What’s Going On With The US Dollar? | Financial Perspectives

A quick Google search on “US dollar collapse” yields 183 million results. Obviously, there has been plenty to create a stir. This week, Kent Kramer and Michael Westphal have a conversation around what is, or isn't, going on with the US dollar.

Chart of the Month – July 2023

The latest consumer price index report has brought some positive news regarding inflation in the United States. Several factors played a role in the moderation of inflation.

Chart of the Month – June 2023

This year’s stock market narrative is a tale of two markets. On one side, a handful of prominent technology companies is flourishing while on the other side, everything else is struggling to keep up. Here we will assess the data.

Media Drama: Facts or Fiction?

The dramatic nature and slant that the media add to their stories to get us interested in reading the page. Do a quick self-check to see through the production and into the facts.

Media Drama: Facts or Fiction?

The dramatic nature and slant that the media add to their stories to get us interested in reading the page. Do a quick self-check to see through the production and into the facts.

ChatGPT & The Big 8 | Financial Perspectives

With the biggest tech companies regaining stock market leadership, it’s understandable why investors and the media are attracted to these stocks. However, it’s tempting to forget how these same companies’ stock prices performed in 2022. This week, Kent Kramer shares some investment lessons to be learned from this AI/big tech story.

Debt Ceiling Politics & Markets | Financial Perspectives

Politics are always in the news. Right now, we're hearing a lot about the debt ceiling and the need to increase the US debt ceiling so the government can pay their bills ... or maybe not. This week, Kent Kramer provides an overview of debt ceiling history and what we are seeing today.

Chart of the Month – May 2023

In investing, a key consideration is the time horizon. There is a general perception that investing is a risky proposition, but this risk can be mitigated by holding investments for longer periods. 

Is Fear the Only Thing to Fear? | Financial Perspectives

Fear can grab us and demand a response, such that fear itself can become the real danger. This week, Kent Kramer explores how fear and bad news can impact investing and some simple steps you could consider to avoid emotional investing.

Chart of the Month – Apr 2023

"Why would anyone buy a 5-year bond at 3.5% when you could get a 1-year bond at 4%?"

"Why don't I put all my money in a 4-month T-bill and make 4.9%?"

Investments Are Long-Term; Brackets Are Short-Term.

As the NCAA tournament wraps up, many sports fans are reflecting on their brackets, winning their office pools, and bragging rights with friends. Similarly, others focus on their investments and trying to predict which stocks will perform the best. We may think of these as two separate worlds, but there are numerous similarities between the two.