The best money managers ten years from now are paying their dues today. Historically, it is hard to find a more difficult time to be…
JUST NOT MEANT TO BE
If you are a sports fan, you know that some teams are said to have other team’s “numbers”. Regardless of talent level, one team just…
Warm Place, No Memory
If I am ever channel surfing, I can never surf past The Shawshank Redemption. My favorite part is when Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), tells Red…
The Way Glenn Miller Played
In All in the Family, Archie Bunker lived at 704 Howser Street in Queens. Archie had a simple life: Schlitz, Work and his Chair. He…
Take Gains, Minimize Losses
This is a very, very dangerous market. The Federal Reserve announced additional measures they will take to make sure the markets can function. The market…
BLOOMBERG NEEDS TO RIDE THE BULL
Someone please give Mike Bloomberg one of the taller cans of Red Bull on his way to the Democratic debate tonight. Of all the people…
To Hold Or Not to Hold….
To Hold or not to hold through earnings, that is the question. What to do? What to do? Let’s take, for example, Roku (ROKU:NASDAQ). Roku…
Cheggin Along….
Chegg, Inc (CHGG:NYSE) was founded in 2003 and operates a direct to student learning platform. They offer solutions to allow students to pass tests, pass…
24
I never liked Kobe Bryant. I thought that he was arrogant and aloof, a product of his privileged upbringing. I don’t think that he was…
Bed Bath and Beyond
The stock market loves its retail store darlings. Five Below (FIVE:NASDAQ), Target (TGT:Nasdaq), Lululemon (LULU:Nasdaq) all have experienced meteoric rises in the their stock prices…
New Tax Form For Senior Citizens
The new tax reporting system was billed as “so easy it can be done on one page”. They conveniently left out the fact that there…
Netflix, Streaming Peacocks and Competition
For the longest time now, it has been a choice between Netflix (NFLX:NASDAQ) and Amazon’s Prime Video (AMZN:NASDAQ) . It hadn’t been much of a…
Netflix Monetization
During their quarterly earnings release yesterday, Netflix (NFLX:NASDAQ) disappointed the investment community by adding 2.7 million paid subscribers. The analyst community was looking for $5…
Managing Money In The Age Of Trump
I wonder what it would be like to pick stocks based on their fundamental book value as opposed to the current era where “momentum sources”…
History Rhymes
In the Republic, Plato poses the query, “Who is to guard the guards themselves?”. In other words, what happens to power that goes unchecked? I’m…
Market Up On Interpreted News
The stock market is in the process of ending the recent rout with a four hundred point gain in the Dow as of the writing…
Plant Burgers, anyone?
One of the more interesting initial public offerings lately has been that of Beyond Meat (BYND). The company’s stated mission is to be the “Future…
Same-Store Sales Blues
It’s always a little bit of a crapshoot when a company that relies on same-store sales as a metric reports their results. Same-store sales is…
Cross-Selling in Financial Services
Cross selling has gotten a lot of print in the last few years. Unfortunately, when it comes to financial services, things that get the most…
Bogle With A Twist
Jack Bogle, the founder of the Vanguard Group, passed away yesterday at the age of 89. He was the visionary behind index investing and low…
DAVE & BUSTERS, WINGS, QUESTIONS.
Dave and Busters (PLAY:NASDAQ) is an American restaurant and entertainment business headquartered in Texas. They have 120 stores nationwide and plan to add more. The…
For Preservation and Income
I recently read an article from 1968 which sought opinions on how a new widow should invest $100,000 that she received as life insurance from…
Contrary to the Investor
Wall Street is a world of statistics. One of my criticisms of all the number crunching has always been that there is no way to…
Financial Advisor IQ – Morgan Stanley Loses Little Legal Battle with Potentially Big Consequences
Financial Advisor IQ – Morgan Stanley Loses Little Legal Battle with Potentially Big Consequences — Read on financialadvisoriq.com/c/2093153/247633/morgan_stanley_loses_little_legal_battle_with_potentially_consequences
CHEESE PUFFS, AY?
