Economic and Investment News Bits Just 56% of eligible Americans voted in the 2012 presidential election. For younger Americans aged 18-24 only 38% of them voted. 70% of Americans aged 65 or older voted. If this occurs in 2016, consider how it might affect the outcome. (Source: Census Bureau) U.S. retirement account assets reached a…
October 2016 Financial Markets Summary Why have interest rates been so low? Despite predictions to the contrary, the third quarter ended with virtually all market sectors in positive territory. Emerging market stocks have out-performed domestic and developed international stocks in a big way this year. Although there are always potential downsides, Guild Investment Management notes…
Economic and Investment News Bits As of 2014, there were 72,197 Americans 100 years old or older, a 44% increase since 2000. By 2050, there are expected to be a million centenarians in the U.S. The biggest risk to these people will be the exploding costs of healthcare, including premiums, out-of-pocket expenses, and long-term care.…
September 2016 Financial Markets Summary Unlike most summers, this year’s has been a good one for the markets. Some areas have produced surprises, perhaps the biggest being the strength of Latin American stocks, up almost 18% the last three months. Much of this came on the strength of Brazilian stocks, which gained more than 30%. …
Economic and Investment News Bits Stocks in expensive territory. Despite valuations not seen since the recession, most stocks continue to surge ahead. “And the rally is broadening, with small stocks, value stocks, and cyclical sectors such as materials, technology and financials out-performing the broader market. At the end of the day, the market trades on…
August 2016 Financial Markets Summary The country’s two main political parties have completed their conventions, and now those of us in so-called swing states are about to be bombarded with the kind of negative advertising we haven’t seen in decades from two candidates who remain unpopular even in their own parties. According to both candidates,…
This quarterly call provided an update on asset class returns so far for the year and the past few years. We focused our time on the current market environment, the importance of global diversification, interest rates and the Federal Reserve and the BREXIT vote implications. Please click the link below to see the slides and…
Economic and Investment News Bits Brexit: England and the world in the aftermath of the vote. A surprise? An end-of-world-economy event? Hardly. A signal for our presidential election? Maybe. A problem for bureaucrats? Oh, yes. A “New Normal” for travelers? Very likely. Looking for a job in the Health Care industry? Columbus is one…
July 2016 Financial Markets Summary The U.K.’s stunning decision to leave the eurozone came down to several key factors: bureaucratic overreach from Brussels, the flood of refugee immigration, sluggish economic growth, and massive net subsidies to bail out the EU’s perennial weak links that refuse to get their fiscal houses in order. Angry voters opted…
Economic and Investment News Bits To Brexit or not to Brexit? United Kingdom voters will decide June 23rd whether to remain in the European Union or leave. The consequences for Britain should they exit are many, including currency devaluation, reduced access to trading partners, more foreign investment dollars leaving the nation, and even a new…
June 2016 Financial Markets Summary Numerous articles and commentary in investment circles suggest that the bull market that began in March of 2009, the second longest in 70 years, is in its final months. In the last year, the S&P 500 has gone essentially nowhere since reaching its all-time high on May 21, 2015. As…
Economic and Investment News Bits “One benefit of all this pre-election uncertainty is that it surely sidelines the Fed, at least until December. Even in ordinary elections, the supposedly independent Fed has only 3 times in more than 4 decades hiked rates leading into elections,” (Source: Federated Investors). Yes or no to Brexit? United Kingdom…
May 2016 Financial Markets Summary In a recent presentation to some of the top RIA firms in the country, noted economist Austan Goolsbee asked how the Fed has managed to be so wrong on its economic outlook for the past six years, particularly the last two. “Every quarter they talk about 2-3% expected GDP growth…
This quarterly call provided an update on asset class returns so far for the year and the past few years. We focused our time on the current market environment, the massive change in oil and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate. We also discussed best practices to prevent identity theft. Please click the link below to…
Economic and Investment News Bits “Terrorism seems a far more common and deadly occurrence than it is. Terrorism-related deaths overshadow the larger number of deaths resulting from other causes. The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs broke down the causes of death for Americans traveling abroad. According to the data, overseas travelers are over…
