Stock Market

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.

Probably the toughest part of covered call writing is finding the right idea.

The stock market has been posting gains the past few days. After two very tough months to start 2009, what could go wrong? Plenty, especially if you are focused on just the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Don't get hung up on the Dow Jones. The Dow Jones may not be a "relevant" yardstick for you to use. After all, it's only 30 stocks…and you might not own ANY of them.

You're probably not aware of this, but in the financial services industry, firms and advisors are strictly prohibited from running testimonials of any sort.

Many companies consider pulling a reverse stock split to avoid getting delisted. But many wind up taking that path eventually anyway. Can you imagine Citibank getting delisted from the New York Stock Exchange?

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.

Did you know General Electric (GE) posted record revenues last quarter?  That has not really helped their stock, has it?   Remember always, price is the ultimate indicator, which is why I rely more and more on charts.  Fundamental analysts and company management can pontificate all day long about market share, earnings and revenues.  If the market doesn't like it, the stock is going down. (…)

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. (…)

The driver behind the whole economy is you, the consumer.
And everywhere you look, the media will remind you that we are "supposed" to be in a depression. (…)

In this podcast, Tom Mullooly discusses several reasons why
Citibank would consider selling Smith Barney, to their competitor, Morgan Stanley. (…)

Steve Forbes wrote an article back in October for his magazine. (…)

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

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

Your mutual fund has a surprise waiting for you. It is not a nice surprise.

Take a walk with me down Memory Lane:
1973: S&P down over 17%  (ouch)
1974: S&P down over 29%. (ouch again)
The bottom for the S&P was reached in October 1974. (…)

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. (…)

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. (…)

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? (…)