We talk to a lot of people about their aspirations and what they consider a secure nest egg. What is “enough” for one is inadequate for another. The differing perceptions of “enough” remind me of the lyrics to a Sheryl Crow song: It’s not [about] having what you want; it’s [about] wanting what you’ve got.
Stock investors are beginning to brace for a rate rise. The combination of a good jobs report, bond market volatility, and the specter of rate increases contributes to stocks and bonds coming under pressure. What’s good for the economy isn’t necessarily good for stock and bond investors. This is what a good jobs report looks
Nashville’s housing market is booming. Rents are rising dramatically. We are hearing stories that give us pause to consider the sustainability of the boom. Several articles have caught our attention. Nashville’s housing market hits high notes thanks to young buyers. The Financial Times featured Nashville’s booming housing market a few weeks ago. [Tiered Registration Required]
As humans we seek a measure of control over our financial futures. One way we do this is through stories. Since the Great Recession of 2008 the abiding narrative about the economy is that, eventually, business conditions will return to “normal”. This is the story we have wanted to hear. This week we examine problems
We have a client who is a recent victim of identity theft. Their personal identifying information was used to secure a tax refund of approximately $8,000. Funds were stolen from the US Treasury, not from our client. Data breaches like this are becoming all too common. This week we cover some steps you can take
A client posed the question last week: “Is the economy stuck in a rut of low growth?” This week we address it. The precise term used these days to talk about the persistence of low growth is “secular stagnation”—a semi-permanent period of weak growth. Is the Economy Suffering from Secular Stagnation? To tee up the
Last week the Federal Reserve scaled back its view of prospects for the U.S. economy and labor market. Reuters discusses the timing of when interest rates will go higher. Many of our clients have been burned by the brokerage industry. The CFA Institute advocates for Department of Labor proposals to broaden the sweep of individuals
A couple of news stories last week reminded me that there are some risks in life and in investing you can’t adequately plan for. Seemingly rare events have big consequences –both positive and negative—and are a key to understanding financial markets and history itself. This is the basic thesis of a book published several years
This week, a few things especially caught our attention. International diversification is starting to reward investors again after a considerable period when a blend of U.S. Stocks and bonds outperformed relative to most other asset allocations. Inflation is starting to accelerate a bit, which contributed to a sell-off one day last week. We also noted
Death and taxes are said to be the only certainties in life. This week, because of all the serious illnesses and loss of clients, their loved ones and friends over the past year or so, we highlight a few things on measuring what really counts in the end. How Will You Measure Your Life? The