All my life I have loved to fix things. I was never content letting someone else do it. I had to do it myself. At age 7 when my gas-powered airplane wouldn’t start, I put my little brain to work. I knew it needed fuel, air and battery in the right quantities to start. I…
DetailsSeveral years ago I began writing columns on computer generated trades, and more recently on the new Robo Advisor platforms. I have mentioned there are pros and cons to allowing computers to make your investment decisions. On the “pro” side, computers may remove emotion from the process. Emotions have damaged many investor portfolios. Although, one…
DetailsIt’s been a wild week on Wall Street with the Dow average falling about 12% over five days. At times like this I look at history for perspective. I got my introduction to market volatility in October of 1987 when the Dow average fell almost 23% in a single day. By today’s standards that would…
DetailsIn our office investment committee meeting, we made the decision a couple weeks back to make a few changes in many of our client accounts in response to the Corona Virus scare. As a result, we had a few clients call for more clarification on the changes. It would come as no surprise to people who…
DetailsTen years ago I published an article informing those in their 70’s, that many would live to be 100. I thought the column would be viewed as good news but the responses I received were generally the opposite. One man summed up what several others had said with these words: “With all the trouble in…
DetailsIn my youth I loved to sail. Sailing can be a very rewarding experience. As much as I love sitting behind the 800 horsepower turbine engine in my airplane, there is something very special about a quiet, beautiful day on the water, gliding peacefully along under the power of the wind. In recent times my…
DetailsIn his 1933 inaugural address, Franklin Roosevelt made his famous statement regarding the Great Depression saying, “…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…”. Throughout my career as a financial advisor I have had many opportunities to reflect on that quote. I have watched as investors have reacted with fear to the many…
DetailsI doubt many of my readers spend a lot of time studying, or caring about, Rule 144A from the Securities Act of 1933, but let me point out how a recently proposed change to that rule might affect them.* The rule requires investors in the private capital markets to qualify as “Accredited Investors.” This means…
DetailsMy mother will be celebrating her 90th birthday this week. I am not sure what her plans are, but I suspect they will include swimming, which she has done six days a week for many years. Keeping her body and mind in shape has always been very important to her and perhaps a key to…
DetailsIt was always a treat when my elementary teacher brought in the movie projector. One of my favorites was the Disney cartoon story of Johnny Appleseed. Though a bit mythologized, John Chapman was a real-life pioneer who travelled across the country planting apple seeds for those who would follow long after. Investors I work with often…
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