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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…
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Businesses Making Wise Investment

Everyone knows housing is still weak. Everyone knows jobs are growing, but not fast enough to seriously lower the unemployment rate, which stands at 9.1%. Everyone also knows real GDP has expanded for nine consecutive quarters, at an average…