Monthly unemployment data suggests that the nation is enjoying a solid economy with a positive outlook. On the other hand, work force participation remains at historically low levels of approximately 63% and the latest job openings data stands at the highest level since this metric began in 2000. What is going on and why should … Continued
Over the last several weeks, there have been several articles discussing Google’s autonomous cars’ penchant for being involved in an above average number of accidents. According to Google, none of these accidents have been the fault of the autonomous car. If Google’s claims are correct, we have an interesting paradox, Google’s cars have more accidents … Continued
If it isn’t, it probably should be. Properly managed, a home can be a shelter and part of a long term financial plan. For many people, the purchase of a house is their largest and earliest significant foray into the world of finance. Finding the right home, obtaining a mortgage and then managing the monthly … Continued
While the entire issue of climate change, the use of fossil fuels and recycling are very complex and controversial, I was recently able to observe the breadth of the dilemma while standing in one place in the parking lot of my hotel on the shores of Lake Powell. Behind me was a collection of refuse … Continued
It’s easy to criticize the government and sometimes the criticism is deserved. But sometimes the government does something really well, and as a frequent critic of government efforts, it seems appropriate to give credit where credit is due. I recently spent a week touring several of our National Parks and related facilities, specifically Grand Canyon, … Continued
Many investors are beginning to wonder whether the current market rally is coming to an end. For some, the concern is that the market is cyclical and we are in the seventh year of the current market rally. Others look to valuation and fear that the current market is trading in the upper end of … Continued
It has recently come to my attention that a large, convention oriented hotel in Florida has offered guests, staying more than one day, a voucher in the amount of $5.00/day in exchange for opting out of housekeeping services. This means that you will have to act as if you were at home, make your own … Continued
Perhaps, but is this something that should be of concern to investors? Some market observers are suggesting that the stock market, after most major averages have reached new, all-time highs, may be in for a difficult summer. This would be consistent with that old, sometimes accurate adage, “sell in May and go away”. Often cited … Continued
Recently, the nation’s second largest city, Los Angeles, voted to increase its minimum wage from $9.00 to $15.00 per hour by 2020. L.A. joins Seattle and San Francisco in enacting a $15 minimum wage with similar levels currently proposed in New York City, Washington D.C., and Kansas City, MO. Whether this proves to be a … Continued
Much has been written about the tepid economic recovery of the past several years. GDP growth has been comparatively weak versus past recoveries. As a result, employment growth has been similarly soft and many pundits conjecture that this is why discouraged workers have simply given up looking for jobs and dropped out of the labor … Continued
We have seen significant sell-off in the bond market over the past few weeks as the markets try to get their arms around future Fed actions. These sharp moves in yields can cause one to be uneasy about what could happen. The fear is that interest rates project upward causing large losses in bond portfolios. … Continued
The US Federal Reserve Board (Fed), headed by Chair Janet Yellen, significantly influences interest rates in the US. As the economy has steadily improved over the past several quarters, the Fed has been signaling that interest rates would be allowed to rise. That is, until Gross Domestic Product statistics were released several weeks ago. The … Continued
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