By now most people realize that the only reason stock markets have done so well over the past few years is because of the Federal Reserve’s loose monetary policy. Low interest rates have spurred companies to issue massive amounts of debt in order for them to be able to buy back their stock shares. In fact, over the past...
The stock market bull run of the last three years has resulted in the creation of more 401(k) millionaires than ever before. But while it can be tempting to look at your 401(k) balance and think that you’re going to do well in retirement, you can’t forget one important thing: taxes. One of the reasons 401(k) balances grow as large...
It’s no secret that central banks have been large buyers of gold over the past few years. Last year nearly set a record for gold purchases by central banks and the trend looks set to continue this year. But those central banks who already own gold are increasingly looking to hold onto it themselves. They no longer trust that...
One of the keys to the mainstream’s faith in the financial system is the belief that the Federal Reserve is actually capable of managing interest rates. The Fed eases policy to lower interest rates and tightens policy to raise interest rates. But what happens if the Fed loses control of interest rates? What happens if the Fed’s purchases and...
Last Friday saw a stronger than expected headline GDP figure, with economic growth coming in at an annualized rate of 3.2%. That was well above estimates but, as with any other rosy economic data, pulling back the curtain to get a closer look at what’s behind it demonstrates that not all is well with the economy. What many analysts found...
How much money does the US government owe? If you answered $22 trillion, you’re right… but only partially so. The national debt is hovering at around $22 trillion, a staggering figure of itself, and one that exceeds the nation’s entire economic output. But that’s not the full amount the government will have to pay in the future. A recent report...
Stock market bulls in the financial media love to tout high stock prices as proof that the economy is doing well and that good times will continue indefinitely. But while high stock prices (and the amazing volatility of the past year) have benefited many traders on Wall Street, they haven’t benefited investors and retirees. After stocks reached all-time highs last...
If you’ve read Federal Reserve press releases over the past decade, one thing that the Fed constantly drones on about is how low inflation is. The Fed wants to target a 2% annual inflation rate and is always complaining that inflation is running lower than that target. The folks at the Fed act as though rising prices are a...
Read any of the mainstream financial media commentary about gold and you’ll likely hear that gold is a horrendous investment that doesn’t make any gains and doesn’t provide investors with any growth in wealth. But that attitude is most often coming from pundits who made great gains in the ‘80s and ‘90s and haven’t actually taken a good look...