The mutual fund industry has been facing headwinds for years. First, the industry became too big. So dominant were the biggest funds, they couldn’t invest without moving the market themselves. The next problem for mutual funds was the advent of the ETF. ETFs hollowed out the high-fee actively managed equity fund industry. I wrote about these problems here in November of 2006: I write often that the majority of mutual funds offer no compelling reason for investment. Here’s a double shocker for you. Of the top-ten largest equity mutual funds, seven come from one family. How could one … [Read more...]
Archives for November 2019
The Truth Behind The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
You know the name Eric Carle if you have kids or grandkids. His books were a big part of our book collection when my kids were little. That’s why this article caught my eye. And how moving I found this quote from the article about a book I read out loud a thousand times: The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Jeffrey Trachtenberg reports on Carle's view of why The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been such a hit with kids for so many years. He writes: In a YouTube video released in January, Mr. Carle said it took him a long time to understand why the title has sold so well before he concluded that “children … [Read more...]
The Highest Yielding Dow Stocks
For investors looking for high-yielding dividend stocks to buy, the highest dividend payers in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a common starting point. Below is a list of the 10 highest yielding Dow stocks. Today, the average yield of the 10 highest-yielding Dow Jones Industrial Averages stocks is 3.9%. You can see their individual yields in the table below. Click the company name for more information on each stock. To view the entire list of Dow stocks ranked by yield, click here. Highest Yielding Dow Stocks Company NameYieldDow Inc. (DOW)5.02%ExxonMobil Corp. … [Read more...]
Why Bonds Always Matter to You
I want you to look at my chart above, Bonds vs. Stocks. What I’ve done for you is offer a look at the Fourth Quarter of last year. Of note, the Fed was coming off a series of rate increases and had begun lowering rates in August. Additionally, the Republicans lost the House to Democrats in November. Talk about uncertainty in the markets. The black bars show how bonds rallied. The blue bars show how stocks cratered. This micro example shows you the power of counterbalancing. You have seen time after time at this website how I want you to focus on your risk first and foremost. And this is … [Read more...]
Liz Warren’s 158% Tax Rate
Remember, your key takeaway here is that millionaires will become the new billionaires if Warren has her way. Here’s how her tax rates reach 158%. Richard Rubin reports in the WSJ: Potential tax rates over 100% could result from the combination of tax increases the Massachusetts senator proposes for the very top tier of investors. She wants to return the top income-tax rate to 39.6% from 37%, impose a new 14.8% tax for Social Security, add an annual tax of up to 6% on accumulated wealth and require rich investors to pay capital-gains taxes at the same rates as other income even if they don’t … [Read more...]
Apple Market Cap Eclipses Entire S&P 500 Energy Sector
Analysts at Bank of America were the first to point out today that the market capitalization of Apple Inc. has eclipsed that of the entire S&P 500 energy sector. … [Read more...]
What is the Best Gold ETF for Investing and Trading?
One of the easiest and lowest-cost ways to buy gold is through a gold exchange traded fund (ETF). But which Gold ETF should you buy? When the first physical gold-backed ETF debuted in 2004, the best Gold ETF for trading and investing was the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD) because it was the only game in town. Today, U.S. investors have seven physical gold ETFs to choose from. The SPDR Gold Shares ETF was the first, and it is still the biggest, but it's no longer the best for every scenario. We'll breakdown the U.S. Gold ETF and help you choose the best ETF for long-term investment and the best … [Read more...]
Bonds vs. Stocks: First Things First
Bonds play a role in your portfolio even when interest rates are low. You absolutely, without a doubt, must consider your risk first and foremost before investing in stocks. That’s why I want you to put your bonds before your stocks when considering today’s market environment. Originally posted on Your Survival Guy. … [Read more...]
Google to Offer Checking Accounts Next Year
I don’t like this at all. The name alone, Cache, is dripping with smugness. When it comes to your money privacy is always paramount. CNBC's Jeff Cox reports: Google will offer checking accounts next year, according to a source familiar with the company’s plans, representing Big Tech’s boldest move yet into the consumer banking business. Most previous efforts have focused on credit cards and payment platforms. The accounts for the project will be run by Citigroup and the Stanford Federal Credit Union, the source said, confirming a report in The Wall Street Journal. As part of a … [Read more...]
Nike Shows Brands a Way Forward without Amazon
Nike has pulled the plug on an attempt to sell through Amazon.com directly after the online retailer couldn't clean up unauthorized resellers from its website. Despite Amazon.com's dominance of online retail, Nike has charted a course that may be a guide for other brand name companies. Nike has pushed more sales through its own channels, both in its own stores and through its apps and website. Khadeeja Safdar reports for The Wall Street Journal: For years, Nike had refused to sell directly to Amazon, fearing it would undermine its brand. Nike executives were unhappy with how unauthorized … [Read more...]