Insights
3/13/13 2:45 PM – Everyone’s Optimistic
Retail sales were reported up 1.1% today. Last week, the employment numbers appeared to be unexpectedly good. Now, the WSJ reports from a survey of business leaders that 71% expect sales to grow this year and are looking for overall economic growth of 2%. Finally, the...
3/5/13 10:48 AM – Accredited Investment Fiduciary Designation
Last month I received the Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation (AIF). I have worked with retirement plans for many years but this training took me to a new level. I see consulting with retirement plans as the highest growth area for my business, although I will...
3/5/13 10:00 AM – Back from Israel
I recently got back from 12 days in Israel, an amazing trip that was courtesy of a wonderful group that just wanted to bless my wife and I. If you go, try to go with Randy Smith of Wandering Shepherd Ministries, a former archeologist, long-time Bible scholar and...
2/4/13 11:30 AM – Disappointing Factory Orders Report
The Commerce Dept reported today that factory orders came in +1.8% for December, about 20% under estimates. Orders for core capital goods were actually down in December, down -0.3%. That doesn't bode well for future business. However, it followed 3% numbers for the...
1/31/13 11:28 AM – Israel Strikes Syria, Perhaps Iranian Facilities Too
Yesterday, Israeli airplanes struck at least one target inside Syria. Israel is concerned about two things - missiles and other military equipment that Iran ships to Syria that is often intended for Hezbollah, and the chance that Syria's cache of chemical weapons...
1/31/13 11:19 AM – Mixed Economic Data
The Chicago region ISM report was much stronger than indicated, usually a good indicator of manufacturing strength. On the other hand, weekly jobless claims were higher. I am not so much interested in weekly jobs data; it varies a lot. But, as I have often written,...
1/30/13 10:48 AM – US Economy Shrinks in 4Q
Surprise? After a stronger than expected growth of 3.1% in the 3rd quarter of 2012, the first estimate of 4Q growth showed a DROP of 0.1%. Analysts were only looking for growth of 1% but not many expected a drop. Contributers were a big drop in defense spending and...
1/24/13 10:06 – Should You Sell Apple Stock?
Yesterday, Apple did what it almost never does - disappoint analysts with its quarterly earnings report. Worse, it reported earnings no higher than the same quarter (4th quarter) as a year ago. And, unit sales of iPhones and iPads came in at the low end of...
1/22/13 11:18 AM – WSJ Article on Abortion Attitudes Survey
The Wall St. Journal did a sizeable article today on American attitudes toward abortion, yesterday being the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the U.S. The percentage of people wanting Roe v Wade overturned was 24%....
1/22/13 10:38 AM – Inauguration Speech Portents
Several things about President Obama's inauguration day yesterday were very telling. 1. The media love affair with Pres. Obama - Our local paper gave the headline and a picture of the first couple over 80% of the first page this morning. There was actually next to no...
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