The Rules of the Investing Game Have Been Replaced

I spent last week with family, vacationing at a Minnesota lake my parents first took me to in the sixth grade. I immediately fell in love with the fishing and the beautiful outdoors.  I would go there five more times with my parents, and once my career settled in, I started visiting again. And now…

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Is a Bear Market Rally on the Horizon?

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve raised its short-term interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point. It’s the largest hike since 1994.  Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other board members seem determined to reach their 2% inflation target and are concerned about falling behind in their fight against inflation. Perhaps Captain Obvious needs to…

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Bear Markets Are Nothing to Fear

This year’s stock market has been unlike many have seen in their lifetimes.  Dramatic declines have been followed by powerful rallies… but at the end of the day, the net trend of the market has been lower.     At its recent low, the S&P 500 is down 18% from the beginning of the year.    This has…

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They Want You to Lose – I Want You to Win

It’s Chris here with a very important message… While it may appear that demand is finally in control at the moment… it’s almost guaranteed to be temporary.  It’s incredibly important that you don’t lose sight of the fact that it leads to the setup of the greatest, easiest, most obvious Bearish trades this summer.  People…

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To Survive This Market You Need to Stack Your Returns

No question about it, this has been a challenging year for investors.   Most asset classes continue to post negative returns.  Between April and May, investors saw the S&P 500 post seven consecutive weekly declines before staging a rally last week.    Noticeably missing is the customary positive returns that bonds often provide during periods of stock…

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Are You Recession-Ready?

Are we headed for a recession? The growing evidence that suggests the answer to this question is, unfortunately, yes.    U.S. GDP fell at a 1.4% annual rate in the first quarter – another quarter of negative growth would officially mark a recession. Those who think a recession can be avoided are of the groupthink that…

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We Are Facing a Period of Incredible Change

As we’ve outlined previously, we’re in a period of incredible change.   Disinflation has been replaced with inflation. Interest rates are now rising, ceasing a 40-year trend in falling rates. The Fed is now removing liquidity from the economy which could push us over the edge into a recession.  These shifts are significant and will continue…

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The Most Important Story in Finance No One Is Talking About

The most profound seismic shift in the global monetary bedrock in decades is happening right now, right before our very eyes… and no one seems to notice or care.  But eventually, they’ll have to.   As I’ve been warning investors, we are rapidly shifting into a new regime. Inflation is forcing the Fed’s policy hand in…

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How to Know Your Investment Outcome in Advance

Growing up, I loved to watch and play baseball and I was an avid baseball card collector, but it wasn’t until I was in my teens that I recognized the importance of all of those statistics kept for each player.   Being numbers-oriented as I am and a baseball enthusiast, it was only natural I would…

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This Market Calls for Defense & Caution

Here’s what sector performance looks like right now: Consumer Discretionaries (XLY) is down -13.2%.  Technology (XLK) is down -16.32%. Communications Services (XLC) is off by -19.78% year-to-date… And it’s still only April! Think about this for a minute…  These three sectors XLY, XLK, and XLC account for two-thirds of the market cap of the S&P…

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