Opinion I Want to Know Where the Gold At Posted on March 17, 2016 By Matt Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! It seems like reporters go out of their way to find the craziest people to put on camera for a story. It certainly seems to be the case in the financial entertainment community where you can find perma-bear hucksters given the same regard as respected economists… Read more
Due Diligence Peer to Peer Lending Posted on March 15, 2016 By Matt Fear is an investor’s constant companion. We are supposed to be greedy when others are fearful and fearful when others are greedy. However, fear seems to loom largest when the markets are down and fades away when markets are up. Pain of past losses gives birth to new fears that what… Read more
Investing Happy Anniversary Posted on March 10, 2016 By Matt Yesterday marked the anniversary of the market’s lowest point during the financial crisis, the birth of our current bull market. A quick recap: From its previous peak on 10/10/2007, the S&P 500 dropped 55% through 3/9/2009. From 3/9/2009, the S&P 500 gained 237% (almost 19% annualized), including dividends… Read more
Investing Serious Investors Value the Un-Sexy Posted on February 23, 2016 By Matt Most of us think that we are above average drivers. Likewise, I have never heard anyone say they are bad at investing. After experiencing negative returns, the market is to blame or maybe the President of the United States is to at fault if they belong to the “wrong” political party…. Read more
News Fear of the Dark Posted on February 11, 2016February 11, 2016 By Matt They come in the night. From the deepest dark, they reach out. Searching. Your fear sustains them. Panic slides you deeper into their grip and dawn will never break for you. You can light bonfires and set a watchman to keep them at bay, though. Light is their enemy and… Read more
Due Diligence Carnival Barkers Posted on January 29, 2016April 13, 2017 By Matt “Step right up, folks! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! You are mere moments away from learning a secret so massive, it could undermine our very way of life! Please move in closer so everyone can hear! Tell your family! Tell your neighbor! Act now and I’ll throw in a free American flag,… Read more
News Business as Usual Posted on January 19, 2016 By Matt The S&P 500 is down almost 8%. It’s the worst start to a new year EVER. Is this a sign of things to come? Is the stock market doomed in 2016? Exactly how rare is a downwards move of such epic magnitude? The market has recovered from every downturn it’s… Read more
News Sell Everything Posted on January 12, 2016 By Matt So The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) says 2016 will be a cataclysmic year and to “sell everything except high quality bonds”. There’s even a cute analogy, “In a crowded hall, exit doors are small. Risks are high.” So says RBS analyst Andrew Roberts. “Risks are high.” Risk is the… Read more
Due Diligence January Effect Posted on January 8, 2016 By Matt By now, you’ve heard that the US stock market is off to the worst start to a calendar year ever. This is the sort of news that is trumpeted far and wide as humans are wired to value and pass along bad news (and to elevate the status of those… Read more
Due Diligence Goofy, Esoteric Securities are a Red Flag Posted on December 18, 2015April 13, 2017 By Matt Financial entertainment got a holiday gift with the fiasco surrounding the Third Avenue Focused Credit Fund. The fund halted withdrawals amid investor outflows which was “shocking” according to Barron’s. The sharks are circling as the media has had easy filler content – “Worried About Your High-Yield Bond Fund?” and so… Read more