2024

A news cycle is traditionally defined as the period between when you get the latest information and what your reaction is to that information. When I started my career, the news cycle was daily. The information you needed was delivered…

In 1852, Scottish journalist Charles Mackay wrote Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds. In his book, Mackay chronicled financial manias through history, including the 17th-century Dutch Tulip Mania bubble. He showed the consistency of human behavior when it comes…

Bad habits can sometimes be hard to break. One bad habit in investment analysis is using cost basis to judge performance. The point of this note is to explain why it is a bad idea and a habit in need…

I’ve just returned from an enriching two-week journey to Japan alongside my son, and my mind is brimming with newfound perspectives gleaned from immersing ourselves in another culture and world. Our expedition began in Hiroshima, where we were profoundly moved…

Clear thinking is a necessary component of successful investing, but some fallacies can be difficult to detect. Here is a common example. A recent segment on CNBC titled “What Happens if $6T in Cash on the Sidelines Comes Into the…

This past weekend, the eyes of most Americans (and many people across the world) were fixed on Las Vegas. The self-styled ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’ hosted what is arguably the largest single sporting event of the year: the Super…

The new year brings tax and retirement changes. Here is a summary of the most relevant and a look forward to the very important changes that are ‘on the books’ to take effect in 2026. 2024 Changes Income Tax Newly…

1/29/2024 Snake oil was a thing. More specifically, “Stanley’s snake oil” was offered by the Rattlesnake King, Clark Stanley. I suspect Stanley’s customers knew the oil would not work but were sucked in by false hope, and the sales pitch.…

1/22/2024 This month, the SEC approved 11 new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) created to track the performance of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. The approval process took over a decade. Cryptocurrency has long been known for its volatility and highly technical nature, which…

1/16/2024 In late 2017, when the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act became law, the use of the acronym “SALT” became common. Standing for State and Local Tax, the topic of SALT draws fierce reactions from residents of states with high…