This week alone, I have heard the Trade War between the US and China was both close and far from being completed. Or was that just the Phase One portion? Wait, Phase One? When did that become a thing? I have been interviewed by two different media outlets a few weeks apart and each of … Read more
Disruption continues in the world of discount brokerages with the announcement today that powerhouse Charles Schwab is buying competitor TD Ameritrade for $26 billion. The blockbuster merger of the two largest discount brokers is being watched by retail traders who are enjoying a wave of zero-commission trades triggered by Schwab in October. Eliminating basic account trade commissions disrupted the industry as it forced others to follow, including TD Ameritrade.
FAANG was the acronym created from the powerhouse stocks that lead the way for many years as they grew to huge significance in the market. It was a catchy term that helped seat them in our brains and, with a fierce term like that, probably helped them grow on aura alone. One thing we reliably … Read more
As we wrap up October and roll into November there’s one thing that always comes to mind for me – McDonald’s. Wow. McDonald’s you say? Thrilling. Are you there for the burgers or the milkshakes? Honestly neither and I’m not here to have a discussion on the food. The reason McDonald’s comes up for me … Read more
Let’s talk about the yield curve. What is it? Yield curve is a visual representation of the “spread” or difference between government bonds of different maturities. For example, if the 10yr bond has a rate of 2% and the 2yr bond has a rate of 1% that would mean the 10y/2y spread is 1%, or … Read more
It’s Fed day again! The time when markets come to a standstill as they hold their breath, waiting anxiously for nuanced words in the report, and of course, what the interest rate will be. I have covered this event before in a Simpler Blog named “Don’t Fight the Fed” so I won’t repeat all that … Read more
The markets have been tough the last few weeks. It’s like being in a nightclub where they keep switching up the playlist. As soon as you get used to country music, the DJ drops the bass and everyone has to adapt to a new rhythm. And once that settles in, bam, they roll out the … Read more
In recent weeks, we’ve been a slave to the tweets. Namely, two weeks ago for the FOMC meeting that had little reaction and then a 50 point move appeared after, you guessed it: Trump tweeting. And so a wave of confusion persists. Personally, I’m reminding myself that if cash is my position, then I’m naturally … Read more
“Fail fast” was a phrase taught to me during a business coaching presentation while I was in my financial advising career in my mid 20’s. It is a phrase that has stuck with me ever since because of its power and seemingly contradictory meaning. Nobody likes to fail at something, right? Yet here was a … Read more
Wednesday’s session wasn’t for the faint of heart. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 800 points from the previous day’s close, and as financial media was quick to point out, the largest loss in 2019. While that is a noteworthy statistic the index is no stranger to significant declines. In December, prices fell more than … Read more