TheEffectiveInvestor.com | Mark K. Lund, Investor Coach

The Perils of Market Timing

Mark Lund, The Investor Coach — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:37:37 +0000

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Economic Update for May 14, 2012

Mark Lund, The Investor Coach — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:50:30 +0000

CONSUMER SENTIMENT HITS A 4-YEAR PEAK
May’s initial Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey came in with an index reading of 77.8, the highest mark since January 2008. The current economic conditions sub-index rose to 87.3 from last month’s final 82.9 reading. Descending oil and gas prices may have been factors promoting some

BIGGEST DROP IN PPI In 6 MONTHS
Falling energy prices influenced this

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SELL IN MAY … GO AWAY?

Mark Lund, The Investor Coach — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:48:10 +0000

Does the old stock market cliché have any credibility in

An old stock market dictum says that spring is for profit-taking, or at least a time to reduce your exposure to

In the classic market psychology, you “sell in May and go away” with the belief that stock prices will plateau or retreat in spring and summer, and then you return to stocks in

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Economic Update for May 7, 2012

Mark Lund, The Investor Coach — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:39:45 +0000

UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN TO 8.1%
The jobless rate dipped 0.1% in April, but Wall Street didn’t exactly cheer about it as just 115,000 non-farm jobs were added to the economy. Economists polled by Briefing.com thought payrolls would expand by 162,000. The Dow fell 168 points Friday on the news. On the bright side, job gains across February and March were revised upward by 53,000. Payrolls grew by a cumulative total

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YOU CAN’T HIDE IN FIXED INCOME

Mark Lund, The Investor Coach — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:38:30 +0000

Investing timidly may shield you against risk … but not against
When is being risk-averse too risky for the sake of your retirement? After you conclude your career or sell your company, you have a right to be financially cautious. At the same time, you can risk being a little cautious – some retirees invest so timidly that their portfolios barely yield any
For

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Economic Update for April 30, 2012

Mark Lund, The Investor Coach — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:28:20 +0000

Q1 GDP: +2.2%
The federal government’s initial estimate disappointed many analysts, even with plenty of potential for upward revision later. After all, Q4 2011 had brought growth of 3.0%. Economists polled by Briefing.com expected the Q1 estimate to come in at +2.5%. Personal spending rose by 2.9% for the quarter, with car sales playing the largest role in the gain; subtract vehicle purchases, and the consumption increase was 1.1%,

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Economic Update for April 23, 2012

Mark Lund, The Investor Coach — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:36:02 +0000

WHAT HELD UP HOMEBUYING LAST MONTH?
The National Association of Realtors said existing home sales fell 2.6% for March. A 1.3% drop in inventory for the month might have been a factor, and mild weather in January and February may have helped homes that would have sold in March sell earlier. Warmer January and February temperatures may have also skewed the numbers for housing starts: the Commerce Department said

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OPTIONS FOR MORE RETIREMENT INCOME

Mark Lund, The Investor Coach — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:23:19 +0000

What do you do if your portfolio isn’t generating a decent
Do you wish you had more money these days? You aren’t alone. Many retirees find that their income streams are
Right now, interest rates are at rock bottom – and it appears they will stay there for the near future. With the federal funds rate near 0%, some of the classic conservative retirement investments

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WHAT TO DO FINANCIALLY WHEN A SPOUSE DIES

Mark Lund, The Investor Coach — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:06:56 +0000

Steps to see that financial matters remain in good
When a spouse passes away, the emotion and magnitude of the loss can send our lives reeling. This profound change can also affect our finances. All at once, we have a to-do list before us, and the responsibility of it can make us feel pressured. With that in mind, this article is intended as a kind of

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Economic Update for April 16, 2012

Mark Lund, The Investor Coach — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:54:19 +0000

CONSUMER PRICES ROSE 0.3% IN MARCH
Last month’s gain in the federal government’s Consumer Price Index matched the consensus forecast of economists polled by Briefing.com and followed gains of 0.4% in February and 0.2% in January. Gasoline prices were up 1.7% last month. Core CPI rose 0.2%, so that put annualized consumer inflation at 2.7%, less than the 2.9% recorded in February. Headline producer prices were flat in March,

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Soccer Positions & Style Drift

Mark Lund, The Investor Coach — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:25:53 +0000

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Is it time to move cash into equities?

Mark Lund, The Investor Coach — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:48:37 +0000

The market has rebounded … is it poised to keep
Remember when people were getting out of stocks? In the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, some people made the decision to move money into forms of investment with low or no stock market correlation. The recession was going full blast; the Dow was falling. But recessions are temporary, and markets improve.

The recent recovery wowed even

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