Children’s stories often provide powerful lessons for adult life, and The Tortoise and the Hare is a timeless example. While the story may raise some amusing questions—like whether a rabbit would actually lose to a tortoise, or why anyone calls a rabbit a “hare”—the message behind it can be surprisingly relevant to investing. So, when thinking about investing, should one be the tortoise or the hare? The answer is both. Investing: A Marathon and a Sprint Investing is a mix of long-term patience (the tortoise) and short-term action (the hare). Two fundamental principles make this clear: the power of time…

After four years of the first Trump term marked by divisive politics, erosion of democratic norms, and economic uncertainty, the prospect of another four years has prompted a growing number of Americans to explore expatriation. However, leaving the US permanently as a citizen involves significant tax, legal, and logistical considerations that prospective expats must navigate carefully. Here are the key things US citizens need to know about expatriating under a second Trump presidency. Laying the Groundwork: Residency or Citizenship in Your New Country Establishing residency or citizenship in a new country is the first step in any relocation. Typically, this…

Retirement is one of those life events we all know is coming, but sometimes we put off preparing for it. Whether it feels far away or we’re busy managing today’s financial needs, it’s easy to fall into certain traps that could derail our long-term goals. To help ensure your retirement is as smooth and stress-free as possible, here are five common financial mistakes to watch out for—and how to avoid them. 1. Not Saving Enough Early On We’ve all heard the saying, “Time is money,” and when it comes to retirement, that couldn’t be more true. The earlier you start…

Gold and silver are the old-school favorites for those with fears about the sustainability of economic structures. Inflation is a big element in the steadiness of the buying of precious metals and the equities of companies involved in their mining. Anxieties of what might happen in Ukraine and in the Middle East add to the fear factor. Whatever the reasons are, the price of gold stocks has been rising for the better part of quite some time now. While the attention goes to whatever artificial intelligence stocks are still popping or to how lower interest rates benefit bank stocks, you…

The Federal Reserve has successfully achieved a soft landing and the current market rally should continue into next year, according to Michael Arone, chief investment strategist at State Street Global Advisors, who suggested that investors diversify beyond megacap stocks as the Federal Reserve continues to lower interest rates. The benchmark S&P 500 index is up more than 23% this year, posting more than 40 record high closes so far in 2024. In the last two years, the index has almost doubled, spurred on by solid economic data and corporate earnings. What’s more, markets breathed a sigh of relief last month…

Within the S&P 500, 42 companies reported earnings last week. 79% of S&P 500 firms have reported better-than-expected earnings for the quarter. The third-quarter earnings season enters its second busiest reporting week, with 112 S&P 500 companies scheduled to report. Among the companies scheduled include Coca-Cola (KO), Tesla (TSLA), Union Pacific (UNP), 3M (MMM), and Honeywell (HON). A more detailed preview of the earnings season is available here. The S&P 500 rose by 0.9% for the week. The Magnificent 7, consisting of Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Amazon.com (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), NVIDIA SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NVDA),…

Last month, the Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by 0.5% and that’s usually spelled good news for stocks. Data from the past 40 years shows that, after a rate cut, the S&P 500 has usually posted solid gains one year and three years later. But as with most things in the economy, it’s not always that simple. Types of Rate Cuts: Normalization, Panic, and Recession The Fed doesn’t cut rates in a vacuum. Understanding the context of the rate cut— whether it’s due to a panic, a recession, or simply the Federal Reserve balancing economic growth and inflation—can…

The smaller gold and silver stocks are mostly ignored by the major Wall Street institutions because the trading in them fails to provide the kind of liquidity they like. Nevertheless, these miners trade more or less in line with the majors in the sector and, lately, made it to new 52-week highs. Since they have smaller capitalizations than the big mining stocks, they are sometimes looked at as possible buy-out candidates. Sometimes, the smaller companies merge with other smallish companies. When that happens the price of the one being purchased can take off. Such instances don’t always take place but…

As family offices continue to evolve in a rapidly changing world, their reliance on technology is becoming more pronounced. The year 2024 witnessed significant breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital integration, and many of the emerging trends have simply accelerated. This digitization of wealth management is reshaping operations, investment, and risk management. However, it also presents challenges in selecting and integrating the right tools. Family offices now require essential tools like AI-powered analytics and cybersecurity frameworks for effective portfolio management and data security. However, as many are selecting tools for the first time, family offices need guidance on…

As the S&P 500 recently hit new highs, not every component in the large cap index made it up to the top. The five listed here actually went the other way: that is, they managed to break down enough to establish new lows. Each one has its reasons but the point is: not everything is wonderfully bullish right now. These 5 S&P 500 Stocks Hit New Lows. Borr Drilling. The stock this week broke below the late April/early May support level and kept going lower. You can see how the crossover of the 200-day moving average by the 50-day moving…