I have just been reading some predictions made by various people over the years that have been, how shall I say this, less than 100% accurate. It would seem that seeing into the future is a power that humans don’t generally possess. If you desire proof, or perhaps need a laugh, I suggest that you enter “failed predictions” into your internet search… Read more →
Author: Carl Goodin
A Tale of Two Clients, Some Other Stuff, and a Thanksgiving Prayer.
Do you remember how it felt to be a common stock investor during the last 5 years of the 20th century? It felt good. Very good, in fact. The total return of the S&P 500 stock index was 26.39% per year from January 1st, 1996 to December 31st, 1999. Every investor was a stock picking genius. People retired early. One… Read more →
Retirement contribution limits, QLACs, a case of fraud and the circle of life.
The IRS recently announced adjustments to retirement plan contribution limits. In 2015 the elective deferral limit for 401(k) participants will be increased to $18,000. Most similar plans, 403(b), 457, etc. will allow increased contribution limits as well. The catch-up contribution limit for employees age 50 and over will increase to $6,000. Therefore, older employees can defer as much as $24,000 next… Read more →
The Gold Standard, Alpha, Beta, and now…Gamma.
Question: Should the US return to the gold standard, so that the Fed can’t “create money out of thin air”? To answer that question David Andolfatto, Vice President and Economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis recently published a piece entitled, The Gold Standard and Price Inflation. You can view it here. The author cites an historical example… Read more →
A bit about the 3rd quarter, 2014 and some optimism.
Asset management clients of Financial Planning Associates, Inc., your preliminary third quarter asset management reports have been posted to your secure web folders. As the table below indicates Read more →