lose money

Fundamental analysis will never tell you when to get out of an investment. Never.

I look at the charts in your 401k plan continuously. If none of the charts are going up, here is our plan: we stay on the sidelines. Pretty simple.

Someone is actually holding Jim Cramer responsible for some of the advice he has given, and also for the fact that CNBC has "morphed" into an entertainment channel.

I received a phone call this afternoon from someone who found my firm online.  The gentlemen has received no guidance regarding his 401k at work.  Last July, he had $286,000 in his plan. (…)

Is the SIPC responsible for helping Madoff clients? (…)

The federal, state and local governments are co–losers with Madoff investors. (…)

Former NASDAQ chairman Bernard Madoff disclosed this week that the investment advisory firm he has run (aside from his market making business) was, in fact a fraud.  It's unknown exactly how much money has been lost, but it appears to be somewhere between $17 billion and $50 billion. (…)

I don't know which side of the argument you fall on…bailout the automakers, or let them fail.  But a very compelling, and well-written editorial was submitted to the New York Times by Mitt Romney.  The question has been asked the last few days, "if the airlines can slink in and out of bankruptcy…why not the automakers?"  In fact, the NYC subway system originally ran as independent lines, until the magic word forced them all together into one wonderful rat hole: money. (…)

Don't worry about "why" your investment is falling.
Focus on "what" instead.  What is happening now. (…)

Like crossing the equator on a ship — should buy and hold investors get some kind of recognition (or have some celebration) for crossing the line?  The S&P 500 crossed 1100 in 1998 (twice), 2001 (3X!), 2002, 2004 and 2008.  Look, when I drive around the same block twice, even I ask for directions!  Oh, and today the S&P 500 is at 940.  Ready for 9 passes in ten years? (…)

Quick history lesson: Mark-to-the-Market was a practice originally begun by futures and commodity traders in the 19th century.  Essentially, mark-to-the-market means your holdings must be "priced" every night…at the price they can be sold at. (…)

A client called me today, curious about buying shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  He said, "I'm sitting at home, watching the stock market channel and I'm amazed.  I am seeing all of the shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac changing hands.  The stock prices are so cheap.  But, Tom, I thought these two companies were gone?  Can I still buy them — and maybe make a few bucks on them? (…)

That was the headline I found over at CBS Marketwatch.  As usual, the news media is whipping (anyone who will read) into a frenzy about Lehman Brothers.  More news may be forthcoming about Lehman — between the time I finish writing this and the time you read this. (…)

Pretty sad story reported recently…but sad, as in pathetic. (…)

Recently, oil and commodities dropped 20 to 25% in four very fast weeks, catching nearly everyone off guard. But as fast as the drop took place, we start to see signs of a reversal back up. (…)

In one of my most recent posts I discussed the "ready to explode" product issued by brokerage firms called "auction rate preferred securities."
Well, that didn't take long. (…)

Exxon reported nearly $12 billion in profits for the previous quarter recently. $12 billion! More net profits in one quarter, than ever recorded in the history of mankind.
And what did the stock do? (…)

Sometimes, trying to get your arms around a gigantic number (for example, the area of earth covered by land) just takes time. (…)

The line heard in every economic recession, and every single stock market pullback is: this time it's different. (…)