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Investment Research Since 1978

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NASDAQ Missed the Boat

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NASDAQ crossed 5,000 for the first time in 15 years. That’s a long-time to wait, especially if you’re not getting paid. Back in 2000, when it peaked, NASDAQ yielded one-tenth of the S&P 500 or 0.12%. Imagine investing for 15-years and getting paid. I’ll use a 4% yield as an example, which was hard to do but it was doable. 4% compounded over 15-years multiplies your money by 1.8x--$1million becomes $1.8 million. 15-years is a long-time—a big chunk of your retirement to get nothing. You can’t afford to miss the boat this time around. But it’s amazing how quickly … [Read more...]

Lawyers 1, Savers 0

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President Obama’s latest financial regulation on retirement accounts will not help savers. But it will help the lawyers. What the White House is trying to do is force savers to work with investment advisors, not brokers, when rolling over their 401(k). I’ve long been a proponent of investments advisors for my own obvious reasons—I am one. But this rats nest of regulation will steer money to big Wall Street, not Main Street. Read here on the fiduciary standard and why a fiduciary should be your guide when looking for investment advice.   … [Read more...]

Bespoke Gold

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You should be able to buy a fine suit with an ounce of gold. Good luck with that at Marc Allen. Over the years I’ve been fortunate to work with Marc Streisand, owner of Marc Allen fine clothiers in Providence, RI. Marc travels the world-over in search of hard to find fabrics and crafts bespoke suits that are truly made for you. The suit is literally pieced together to fit you and the touch of the fabric between your fingers makes you smile. But an ounce of gold will not get you near a Marc Allen suit, or even a Hickey Freeman for that matter. So if you’re in the market for a fine suit … [Read more...]

Feeling Good

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The Conference Board's index of consumer confidence was released this morning and consumers are feeling pretty good. More consumers believe jobs are plentiful now than did last month, and fewer think business conditions are bad. On the other hand, some more consumers believe that pay will decrease this year than did the month before. These mixed signals add up to reflect the flat readings over the last few months on my consumer confidence chart below. Confidence has remained near historic average readings for about six months. … [Read more...]

Dow Down 7.3% Jan & Early Feb

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You may feel whipsawed by this stock market so make sure you’re getting paid cold, hard cash to invest in it. I only like dividend paying stocks for you because investors piling into the market now may be gone in January. Let’s not forget what a rotten start 2014 was as E.S. Browning of The WSJ observes: The concern is that those investors might move at least some of their money elsewhere after New Year’s Day. Something similar happened at the start of 2014, when the Dow fell 7.3% in January and early February. Bad weather hurt stocks then, too, but January usually is a strong month as … [Read more...]

Ski the Light

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Have you ever skied at night? The guys over at Sweetgrass productions have. They did it to promote Phillips Ambilight TV. As you will see, the snowflakes glow in the dark. Isn't it amazing how every snowflake is different? You may have had this conversation before with a friend or loved one sitting on a chairlift folded into yourself for warmth. It hits home when you're staring at each unique crystal land on your gloves and melt. Then you look up and all you see is the same color of white blowing across the mountain. The art that is each tiny little snowflake is hard to comprehend. As … [Read more...]

Risk Off

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As you can see here the tide has turned against junk bond investors. From The Wall Street Journal: The oil bust is exposing cracks in the $1.3 trillion junk-bond market, putting pressure on a key source of corporate financing and potentially crimping economic growth. U.S. junk-bond prices have fallen 8% since late June, according to data from BarclaysPLC. One-third of that drop has come this month alone, putting the market on track for its worst annual performance since the financial crisis. While much of the stress has been in the energy sector on the heels of the sharp decline in … [Read more...]

Retirement Profile #2: “Expect Nothing; Want One Thing”

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The NFL’s Baltimore Ravens may be the most underrated team in the NFL right now. Part of their success is due to senior leadership from quarterback Joe Flacco. Not to be forgotten though are linebacker Terrell Suggs and his new locker neighbor Steve Smith—yup, that Steve Smith. “How does an undersized, overly confrontational wideout survive 14 years in the NFL? He starts by following a plan that also describes his personal ethos,” writes SI’s Peter King. Well, number nine on that list is: Expect nothing; want one thing writes King: Ever since he’d watched Jerry Rice, when he was a kid in … [Read more...]

Retirement Profile: $110 Million Down the Drain

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Former Boston Celtics star Antoine Walker spent/lost $110 million. What a shame. “Get the word ‘No’ in your vocabulary. You’re going to have to say no to a lot of people that are very important to you. Stick to your financial plan and don’t invest until you’re done with your career when you’re able to be hands-on,” said Walker. My first piece of financial advice to pro athletes (and you) is to spend only 3% of your portfolio. Low interest rates are forcing all retirees to take less and less each year. Walker’s new book Gone In An Instant will be released early next year. Don’t take it from … [Read more...]