As loyal readers know, I am a big fan of 529 savings plans and am a Missouri Most customer on behalf of my two grade school aged daughters. I was reminded of why a high quality education is so important: on average, the unemployment rate declines as education levels increase and incomes increase. The chart shows that for those who didn’t finish high school, the unemployment rate is 11 percent… Read More
Stocks were basically flat yesterday after Tuesday’s strong rally. Some smaller economic releases like the ADP private payrolls report and the ISM services data were softer than expected, but the news from the Fed’s ‘beige book’ was modestly positive. All of the reports included the negative impact of this winter’s cold weather.
Markets were lower yesterday across the board, but the feeling in the air, so to speak, was more calm, as evidenced by the four percent drop in the CBOE Volatility index. Granted, it was a four percent drop following a 40 percent increase last week, but the direction was right. Bonds fell, as measured by the 10-year US Treasury bond, as bond investors pulled away from the ‘flight-to-quality’ trade and… Read More
I want to take a day off from looking back at 2013 and forward at 2014, but don’t worry, there is much more in store for you in the coming days. Today, I want to share with you one of my New Year’s Day rituals. Credit Review First, I visit www.myfico.com and get my credit report from all three agencies. MyFico costs about $55 for all three and there… Read More