Last week, The Hershey Company (HSY) inked a deal to buy Pirate Brands from B&G Foods (BGS) for a cool $420 mil. One of the…
I REMEMBER KAREN
Karen and her husband, Abe, were clients of mine, once upon a time. They were among the best people that I’ve ever met in my…
FINANCES & DIVORCE
Divorce is rarely, if ever, a positive thing. It can have silver linings, of course, but it’s the end of something that started out, usually,…
ENOUGH TESLA, ALREADY.
I’ve been in this business for twenty years and I don’t know that I’ve seen a more polarizing stock than Tesla (TSLA:NASDAQ). It is your…
McDonald’s: It Is “A Changing”!
When I was a little boy, my mom would take me shopping on Kensington Avenue in Philadelphia. That was a time when you could actually…
Buying Amazon Ahead of Earnings???
There are certain stocks that should never be bought ahead of earnings reports. It comes back to the tenet of never buying anything that you…
Don’t Worry. Well, Worry but don’t worry!
Everyone has problems. Problems are relative. What seems a big deal to one may be old territory for another. As Elton John so aptly stated,…
GE is not a Dow stock anymore. Who cares?
General Electric (GE:NYSE) was an original member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average when it began in 1896. Today, they will be replaced by Walgreens…
Fat Premium of the Day
Abiomed (ABMD:NASDAQ) is a leading provider of medical devices that provide circulatory support. The stock has been on a tear lately, eclipsing $430/share. The 7/20/18…
It’s A Question of Risk
Most, if not all, individual investors don’t understand the concept of risk. No one is interested in the efficient frontier. Risk is often only contemplated…
LOOK OUT FIVE BELOW (FIVE)
Five Below (FIVE:NASDAQ) is a Philadelphia, PA based retailer with 600 stores in 32 states. They describe themselves on their website as “a…
Trump is Proof
Historically, it’s been thought that markets hate uncertainty. It’s proven to be the case for hundreds of years…until now. With the current administration in the…
Exclusive: ‘Where can I buy?’ – Google makes push to turn product searches into cash
Alphabet Inc’s Google routinely fields product queries from millions of shoppers. Now it wants to take a cut of their purchases, too. — Read on…
Exclusive: ‘Where can I buy?’ – Google makes push to turn product searches into cashRead More
Facebook failing, Zuckerberg and Sandberg absent: commentary
Facebook’s reaction to Cambridge Analytica flap shows a company that has lost control of its platform and message. Meanwhile, top execs are selling billions worth…
Facebook failing, Zuckerberg and Sandberg absent: commentaryRead More
Nixon’s Chandelier
I’ve been reading Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive, by Harvey Mackay. The book deals quite a bit with negotiation and perception of…
Maslow &The Meal Delivery Business
When Maslow created his Hierarchy of Needs, he cited Physiological, Safety, Belongingness, Esteem and Self Actualization needs. He left out convenience. These days, most people…
Under Armour Going Under Water?
Under Armour (UA:NYSE) is engaged in the development, marketing and distribution of branded performance apparel, footwear and accessories for men,women and youth. The company is…
Something Cooking at Zoes?
If you read enough about successful investors, very few of them have madetheir fortunes by investing in things that they don’t understand. Peter Lynch was…
WalMart’s Pioneering Ways
WalMart (NYSE:WMT) has probably been the most innovative retail company in the history of industry. Granted, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) has changed the way we view the…
What’s up with General Electric and IBM?
