“Forecasting is difficult because it concerns the future,” goes an old Danish proverb. What makes forecasting so unreliable? The unknown. At the beginning of last year, we didn’t know that Russia would invade Ukraine, that China’s stringent zero-tolerance COVID-19...
financial markets
What do we really know about the financial markets anyway?
Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing, reminds us to "forget about what the stock market is going to do. Instead, focus on what you, as an investor, ought to do…" So what do we really know about the financial markets? First, what we don't know: The full...
Retirement Planning Earthquake
Just when you thought you had a good grasp of retirement planning rules, the government changes them! A new federal law took effect January 1, 2020, that affects many different parts of retirement planning. The SECURE Act of 2020 (Setting Every Community Up for...
Looking Back at 2019’s Financial Markets
What did we learn about the financial markets in 2019? We learned that..... When it seemed the bleakest at the end of December with the S&P 500 Index on the verge of triggering a bear market signal (20% decline from the previous high), the market went on...
How Did Investments Perform In Quarter 1, 2019?
The first quarter of 2019 is in the books. How did your investments perform? Our Moneyman, Certified Financial Planner Paul Fain, reviews the Q1 tale of the tape. PAUL, LAST YEAR WAS FORGETTABLE FOR INVESTORS, HOW ARE WE FARING SO FAR IN 2019? Best Quarter in a...
Midterm elections, trick or treat?
With stocks in a recent slump, there is growing fear that November's midterm elections are going to generate new chaos in the investment markets. Will the Democrats take over Congress and the Senate? If so, will they immediately begin impeachment proceedings against...
WBIR: Halfway Review of Financial Portfolio
At mid-year, how are your investments doing and what should we expect for the remainder of the year? Certified Financial Planner Paul Fain reviews your portfolio. PAUL, LET’S START WITH STOCK INVESTMENTS…HOW DID THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR GO? 7% U.S. Large...