terms of a new set of standards: those of the Environmental, Social, and Governance movement. ESG might sound like something that appeals strictly to yoga instructors and vegan coffeehouse staff, but that is an outdated view. Sustainability – a […]
You’ve no doubt heard inspiring stories about people who ran huge companies and amassed great wealth during their working years but are remembered today for how much of it they gave away. From Andrew Carnegie to Bill Gates, it has been a common theme. Maybe you’re not in a position to have a concert hall […]
We have talked about investing in commodities. “So, what’s your plan for your post-Great Expansion nest egg?” we asked, referring to the decade-long period of economic growth, which has since succumbed to the virus. “What if the stock market turns bearish, the yield curve continues to penalize long-term savings and the Federal Reserve continues to […]
This article was supposed to be a reminder that, during tough times, it’s generally better to hold large-cap stocks than small-cap stocks. We’ll get into the theory in a moment but, like everything else that once made sense, the coronavirus pandemic has completely contorted that dictum beyond recognition. There is no appreciable, risk-adjusted difference at […]
Lawmakers in Washington, particularly those aligned with the Republican Party, like to talk about tax cuts. Which is why you might be hearing more birds and crickets chirping than usual around Capitol Hill. Because, with all this federal debt piling up, it’ll be a long time before another bill like the Tax Cuts and Jobs […]
Ever notice how many business terms come from aviation? “The 30,000-foot view.” “Headwind.” “Golden parachute.” But there is one troubling term being bandied about now: bailout. When you hear it related to the airline industry, rest assured it’s in the nautical sense of the word. Passenger airlines are set to receive $25 billion in grants […]
Remember when George W. Bush enacted the Troubled Asset Relief Program, handing the banks $475 billion to paper over their bad debts – and how shocked you were that taxpayers were expected to bail out Wall Street? Remember just a few months later when Congress gave Barack Obama his American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and […]
