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The Biggest Loser

After JP Morgan announced a $2 billion trading loss last Thursday (due in part to a risky strategy focusing on credit derivatives) several parties are feeling the pain. But to determine who is the biggest loser we have to look at each of them…
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Pomp and Circumstance

What do John F. Kennedy, Michael Dell, Barbara Walters and Will Ferrell have in common? All are known for giving famous college commencement speeches. Across the nation students are donning cap and gown to parade across a stage in front of proud…
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Long Term Perspective in a Short Term Focus World

The challenge in today’s market is a matter of perspective. For many it can be hard to ignore the constant clutter and loud volume of media analysts pitching today’s hottest stock. It seems like every economic data point is over-analyzed,…
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How to Stay Ahead of the Investing Curve

Here’s a quiz question: Why did the average investor see a 3.5% return while the U.S. stock markets averaged annual returns of 7.8% over the past 20 years?* The answer is simple, the average investor bought high and sold low. Superficially…
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The Constitution’s Limiting Principle

Those who followed last week’s Supreme Court arguments on President Obama’s health care law got a lesson in Constitutional Law. While the scope of the three-day hearings was breathtaking it is disheartening as we likely will not hear the…
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Press Release: Steve Booren Ranks High on Barron’s List for 2012

LOCAL FINANCIAL ADVISOR NAMED IN BARRON’S TOP ADVISOR RANKINGS Prosperion Financial Advisor Named to Barron’s List   Prosperion Financial Advisors’ Steve Booren was the highest ranked financial advisor in Colorado with total…
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Our Three Principles of Trust

As I was reading the New York Times I came across an article that concerned me. Titled “Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs,” the article was written by Greg Smith, the firm’s former executive director and head of United States equity derivatives…
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Seven Steps to a Responsible Financial Game Plan

Of the 11 million homeowners who owe more on their homes than the home is worth, approximately 6.5 million have never missed a payment reported Dale Westhoff of Credit Suisse Group AG. Meanwhile subprime borrowers who received mortgage modifications…
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Companies: Earnings 16% Better, Same Price

US companies measured by the Standard and Poor’s (S&P 500) have had about a 16% increase in their earnings, yet prices are about the same as they were a year ago. Hard to believe right? Many US Businesses are performing at an exceptional…
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Leadership by Hyperbole

hyperbole - hy-PUR-bə-lee – an exaggeration to create emphasis or effect. Washington’s latest legislation – the one extending the payroll tax cut for 2 months – could be one of the worst pieces of legislation ever passed. Republicans…
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Watch Shoppers – Not CNBC…

Watch what people do not what they say. Sales for the full first weekend of holiday shopping – Thursday through Sunday – are up 16.4% versus a year ago according to the National Retail Federation. The American economy is not going to fall…
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The Pendulum Effect

I believe there is a “pendulum effect” in so many areas of our world. Some may call it “a lemming effect”, but pendulum sounds so much better. Let’s consider “pendulum effects”: Think about the Pendulum Effect in today’s ability…
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Buffett at the Buffet

I find it insightful to pay attention to some of the greatest investors of all time – Warren Buffett. Many of our clients know what fans of Mr. Buffett’s investment prowess. We have differing view of some of his other views – but that…
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Does Your Budget Resemble the U.S. Government Budget?

A Balanced Budget by definition: Income = Spending If your Budget has a running deficit there are only three possible solutions to turn that into a Balanced Budget: 1. Reduce your spending 2. Raise your income 3. A combination of 1 and…
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Feelings, Facts and Fatigue

It is interesting to watch investor and advisors go through the market cycles and gyrations. Often we get derailed by feelings - mistaking them as “facts”. It is important to notice the difference between the two and how we are influenced…