Insights
10/10/12 4:47 PM – 401(k) Consulting
I have updated my 401(k) page on the website to give a glimpse into the consulting I do to help companies improve their 401(k) plans. Part of this is letting corporate executives and business owners know that they have a fiduciary responsibility and attendant...
10/10/12 4:29 PM – Market Pullback on Lower Earnings
The market is down the last 4 trading days starting with Friday on earnings announcements that have been mediocre. This is earnings season and it was expected to be the first one since 2009 that saw lower profits overall. But, announcements have been a little lower...
10/9/12 12:16 PM – What is a Job?
There has been an awful lot of skepticism about the recent jobs report, indeed the whole decline in the jobless rate this year, and I have certainly been vocal about that. Did you know that when the BLS does its household survey to see who to list as employed or not,...
10/8/12 4:23 PM – Terrific Schwab Presentation on Housing & Recovery
Liz Ann Sonders is the chief investment strategist for Charles Schwab and the sharpest economist I know. Once a month she does a market update that always has terrific slides. This month is on the recovery and more specifically on housing. It is really worth watching...
10/5/12 3:48 PM – Good Employment Report
The employment report came out for August and it showed the unemployment rate dropping from 8.1% to 7.8%. That should be good news to the president after he fared badly in the first presidential debate against Mitt Romney earlier this week. It was said today that the...
10/5/12 – October Newsletter is Posted
Well, I'm back from seeing my clients who live in Western states and from taking a few days of much needed vacation in NW Montana and the Idaho panhandle. If you have never been, you are missing out. Everyone should visit Yellowstone National Park in NW Wyoming. While...
9/6/12 10:48 AM – Stocks Like Draghi Announcement
The S&P 500 stock index is up 1.7% so far today, moving up on the open following Europe's lead and marching steadily higher after a second boost form European Central Bank chairman Draghi. His announcement was that the ECB would launch an unlimited bond buying...
9/5/12 3:24 PM – Is QE III Priced Into the Market?
The answer to the above question, according to the talking heads on TV, is "yes." But, while the stock market does react quickly to new information the stock market has really gone nowhere since spring. There was a rally starting June 1 that gained 8% after a...
9/4/12 12:23 PM – 401k Participants That Get Professional Help Do Better
A recent study by Charles Schwab that was cited in the Sept. 2012 issue of Employee Benefit News showed that 401k participants that get independent, professional help save twice as much and are better diversified. I offer independt, professional help for 401k...
8/30/12 4:11 PM – Ben’s Big Day
Tomorrow afternoon is Ben Bernanke's address to a convention on economic policy at Jackson Hole, WY. I was in Jackson Hole in May and boy, is it a beautiful setting! Ben's speech has been eagerly awaited and one reason the market has gone sideways for a couple weeks...
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