Broker Check

Newsletter Archive - 2023

Second Verse, Same as the First

September 29, 2023


A quote often attributed to Mark Twain says, “History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes”. Even though this year has different headlines, the third quarter was a rough one like it is in most years. August can be hit or miss as to whether the market is up and this year it was a miss. September is traditionally the worst...

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The Magnificent Seven

June 30, 2023


Yogi Berra is often given credit for saying, “It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” In my last article about the debt ceiling debacle debate, I said we could have a technical default where the government continues paying bond holders while not paying for other things. I was surprised that...

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The Debt Ceiling: Why Bother?

May 23, 2023


It seems like we always have something to worry about. Just in the last six months or so, we’ve had midterm elections and big bank failures. Now we have yet another debt ceiling “crisis” on our hands. And like all other reasons to worry, I think it’s just noise when it comes to market performance because the US always pays its bills...

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Bank Failures: Should We Worry?

April 5, 2023


In my last article, Good Riddance!, I mentioned how I was glad that 2022 was over. It was the seventh worst year for the market since 1926 and bonds weren’t a safe haven for some of the reasons we mentioned in previous Focus articles. Every new year marks a new beginning...

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Where is My Money Going?

March 24, 2023


We have a very lovable client base.  We get few questions, even fewer complaints, and lots of “we love you” feedback.  And not just in good times.  I’m talking about right now when you have to be a short-seller or clairvoyant to make any money in the market.  I rarely get serious grief from one of you, and when I do, I usually recognize that it – at least to some degree – is deserved. ...

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Good Riddance!

January 6, 2023

 

Last year was a rough year, the worst since the financial crisis of 2008, and the seventh worst since before the Great Depression. With inflation running out of control for some items, especially food (over $5 for 12 little eggs!!), budgets have been stretched. Due to that inflation, the Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates more often and much higher than anyone expected.  ...

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