With the election season in full swing, dominating the airwaves, Internet and print media, you may have missed some of the other news from the past week. Here are a…
Housing Showing Signs of Recovery
We’re in a business where it’s good to worry; if we didn’t worry, we might take on too much risk, to the detriment of our clients. But we recognize that…
U.S. vs. China
As China has emerged as a world power, it has increasingly been a case of Us (as in U.S.) vs. Them. Not in military combat, fortunately, but in day-to-day trade…
The End of the Road
The problem with kicking the can down the road is that sooner or later, the road ends. Evidence of this can be found in recent stock market performance. Quantitative easing…
Unemployment Drops … Just In Time for the Election!
The unemployment rate has finally dropped below 8% to 7.8%! Or has it? Really? The latest numbers are a head scratcher. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (that’s BLS, not BS)…
This Is Progress?
Economic growth for the second quarter of 2012 officially has been revised down to 1.25%, which is below the lowest previous estimate. In an effort to stimulate the economy, the…
Consumers Might Spend – If They Had Any Money
Bond buying will pump money into the economy and reduce long-term interest rates, which are already at historic lows. Theoretically, this will give consumers a greater incentive to spend their…
When a Lower Unemployment Rate Is Bad News
Want to reduce the unemployment rate? Stop looking for a job. More than 300,000 workers dropped out of the labor force in August, while employers added just 96,000 positions. In…
Stock Rally Built On Wishful Thinking
“This is the most disrespected rally I’ve ever seen.” John Buckingham, Al Frank Asset Management Stock prices have rallied and are closing in on their highest level in five years. …
Is Everybody Happy?
Forget about growth in GDP, the unemployment rate, inflation, stock prices and all things relevant to money. Federal reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested this week that happiness should be used…