Greedy Innkeeper or Generous Capitalist?
Monday Morning Outlook Greedy Innkeeper or Generous Capitalist?
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Brian S. Wesbury, Chief Economist
Robert Stein, Deputy Chief Economist
Date: 12/23/2021
The Bible story of the virgin birth is at the center of much of the holiday cheer this time of year. The book of Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem because Caesar Augustus decreed a census should be taken. Mary gave birth after arriving in Bethlehem and placed baby J
Worst States to Retire in….
Now it’s easy to pick on Illinois. Ridiculous taxes, gun violence, a Governor that rules by one emergency edict after another, soaring crime and only 5 months of decent weather but believe it or not, the Prairie State is not the worst state to retire in. According to the editors at Moneywise.com that distinction falls to New Mexico. Now usually number 2 isn’t a bad spot but in this regard it’s really not good. Read on to see their picks for the top worse states for retirement.https://moneywise.
Sexy vs. Safe
Now this isn’t my title…so don’t blame me…it was a hook on CNBC today to get us to tune in after the commercial break. The concept was that utility companies are safe investments and their stock prices have been rising while technology companies (primarily semiconductor companies) are dropping in value. Of course, after the commercials they had the ‘expert’ on that said she owns utility companies that they were safe, they are her whole life blah blah blah and well you know…she loves them.
Buy? Sell? Invest or Panic??
Part IIn a world where supposed experts do not disclose their bias and then state their opinions as fact it’s no wonder investors become confused. Today this confusion comes in many forms…“Ok, there is inflation because I am seeing it in prices everywhere…it’s because of demand, supply chain problems and easy monetary policies, but interest rates are going down? The unemployment rate is at post pandemic lows, but Washington wants a 4 trillion stimulus bill? This stimulus bill will cost nothing
COVID, Politics and life.
Every few months we get another COVID variant and our elected officials react (a friend tracks COVID and says it has a nine-week cycle). Some would say appropriately and others would say in a draconian scared manner. Today our friend Brian Wesbury from First Trust Portfolios comments on the news cycle and how we may look into the future to see how the markets and investors may think and react to more of the same.Monday Morning Outlook Riding the COVID Rollercoaster
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Death and Taxes
I can’t fix the first inevitable truth but I can help with the second… A thought on how to increase your investment income and potentially lower your taxes.Now most of you know I’m not a huge fan of bonds. Inflation, business risk, and duration are just the tip of the risk pyramid that bond buyers assume when they purchase fixed income securities. But I’m also a realist and there are times when it makes sense, or can be explained why, that the certainty of payments offered by bonds are more i
Christmas may look different (again) this year.
As supply chain SNAFUs continue will people look to new (or old) places to satisfy their gift giving desires? The Real Real 2021 report may lens some insight into that question.
Life, the Universe and Everything. October 2021
This year is flying by. Our youngest is now a Freshman at the University of Miami ( the U) in the nursing school and we are empty nesters. Well almost. Seems the kids keep coming home and we really are not that empty. I don’t bring this up to really talk about me but to say that sometimes what you expect in life is not how things happen. The economy and its proxy, the stock market, are great examples of this. I’ll try and make this make sense. We started 2021 after a Phenomenal stock market adv
Phish isn’t just for dinner anymore…an overview of the extent of cyber crime.
In an effort to keep us safe on line I have published a few articles on how to lower the likelihood of being a victim of cyber crime. The attached is a review of where and what this world looks like today. APWG reportAPWG is the international coalition unifying the global response to cybercrime across industry, government and law-enforcement sectors and NGO communities. APWG’s membership of more than 2200 institutions worldwide is as global as its outlook, with its directors, managers and resear
Facts over Fiction? A realistic appraisal of how we should look at today’s economic reports.
Monday Morning Outlook Focus on Data, Not Spin To view this article, Click Here
Brian S. Wesbury, Chief Economist
Robert Stein, Deputy Chief Economist
Date: 10/11/2021
In 2009, after overly strict mark-to-market accounting rules were altered, we said the Financial Crisis was over. It was hard to get our voice heard, though, because both sides of the political aisle were busy saying the economy stunk. Political liberals tried to use the crisis to grow the government and increase bank regu