Extremely low interest rates have sent investors in search of creative ways to generate income. A client recently was approached by a salesman offering life settlements, sometimes known as viaticals. The client wanted our opinion on the products, which is where an investor buys life insurance policies from the elderly or from people who have…
When I was a kid, life hurt. We didn’t have all the safety equipment, rules and regulations to keep us from skinning our knees. When we got hurt doing something dumb our parents would usually say, “Well I hope you learned your lesson.” I rode a bike once with faulty brakes, and I knew it.…
Meme stocks are all the rage today. For those in the older generation, a meme is a picture used to signify a cultural thought or movement. Memes have always existed, but they have gained popularity with social media that allows a single image to quickly carry a message throughout the world. Meme stocks are companies…
Growing up I earned money sweeping floors at my dad’s manufacturing plant. One day I was wandering around the plant fascinated by the huge milling machines. As I stood by one, I grabbed an odd-looking tool and, imagining I was blasting off in a spaceship, touched it against a control panel. The blinding flash, loud…
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.…
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,…
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…
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…
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 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…