FOMC decision: Hike!

Just released by the US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee, a statement of where interest rates will be going in the short term: “For release at 2:00 p.m. EST Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in November indicates that the labor market has continued to strengthen and that economic activity has been … Read More

Three Tripwires for Trump

With the market soaring along at new all-time highs, what could possibly go wrong? I mean besides the Fed decision due out in about six hours, or the Electoral College results coming Monday, or the problems of the National Debt and of course, all the dirty backroom politics of Washington, right? We delve into that … Read More

Where is Irwin Allen When We Need Him?

Gosh, I don’t think I’ve mentioned Irwin Allen since back the night I dreamed of the Offshore Horizon disaster (and posted it) 18-hours before it happened. But with this being the start of the Fed Meetings, it seems like what we need is a good “disaster artist” to set the mood. I can think of … Read More

Coping: The Ongoing Marketing of Climate Change, FTM

A comment to a Reader: Follow the Money (FTM) Normally I wouldn’t take the time to write a “Dear Jon” response, but the holidays are a slow time around here, and after sitting for two hours Monday while teeth were cleaned and a crown for a back molar were prepping, the pain must have put … Read More

Fed Week Jitters?

The (not-so) Federal Reserve meets tomorrow and Wednesday will have the decision on rates, but most of the smart money seems to be on a quarter-point hike, rather than going a full half. Although, in fairness, there is a case to be made there since the 10-year Note which was trading around 1.75% a couple … Read More

Coping: With the “Crazy George” Checklist

Since I got a lot of sleep last night, the brain was on fire and there are a number of (hopefully) useful items to review this morning. The Light Crown Project This is a topic covered more thoroughly for our www.peoplenomics.com subscribers, but I’ve now started the testing of the project. Along the way, a … Read More

A Real-Life "Flash-Roll" Tale

Our report this morning centers of the experience of one reader, who we will not name, but who was recently separated from nearly $10,000 via an internet scam. At the heart of this international fraud, we find a stack of cash, an urgent trip to Amsterdam to a “private bank” – and a lot more. … Read More

Reporter School: Is “Fake News” Fake?

One story going large this morning is how Hillary Clinton is blaming the web for the spread of “fake news.” Specifically, The Hill reports over here about her complaint to a group of financial backers and said Congress should do something about it. Cited was the case of a gunman, who allegedly walked into a … Read More

Coping: The “Christmas Wrapping” Hoax

Status is no longer in style. We saw it last year on one of our casino jaunts, the one up to Choctaw to see the Commodores in concert. Oh, and take some money home, too… While there, a FEW women were dressed to the 9’s (including Elaine who looks like a million bucks). But the … Read More

Markets: Running Out of Hype?

Nowhere near it — yet. We need to be clear on something: Yes, the market went up yesterday. But in my (admittedly weird) approach to markets, that places us only about where we were two weeks ago. Yeah, sure, the Dow is in record country and so is the S&P. But in our work, the … Read More

Coping: With Gifts for “Problem People”

WARNING: Mr. Grinch is at the keyboard. I love this time of the year – but hate it almost as much. Because of the gifting, mostly. Don’t get me wrong, the National Bank of Dad doesn’t mind sending out a few little goodies, but a gift should always have an element of surprise and should … Read More

Crafting Your Personal "Annual Report"

Companies have them, but why should they have all the fun?  They form the basis for a lot of budgeting work and setting the action and work plans for the coming year. So why not use a similar approach for yourself?  I mean, you do have a personal income statement  and an expense line or … Read More

Irrational Trumpxuberance, Financial Time Travel

There’s a notion that markets predict the future. Oh, not like you will see a red pick-up truck turning right at 9:17:44 AM today. No, it’s more like “We, the collective forces of the market, see a bell-shaped distribution of probable earnings and profits of this (or that) somewhere between nine months and 2-years into … Read More