This well-known quote is reputed to have been Mark Twain’s response to news of the publication of his obituary. Investors might want to note that premature obituaries can also occur in the world of stock market punditry. Recall that throughout the fourth quarter of 2018, conventional wisdom was suggesting that the stock market had peaked … Continued
The full quotation is “Don’t look back, you’re not going that way.” This quote is often associated with inspirational or positive thinking messages because looking back at bad things won’t change anything in the present. There is a message here for investors. Don’t look back at the trades you wish you had made. Wishing that … Continued
This phrase, or something like it, is often associated with the swearing in of witnesses while giving testimony in court, and, by extension, in other contexts. The idea behind this relatively comprehensive approach probably reflects, in part, concern over testimony that may be technically true, but may be misleading, taken literally, due to omissions or … Continued
In order to accelerate demand for electric vehicles (EVs), the world’s governments have been handing out a wide range of subsidies and incentives. But in nearly half of U.S. states, driving a battery-powered car now requires paying an additional fee. To date, 24 states have imposed special fees on EVs, usually through higher registration charges, … Continued
We have previously discussed the gradual movement away from cash in many retail establishments (see blogs titled “Is Cash Obsolete?” and “When Cash is Embarrassing”). The movement towards credit-only transactions appears to be driven by efficiency and the problems associated with accepting and handling cash. Now comes government. San Francisco is about to require brick-and-mortar … Continued
The great recession precipitated relatively high levels of unemployment and a material reduction in opportunities for full time work. Consequently, people were open to new things, such as picking up temporary, low-commitment contract work. Workers in this type of work are generally not legally employees and, while they gain flexibility, they lose out on traditional … Continued
In Great Britain you can bet on almost anything through authorized bookmakers. Currently, the odds on Brexit happening are now, for the first time, no better than even. Trying to explain Brexit is almost impossible. Perhaps the most interesting effort comes from Jeff Lafferty, a Scottish comedian. “So the way I understand it is that … Continued
How and when to retire may be the most complicated financial decision that most of will have to face. There are a number of variables, many of which require estimates that are subject to unexpected future events. Perhaps the most difficult factors include, estimating your (and a partner’s) life expectancy, inflation and investment returns over … Continued
Scarcity and shortage are not synonyms. Scarcity is the simple concept that, while some resources may be limited, supply equals demand. Shortage, on the other hand, occurs when markets are out of equilibrium and demand exceeds supply. Investors should understand the differences between scarcity and shortages before making a portfolio decision. Just because a product … Continued
Wikipedia defines work-to-rule as an industrial action in which employees do no more than the minimum required by the rules of their contract, and precisely follow all safety or other regulations, which may cause a slowdown and/ or a decrease in productivity. Such action is considered to be less disruptive than a strike or lockout, … Continued
Now that we are in the midst of the normal turmoil leading to the quadrennial presidential elections, it is important to remember that elections do have consequences and that we should all take the time to understand the issues before casting our ballots. Investors should also be diligent in reviewing and voting proxies. For the … Continued
For the last several years, there has been an increase in the political rhetoric relative to wages, and more specifically, the national minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which was last changed in 2008. However, there has been some movement by state and municipal governments to establish local minimum wage rates at levels well above … Continued
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