Entries by Steve Booren

Financial Forecasting (and Other Popular Myths)

Do you ever get the feeling that it’s more popular to be a pessimist than an optimist? Have you ever noticed how bearish financial forecasters seem smarter than those who are bullish? I first heard this point from Ron Baron at the Baron’s Investor Conference this year. Since then I’ve been paying special attention to […]

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How to Invest for the Goal of Growing Income

Why do you invest? It’s a simple question, but one so few people consider. Investors often fail to understand their reason for making investments, for saving money, or for what they invest in. They fail to ask themselves the fundamental question for making an investment – to discover their “why.” I believe the biggest why […]

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Back to Basics – 5 Investing Principles

If January taught us anything, it was that 2013 was truly an exceptional year for the equity market averages. Falling uncertainty, solid corporate earnings, and a rebounding economy all contributed to rising stock prices and exceptional performances for many portfolios. But as we’ve seen so far this year, 2014 could be more difficult. With that […]

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How to Get Ready for Retirement – The 4 Freedoms

People often think of retirement as freedom from work. It’s the day they step away from their career, collect a gold watch, and set sail for the Bahamas. While retirement does usually include the opportunity to resign from the 9-to-5 grind, it also offers liberties people don’t usually consider. Here are four freedoms we encourage […]

2 Common Investments with Uncommon Tax Benefits

A common question we receive at Prosperion is “where all the tax-advantaged investments?” Last week John Booren covered two simple ways to reduce taxes on income, but certain types of investments also have the potential for tax benefits. Specifically there are two under-appreciated and often overlooked investment strategies I’d like to discuss, municipal bonds and […]

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Starbucks in Vietnam – Why Perspective Matters

I’m a big believer in perspective. I believe the right perspective influences how we interpret the world and is key to seeing all the opportunity around us. These past few weeks we’ve been sharing some perspective on investor behavior and being a successful investor. I believe maintaining the right perspective is paramount. There are two […]

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Prosper On: 2012 Wrap Up

Rather than provide the standard yearly wrap up, I thought it would be best to address the two most frequent questions I’ve been receiving. First, what was surprising about 2012? Second, what’s the outlook for 2013? Let’s begin with 2012. To many, the financial markets delivered a surprise in 2012 with the Standard and Poor’s […]

Time to Get to Work

With the 2012 election over and a familiar face in office it’s time to get to work. We are, and always have been, a land of opportunity for those willing to put in the time and sweat. Now is the time to make it happen. So what do we need to do? Americans are craving […]

The Uncertainty Gap

There’s a growing gap in America between what the financial markets are doing, and how people feel about the economy. With continued somewhat positive news like this week’s auto sales data, the beginnings of a European recovery and slightly better housing numbers, the market continues to truck along. However, consumer confidence refuses to post any […]

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The Dividend Growth Advantage

We live in such a noisy and complex world. The “fiscal cliff”, the presidential election, Greece, France, Italy, China, a tropical storm, the shaky market, low interest rates… it’s enough to make even the most seasoned investor cautious (or crazy). All these fears transform the market into a roller coaster of daily fluctuation. For investors […]

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A Nation Re-energized

“Human innovation is the only natural resource we have.” – Julian Robertson, Founder Tiger Management Innovation and technology are causing dramatic shifts in America’s energy reserve estimates a recent research report from American Funds says. Several entities, including the Department of Energy, now estimate the nation’s natural gas as so vast that it could be […]

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How to Go Paperless with LPL Financial

If you are interested in reducing the amount of LPL Financial and shareholder correspondence you receive in the mail, here are some helpful instructions for going paperless. Please contact us if you currently do not have online access to your accounts through Account View or WealthVision™. We will gladly set you up to view your […]

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Volatility is the New Norm

Can you believe 2012 is half over? Wow, time moves fast. As the books close on the second quarter of 2012 I’m comforted by a modest gain in most of the broad market indexes, but investors are learning to understand one thing: volatility is the new norm.

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Perspective is Everything

The daily noise of stock updates and news can be confusing. Rather than educating investors, it can distract and mislead those who pay too much attention to it. That’s especially true in today’s global economy and markets. I’ve been an advisor for over 34 years in a variety of markets and circumstances. All those years […]