WHEN A MARRIAGE ENDS

News of the Bill and Melinda Gates divorce, and the enormous cost of such an action, are a reminder that whether by death or divorce, all marriages will legally end and the preparation for such should be part of every financial plan. I remember in my youth first hearing the phrase, “Prenuptial Agreement” or Prenup.…

DAY TRADERS: GENIUSES OR LUCKY TIMING?

When I was 15, I went camping with the scouts in Utah’s High Uintah mountains. On arrival a few of us dropped our gear and ran immediately to the lake to fish. That evening we caught something on almost every cast and soon had our limit. Entering camp with tales of our incredible fishing prowess,…

DOES AMERICA NEED RESCUING?

At a nice restaurant I saw the sign, “Patio is closed until further notice due to a labor shortage.” This was not the first time I had seen such a sign, so I reached out to a fast-food restaurant owner. He told me that though he has been busier than ever, he may have to…

THE DOWNSIDE OF LOW INTEREST RATES

Low interest rates have fueled our economy and stock markets for quite some time, and the Federal Reserve (Fed) says we will have them for the foreseeable future. Investors are excited about that. After all, who doesn’t love low interest rates? Few people get through life without taking out loans. Houses, automobiles, education, starting a…

IS THE MARKET TOO HIGH?

In 1990 Michael Jordan set a personal single game record by scoring 69 points against the Cavaliers. After the game, rookie Stacey King, who had scored a single point said, “I will always remember this as the game when Michael Jordan and I combined for 70 points.” That quote came to mind when an investor…

HEDGE FUNDS- VULTURES OF THE MARKETS

Hedge funds have been in the news quite a bit lately with the now famous Gamestop short squeeze as well as the over-leveraged collapse of the Achegos fund. Both disasters have led investors to once again question whether such vulturous trading strategies should even be permitted. I felt much the same way until I travelled…

THE STOCK MARKETS REAL PURPOSE

A popular video game is a story-based activity where players build an imaginary life on their own island. One aspect of the game allows players to buy turnips in what’s called a “stalk market” which can then be sold throughout the week at varying and random prices. The selling prices will either result in gains…

IT’S EASTER – OBTAINING YOUR GOLD EGG

This Easter weekend I would like to speak to the younger generation, those who in this very difficult time wonder about their future, or if they will even have one. When I got married, I lived in Las Vegas at a time when the nation was suffering through a very painful recession. Unemployment was high and…

WALL STREETS’ NEW BARGAIN HUNTERS

The nations’ largest retail chains made their fortunes by appealing to the human desire for a bargain. Entering the store, the first items you see are usually the ones on sale. And people rush to buy them. Wall Street has a sale rack too but often many investors try to avoid it, oddly preferring to…

HAVE LEGISLATORS LOST THEIR MARBLES?

​During my early years living in Canada, I adopted the tradition of playing marbles on the playground at the first sign of Spring. Marbles was a game but also serious business. Marbles were our currency. We collected them, traded them and invented numerous games to win them from each other. The social hierarchy in my…