Changing your focus from Gains to Losses
In behavioral psychology there is a principle called risk aversion theory. The concept states the human mind has a naturally tendency to feel the pain of losses more than the pleasure of gains. For many investors who saw their accounts drop by more than 20% in 2022 they are probably [...]
OceanGate submarine tragedy serves as a window into our culture
If you are anything like me, you found the recent story of the submarine that disappeared in the Atlantic while touring the wreckage of the Titanic both fascinating and disturbing. As the rescue efforts continued it was hard for me to even imagine what these passengers might be experiencing if [...]
Stages of Retirement
Life has various stages. Your plan needs to take them into account. If there is one thing, I have learned in my over 40 trips around the sun it is that life never happens in a straight line. Markets don’t just go up at a consistent 7% a year, last [...]
Is this Time Different?
With almost a half year of 2023 passed already, let’s take stock of the US financial situation to see whether Mr. Market knows more than the experts and whether the current positive returns can be sustainable through year end. It is usually quite dangerous when anyone opines, This time is [...]
Heads Corporations Win, Tails We Lose
For most of the year one of the hot topics of conversation around the water cooler has been do the Royals need a new baseball stadium? If so, where should it be built? While I certainly have opinions on this topic. It will not be the subject of this article. [...]
Remember and What?
Monday was our national holiday dedicated to remember and honor those who have given their very lives on our behalf. In recent years, we have perhaps also spent more personal attention to memories of our non-military ancestors with regard to the legacy which they gave to us. That seems appropriate [...]
Free Advice about Free Vacations
Free Advice about Free Vacations Memorial Day is less than a week away. That means vacation season is upon us. I don’t know about you, but for me with the cost of everything so much higher than it was at this time last year I am looking for ways to [...]
Debt Ceiling: What happens if our Nation defaults?
In light of the escalating debt crises in Washington, I have recently been asked by several clients why this keeps happening, and what will happen if a deal doesn’t get struck? Today, I thought I would give a very brief explanation for why our politicians are seemingly always arguing about [...]
Managing Risk
The late great baseball legend, Yogi Berra, is credited with this quotation: It is tough to make predictions, especially about the future! If there were a perfect field for applying this, investing must be it. Our viewpoint (and that of our favorite economists at First Trust Advisors, LP) remains that [...]
Credit card debt burdening more Americans
A recent survey from Bankrate made headlines recently with some startling new information about the financial condition of the average American. According to the study, a record number of people now have more credit card debt than they have emergency savings. In fact, over a third of all respondents (36%) [...]