The Department of Labor is once again forced to delay the passing of new legislation that would impose a fiduciary standard on advisors working with the retirement assets of millions of Americans.
The rule, which seeks to raise the standards of practice for investment advisors, was first introduced in 2010...
Most websites on investing and financial planning can’t wait to tell you about two things—the record highs of the Dow Jones Industrial Average or S&P 500, and the impressive levels of growth expected in our nation’s economy in the coming months.
So why did the United States’ GDP drop in...
One of the cardinal rules mutual fund investors follow is the avoidance of ‘load’ fees—essentially, the sales charge associated with joining a fund. Unfortunately, that leads these investors into perhaps a bigger mistake.
That’s because they’re overlooking two more fees funds assess. One is covered in the prospectus, but the...
We're only a week into August, but it’s already a month that will go down in infamy at Bank of America.
The firm agreed temporarily this week to a record-setting $16-17 billion settlement over mortgage misconduct in the build-up to the 2008 financial crisis. This projected settlement comes on the...
Tuesday, August 12
Markets started strong Monday, but stagnated over the day as what appeared to be good news on the geopolitical front turned increasingly neutral. Trading was particularly light as investors waited for greater clarity on a variety of geopolitical issues.
Early Monday, Russian President Putin announced his intention to...
Many Wall Street experts have spent the summer calling for a market correction. Some call for a 5-10% reduction, while others such as Marc Faber have called for a 20-30% crash.
The truth is that no one knows when the next market correction or crash will happen, nor do they...
For weeks, so-called experts have battled back and forth over whether the stock market will continue to reach new highs, or if it will come crashing down in the next few months. Now, one of the world’s most respected investors has decided to put in his two cents—only in...
What’s the worst month for the stock market historically?
Most people (including myself) probably would’ve guessed October. For example, I knew the Great Depression was highlighted by a late-October tumble in stock prices back in 1929. I know that “Black Monday” occurred in October of 1987. And I remember October...
For years, investors have lamented the all-profit nature of the financial industry. Whether or not your investments make money, your advisor charges you a fee. In other words, even if the company loses your money, you owe a fee for their ‘services.’ What other business operates this way?
Recently, investment...
All good things must come to an end. Even Wall Street isn’t immune to this old adage.
A new study by Swiss financial consultants Wellershoff & Partners concluded that the U.S. stock market is likely to take a tumble of at least 30% at some point in the next five...
