US and International Stocks, Bonds, CD’s, REIT’s, Bitcoin, you name it – just about everything went up in the first half of 2019. During this time, the narrative from the Fed completely changed. In January, the two-year US Treasury note hit 2.62%. As we rolled into the second half of 2019 it dropped to 1.75%. Read More
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Spring 2019 Update
The December 2018 equity market sell-off was expedient and to the point. After a strong rebound, the S&P 500 is now back within touching distance of all-time highs. In the US, this continues to be one of the least loved bull markets as most everyone is looking for reasons the market shouldn’t go higher. If Read More
Q1 2019
Equity Market /General Economic Commentary The US economy is still the most robust and innovative economy in the world. Pockets of South Korea, Taiwan and Israel could probably make legitimate claims, but they are tiny in comparison and won’t move the needle globally in ways the US can. Europe will continue to be a mess Read More
Well That Was Fun
That was fun. The past two months have provided a good reminder about risk for all kinds of markets. First, volatility is back in the equity markets after hiding for all of 2017. Regardless whether the catalyst was the breakdown of a VIX exchange traded note (potentially front-run and punished by high frequency trading machines) Read More
An Asset-Based Approach to Funding Long Term Care
With people living longer lives and with the cost of health care increasing much faster than people’s ability to save, the need for some kind of funding mechanism for long-term health care is obvious. There are several ways to fund an extended care event: Long-term care insurance Government programs Self-funding Asset-based long-term care insurance Long-term Read More
Brexit Revisited and Value, Digital Currency and BlockChain Technology
Brexit Revisited The plot thickens. Now the dirty, gritty work of sorting out what “Brexit” actually means for the UK and the 27 member nations of the EU begins. As I’ve mentioned on this blog before, as a result of this vote, Britain doesn’t have to adopt a new currency. Everyone landing at Heathrow will Read More
Brexit 2.0 and Europe’s Battle with Apple
This is an update to our earlier post about Brexit. My hope is that it isn’t as underwhelming as Brexit turned out to be. Here is what we know about Brexit so far: The UK isn’t deporting anyone, the UK is still strong economically and can take pride in their success during the Olympics in Read More
Brexit Perspective
51.9% of the voters of the UK wanted out I honestly don’t have a strong opinion about this issue and have enjoyed being on the ground in London during and after the election, discussing the concerns and issues with people in London. The Leave or Remain referendum should have been about sovereignty. It should have Read More
Special Relationship and Taxes
Stars and Stripes (Obviously USA) Union Jack (United Flag of GB) Cross of St. George (England’s Flag) The United States of America and England, or more broadly, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, have had a very successful long distance “Special Relationship.” War has been a factor in this relationship as we Read More
“Are the Markets Rigged?”
I’m asked several times a week “are the markets are going to crash” or “are the markets rigged?” To go farther it should be asked, why do people feel the markets are rigged? What has happened to cause investors and non-investors to lose faith in the markets over the last decade? Before we follow Alice Read More