For those in Washington reading, here is my economic Christmas wish list for 2023. Stop raising interest rates. Last year I wished for higher interest rates and I am pleased we now have those. I feel we are back to a more balanced position. Higher interest has made borrowing a bit painful, as it should…
DetailsI was very busy this week and didn’t have time for lunch so I pulled into a fast food restaurant known for a certain famous burger that gives a lot of value for the price. After ordering one the cashier dutifully asked if I wanted to make it a meal, but I declined. “Just the…
DetailsEvery day I make little notes of investing ideas that come to mind based on what I see and hear. When I sit to write my weekly column, I draw on those notes which often cover more than the traditional interest and inflation rate news. Today I thought I would just open my notebook and…
DetailsI have visited Niagara Falls several times. What a powerful show of nature. The falls are both inspiring and humbling as they remind us how tiny we are in this big world. One day while taking a formal tour of the falls, our guide pointed out how many people had gone over the falls in…
DetailsWhen should I retire? That is one of the most common questions we receive. It is one of our most significant financial decisions because on that day we shift from producing income to being forced to live on what we have already saved. We go from being a producer to being a consumer. We are…
DetailsPeople often wonder why the stock market tends to go up after an election. If you look at it historically it doesn’t even seem to matter which party wins. According to Bloomberg research, going back 60 years, during the 12-month period before a mid-term election the S&P 500 averages a 1% loss. In the 12…
DetailsI visited with a couple this week who were seeking to get on a sound financial track. I asked what steps they had taken, and the reply was that they had read 12 books on the subject. When I questioned what they had learned there was a slight pause before both laughed as one said,…
DetailsMost middle-school children know Newtons third law of motion. “To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” This law applies to everything in life, not just physical objects in motion. Newtons’ law plays a key role in financial matters. Failing to account for it may lead to disasters such as our current battle…
DetailsEconomic news shows often sound like someone pounding a single key on the piano. This week it’s all about the coming recession. Analysts are falling over each other trying to guess the date and time it will officially begin, with side predictions on how deep and long it will be. Financial talk shows pit financial…
DetailsOne day I decided to walk home from work. My office was about 3 miles from home with much of the journey along a beautiful city trail with the remaining mile following a busy roadway. As I walked that last stretch, I had several good neighbors who were driving by, slow down and offer me…
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