Why the 'immaculate' stock market might not stay that way long
A near-perfect stock market is about to enter a rockier period.
“The ‘broadening’ [in the market] has happened, and the vibes are immaculate. Unfortunately, history says don’t get too comfortable as we enter the worst part of the calendar during mid-term election years (8/18-10/11),” BTIG strategist Jonathan Krinsky wrote in a new note.
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Read MoreHere’s who could pay higher Social Security taxes under proposals to shore up the program
John Driscoll knows it’s going to take a major overhaul to fix Social Security — and he’s willing to pay up.
The Three Policies Every Retirement Plan Should Have in Writing
Every retirement plan sponsor has procedures. The question is whether those procedures exist only in someone’s head or are documented in writing.
Written policies help create consistency, improve accountability, and demonstrate prudent fiduciary oversight. While every plan is different, three policies deserve consideration by virtually every retirement plan sponsor.
The first is an Investment Policy Statement (IPS).
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Read MoreHer Advisor Said Wait Until 70. At 66, She Chose Time to Enjoy Social Security Over an 8%-a-Year Raise.
© Alessandro Biascioli / iStock via Getty Images
She is 66, financially comfortable, and hearing the same advice every time retirement comes up: wait until 70. The larger Social Security check will provide more guaranteed income later, when she may need it most. She understands the spreadsheet.
The Burst
Billionaires Are All In, Are You?
It’s come as a bit of a surprise to many astute observers to see billionaires go all in on oil. For instance, in Warren Buffett’s top 6 holdings, 2 are oil stocks, Chevron and Occidental Petroleum.
Buffett has taken massive stakes in both companies. In Chevron, he holds an $18.8 billion stake while in Occidental the amount is $14.1 billion.
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Read MoreThe Ivy
The Magnificent 7 Have a New Trillion Dollar Rival
Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B) is arguably one of the most successful companies in American history. The conglomerate founded by Warren Buffett now owns stakes in both large public companies and several wholly-owned subsidiaries.
Berkshire itself has also been a remarkable investment vehicle for its shareholders, boasting a 30-year total return of over 3,000%.
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Read MoreThe Spotlight
Is SNAP a Buy After the Crash?
When a stock bombs, it’s usually best to run for cover. Every once in a while, though, it’s worth a closer look. If the fundamentals are strong, the future prospects are good, and the selloff was overblown, it’s possible the company’s stock is on sale.
So many stocks have dipped to record lows in recent months that it makes it tough to separate the great buys from the risky ones.