In the animal kingdom, owls have the highest degree of head rotation. We humans cannot attempt such flexible maneuvers, but as investors, as advisors, as managers, as parents and caregivers, we would sure love to have a 360-degree view of the world at all times, to be able to see whatever is coming from any direction so as to avoid trouble as well as pounce on opportunity.
Continue readingHere we are in the final quarter of the year trying to figure out what we may need to do to help and protect our portfolios, investment goals, families and businesses, between now and year-end. There is a big “Wall of Worry” and less than 60 trading days left, some of which could be very volatile.
Continue readingOver the past 18 months, we have all refashioned our lives, some several times, by choice or circumstances related to health or work or family. We created safe cocoons and, as a result of vaccines and COVID fatigue, burst out of them.
Continue readingOne psychologist theorized that there may have been a time during human evolution when there was no connection between the right and left chambers in the human brain, perhaps ancient people had a bicameral mind in which one side of the brain made command decisions and the other side listened and obeyed. Many of us are of two minds about the momentous decisions being made in Washington in the coming weeks.
Continue readingWith consumer confidence falling to a six-month low, many consumers are reducing spending and getting back to the basics. Economists are struggling to put the higher prices we are paying into context to rationalize inflation rates, the consumer price index and other spending metrics.
Continue readingIn the Cherokee creation myth, when plants and animals were first made, they were told to keep awake for seven nights. The plants who succeeded became evergreens, and all others were doomed to lose their “hair” every winter. The animals who stayed up were given the power to “see” in the dark. Investors trying to create or manage a portfolio in current market conditions either feel like their clear vision of the future will guide them while others feel like they are just dancing in the dark.
Continue readingIn the process of forward deliveries, we rely upon the close relationships that our veteran sales executives maintain with major buyers, enabling us to structure bonds with prevailing fixed rates for settlement or delivery at a future date.
Continue readingWe are literally mid-summer and whether we are in the middle of our vacation or our workweek, we are never more than a few minutes away from a device blasting the latest headlines from every corner of the globe and even news from outer space.
Continue readingWe are literally mid-summer and whether we are in the middle of our vacation or our workweek, we are never more than a few minutes away from a device blasting the latest headlines from every corner of the globe and even news from outer space.
Continue readingThe longest serving legislator in America, and the last World War II veteran to serve in a state legislature, resigned earlier this year after 64 years in public office. Those with decades of experience have much perspective to offer, favors to trade, bonds and relationships to rely upon, and powers to exercise and may make for a worthy debate on the subject of tenure and term limits.
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