Generally, this blog has been reserved for all things tied to Sigma’s line of work – financial planning and investments. The rare exceptions have generally had to do with sports, most especially my colleagues’ beloved Detroit Tigers. Today the blog is about the pride of being a Clevelander. Northeast Ohio has had the privilege and … Continued
At age 65, if you are a U.S. citizen, you qualify for Medicare. Given the continual rising costs of healthcare this is a welcomed benefit. However, it does not arrive in the mail neatly wrapped in a bow – it can be very confusing. Recently the financial television show CNBC included a segment on its … Continued
Investors will run across the initials MSCI and wonder, what is MSCI? MSCI Inc. is a U.S. based company that compiles and publishes a series of indices such as the MSCI World Index and is the largest indexing firm in the world. For example, the MSCI Emerging Market Index is used by global investors as … Continued
The issue of pay day loans has been in the news lately with a recurring theme that suggests that the industry is an exploiter of the less well off. Typically, pay day loans average approximately $400, with a duration of about two weeks. The annualized cost of these loans, including fees and interest, has been … Continued
There have been numerous studies related to long term retirement trends. These examinations of American’s retirement prospects universally conclude that most of us are not adequately providing for our retirement years. Some of the more important findings suggest that some of us are not saving enough and many of us have little or no savings. … Continued
As we know, the price of oil is generally quoted in dollars, and the most common reference points are Brent and WTI (West Texas Intermediate). Due, in part, to increased press coverage and continuing consumer interest in the price of gasoline, most investors are generally familiar with current oil prices. Economists will tell you that … Continued
An article appeared in The Wall Street Journal yesterday discussing the Obama Administration’s plan to impose sanctions or fines on foreign banks who conduct business with North Korea. After finishing the article I had to wonder why any company would wish to do business with North Korea after a very recent disastrous event for one … Continued
Today marks the beginning of our summer blog series, Financial Planning Fridays. Each Friday during the summer, we will share a blog or news article on various financial planning topics. We believe in the power of financial knowledge and education. Therefore, we hope to engage our readers with topics that may be important to their … Continued
Reverse mortgages are one of the retirement planning resources that have gained interest in recent years, particularly as a result of well formulated advertising campaigns that, obviously, highlight the potential benefits while glossing over, or completely ignoring, some of the potential problems. Wikipedia defines reverse mortgages as a special type of home loan for older … Continued
Something we all use and probably don’t think too much about, except when the bill comes or someone talks about renewable energy and climate change. It is probable that electricity consumption will increase, at least in total if not on a per capita basis. Investors should consider how we are going to meet demand while … Continued
According to Wikipedia, “freedom of the seas” is a principle in international law and law of the sea. It stresses freedom to navigate the oceans. Like any law, enforcement is sometimes required. Historically, during a period of relative peace (1815-1914), often referred to as “Pax Britannica”, the Royal Navy was, in effect, the guarantor of … Continued
Our Chief Investment Officer, Denise Farkas, and I were at the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute’s Annual Conference earlier this week. We thought that it would be a good idea to share some insight with our readers on trends and changes in the global oil market. First, the global oil market is experiencing a structural … Continued
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