There was a time when IBM (IBM:NYSE) and General Electric ( GE: NYSE) were the class of the stock market. Well, IBM just delivered its…
So Many Questions
The greatest spectator sport in the world is no longer professional ice hockey or the Harlem Globetrotters, it is the United States of America. Nothing…
Pizza Hut Delivering Hot Pizzas Now
I am not an investor in Pizza Hut (YUM:NYSE) but, if I were i’d be a bit skeptical about this one. Domino’s (DPZ:NYSE) has risen…
The Challenge of “Last Mile” Delivery
One of the latest buzzwords I’ve been hearing is the concept of “last mile delivery”. The term was originally used in the Telecommunications field but…
THE MARKET MAKER’S WIT 10/1/2017
WIT = What I Think “I don’t know what new challenge tomorrow will bring. But I do know that I will persevere. I know that…
Baseball Players and Billionaires
Wes Chamberlain was an outfielder on the Phillies 1993 National League Championship Team. He was once asked how much he thought a trash collector made.…
The Death Tax and Basis
Much has been made about the repeal of the Estate tax, commonly called the death tax. Currently, an individual can pass $5.49 million to their…
The Trump Difference
President Trump revealed the framework for the long awaited tax overhaul yesterday. The presentation was ripe with enthusiasm but somewhat short on details. Trump…
I’m thinking about Victoria’s Secret….
L Brands (LB:NYSE) is the parent company that owns Victoria’s Secret, Bath and Body Works and the PINK line of clothing. The company currently sports…
It’s an EV-olution not a REV-olution.
Apple (AAPL:NASDAQ) has been selling off ever since they released their new product line. Apple stock has always been one that exemplified the dynamic of…
Why Investors Hold Stocks For Too Long.
A concentrated position is when an abnormally high percentage of your portfolio is in one stock. While some argue that a concentrated position is…
Truman, Trump, North Korea and Russia
On June 25, 1950, the Korean War began when elite North Korean troops crossed the border into South Korea with the intention of conquering the…
I REMEMBER LARRY
Larry was a client of mine. He didn’t have a lot of money. He didn’t have any financial knowledge. An oft unemployed painter, he somehow…
The First Credit Default Swap
If you own an asset that has the potential for loss or the potential to do damage to another’s property, you are wise, and often…
Of course he thinks it’s impossible. North Korean missiles are being made with Russian parts.
Putin: North Korea crisis could be ‘impossible’ to solve http://www.wmur.com/article/putin-north-korea-crisis-could-be-impossible-to-solve/12182521
Corporate Words Wednesday – 8/30/17
I heard this gem earlier in the week: “We need to be hyper-collaborative rather than hyper-competitive”
THE MARKET MAKER’S WIT – 8/29/2017
WIT – “What I Think” I think that life is short. No, actually, I know that life is short, as I’m certain that I was…
Walmart and Google meet Netflix???.
Earlier in the week we had Google (GOOGL) and Walmart (WMT) getting together to begin a partnership that could rival Amazon (AMZN) , someday. Amazon,…
Why the Google-Walmart Collaboration Matters
Reference: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/08/23/technology/google-walmart-e-commerce-partnership.amp.html https://privatewealthpa.com/2017/08/14/why-is-amazon-so-dominant/ A few days ago, I wrote about the fact that what makes Amazon so difficult to compete with is that you aren’t…
Corporate Words Wednesday – 8/23/17
”Resting and Vesting” Much has been made in the last few years about employee engagement. Companies want to know if their employees are truly committed…
What Now for Netflix?
There was once a nationwide chain of video rental stores that dominated the industry so completely that they couldn’t see time passing them by. They…
Be Careful With The Buybacks
One of the more popular conversations lately has been that of companies buying back their own common stock and whether or not that is an…
Shifting Sentiment Toward Amazon?
I’ve heard many times over the past few weeks that people are getting tired of dealing with the “boxes”. The “boxes” they speak of refer,…
Direct to Consumer Impact on Dick’s (DKS)
The middleman’s days were numbered when the first ever purchase was completed on the Internet. As competitive pressures in retail continue to erode vendor margins,…
The Markets Hate Uncertainty….Huh?
It’s been a tag line since caveman times that “ The markets hate uncertainty”. It all goes back to behavioral finance but I think a…
THE MARKET MAKER’S WIT – 8/15/2017
WIT = What I Think “Victory doesn’t come from never losing. It’s comes from defeating everything that has ever defeated you. Defeat doubt. Defeat fear.…
Where To Go For Real News?
