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How Can Investors Benefit from Higher Rates? | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
04/25/2022
With inflation and interest rates rising, are there any silver linings for investors? One DIY US government bond investment you may not have heard about will soon be yielding over 9%. This week, Kent Kramer takes a look at I Bonds, what is happening in markets and the global economy, and what investors may want to know.

Happy New Year? | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
01/25/2022
Market returns for the first three weeks of 2022 have not been full of happy reports. US stocks, especially some of the biggest names and winners of 2020 and 2021 have fallen into what is called “correction” territory. Is inflation and the concern with rising interest rates the whole story?

New Year – Rates are Rising | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
01/10/2022
Welcome to 2022 where the news seem to focus, again, on rising rates –for COVID infections due to Omicron, inflation, and interest rates. The markets seem to be most concerned about interest rates. This week Kent Kramer looks at why that might be the case and what may be in store for interest rates in 2022.

November 8, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
11/08/2021
You know the old saying, “What goes up must come down.” How is it that currently everything seems to be going up at the same time? Signs of inflation like oil prices, labor prices, trade deficits. And yet markets are going up with stocks at all-time highs. Bond prices are rising this week when often, bond prices move inversely to stock prices. Government spending is certainly going up, consumer spending is going up and tax rates seem to be poised to rise as well. What do all these upwards mean for investors?

October 11, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
10/11/2021
Friction can slow can down any machine. What was humming along only minutes or weeks ago, can labor under the strain of too little oil, a little sand in the gears, you name it. The US economy and markets have been seeing an increase in perceived frictions over the past month. Can we get back to smoother operations?

August 24, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
08/24/2021
Is it possible to be too smart? Can a problem or set of circumstances be overanalyzed? Is there such a thing as too much information? There’s some evidence out there that this is indeed possible! Kent Kramer shares our perspective on what’s been happening in and around financial markets recently and what we think successful investors should be thinking about – without overthinking it!

April 12, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
04/12/2021
One of my favorite comedians has always been Steve Martin. One of his funnier routines was “let’s get small.” Lately small company stocks have been outperforming their large company counterparts and it’s hard not to notice. What is a small company and why the outperformance recently?

March 22, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
03/22/2021
Many indicators say the US and global economy are growing at rates faster than expected. Most of this is welcome news given the past 12 months. But is there a danger the economy could overheat? Inflation continues to be on the minds of some, should it be on yours as well?

February 22, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
02/22/2021
Every week it seems there is a new story about which investment, which “trade”, is making amazing money. Each new story brings a sense of urgency, act quickly before it’s too late. You can’t afford to miss out on this one. There are at least 3 important risks investors should pay attention to, some are urgent, some are important, some are both, some are neither.

November 8, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
11/08/2021
You know the old saying, “What goes up must come down.” How is it that currently everything seems to be going up at the same time? Signs of inflation like oil prices, labor prices, trade deficits. And yet markets are going up with stocks at all-time highs. Bond prices are rising this week when often, bond prices move inversely to stock prices. Government spending is certainly going up, consumer spending is going up and tax rates seem to be poised to rise as well. What do all these upwards mean for investors?

October 11, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
10/11/2021
Friction can slow can down any machine. What was humming along only minutes or weeks ago, can labor under the strain of too little oil, a little sand in the gears, you name it. The US economy and markets have been seeing an increase in perceived frictions over the past month. Can we get back to smoother operations?

August 24, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
08/24/2021
Is it possible to be too smart? Can a problem or set of circumstances be overanalyzed? Is there such a thing as too much information? There’s some evidence out there that this is indeed possible! Kent Kramer shares our perspective on what’s been happening in and around financial markets recently and what we think successful investors should be thinking about – without overthinking it!

April 12, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
04/12/2021
One of my favorite comedians has always been Steve Martin. One of his funnier routines was “let’s get small.” Lately small company stocks have been outperforming their large company counterparts and it’s hard not to notice. What is a small company and why the outperformance recently?

March 22, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
03/22/2021
Many indicators say the US and global economy are growing at rates faster than expected. Most of this is welcome news given the past 12 months. But is there a danger the economy could overheat? Inflation continues to be on the minds of some, should it be on yours as well?

February 22, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
02/22/2021
Every week it seems there is a new story about which investment, which “trade”, is making amazing money. Each new story brings a sense of urgency, act quickly before it’s too late. You can’t afford to miss out on this one. There are at least 3 important risks investors should pay attention to, some are urgent, some are important, some are both, some are neither.

January 11, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
01/11/2021
2020 had some very real rollercoaster moments – the question for markets and the economy is whether there is any reason to think they won’t hold up during and after our latest ride?

December 7th, 2020 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
12/07/2020
1:10 - In the News: COVID-19 Surges, Vaccines, and Employment
3:32 – November Market Review
4:14 – Equity Factors
4:41 – Macroeconomic Factors Overview
5:00 – Style Factors Overview
7:07 – Style Factors in the Market

August 21, 2020 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
08/21/2020

0:50 - In the News: August 10th - August 21st
2:46 - What Is “Aseasonality” and Why Can It Lead to Impatience?
4:30 - Historical Disruptions
5:50 - Behavioral Biases: Why Does This Seem So Bad?

June 8, 2020 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
06/08/2020
1:45 - Last Week's News
3:06 - Last Week's Financial Highlights
4:40 - How Will the US Pay for All This New Debt Spending?
7:54 - What Does GDP Mean for the Stock Market?

May 29, 2020 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics
By Kent Kramer
05/29/2020
0:55 - This Week's News
2:39 - This Week's Financial Highlights
4:36 - Why Is the Stock Market Up When the Economy Is Down?
5:12 - Stock Prices Are Forward Looking
8:06 - Average Returns After Downturns Have Been Positive