The U.S. markets took their higher opening cue from the Asian markets on Monday morning following the Fathers Day weekend announcement by China that it will allow its currency to loosen the de-facto peg against the U.S. dollar. So it appeared that the global markets were quite receptive to the news and I saw a number of articles that seemed to suggest this was a precursor to stabilizing economic growth for those same global markets. Somehow I just don’t quite buy into that yet!
First off this will never… Continue reading
To be sure, if we are thinking in terms of technology with all the new gadgets that we have at our fingertips we have certainly made some quantum leaps. I find it amazing that laptops, for example, far exceed the capabilities of traditional desktop computers of ten years ago. Throwing in wireless capability now I sometimes feel that my laptop is becoming a personal appendage. It is not uncommon to find me sitting at the breakfast table checking on emails or early investment market indications, then putting… 
At times we will get a call, usually from the spouse or partner of a business owner, asking for a distribution from their personal account to cover business expenses due to the inability of the business owner to work because of various health reasons. The distributions may reduce or deplete the individual personal funds while trying to keep their business afloat. 
Ok, I am confessing that as a youngster and throughout my adult life I have never been able to handle the steep ascents and descents associated with those amusement and theme park roller coasters. The most adventurous ride you can get me on is a possible Flume ride since getting wet on the way down helps me avoid thinking about the fact that I feel my stomach is somewhere up in my throat! But no way will you get me on one of those… 
Oftentimes, especially in the current economic climate we are in, we are either forced or choose to change employers during our working years. Better offers, layoffs, lateral moves or early retirement are but a few reasons to change jobs. If you had a 401(k) in your previous job with contributions that were fully vested (meaning that you own the money) you are faced with the decision of what to do with the funds you re leaving behind in the previous employers plan. 
The typical investor certainly has a real dilemma on their hands these days. The diversity of opinion as to the direction the markets are headed reflects as broad a range as I can ever recall. So let’s say you’re obviously concerned with the economy and the markets and you decide to turn on the typical financial news stations such as CNBC and/or Bloomberg. You are doing that with the expectation that these financial professionals will provide clarity to your investment decisions, right? I would venture to say that at the… 
The old saying “the one thing you can be guaranteed is that death and taxes will be included in your life-plan” is both true and a cruel reality. Death is a part of life: the same can be said of taxes. 
