According to Investopedia, critical mass is the point at which a growing company becomes self-sustaining and no longer needs additional investment to remain economically viable.  The term critical mass is borrowed from nuclear physics, where it refers to the smallest mass that can sustain a nuclear reaction at a constant level. In the world of … Continued

Week of October 10, 2022 In the last century, we have seen numerous events that create global uncertainty. Most recently, Russia has shifted their tactical strategy to destroy critical Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, signaling desperation for Russia and a long, drawn out conflict for Ukrainians. At home in the US, the Federal Reserve indicated a long, … Continued

Week of October 3, 2022 No change in Signals this week. From The Wall Street Journal, October 2, 2022, “After Punishing Year for Stocks, Investors Aren’t Betting on Post Mid-Term Rally.” This could be a mistake. From the article, “The S&P 500 has moved higher in the one-year period following every midterm election since 1942, … Continued

After nearly 65 years of employment in the investment community, I have seen, and survived, almost everything the market can throw at you.  While it is true that markets are prone to wide fluctuations, they remain, in effect, a proxy for the long term economic success of the United States. Over the nearly 100 years … Continued

Week of September 26, 2022 Bear markets are designed to generate maximum emotional discomfort. At the moment of complete despair is the capitulation that results in the panicked sale of investments. With a cyclical bear market in equities now largely confirmed, future return expectations have improved, and as such, additional investment is warranted. Our equity … Continued

Excess capacity is a condition that occurs when demand for a product is less than a business or industry could theoretically supply.  While this term is typically used in manufacturing, excess capacity can be applicable in a wide range of activities.  It may seem strange to be writing about excess capacity when all the news … Continued

Week of September 19, 2022 The more things change, the more they stay the same, or so it appears after surveying the financial and economic landscape over the last week. From a broad view, stocks largely declined about 5% and interest rates increased a few basis points. Bob Bilkie, CFA

Week of September 12, 2022 Queen Elizabeth II had many of the very same characteristics that define successful investors, most notably temperance and discipline. She maintained a consistent approach throughout her tenure as Queen. No change to our signals this week. Bob Bilkie, CFA

Managing other people’s money (OPM) should reflect a level of responsibility that far exceeds the degree of risk an advisor may find acceptable for personal funds. Recent media reports suggest that some public pension funds, that manage public workers’ retirement savings, have been committing funds to cryptocurrency. Apparently this has not gone well. The management … Continued

Week of September 5, 2022 US Treasury securities – ranging from the one month T-Bill to the 30 year bond – have approached 10 year highs in yield. This is due in part to the reversal of the Feds quantitative easing as well as recognition by Treasury securities investors that interest rates need to adequately … Continued