Uncertainties driving the markets
Originally published on RGJ’s website, http://www.rgj.com/story/money/business/2015/03/20/uncertainties-driving-markets/25113763/ The financial markets have been focused on three uncertainties: the strong and rising value of the dollar vis a vis other currencies, weakening U.S. economic indicators, and the timing and magnitude of Fed policy actions. All this with a background of the ongoing Greek tragedy and continued political strife […]
‘Death puts’ — aka, the ‘survivor’s option’
Originally published on the Tahoe Daily Tribune’s website, http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/opinion/15501217-113/tahoe-truckee-market-beat-death-puts-aka-the-survivors-option Record-low interest rates over the last few years have made it a difficult time for fixed income investors. In a normal interest rate environment, a conservative income investor with $1 million to invest could expect to receive an income of $45,000 to $50,000 per year by […]
Fiduciary vs. suitability standard
Originally published on Tahoe Daily Tribune’s website, http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/opinion/15276182-113/tahoe-truckee-market-beat-fiduciary-vs-suitability-standard President Obama is pushing the Department of Labor to make some changes to the rules regarding retirement accounts. He would like to see the industry standard for retirement account advisers raised to what’s known as the fiduciary standard. Under current law, retirement account advisers can operate under […]
Possible retirement account changes on tap
Originally published in Tahoe Daily Tribune’s website, http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/opinion/15083209-113/tahoe-truckee-market-beat-possible-retirement-account-changes-on-tap Estimating future events is part of the financial planning process. Planners estimate things like life expectancy, inflation, stock market returns and interest rates. We don’t know exactly where any of these factors will be in the future. Another uncertainty are the rules that we follow as we […]
Financial media fixated on threat of deflation
Originally published on Reno Gazette Journal’s website, http://www.rgj.com/story/money/business/2015/02/06/financial-media-fixated-threat-deflation/23010819/ As a financial markets economist, my job is to survey the economic landscape and identify trends and issues that might have a significant impact on economic activity (and then to worry about what those trends and issues mean for client portfolios). Normally, over the intermediate time horizon, […]
What type of IRA account is right for you?
Originally published on Tahoe Daily Tribune’s website, http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/northshore/14995245-113/tahoe-truckee-market-beat-what-type-of-ira-account-is-right If you’re thinking about funding an IRA this year, you have until April 15, or the day you file your taxes, whichever is earlier, unless you file an extension. Which type of IRA you should establish depends on several factors, and there are calculators available online to […]