To Inform: A sentiment we often hear is “I want to buy stocks, but I’m waiting for a pullback.” Another variation of this sentiment might sound like this, “I don’t want to buy stocks right now, the market is trading at all-time highs.” These are reasonable views. After all, it’s prudent to want to buy […]
To Inform: One of the biggest debates in the investment world is the future of inflation. There is no doubt inflation is here. So far in 2021, direct inputs to things we buy like lumber (think housing), corn/soybeans (groceries), and tin (cans for food, paint) have skyrocketed. The question though is whether inflation is a […]
To Inform: If we complain about paying taxes, that typically means we are making money. If we lament the historically low savings rates at the bank, that typically means we have money saved. Good problems to have, right? Perhaps, but that does not mean we shouldn’t try to solve them. I think we would all […]
To Inform: This past week has been a wild ride for the stock market. On Tuesday (5/11) and Wednesday (5/12), the popular Dow Jones Industrial Average was down over -300 points and -600 points respectively. Of course, with the Dow hovering around 34,000, -600 points isn’t what is used to be in percentage terms, but […]
To Inform: I find great investment wisdom in reading from the accumulated wisdom of some of history’s greats. One such investor is David Dreman, author of Contrarian Investment Strategies. Dreman began investing in the late 1950s and ran his own firm for over 30 years. In his book, Dreman provides a number of “Rules”. One […]
To Inform: No one likes losing flexibility, especially when it comes to finances. Thanks to some recent changes through the SECURE Act and new IRS guidance, inherited retirement accounts suddenly became a lot more rigid. If you inherited a retirement account in 2020 or later, you might be subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs) starting […]
To Inform: Recent economic data has confirmed the recovery is on a solid footing. Retail sales, surveys of manufacturing and service businesses, and jobs numbers have all shown tremendous strength in recent weeks. With so many focused on the immediate reopening of the economy, it is worth asking what might come next. Is this just […]
To Inform: Cyclical stocks are found across a range of sectors and are those most tied to changes in the broader economy. They’re often in the front row seat for any sort of economic slowdown (e.g., homebuilders and banks in 2008-09), but can be one of the better ways to play a strengthening economy. While […]
To Inform: President Biden released his infrastructure proposal earlier this week. Let’s review some of the facts and share thoughts about how further stimulus may impact markets. The White House proposed spending about $2.2 trillion (with a T) over the next 10 years. The spending consists of $1.7 trillion in investment in physical infrastructure with […]
To Inform: Not long ago we were brainstorming New Year’s Resolutions. Some people went with perennial favorites – more exercise, eating healthier, more family time and travel (especially as Covid-19 subsides), while some resolved to get their finances in order. What better way to achieve that goal than to start with a budget? Why even […]