The stock market has been rocked this past week after Chinese property giant Evergrande announced they were on the brink of a total collapse and were likely to default on over 300 billion in debt. While this announcement has certainly impacted its shareholders and creditors, it is also having serious [...]
According to Jesus’ parable found in Matthew 25 about the three servants entrusted with the Master’s talents of precious metal, we are going to be rewarded by taking at least some risk in our financial lives. Why do I say that? You will recall that the Master entrusts 5 talents [...]
Something I learned back in algebra class was when faced with a problem, the fewer variables there are, the easier it is to solve. Businesses across our nation face a multitude of challenges right now. Supply chain failures, employment shortages and rising costs are just a few of the obstacles [...]
In 1979 President Jimmy Carter addressed the nation in what has become known as the Malaise speech. In it, he said, “Our people are losing faith, not only in government itself but in the ability as citizens to serve as the ultimate rulers and shapers of our democracy…. It is [...]
Today I offer a reasoned rant about the high costs of our federal government’s Zero Interest Rate Policy (ZIRP). If you wonder what that policy is, just think about the amount of interest you now receive on your money in the bank and have for more than a decade. Isn’t [...]
Last week I wrote about the very real threat inflation poses to retiring comfortably. With inflation up almost 5.5% from a year ago, most of us need to find ways to reduce our spending by that same amount just break even. This week I thought I would share a few [...]
As a young person I was raised on game shows. They were a staple of daytime viewing for our family. Part of the appeal of many of these shows was seeing how much individuals were willing to risk to win big. Shows like Let’s Make a Deal, Who Wants to [...]
Generally by this time in July, big money investors have fled the city, found a cooler place or a beach, whichever their pleasure, and put trading on hold until after Labor Day. This year feels a little different. For one thing, millions of new Millennial speculators are still hard at [...]
There is a classic scene in the film Wall Street where Michael Douglas’ character Gordon Gecko boldly declares “greed is good” to the thunderous applause of his audience of bankers and corporate executives. I thought this week I would make a similar controversial statement. Please hear me out and read [...]
Today we will review some of the amazing financial market occurrences of 2021 thus far to try to polish the crystal ball for the next six months. First, what sectors won the performance contest? Energy rose by a hair less than 40 percent. How is that for an industry the [...]
