Options to make the most of that $1,400 check.
Most of you reading this have either received or are about to receive a stimulus check from the government in the amount of $1,400. For many of you, the pandemic has had limited impact on your overall financial condition (outside of probably a few more Amazon purchases). For those people [...]
Markets and Politics
When asked why he doesn’t share his political views publicly, basketball great Michael Jordan famously replied “because Republicans buy sneakers too.” You can agree or disagree with his stance on a philosophical level, but from a purely business standpoint I agree with him that in marketing there is rarely a [...]
Principled Investing
When you think about ways to make money by investing, are there certain companies or industries that you would refuse to benefit by supporting them with your capital? We are probably all unique in the exact set of those businesses we do not favor. The concept of responsible investing is [...]
Don’t let financial health worries turn into mental health issues
The past year has been very hard for a lot of people. From kids missing their friends and activities at school, to adults struggling financially, to seniors concerned about the health threats facing them, it seems like, for many, stress levels are higher than they have ever been. For some, [...]
The Truth About Taxable Gains
A few weeks ago, I wrote about principles and rules for selling investments. Today I deal with the issue of income tax on investments. Perhaps the most common reason offered by investors and promoted by the experts is the drag of income taxes paid upon one’s investment gains. I am [...]
Did we learn anything from 2008?
One of the ways we as a firm have attempted to stop the spread of Covid has been to encourage employees to work from home when it makes sense to do so. Generally, when I am working from home I have the news on in the background. I am struck [...]
Is the end near for this bull market?
I believe the stock market is going to soon crash, but as Yogi Berra supposedly said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” I have great respect for how difficult it is to predict the future of markets. Having said that, I’ve guided those listening well through some [...]
Was Gamestop a game changer for the market?
Unless you have been in a jungle somewhere, without a smart phone, for the past week, you have heard of the youthful group of stock trading investors acting like a flash mob. I cannot pretend to understand all of the communication technology that enables the group to coordinate. But I [...]
Don’t guess about your future, have a plan.
There is an African proverb that says, “Tomorrow belongs to those who plan for it today” If there is one topic I write about more than any other it is planning. It is a passion of mine. However, I realized recently I have never written a formal article on the [...]
Buy, hold, or sell? That is the question.
While the best principles concerning investing are probably first, to begin early and second, to invest often and regularly, selling is a whole different proposition. Will Rogers, American humorist of a century ago, wrapped up the whole process like this with a bow: Don’t gamble; take all your savings and [...]