We all know that what goes up must come down. In the last several weeks, we’ve noted that the stock market had been stretched and just like a rubber band, when it gets stretched (creating a higher level of risk) it wants to return to a more normal position. Additionally, the Federal Reserve System’s policy […]
If you are like me, you are receiving several emails each week that highly recommends some unknown penny-stock that is about to take-off and deliver unprecedented returns. If you’re like me, you suspected that something isn’t right with these emails and wondered what is behind some or all of these recommendations. The link below officially […]
In my last post, I talked about the stock market being at an all-time high and interest rates in the bond market beginning to rise. Both of these situations are pointing towards higher risk in the stock and bond markets, and evidence of deterioration from high levels is now appearing – see the chart in […]
What happens when you stretch a rubber band? You pick up a rubber band lying in its normal state, and when you stretch it you can feel the resistance and feel that the rubber band wants to return to its normal state. When the stock market gets stretched too far, it wants to return to […]
Over and over again, we’ve all heard that – over the long-term, the stock market has averaged a respectable return – 7% in excess of inflation is often quoted. The problem with that concept is that averages don’t apply to individuals. When we consider what makes an average, we see that there are data points […]
The stock market as measured by the S&P 500 is at an all-time high. While this is joyous to some because it means recovery from the nasty downturn of 2007-2009, it is also producing a condition of increased risk. It’s been said that the only way to hold onto the gains you’ve made is to prevent […]
Suppose that you are around 65 and ready to retire, or thinking about retiring. You have accumulated a large nest egg through your 401(k), IRAs, and after-tax investments. You’ve been saving for many, many years and now you are in need of $50,000 per year of income in addition to the amount you will receive from […]
It’s been said that you should never retire from something, but always retire to something. I like that piece of advice, but what seems to be more common is the situation where people retire and don’t know what they’re going to do with their time. Retirement planning entails more than just the financial aspect of […]
In Austin this morning, the visibility is limited, it’s drizzly and the streets are wet. As I was driving to work I noticed that everyone was driving a little bit slower, and for good reason. Many things can happen when the streets are wet – and they’re not all good. Oil that has leaked from […]
Today marks my entry into the blogging world! My hope is that you will enjoy what I write on this blog and that you will find it to be of help to you or someone you know. A few weeks ago marked the beginning of a new spring season. It began on a day when […]
