From Time Magazine, June 24, 1974: “As they review the bizarre and unpredictable weather pattern of the past several years, a growing number of scientists are beginning to suspect that many seemingly contradictory meteorological fluctuations are actually part of a global climate upheaval.  However widely the weather varies from place to place and time to … Continued

Merriam Webster defines assumption as follows:  “when planning, a fact or statement taken for granted.”  My major in college was economics, but if you had told me it would be my major as a college freshman I would have scoffed.  In my first economics class, Macro-Economics 101, I was disturbed that every formula contained one … Continued

“Let us enter the New Year cheerfully.  Let us resolve to look on the bright side, to make the best of whatever may befall, to maintain faith that doing the right thing will ultimately bring victory.  Let us cultivate sunniness, resist sourness.  We can better wrestle with difficulties, obstacles, problems in a spirit of buoyancy … Continued

Everyone can agree that education is important and costly.  College savings can be so overwhelming that it paralyzes some from developing and implementing an investment plan.  The high and increasing costs, coupled with the uncertainty in capital markets, oftentimes creates inaction that can be detrimental to one’s long-term college savings goals.  Sometimes seeing some averages … Continued

In the musical “Annie”, (1977), the star sings: “Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow, you’re only a day away”. In the depths of a recession, as portrayed in the musical, a sunny outlook is clearly heartwarming, and suggests that things will get better soon. In the cold world of investing, tomorrow is always a day … Continued

Investors should consider that there seems to be an increase in the belief that the markets are getting it wrong and official oversight is essential to the national well being.  This can lead to problems for those who rely on the efficiency of markets in making investment decisions. Thomas Sowell, in his book “The Vision … Continued

Yesterday we launched our new website.  Please take a look and tell us how you like it. Special thanks to Tamika Hall for spearheading this effort and to Chris Frayne and Marisa Lenhard for their countless hours devoted to content.  Finally, it is never ready until compliance weighs in – thank you Shari Bilkie! Bob Bilkie, … Continued

There seems to be an increase in the cavalier treatment of other people’s money (OPM) by a wide variety of individuals and organizations, including corporate executives, politicians and some investment advisors. One would think that corporate executives could remember that every dollar they spend actually belongs to the shareholders. Politicians need to remember that all … Continued

Hurricane Sandy is bringing all of New York and most of the East coast to a near standstill. The stock exchanges are closed today, and are likely to remain closed on Tuesday as well. Advance notice of the storm over the weekend appears to have mitigated the amount of market disruption the shutdown has caused … Continued

Given the fast-paced and unrelenting supply of global investment issues, we at Sigma have started this blog as a service to our friends and clients to give some insight as to how we interpret such matters. To get started, use one of the options on the right-hand side of this page. You can type in … Continued