The June 18, 2012 Wall Street Journal has an article about the large number of small community banks putting themselves up for sale. The primary issue, according to the article, is the high cost of regulation. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase Bank, noted in his senate testimony last week that his bank probably … Continued
Financial network television producers love a countdown. I hate to blame the recently deceased Dick Clark, but I sometimes wonder if CNBC and other financial networks favor producers who worked on his New Year’s Eve Times Square Countdowns. Earlier this month, much of the news was focused on a “Countdown to the Facebook IPO” that … Continued
One of the earliest recorded economic experiments may be found in the scripture passage known as the Parable of the Three Talents (Mathew 25:14-30). In it, Christ speaks of the master who entrusts his wealth (Talents) to his three main lieutenants while he goes on a journey. When he returns, he compliments the two lieutenants … Continued
After having been born and raised in China, I believe I have some unique observations regarding this sprawling economic juggernaut. It is well known that China was a contributing factor in pulling the global economy out of its slump in 2009. This year, China’s growth target is 7.5%, which was announced by Premier Wen Jiabao … Continued
We wanted to share this press release announcing the latest addition to our professional staff. Wenma Gorman, CFA recently joined Sigma as a Research Analyst. We are pleased that she accepted our offer to further her career here at Sigma and look forward to introducing her to you in person. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Sigma Investment Counselors builds … Continued
I received a call this week from a General Motors retiree in reference to the automaker’s decision to give its retirees a lump sum pension payment option versus their existing stream of benefits. He said to me, “I am an engineer with no knowledge of markets or economics. I would probably just leave things as … Continued
On top of the recent news of Ford Motor offering salaried employees lump-sum payments to buyout their defined benefit pensions, General Motors announced last week they will be offering pension buyouts for 42,000 salaried retirees. While the detailed numbers have yet to be released, many Ford and General Motors retirees will be looking at very … Continued
The 20th-century has been referred to as the “American Century”. At the end of the century, the United States (despite two world wars and the Great Depression) emerged as the world’s preeminent power, not only militarily but also economically. During the century, investors did quite well too. The 21st-century could be another period of significant … Continued
Have you received a lump sum offer on your General Motors or Ford pension? Do you know what factors to consider before making a decision? Do you want to learn more about your options? Beware! Other advisers may recommend everyone take the lump sum! It might not be your best option! Our team of advisers will give you … Continued
I recently met with a client who let me know that he was suggesting to his brother that he too might wish to become a client of Sigma’s. The client noted to me, though, that, “He is also looking at a major brokerage institution, and they don’t charge fees.” I said to him, “You mean … Continued
On Friday, May 18th, Facebook began its life as one of the most anticipated and celebrated initial public offerings (IPO) in history. Due to unprecedented demand and limited shares offered in this initial offering, the stock was priced at the high end of inflated expectations. There is much to like in the Facebook story. From … Continued
Last week, JPM Chase reported a $2 billion loss on a bad bet it made from its proprietary trading desk. Moreover, the bank conceded that the company was still unwinding the trade and that this loss could double over the next several quarters. In addition, the company may be fined and incur other legal expenses related to … Continued
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