Dow 30,000

Peter Navarro, Assistant to the President, and Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, recently suggested that the Dow Jones Industrial Average could reach 30,000 in 2020. While there is nothing wrong with what is essentially a short prediction, investors should continue to work with their advisor(s) and stay focused on the long term.  Markets are … Continued

Compound Interest

Albert Einstein is reputed to have described compound interest as “the most powerful force in the universe” and “the greatest invention in human history.”  Whether he did or didn’t use these phrases, capitalizing on the positive attributes of compound interest is a very important part of any wealth-building strategy. Investopedia defines compound interest as interest … Continued

Carbon Taxes

Regardless of how you may feel about climate change, it is probably useful to understand the issue of carbon taxes. According to Wikipedia, a carbon tax is a tax levied on the carbon content of fuels and, like carbon emissions trading, is a form of carbon pricing.  The term “carbon tax” is also used to … Continued

Corroboration

Corroboration is generally defined as evidence which confirms or supports a statement, theory or finding. We now live in a world where almost anyone, can say almost anything, about anything or anyone, often on social media. Investors should be careful to assess commentary and seek corroborating information that might affect an existing or potential investment. … Continued

Regulation and Simplification

We have previously commented on the importance of regulations that are clear, concise and broadly acceptable (see our blog posted 14 Sep 2016). A new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule requires brokers and financial advisors to describe their services, fees and conflicts of interest in “plain English” in a maximum of four pages. This … Continued

Less Convenient, More Expensive

How about that for an advertising slogan as the world’s automobile manufacturer’s roll out a broad range of electric vehicles (EV)? Potential EV buyers have to face two clear issues. Battery charging time and charging station availability are problems that owners of gasoline powered vehicles do not have to deal with. It is generally accepted … Continued

Cryptocurrency

Wikipedia defines cryptocurrency as a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange that uses strong cryptography to secure financial transactions, control the creation of additional units, and verify the transfer of assets.  Cryptocurrencies use decentralized control as opposed to centralized digital currency and central banking systems. The decentralized control of each cryptocurrency … Continued

Beggar Thy Neighbor

According to Wikipedia, a beggar-thy-neighbor policy is an economic policy through which one country attempts to remedy its economic problems by means that tend to worsen the economic problems of other countries. The term, beggar-thy-neighbor, was originally devised to characterize policies of trying to cure domestic depression and unemployment by shifting demand away from imports … Continued

Talking Your Book

According to InvestorWords.com, talking your book is an investing expression which means arguing for a scenario that, if true, would end up making you money because it follows your investing strategy. In other words, when investment professionals publicly express their views regarding an investment opportunity, in which they hold a position, they are “talking their … Continued

Ethanol

Ethanol is a renewable, domestically produced alcohol fuel made from plant material, such as corn, sugar cane, or grasses.  In the U.S., corn is the primary source of ethanol, while other countries, particularly Brazil, use sugar cane. Using ethanol can reduce oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions.  Ethanol use in the U.S. has increased dramatically … Continued

Understanding Fear Based Media

Investors should recognize that news is intended to be a money making industry.  Instead of simply reporting the news in a straight forward manner, most media reporting has morphed into editorials, with an emphasis on the spectacular, the stirring, and the controversial.  The emphasis is no longer on getting the facts right, but rather, a race … Continued

Dynamic Versus Static Scoring

According to Wikipedia, dynamic scoring is a forecasting technique for government revenues, expenditures, and budget deficits that incorporates predictions about the behavior of people and organizations based on changes in fiscal policy.  A dynamic scoring model may include expectations as the population adapts to the new policy.  Alternatively, static scoring makes simpler assumptions regarding behavior … Continued