Steadfast Finances

 Infographics & Chartology,Investing 101         4 comments

Two years after making the observation that terrible earnings news was the time to buy (see first chart), it looks as if the billions of taxpayer dollars (via future earnings) have gotten corporate earnings back to credit bubble highs (see second chart). From May 18, 2009: An Index Fund Investor’s Dream: S&P 500 Earnings Nearing [...]

 ETFs,Index Funds,Investing 101         1 comment

In 2007, the financial crisis and impending stock market crash was nothing but a bearish prognostication. To the chagrin of many, once the stock market was in total free fall, the Feds stepped in with tons upon tons of money to prop up the market, sell billions of dollars in USTs on a weekly basis, [...]

 ETFs,Index Funds,Infographics & Chartology,Investing 101         1 comment

Could this be the real time, forward looking indicator that everyone (but traders) is looking for? [click to enlarge] The irony, of course, is everyone talks about having a “strong U.S. Dollar“, but based on U.S. exports data and an fairly good history of an inverse relationship with the S&P 500 index of late, that [...]

 Advertising,Business Trends,Investing 101,Investor Psychology,Politics,Strategic Planning         No comments

I’m a self-confessed word play nut. I love the wordsmith process because it’s a constantly evolving process that illustrates new or existing concepts, that describes the etiology of new areas of study, and highlights the evolutionary process of how crowdsourcing and groupthink enriches the English lexicon. Not surprisingly, I bookmark like crazy and, sometimes annoyingly, [...]

 Investing 101         No comments

While CNBC is a valued resource to many, including myself, many long time viewers I’ve spoken with are troubled by it’s continued evolution into a sponsor (too) friendly, investment product marketing machine where trading — not investing — is the new marching meme. Case in point: Josh Brown’s, aka The Reformed Broker, appearance today. Brown: [...]

 Buy on the Dips,Index Funds,Infographics & Chartology         No comments

Chartology like this should make well seasoned, fully invested finance types shiver… and long term buy on the dips investors drool with anticipation. [click image to enlarge] Image Source & Credit Chris Kimble 1987 highs having an impact on the S&P 500 today?

 Buy on the Dips,Index Funds,Infographics & Chartology,Investing 101         No comments

Spurred on by a recent Chart of the Day email, here’s a look back at my 18 month old observation of why it pays to buy on the dips when the news is at it’s worst. From May 18, 2009: An Index Fund Investor’s Dream: S&P 500 Earnings Nearing Historical Lows Image Source: Chart of [...]

 ETFs,Investing 101,Politics         2 comments

Like it or not, political policy, and the uncertainty it creates, is a major influence in the financial markets. Case in point: the massive sell off in municipal bond funds and ETFs, in what is usually a historical snooze fest, over the last two weeks when President Obama caved to political pressure by extending the [...]

 ETFs,Index Funds,Investing 101         No comments

I often jest that the financial world is moving towards a world of total ETF-ification. Meaning, that with the huge popularity of Exchange Traded Funds in today’s financial markets, that market makers are only limited by their imagination, and their creative accounting skills, at what assets, commodities or random grouping of equities they can throw [...]

 ETFs,Humor,Index Funds         7 comments

Now that the investing world is moving towards a world of total ETFification, I think it’s time we begin giving these fee generating, cash cows catchy ticker symbols that we can actually remember. The easiest way, in my opinion, is to associate each sector or macro investing goal with commonly known pop culture references. Obviously, [...]

 Consumer Education,Investing 101         9 comments

Many do not agree with Dylan Ratigan’s politics, but you have to love his outspoken nature when it comes to exposing crooks, corrupt politicians and scam artists. Today, Goldline International, the maker of outrageously overpriced gold coins (e.g. an average of a 90% markup from melt value of gold in the actual gold coin) found [...]

 ETFs,Index Funds,Investing 101         1 comment

Not to be outdone by low cost ETF competitors like Charles Schwab, Vanguard customers now have the option to trade Vanguard ETFs commission free, as well as benefit from online discount broker like commissions on individual stock trades. Commission-free ETF transactions. Vanguard brokerage clients may make commission-free transactions in Vanguard’s entire line-up of 46 low-cost [...]