At what point should investors switch from aggressively investing for profit to preservation of capital? When do you switch from offense to defense? Is it possible to do both at the same time? Shortly after the 2008 bank bailout, I was asked to write a financial newsletter for baby boomers. The firm had a great track record investing in metals […]
» Read moreI chuckled when I read the Wall Street On Parade (WSOP) article, “Congresswoman Katie Porter Tells the Fed that It’s got a ‘Big Problem’.” She asked Randal Quarles, Vice Chairman for Supervision of the Fed: “The Fed is largely responsible for dispensing the $500 billion Congress provided as a bailout for corporate America – the biggest bailout in our country’s […]
» Read moreI’m still angry! I recently wrote about our “capitulation”. Tim Plaehn explained: “The yield for passive investors in fixed income products is terrible. Savers and retirees start looking for other ways to make their money grow. Just like you and Jo, many investors have moved into stocks out of necessity rather than desire.” (Emphasis mine) Tim was polite. Why the […]
» Read moreRemember the saying, “Everything comes to those who wait?” Investment gurus lectured us about patience and compounding. They blared, “Save $100/month, invest at 6% and you will be a millionaire when you retire.” Current interest rates make that impossible. 25 years ago, if you bought US treasuries, the compound interest doubled your money in 12 years. Using today’s interest rates, […]
» Read moreI ran into the house crying. My grandmother grabbed some ice and pressed it to my face. I was a first-grader and had never been on a farm before. I knocked down a wasp’s nest with a broom. I got nailed, and it hurt! My grandfather looked at the welt. He smiled, and calmly said, “Now you know why I […]
» Read moreNeed help? Find an expert. Tim Plaehn is a member of our panel of experts and regular contributor. He is the editor of Dividend Hunter specializing in finding solid, dividend-paying stocks. Knowing Tim was once a financial advisor, I leaned on him when I wrote, “How To Find A Financial Advisor To Meet YOUR Needs.” Interest rates are so low, […]
» Read moreDo you have a 401(k)? How much are you paying in fees? Is your money invested safely? Is it company-sponsored, or self-directed? A TD Ameritrade survey found that 27% of investors knew how much they were paying in 401(k) fees and astonishingly, 37% of respondents were unaware. I believe in maximizing your 401(k) contributions, particularly when there is an employer […]
» Read moreI was sitting in the exam room and the doctor walked in. Knowing I write this blog, he said, “Finally someone I can talk to. What the heck is going on?” With our current economic situation, the market tanking and the Coronavirus monopolizing the amped up media, a lot of concerned subscribers are asking that question. When you combine financial […]
» Read moreEnergy stocks are not keeping up with the S&P 500. What’s going on? MarketWatch provides a 10-year chart for XLE, an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) specializing in the energy sector. Over ten years the price dropped from $57.52 to $54.16. Macrotrends shows us the S&P has almost tripled during that same time: What happened to the energy sector? With the […]
» Read moreIn a yield-starved investment world, should investors be buying Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT)? Can they bring solid, safe returns? Many investors love them, while some shy away. How volatile are they? How do you evaluate them? A subscriber recently asked a good question. He purchased a subscription from one of our trusted affiliates, The Dividend Hunter. He looked at […]
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