Confessions of a Money Manager: Our economy needs an MRI, but all we’re...
There is one irrefutable law of economics -- and I certainly hope that the powers that be in Washington, D.C., finally grasp it -- it’s the law of economic incentives.
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Forget Operation Twist -- buy stocks
Propsed by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Operation Twist is, well, a plan that if successful will do virtually nothing to get the economy moving again.
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: How the mighty corporate icons fall
All of us who benefited from Steve Jobs' vision, his creative genius and his incredible business skills can say, yes, we were alive while he was building Apple into a world-class technology company.
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: On Apple, Greece and absolute return funds
Now what in the world do Apple, Greece and absolute return funds have in common? In essence, all three failed to live up to expectations.
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Could be tricks in Halloween treats
On Thursday the stock market received two wonderful treats: the surprising deal made in Brussels to avert the financial collapse of Greece and the news that our nation's gross domestic product (GDP)...
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Booms and busts have investors panicking
I'm beginning to think investors, like political junkies, take heavy doses of amnesia pills because it seems neither can remember what was said or done just a short time ago.
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: On money, Greece, Italy and falling dominos
Money is a strange thing. It's not a good like a car or refrigerator, or a service like a haircut or an airplane ride. While we can't quite put our finger on what it is, we sure do like having…
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Be thankful for Black Friday
Do you know when I first heard that Thanksgiving and Christmas were being distorted by commercialism? That we shouldn't follow the hordes of overzealous shoppers to the department stores?
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: The devil is in the Eurozone details
Up until Wednesday stock markets worldwide were falling badly due to fears of a sovereign debt default that could spread throughout Europe and expose the world economy to an economic contagion.
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Beware the structure behind 'structured debt'
Investment managers, like doctors, are the target of many flim-flam brokers, financial planners and other purveyors of financial products. One investment idea that's come across our desk many times...
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Guard your portfolio against rehypothecation
All investors should know about rehypothecating because it's possible their accounts could be subject to collateral shenanigans and not be aware of it.
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Can Santa restore my trust in 2012?
Please, Santa, make 2011 a rare year of fraud, deceit, and malfeasance. For 2012, give me back my trust in government and the financial markets!
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Subdued outlook could mean better 2012
Each December, we look to the economists to tell us what's ahead for the overall economy and stock market for the coming year. Last year the experts didn't do so well. In reality, they seldom do.
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Year-end review and outlook for 2012
The year 2011 may well go down as one of the most volatile years in market history. But future investors might also look back 10 or 20 years from now and say it was a ho-hum year.
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: On getting back into the stock market
2011 was another tough year for investors. Despite the Dow Jones 30 and the Standard & Poor's 500 showing positive returns (they rose, with income, 8.4 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively),...
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Latest good news gets no respect from market,...
Data released Friday by the U.S. Commerce Department showed an annual growth rate of 2.8 percent for the GDP, which was the strongest quarterly rise since the second quarter of 2010. Yet the Dow Jones...
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Is Facebook the next Google or the next Vonage?
It must be true that common stock investors are eternal optimists.
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: What Iran-Israel tensions mean for investors
Now that Greece has passed an austerity budget and the Eurozone bankers have agreed on a financial rescue plan, the market needs another bogeyman to satisfy its perpetual worrywarts.
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Apple's ascent and the law of big numbers
In the late 1990s Apple was that quaint but highly respected computer company that made the Mac, a computer that was head-and-shoulders better than any Windows-based personal computer but whose...
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Greecing the skids for a later exit
For the umpteenth time, Greece avoided bankruptcy this week, and stock markets around the world breathed a sigh of relief. But the Greek debt crisis is far from over, and today's reprieve is only the...
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Goodbye recession, hello inflation
Let's suppose you have a good job and you can comfortably meet your $3,000 monthly expenses while still putting something away each month. Now let's further suppose that you have $10,000 in your...
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: When financiers hit the sweet spot
Last week a friend emailed my colleague Greg Jones with a stock idea: Stevia First Corp. Greg asked me to look at the stock so we could compare notes. What we found was rather amazing. Not that the...
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Lessons from 'Dancing With the Stars'
There are lessons to be learned from ABC's hit TV show "Dancing With the Stars," and they include principles that should guide us when we make investment decisions.
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Oil and natural gas prices at a crossroads
It’s all those manipulative speculators who are driving up the price of oil!
View ArticleConfessions of a Money Manager: Greece’s tumor that won’t stop growing
The big news early this week was the election in Greece. The conservative New Democracy party won a slim victory over the leftist Syriza Party on Sunday. The main issue was the previous Greek...
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