Disconnect: Market and Economy
In spite of the fact that our national economy continues to chug at a painfully slow annual rate of plus or minus 2 percent, it thus far refuses to stall into recession. Even though the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has not fallen in a quarter since early 2014 with that [...]
Good Riddance 2015
I dislike complaining or whining. But if I were ever going to complain about something, it would be the lousy investing climate of 2015. On the whole, it was a great year for our family and it might still be finished fantastically with the birth of our seventh grandchild, our [...]
How Precious Are the Metals?
Perhaps longer than there has been recorded history, gold and silver have been valued by man. Sometimes people ask me, What do you think about gold? Or What about silver? In this one point, at least, I have something in common with Warren Buffett. According to Investopedia, he would never [...]
What’s Up with the Markets?
This year will probably go down in history as having decent returns in terms of the usual stock market indexes. In my prior market history lessons, you may have learned (and undoubtedly forgotten—no fault of your own) that the presidential pre-election year is most often a great year, the best [...]
About Thanksgiving
Some company has a nice advertisement on television right now suggesting that instead of asking What we are thankful for, that we ask Who we are thankful for. I like that idea because our relationships are so much superior in importance than the inanimate objects we use or collect. I [...]
Social Security Cuts
Under cover of darkness, at least figuratively, last week Congress passed a budget bill that actually reduces bleeding from the imaginary Social Security trust fund. President Obama signed it Monday. Some Americans will not like it, especially those who have had higher incomes during their career. The two provisions are [...]
Best Rebounders
I am not a huge fan or expert on basketball. However, I think the second most important factor next to scoring is rebounding after a failed shot. Not every shot is good, but the rebound allows an opportunity to keep the ball, shoot again, and deny the other team [...]
Social Security Planning: What Baby Boomers Need to Know to Maximize Retirement Income
"Social Security Planning: What Baby Boomers Need to Know to Maximize Retirement Income" When: Wednesday, October 28th, 7:00 pm-8:00 pm Where: Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center 18011 Bass Pro Drive, Independence, MO 64055 Please contact us to reserve seating. Michelle Baldi at mmbaldi@stewcap.com or 816.833.6650. Seating is limited. As [...]
Sitting On My Hands
On this, the last day of an awful quarter for the equity markets, let’s put the present circumstances into context of a longer term perspective in case some of you are thinking of jumping out of the basement window or any floor higher. The older I get, the more important [...]
How to Recognize a Bottom
Hopefully by now, you are not tempted to jump out of your window, even a basement window, because of the financial markets. This looks to be a pretty normal correction, pullback or whatever else a temporarily falling stock market might be called. The most pronounced one of 2014 was seasonally [...]