Lobbyists nervous about details of Trump tax plan
09-19-2017, From Bloomberg, “Lobbyists on Edge Awaiting Details of Trump Tax Overhaul Plan” by Ben Brody. READ THE ARTICLE The National Association of Home Builders has already created ads to either support or oppose a U.S. tax-code overhaul, depending on how Congress and President Donald Trump propose to treat its favorite tax breaks. “We’re at DEFCON One,” said Jerry Howard, [...]
From NYT – “When Brokers Want to Move Your Money…”
07-04-2017, From The New York Times, "When Brokers Want to Move Your Money Out of a Very Good Thing" by Ron Lieber. READ THE ARTICLE So far this year, here’s what our friends in the federal government have done for — and to — citizens who hope to find simple ways to save enough money for retirement without anyone robbing [...]
Quarter End Report June 30, 2017
Comparing the first half of 2017 with that of 2016, the improvement is remarkable. Between January 1, 2016 and June 30, U.S. equities had their worst correction in at least four years, only to regain footing and limp to the June 30, 2016 finish line with a 1% return, virtually all of it dividend income. By contrast, this year’s first [...]
The foundation for a recession
All recessions begin when consumers take on too much debt and businesses extend too much credit. Borrowing money to buy a car is a doubly negative experience: the consumer goes “on margin” to own an asset guaranteed to lose value. Long after the joyful smell of new leather has faded, the payments will continue, continue, continue… 07-04-2017, From Market Watch, [...]
Reduction/sale of Apple Inc.
Reduction/sale of Apple Inc. June 13, 2017 We have reduced and, in a few cases, eliminated your holdings of Apple Inc. (AAPL). This decision was driven by a sense that the Company may be reaching a transition in which its constituency of stakeholders changes from growth investors to more traditional dividend investors, the type of people who want to own [...]
Mid-Quarter Review May, 2017
Momentum for both stocks and bonds has carried into the second quarter, until today, as the market at last appears to have succumbed to an endless stream of turmoil pouring out of Washington DC. Even with today's 300 point decline there is underlying strength in the US and global economy that has propelled stocks upward. The strength is not limited [...]