Once upon a time, I was at an investment seminar for clients that were interested in Dividend Growth strategies. I had a moment to speak…
Why Is Amazon So Dominant?
Amazon (AMZN) doesn’t have any true competition. Think about it. What other company sells pretty much everything? None. Walmart obviously comes to mind but do…
The Opiod Crisis and Economics
“Once you’ve had a taste of heaven, nothing on Earth can touch it.” Redd…
June 25, 1950
The financial markets crash when investors are scared out of the market. People become scared of things that they don’t understand and can’t comprehend.…
Can Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) stay relevant?
I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Dick’s Sporting Goods(DKS) over the past few months as I’ve coached some teams and played on others.…
Peter Lynch on Micro Management
“When you have to concern yourself with what the person behind you thinks about your work, it seems to be that you cease…
Still One Up on Wall Street
I recently read “Beating the Street” by Peter Lynch. Peter was one of the most well know fund managers of his time when…
In today’s market action, there is Trump and Amazon!!!!
The rally in stocks over the past few years has been relatively narrow as a small basket of stocks have carried the indexes higher. Each…
In today’s market action, there is Trump and Amazon!!!!Read More
THE MARKET MAKERS WIT – 7/16/17
WIT = “What I Think” “ Dont hate me because I am better than you. Appreciate me because I have challenged you.”
Trading on Earnings Surprises
Companies typically report their earnings after the end of every quarter. A positive “earnings surprise” means that the company has reported better numbers than the…
The Warren Buffet Way
The first book that I ever read on investing was “The Warren Buffet Way” by Robert Hagstrom. This was shortly after I stumbled upon…
Why Brokers Leave Their Companies
My dad was in the financial services business for thirty six years. He got out of the Air Force when he was twenty…
Navigating The Earnings Announcement
Most companies report their earnings on a quarterly basis. The earnings announcement is the official statement of a company’s profitability. There is usually much anticipation…
Matched Sales and Tape Painting
The stock market crash of 1929 was fueled by many things, two of them were the practice of Matched Sales…
Nike Selling Direct Through Amazon. What Would Teddy Roosevelt think?
Nike (NKE:NYSE) has announced that they are selling direct to consumers through Amazon(AMZN:NASDAQ). When I first heard the rumors about this, I had to wonder…
Nike Selling Direct Through Amazon. What Would Teddy Roosevelt think?Read More
Practical Advice From 116 Years Ago
An excerpt from the New York Times on September 10, 1901, two days after President McKinley was shot: …..”In view of these conclusions there is…
Required Minimum Distributions
Most people have either a 401k or other company plan through their employer or maintain a Traditional IRA to save for retirement. More…
Theodore Roosevelt and Donald Trump
In studying the historical return of the stock market, there are few things more influential than the presidential administration in office at the time and…
THE MARKET MAKER’S WIT – 6/23/2017
WIT = “What I Think” ” When everyone is laughing at me, and no one believes in what I endeavor to do, that’s when I…
Maybe Amazon should call Walgreens?
Amazon (AMZN) has shown an interest in the pharmacy business. What else is new? Walgreens (WBA) announced an agreement to buy Rite Aid (RAD) nearly…
Amazon’s Grocery Store Plans
Today, Amazon (AMZN) announced that they will be acquiring Whole Foods Markets (WFM) for approximately $14 billion or $42 per share. Amazon has been in…
How Soon We Forget Who We Hate
Behavioral finance has become a popular topic among financial advisors over the past decade or so. It is essentially the psychology behind investing decisions. Emotions…
CORPORATE WORDS WEDNESDAY – 5/31/17
It seems as though every idiot in middle management has some type of subconscious desire to be a sports coach. Among the more interesting corporate…
THE MARKET MAKER’S WIT – 5/31/17
“WIT” = “WHAT I THINK” It doesn’t get any more genuine than this quote: “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so…
A Lesson From The Brady Bunch
Anyone recognize the jerk pictured above? He played a character named “Mark Millard” on an episode of the Brady Bunch that I stumbled…
In Search of the Next Multiplier Stock
On Wall Street, people often refer to a company’s multiplier. It is simply the stock price divided by the earnings per share. Some…
Are Financial Plans Worth Doing?
Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow Hold fast to dreams For when dreams die Life…
CORPORATE WORDS WEDNESDAY – 5/24/2017
I used to have to attend these regional training sessions from time to time. Inevitably, some dingbat higher up the food chain in the company…
I REMEMBER JOE
May, 2001 – I had just gotten back from training in the World Trade Center. I was a rookie with Morgan Stanley Dean…
Further Down The Happy Meal Trail
I wrote earlier here about the McDonald’s (MCD:NYSE) and their vision of the future. One of their core principles was that of offering delivery. I think…
CORPORATE WORDS WEDNESDAY – 5/17/17
Jack Welch is on CNBC talking about “Net Promoter Scores”. We all get these surveys from time to time from pretty much every store or…
The Best Investments Have This…..
One of my fondest memories of childhood is the day that my mom took me to Pizza Hut and bought me two wrestling figures…
THE MARKET MAKER’S “WIT”- 5/11/17
“WIT” = “WHAT I THINK” The value of one’s integrity is incalculable. At the end of our days, we will all have a legacy. It…
A Little Tech M&A Activity Anyone?
We are seeing the NASDAQ make new highs day after day even when the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down. Is there really that much opportunity…
CORPORATE WORDS WEDNESDAY – 5/10/17
Every organization has numbers that they need to meet. Some refer to them as goals. Others refer to them as objectives or targets. One guy referred…
Mc’Donalds Vision of the Future
I have four young boys that love Happy Meals. For that reason, I’ve become quite familiar with the McDonald’s (MCD:NYSE) service model. According to the…
CORPORATE WORDS WEDNESDAY 4/26/17
I hope that, one day, there is a law passed to eliminate the use of corporate jargon given the impact on the environment. It is…
THE AFTER HOURS TRADING CIRCUS
The normal trading day on Wall Street goes from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. There is , however, extended hours trading, which includes pre market…
BACK DOOR ROTH CONVERSION GONE WRONG
There are many different accounts available to save money for retirement : 401k, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Custodial IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA and more.…
What Madoff Did – Part 3 – Conclusion
A Ponzi scheme comes to an end when there is not enough money coming in to pay back the people that are taking their money…
What Madoff Did -Part 2
An apple rots from the core. Eventually, the whole apple is bad. And so it was with Bernie Madoff, hereafter appropriately referred to as “BM”.…
Corporate Words Wednesday 4/5/17
“Boil The Ocean” I only heard this once on a conference call. I actually like it but I’m still going to poke fun at it.…
What Madoff Did – Part 1
If the people from Enron are considered “The smartest guys in the room”, then Bernie Madoff is definitely the “The biggest pig in the pen”. Maybe…
Reverse Mortgages
RESOURCE: NRMLA CONSUMER GUIDE I’ve seen this same commercial many, many times for reverse mortgages and it features none other than Arthur Fonzarelli aka The…
The Wash Sale Rule – Part 2
Related Post The Wash Sale Rule – Part 1 Ok ,so we know that there is a 61 day period of time that we need…
Corporate Words Wednesday
There a very few things I dislike more than a little corporate lingo. When people would talk about “crystallizing” and ” getting granular”, I sometimes…
Why the bank teller bothers you (and me)
These days, I like where I am at in my career. I feel like the work that I do matters and that I am actually…
CAPITAL LOSS CARRY FORWARD EXPLAINED
Almost everything you own and use for personal and investment purposes is considered a capital asset. Examples include a home, personal use items such as…
The Wash Sale Rule – Part 1
Know the 61 day window and “substantially identical” investments. The “Wash Sale ” rule refers to the IRS regulation that disallows a loss on…
Location, Location for Restaurant Stocks
Dine Equity (DIN: NYSE) is a restaurant company that owns Applebee’s and IHOP. The stock is off about forty five percent over the last year…
BELIEVE THE HYPE?
