Author Archives: BH&J
2012 tax changes and contribution limits
EMPLOYER RETIREMENT PLANS Participants in employer retirement plans such as 401ks and 403bs will be able to contribute an extra $500 as the limit moves up to $17,000 in 2012. Catch-up contributions, allowed above the $17,000 level for people over … Continue reading
The global debt web: Who owes who
The BBC has produced an info graphic about the global debt situation that presents the web of how much money is owed by each country to banks in other nations. We found this interactive graphic to be very helpful in … Continue reading
Earnings overshadowed by less important economic news
Every Thursday morning at 8:30 Eastern, the government tells us how many people signed up for unemployment benefits during the previous week. Before this announcement, the talking heads in the media tell us what number they expect. Once the announcement … Continue reading
Oil, natural gas will dominate energy for decades to come
Climate change and reliance on oil to power the world certainly generate a lot of news. Many people think the future is in renewable energy resources. But the reality is that oil will be the dominant resource for energy production … Continue reading
Student loan relief likely will lead to even higher tuition
File this in the unintended consequences folder. President Obama’s October 26 announcement of student loan reforms to “ease the burden” of education debt may provide relief to some but could ultimately cause the damaging pace of tuition inflation to increase … Continue reading
Understanding high-frequency trading
There has been a lot of talk in the industry over the past few months about high frequency trading and whether it is the cause of markets being more volatile than usual. Liz Ann Sonders, Schwab’s Chief Investment Strategist, provides … Continue reading
High-yield bonds may not be junk
High-yield corporate bonds have built a big edge in income yield over Treasury bonds over the past few months. Some people prefer the perceived safety of Treasury bonds and accept the lower income stream (even if it means a negative … Continue reading
Many things could go right for the U.S. economy
It has been hard to avoid negative news recently. We all know that there is a debt crisis in Europe, unemployment and home price declines remain problems in the U.S. and political combativeness has drained confidence in U.S. leadership. While … Continue reading →