In Plus episode 484, we answer a member's question on whether it is better to invest in larger ETFs and with larger ETF families. We also review quantitative easing and quantitative tightening. We look at how the per capita increase in the money supply due to QE led to a big jump in inflation and asset prices, including for houses and stocks. We also look at the per capita increase in the national debt. … [Read more...]
449 Plus: Retaining an Investment Advisor, Money Market Funds, Repos, and a QT Update
In Plus episode 449, we answer a member's question about retaining an investment advisor. We compare bank-offered money market accounts and money market mutual funds. We review what repurchase agreements are and discuss at what point the Federal Reserve will need to stop allowing its bond holdings to mature as part of quantitative easing. … [Read more...]
388: Will Quantitative Tightening Lead To Even Greater Financial Losses?
How financial markets and the economy performed last time the Federal Reserve took away the punch bowl by raising its policy rate and pursuing quantitative tightening. Things worked out fine that time. Will it be different this time? Topics covered include: Where did the phrase take away the punch bowl come fromHow central bank actions can slow the economy and lower inflation.The difference between having cash and having wealthHow quantitative easing and quantitative tightening … [Read more...]
383: How to Be a Successful Contrarian Investor
How contrarians combine value and momentum to take positions opposite what the consensus believes. What is the consensus view in today's financial markets and how are contrarians positioned. Topics covered include: Five attributes of successful investorsWhy does the consensus expect stagflationHow central banks have performed in previous tightening cyclesThree reasons central banks tightening results in a recessionWhen have interest rates peaked in prior tightening cyclesHow stocks … [Read more...]
382 Plus: How High Will Interest Rates Go, A New Portfolio Holding, and Setting Limit Prices
In Plus Episode 382, we review previous Federal Reserve tightening cycles to see when and at what level longer-term interest rates peaked. We also review a new closed-end fund holding in David's portfolio, the BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund (DSU). This new fund replaces the iShares Interest Rate Hedge Corporate Bond ETF (LQDH). We also discuss how to decide what limit price to set when trading a closed-end fund or ETF. … [Read more...]
163 Plus: Federal Reserve, Pension Crisis and Is There Enough To Retire
This week July 1, 2017 on Money For the Rest of Us Plus we learn how bank reserves at the U.S. Federal Reserve will be reduced as the central bank reduces its holdings of U.S Government bonds. We use the tools on Money For the Rest of Us Plus to analyze whether a member will have enough to retire. We explore the severity of pension fund crisis for U.S. states and municipalities as well as for U.S. businesses and the potential fallout from the crisis. Finally, we take a brief look at a … [Read more...]
MNY145 Plus: REITs, Quantitative Tightening, and Peer-to-peer Lending
This week February 18, 2017 on Money For the Rest of Us Plus we look at an example of how not to estimate REIT returns. We also explore the potential impact as the Federal Reserve reduces the size of its balance sheet. We explore peer-to-peer lending using Lending Loop. Finally, we answer whether one can lose money indexing and how to dollar cost average into portfolios. … [Read more...]
