Wall Street Translation: Jason Zweig’s “The Devil’s Financial Dictionary”
Jane Bryant Quinn, a highly regarded and nationally syndicated columnist, once called much of the output of Wall Street and the trade publications that cover financial markets “investment porn.” She summed it up this way: “Americans are indulging themselves in...
Genes, Experience Affect Choices
Are you a value investor or a growth investor? Could your preference be influenced by a biological predisposition partially ingrained from birth? Is it possible that your choice of investment could be explained by your personal experiences, both early on...
Is Stock Picking Back?
Is it time for stock-pickers to make a comeback? That was the topic of discussion during a recent Trading Nation segment in which CNBC’s Brian Sullivan interviewed Stacey Gilbert of Susquehanna, and Phillip Streible of RJO Futures. Gilbert and Streible...
For True Freedom, Learn to Deal With Uncertainty
Almost 10 years ago, I knew a guy on a financial rocket ship. He had a great house, a successful business and a solid income. But then things changed. With the benefit of hindsight, it was clear he bought a...
Misleading “Debates” on Active vs. Passive Harm Investors
While it’s a low bar, Bloomberg TV always seemed to me to be the best of the financial media. Its anchors are professional and knowledgeable. Its coverage is broad and responsible. It avoids the hype and sensationalism typical of many...
What Your Financial Advisor Needs to Know About Your Brain
Behavioral economist Richard Thaler explains why financial professionals need to be familiar with psychology. Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky legitimized behavioral economics—the study of how people really behave around money, as opposed to how economists say a rational person ought...
The S&P Active vs. Passive Scorecard: Global Evidence
While the debate over the merits of active versus passive investing is ongoing, there has been a very clear trend spanning several decades now showing that investors are slowly (but steadily) abandoning the hope of outperformance offered by active management...
What are agency bonds?
Quick Take on Fixed Income November 2015 Question: What are agency bonds? Answer: Agency bonds are securities issued by two types of entities: 1) government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), which usually are federally chartered but privately owned corporations; and 2) federal government...
What You Need to Know About Changes to Social Security
November 2015 How These Changes Could Affect Your Future Filing Strategy Establishing a well-crafted plan that addresses the role Social Security retirement benefits will play in your financial future has never been more important, especially in light of recent changes...
What are corporate bonds?
Quick Take on Fixed Income November 2015 Question: What are corporate bonds? Answer: Corporate bonds are debt securities issued by corporations. The bonds have a maturity greater than one year, and interest income is taxable at local, state and federal...
