Stephen Miran, Donald Trump’s recent addition to the Fed, joined the Federal Reserve the day before the last meeting. At that meeting, he was the only dissenting vote, supporting a 50-basis-point rate cut. All other members voted for a 25-basis-point cut. Additionally, Miran is likely the FOMC participant who thinks the Fed Funds rate should […]
In the world of technical analysis, there is one reliable indicator for measuring market risk. The relative strength index (RSI) measures overextension (in either direction). Developed by J. Welles Wilder in 1978, the RSI is a momentum oscillator. As such, it measures the velocity and magnitude of price changes, plotting those on a scale from 0 […]
Some Wall Street pundits believe that the recent Fed rate cut makes its policy too accommodative, and they also argue that the Fed is creating a “Goldilocks” scenario for the stock market. To wit, we recently saw the following comment and graph on X, which suggests we are in the “Goldilocks zone.” “Market is […]
Just recently, Scott Rubner of Citadel Securities wrote an excellent piece discussing the bull versus the bear case for the markets. You look at the markets today and see a tension between expectation and reality. On one hand, equities—especially tech and growth—are pushing to fresh highs. Optimism about rate cuts, AI and productivity gains, global […]
Investing is about choices. Every investor faces the same challenge: how to grow wealth while controlling risk. Over the years, distinct approaches have proven effective, though none guarantee success. Some strategies require patience. Others demand discipline in timing and execution. A few provide stability and income. There is no right or wrong way to invest, […]
Diversification has been the backbone of “buy and hold” strategies for the last few decades. It was a boon to financial advisors who couldn’t actively manage portfolios, and it created a massive Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) industry that allowed for even further simplification of investing. The message was basic: “Buy a basket of assets, dollar cost […]
Some pundits warn that, given extremely high stock valuations, one should sell everything. Yet, despite having the same information, other pundits show little concern and believe the bull market has further to run. The stark contradiction of opinions in today’s market leaves many investors understandably confused and anxious about what to do. Based on valuations, […]
Alfonoso Peccatiello recently wrote an interesting piece on portfolio risk management, starting with a quote from Steve Cohen: ‘’I compile statistics on my traders. My best trader makes money only 63 percent of the time. Most traders make money only in the 50 to 55 percent range. That means you’re going to be wrong a […]
Tax planning is often viewed through the narrow lens of annual deductions and April deadlines. But for high-income earners and business owners, advanced tax planning strategies can be one of the most powerful tools for building and preserving long-term wealth. Strategic, forward-looking tax planning isn’t just about minimizing what you owe today. Instead, it’s about […]