Insights
9/6/12 10:48 AM – Stocks Like Draghi Announcement
The S&P 500 stock index is up 1.7% so far today, moving up on the open following Europe's lead and marching steadily higher after a second boost form European Central Bank chairman Draghi. His announcement was that the ECB would launch an unlimited bond buying...
9/5/12 3:24 PM – Is QE III Priced Into the Market?
The answer to the above question, according to the talking heads on TV, is "yes." But, while the stock market does react quickly to new information the stock market has really gone nowhere since spring. There was a rally starting June 1 that gained 8% after a...
9/4/12 12:23 PM – 401k Participants That Get Professional Help Do Better
A recent study by Charles Schwab that was cited in the Sept. 2012 issue of Employee Benefit News showed that 401k participants that get independent, professional help save twice as much and are better diversified. I offer independt, professional help for 401k...
8/30/12 4:11 PM – Ben’s Big Day
Tomorrow afternoon is Ben Bernanke's address to a convention on economic policy at Jackson Hole, WY. I was in Jackson Hole in May and boy, is it a beautiful setting! Ben's speech has been eagerly awaited and one reason the market has gone sideways for a couple weeks...
8/30/12 3:47 PM – Happy Anniversary
I just wanted to brag on being married 38 years today. Life and marriage are seldom what you expect them to be. You just have to be flexible and go with it, working to make yourself better and being gracious to the other. I don't know how much better I am but our...
8/27/12 1:48 PM – Should You Worry About Your Money Market Fund?
Yields are so low right now that most money market funds are paying interest around 0.01% to very slightly higher, probably not enough interest over the course of a year to buy a decent meal. With yields on very short term debt are getting very close to the interest...
8/22/12 2:26 PM – Fed Minutes Suggest QE3 Yes Vote Likely at 9/12 Meeting
The Federal Reserve minutes from their 7/31/8/1 meeting revealed that, "Many members judged that additional monetary accommodation would likely be warranted fairly soon unless incoming information pointed to a substantial and sustainable strengthening in the pace of...
8/21/12 2:10 PM – 401k Liability Issues for Sponsoring Companies
Some of you may not realize that a significant part of my practice is advising companies on their 401k plans. The lack of 401k knowledge I see on the part of their brokers/advisors in the small plan space, that is, below $10 million in assets is really shocking. If...
8/21/12 1:43 PM – Still Waiting for News
I have not posted for a few days because frankly, there is not much to say other than that we are still waiting for news, either from Ben Bernanke or the European Central Bank. There are high hopes for good news from both. My bet is that Bernanke will not do any...
8/17/12 2:10 PM – Wait for it . . . wait for it . . .
The market has been flat for 8 straight days up yesterday and flat again today. That's very unusual. To have a rally, go flat and then add to the rally is usually a good thing. Pessimists will point to not breaking through the April highs that are only a couple points...
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