I’ve been a 76ers, Eagles and Phillies fan for a long time. There haven’t been many good years in there. One World Series title, one NBA…
Book Review: “Unshakeable” by Anthony Robbins
Unshakeable on Amazon I’ve been a fan on Tony Robbins for as long as I can remember. I remember well his late night infomercials hosted…
LARGE CAP, MID CAP, SMALL CAP DEFINED
“Millie has her portfolio concentrated in Large Caps.” “Johnny down at the race track has all of his money in small caps.” “My advisor recommended…
DOMINO’S PIZZA VISIT
I like to buy stocks whose products I am familiar with. Its an easy way to gauge the staying power of the company. Also, if…
Book Review: The Greatest Trade Ever
The Behind the Scenes Story of How John Paulson Defied Wall Street and Made Financial History I’ve read several books lately about the people that…
How To Superfund A 529 College Savings Plan
What Is “Superfunding” a 529 Account? Named after Section 529 of the Internal Revenue code, 529 plans are tax-advantaged savings accounts, operated by both…
Sympathy Trade Today
When someone we know experiences a setback or a loss, its normal for us to feel a little down , as well. We express sympathy…
Understanding Educational Savings Choices
College $?$?$ — When, How, and How Much? Understanding Education Investment Accounts Keeping your investments on track to match the cost of a college education…
One Question On Your Financial Advisor
Financial Advisor. Financial Consultant. Wealth Advisor. Wealth Manager. Financial Counselor. These are all monikers that we see on business cards of people claiming to have…
The Straight Scoop
This is a short story about continuity and change, about a defining moment. It’s a true story. It takes place in the investment world.…
Why Traders Buy Call Options
This article should not be construed as investment advice. It is a hypothetical illustration of why someone would buy a call option as opposed to…
Are Your Investments Robbing You?
Are Your Investments Robbing You? by Dan Picinich Life is expensive. Your dollars are your dollars. Make them count. Thoughtful, targeted investment guidance is…
How the Gift Tax Works
How the Gift Tax Works The skinny: If someone gives you a gift, you will not pay taxes on it. You can give away up…
Will the state take your client’s IRA? It can
http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20160916/FREE/160919947/will-the-state-take-your-clients-ira-it-can
This Is the Quietest Stock Market in Decades
http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2016/08/30/this-is-the-quietest-stock-market-in-decades/
Private Prison Stocks on Death Row – August 19, 2016 – Zacks.com
https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/228747/private-prison-stocks-on-death-row
Private Prison Stocks on Death Row – August 19, 2016 – Zacks.comRead More
Planning for a Special Needs Child
From Kiplinger Personal Finance FAMILY FINANCES Making a Plan for a Special-Needs Child A patchwork of benefits and programs can help relieve the crushing costs,…
SunAmerica fund picks just 30 stocks once a year and clobbers the competition
http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20160708/FREE/160709956/sunamerica-fund-picks-just-30-stocks-once-a-year-and-clobbers-the
SunAmerica fund picks just 30 stocks once a year and clobbers the competitionRead More
Stalking Stocks
http://realmoney.thestreet.com/articles/07/10/2016/benefits-being-stock-stalker?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RMY&utm_term=The+Benefits+of+Being+a+Stock+Stalker The Benefits of Being a Stock Stalker By JAMES “REV SHARK” DEPORRE Following | JUL 10, 2016 | 10:00 AM EDT | COMMENTS Stock…
Stocks selling off after historic Brexit vote
The market had incorrectly priced in a “Remain” victory in the UK. Futures indicate a give back of the prior few days of gains.
Cramer: Like Tesla and Musk’s Vision? Be a Customer, Not a Shareholder
http://realmoneypro.thestreet.com/articles/06/22/2016/cramer-tesla-and-musks-vision-be-customer-not-shareholder?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RMYP&utm_term=Cramer%3A+Like+Tesla+and+Musk%27s+Vision%3F+Be+a+Customer%2C+Not+a+Shareholder
Cramer: Like Tesla and Musk’s Vision? Be a Customer, Not a ShareholderRead More
