Financial Notes
Mid-Year Commentary
As we come to the mid-point of 2010 and just enjoyed our country’s July 4th celebration, I can’t help but wonder what our Founding Fathers would think about our government’s attempted involvement in seemingly every aspect of our lives.
Continue ReadingDr. Robert Brooks at NASHRM
On Tuesday, June 8, Dr. Robert Brooks addressed the North Alabama Society of Human Resource Management with a one-hour lecture concerning techniques for improving personal financial management.
Continue ReadingFirst Quarter Commentary: When Will We Ever Learn?
As I think back over the past couple of years and reflect on the Great Recession that we have all painfully endured, I am reminded of several lessons that we as investors need to revisit and relearn. While this list of lessons is by no means exhaustive, I do think it focuses on some basics worthy of revisiting.
Continue ReadingSequence of Returns: The Silent Retirement Risk
Retirement for Americans has a different look to it these days. For those of us not working in the public sector, the odds of having a defined benefit plan, or pension, are getting less and less every year.
Continue ReadingTop Things to Consider When Approaching Retirement
Everyone who has not yet retired has at the least thought about retiring and come up with an idea of what it will “look like”. Some people envision spending time with the grandchildren. Some want to travel all over the world. Some are ready to start their own business and do what they’ve “always wanted to do”.
Continue ReadingFourth Quarter Commentary: Goodbye and Good Riddance to the Lost Decade
What is now commonly referred to as the Lost Decade resulted in the worst returns for investors in recorded history. One dollar invested in the S&P 500 on December 31, 1999 would have been worth $0.90 on December 31, 2009. The total return for the S&P 500, including dividends, for the entire decade was -0.95%.
Continue ReadingPaying Back Uncle Sam through Required Minimum Distributions
We knew the day would come when we would have to pay back Uncle Sam for allowing us to save for years in our retirement accounts without paying taxes. We’ve been putting money pre-tax into our 401(k)s and IRAs and now he wants his share.
Continue ReadingCatching Up on Retirement Savings
A recent Gallup Poll survey (April 2009) revealed that for the first time this decade, a majority of non‐retired Americans, 52%, doubt they will have enough money to live comfortably once they retire; only 41% say they will.
Continue ReadingThird Quarter Commentary
As we come to the end of the third quarter of 2009, I want to take a look back to where we have been, suggest where we might be going and assess the much-discussed “New Normal.”
Continue ReadingWildness Lies in Wait
The purpose here is to provide an academic perspective on the credit crisis of 2008. The goal is not another academic opining on the cause of the credit crisis, rather to opine on the role of academic thought on the crisis.
Continue ReadingView the Latest Updates
Video Commentary / Jul 26
Robert discusses the demand for housing. [more]
Economic Review / Jul 26
Construction was started on 549,000 houses in June, which was less than predicted by economists. Builders are cutting back as a… [more]
Equity Review / Jul 26
Strong earnings gave help to the Dow and S&P 500 which closed up for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 10,424.62… [more]
Video Commentary / Jul 20
After six weeks of mixed economic news, some economists are, once again, suggesting the presence of a double-dip recession. [more]
Phone: 256.704.5111 | Toll-Free: 866.730.6944 | Fax: 256.704.5110
Privacy Policy | Disclosures | Business Continuity Plan