KIM: Gifts for college education easier to make than ever
Instead of getting sucked into Black Friday’s vortex of excessive holiday consumerism, consider giving a gift that will last a lifetime.
Investing Column
Articles
SKARBECK: Identify good management for successful investing
While financial statements provide the numbers used to value a business, management policies are more subjective, and it takes time to determine whether their strategies were effective.
KIM: Mutual fund distributions are a risk you can avoid
Taxable shareholders should avoid buying shares of a fund in front of a large distribution. The last thing you want is to buy into a fund and pay taxes on a distribution you did not enjoy in any way.
SKARBECK: Constant buying, selling of stocks makes no sense
If you owned a small manufacturing business here in town, would you be looking to sell it in a few months to buy a restaurant, only to tire of that soon and sell to purchase a software company?
SKARBECK: Obsession with short term is hurting our economy
Large investors and academics believe companies are not investing enough into their businesses, partly because of pressure on management to hit quarterly numbers.
KIM: Review timeless truths before next market ‘crisis’
Reviews Ben Carlson’s “obvious truths” about investing in times of relative calm
SKARBECK: Amazon has escaped tough antitrust scrutiny
Today, with the rapid technological change taking place in many industries, some observers are beginning to ask if we have entered a new age for antitrust. The company that is regularly targeted for this discussion is Amazon.
KIM: Betting against Buffett is a costly proposition
Don’t buy when he’s selling or sell when he’s buying.
SKARBECK: HSAs are powerful way to save for retirement
Health savings accounts are one of the most attractive investment vehicles available in the marketplace.
KIM: ‘CAT’ bonds ease financial pain of nature’s fury
Weather forecasting and investing are both probabilistic endeavors.
SKARBECK: Is future really so dire for traditional retailers?
Are brand-name retailers doomed to long-term decline due to competition from Amazon? Or will there be a “reversion to the mean?
KIM: Is new Greek bond deal deja vu all over again?
With bailout support and shackles both expiring next August, I’m afraid we’ve seen this movie before.
SKARBECK: After scandal, LIBOR begins five-year phaseout
Small changes in the level of LIBOR had significant effects on the profitability of large banks’ loan portfolios. This sowed the seeds of the LIBOR scandal.
KIM: Recognize role luck plays in success in investing, life
Even the hardest workers and best decision makers among us will fail to succeed consistently without luck.
SKARBECK: Target-date funds aren’t always best 401(k) option
Investors have different financial profiles that might require a more hands-on approach.
KIM: Passive indexing boom might turn into bust
My colleagues and I at Kirr Marbach & Co. see parallels between now and the technology stock mania of the late 1990s.
SKARBECK: Markets humming along, despite political climate
Considering the contentious political discourse taking place in our country and across the globe, it is remarkable how steady the investment markets have been.
KIM: Amazon’s relentless march collects more casualties
Amazon forever changed the way America shops, to the detriment of traditional brick-and-mortar retailers.
SKARBECK: ‘Fake news’ infects investing world, too
The SEC has announced enforcement actions against 27 individuals for collecting secret compensation on stock promotion schemes that were disguised as unbiased investment research.
KIM: Fiduciary rule or not, be on guard for conflicts
Now that the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule is effective, does that mean you can relax your vetting process? Absolutely not, as it’s been proven time and again it’s impossible to legislate ethical behavior.