What to Do about Vanguard GNMA
You don’t want to sell Vanguard GNMA. I know its price is down. And often, when investors see share prices go down, they sell. They follow the herd. Resisting that impulse isn’t easy. But the herd forgets that stocks were slaughtered in 2008 while GNMA was a port in the storm. You can bet there will... Read the full story
Retiring Baby Boomers in the Days of Bubble and Bust
Are you a Baby Boomer heading into retirement? Chances are 2008 hit you like an anvil. Your pension portfolio and the price of your house plummeted. Together, those investments are probably the majority of your wealth. But according to new research by the Social Security Administration, by 2010 Baby... Read the full story
Best of 2012: 6% Income in Retirement
Originally posted: June 19, 2012 I came across a special report on retirement income last week during my daily reading regimen. I was surprised by one particular article on ways to boost your retirement income. The recommendation was for preferred stocks—an area I know well and a choice that makes... Read the full story
Home for the Holidays
The Federal Reserve seems to feel inflation is under control. But those of us living in the real world know it’s far from under control. Have you tried buying an airline ticket lately? Even the airlines that are “bankrupt” or close to it are charging a fortune. Enjoying the holidays together isn’t... Read the full story
Do Your Friends and Family Have a Better 401(k) Plan?
I was talking to a prospective client last week who wants help managing his 401(k). He is one of several doctors in a large practice in the Midwest, where he’s finally been promoted to a senior position that dictates how the practice runs its 401(k) plan. He persuaded the group to change the 401(k)... Read the full story
A Sure Bet Gone Wrong
Fenway Sports Group is the parent company that holds John Henry’s ownership interests in the Boston Red Sox and the Liverpool Football Club. Last week, his money management firm, John W. Henry & Co., announced that it is closing. In its worst-performing programs, it has lost as much as 21% YTD... Read the full story
Annuity Blimp Losing Air
When you get your insurance bill, you may not think insurers struggle to make money, but indeed some do. MetLife Inc. reported a third-quarter loss of about $1 billion compared to a gain of almost $3.5 billion last year. Of the loss, $1.6 billion was a goodwill impairment from its U.S. retail annuity... Read the full story
Your Winning Formula for Dividend Investment Success
Click to enlarge When we started Young Research’s Retirement Compounders (RCs) in 2003, the goal was to look for a compelling competitive advantage to make the RCs a big winner, especially during bad times. Our strategy was to accept underperformance during speculative market runs, regardless of the... Read the full story
How to Get Rich
I suspect that not many investors would own variable annuities if they knew more about them. But learning the ins and outs of variable annuities is like watching sausage being made. Don’t bother. You don’t want to get sick. Believe me when I tell you there are much more suitable investments for you... Read the full story
#1a and #1b Investment Firms
Who wants to partner with Wall Street banks? You have JP Morgan tangled up with a recent trading loss of $2 billion and counting. Then there’s Morgan Stanley and the disastrous Facebook IPO. And not to be outdone was the 2008 bailout of Wall Street banks with taxpayer (your) money. What you’re seeing... Read the full story
