Baseball and financial management can have more in common than meets the eye. Below, we discuss four key lessons that investors—and everyone else—can learn from America's favorite pastime. Diversification of Assets is Critical Having nine power-hitters who are weak in the outfield can help your team rack up high scores—but may not be enough to win the game.
In golf, as in finances, there are a few rules of thumb that may improve your game: keep a level head, avoid traps, practice before trying something new and stay the course. Applying lessons from the golf course to your financial life and vice versa may help you improve your game in both arenas. Here are three tips that may help you work toward success on and off the golf course.
For investors seeking stable returns in their fixed-income portfolio Over the last 15 years, investment-grade bonds have modestly outperformed Treasuries, making them an attractive option for investors seeking stable returns in their fixed-income portfolios. But how many investors can articulate the reasons that have contributed to their outperformance or the potential benefits of including investment-grade bonds in a fixed-income portfolio? Why Investment-Grade Bonds?
Annuity products have grown more sophisticated over the years to meet the demands of today's more sophisticated investors. Just as mutual funds grew in popularity as an alternative to certificates of deposit, the variable annuity was developed as an alternative to the fixed annuity. Variable annuities offer potentially higher returns than fixed annuities. Of course, there is a risk of loss as well. So, deciding which annuity product to invest in often comes down to deciding how much risk you are willing to take.
So, the debt ceiling crisis finally subsided over the weekend. It seems to be more political theater than anything else. Fortunately, that’s because every time the government does this, they manage to come to a resolution. The reason the debt ceiling continues to be a big deal is because if a resolution is not tenable, things could very easily go very wrong. Having said that, let’s do a little dive into what the debt ceiling is, why it’s important, and what was in the bill that was passed this time.
Current warning signs might point to a future downturn for the stock market As an investor, it's important to keep a close eye on the stock market indicators. Currently, the indicators are showing a concerning trend that investors should pay attention to.
After a tumultuous couple of years, emerging markets equities appear to be bouncing back, offering a glimmer of hope for investors in 2023. Despite a slew of geopolitical uncertainties and significant theoretical headwinds, emerging markets are showing resilience and growth potential that could make them a bright spot for investors in the year ahead.
Assessing the context, impact and the future of unprecedented rate hikes Almost exactly one year ago, on March 16, 2022, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) enacted the first of what would become nine consecutive interest rate increases. This move marked the beginning of an aggressive (and unprecedented) monetary tightening cycle, aimed at combating high inflation and stabilizing the economy.
Let’s start with who Silicon Valley Bank is. They were the 16th largest bank in the U.S. Over the past 40 some years, they had become the go-to bank for tech start-up companies. Since many of these tech companies are so young with little banking history, it’s typically hard for them to get funding and debt financing for their ventures. That’s where Silicon Valley Bank steps in. They would provide these venture companies with the funding they needed in order to get going.
