Category Archives: Investing

Party on Garth

July 15, 20182018, Economics, Economy, Federal Reserve, Higgins Capital, Investing, La Jolla, Politics, Ray Higgins, Raymond Higgins, Retirement Strategies, San Diego, San Diego Real Estate, Stock Market, Taxes, Trump, War#WeQuarterbackMoney®, #WeShopThe Street®, 401k, Bear Market, China, Debbie Higgins, Donald Trump, fixed income, Global Politics, Higgins Capital, Interest Rates, Investing, Kimberly Higgins, La Jolla, Ray Higgins, Raymond Higgins, Retirement Planning, Risk Proof, San Diego Real Estate, The Fed, We Quarterback Money®, We Shop The Street®Ray Higgins

The Economy: The economy appears to be expanding quite nicely and business optimism continues to rise as it approaches new records. The Left Coast, with its gateway to Asian trade, technology and Pentagon spending continues to boom along. Construction cranes fill the skies. New homes are stuffed into every nook and cranny. Roadwork and infrastructure projects are everywhere. New cars abound. Recently launched multi-million dollar yachts overwhelm the docks. Planes are jammed. Restaurants are packed. Exotic vacations are booked years ahead. The stock market confirms this rock ‘n roll fantasy narrative with many indices at or near their highs. Understand that only 3 tech stocks account for 70% of index gains this year. So the question is, “Can you be a cockeyed optimist and a contrarian at the same time?” The answer is yes. Now we’re entering earnings season with projections for year-over-year increases of 20%, Is this the beginning, the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end. Only Elon Musk knows for sure. China, Russia, North Korea, Syria, Turkey, UN, NATO, Trade Wars, Immigration Wars, SCOTUS Wars, Mid-Term Election Wars, Culture Wars, Religious Wars … and rising interest rates. Not to worry.

Food for Thought: Youth is wasted on the young and the wisdom of the ages is simply wasted. We will continue to emphasize the importance of interest rates and what the yield curve is telling us. While there will always be a bull market somewhere, most investors have a significant portion of their financial assets in fixed income. The old saw, “Stocks, bonds and cash.” The beginning point for most portfolio allocations is about 40% in fixed income; e.g. the bond market. So when I emphasize having an exit strategy, I’m particularly talking about having an exit strategy for fixed income. Contact me if you have questions on how to risk proof your portfolio.

Powell is the new Paul Volcker

June 6, 20182018, China, Economics, Economy, EU, Federal Reserve, History, Investing, Politics, Proverbs, Quotes, Real Estate, Religion, Retirement Strategies, San Diego Real Estate, Stock Market, Tech#WeQuarterbackMoney®, #WeShopThe Street®, 401k, Interest Rates, Ray Higgins, Raymond Higgins, Retirement Planning, Stock MarketRay Higgins

The Economy: The U.S. economy appears to be powering ahead with unemployment at a 48-year low. There are more jobs available than there are job seekers to fill them. Average hours worked are up; construction spending is up; manufacturing is up; factory orders are up … the list goes on. Economic strength continues to give the Fed leeway to raise rates. Another 25 basis point (1/4%) hike in June is a given. The longer Powell is at the helm of the Fed, the more observers believe that he’s cut from different cloth than we saw with Greenspan, Bernanke or Yellen. Some observers liken Powell to former Fed Chair Paul Volcker. It was Volcker who trounced inflation in the early 1980’s with interest rates in excess of 20%. The economic pain of Volcker’s reign was enormous. But it ended an inflationary cycle that threatened to spiral out of control. It also laid the groundwork for the robust expansion of the 1980s and 90s. The stock market took off with Volcker and has never looked back. The rocket ride accelerated with Greenspan. … almost 40-years of stocks and real estate going up with only the occasional pause. No wonder my doctor friend blithely talks DOW 100,000 as if it’s already here. The trick for Powell will be to keep the good times rolling while simultaneously taking away the moonshine punchbowl of free money.

Food for Thought: The “China Card” is huge; whether you’re talking politics, military or socio-economic. Check out today’s “Video of The Week” below for a compelling take on why culture may limit China’s rise. Then look at how San Diego,riding the crest of a building boom, has about $3.5 billion in downtown projects underway. Papa Doug Manchester’s Pacific Gateway project represents $1.5 billion or 43% of this amount. The Gateway project is the redevelopment of the 12 acres near the Broadway Pier. That aside, housing units are driving much of the building boom as the urban lifestyle is attracting both working folks and retirees. Prices reflect the demand with higher prices the norm. Downtown is happening. While the Gaslamp draws tourists, San Diegans are flocking to Little Italy for its charm, restaurants and the weekly Saturday farmers market.

Christoper Walken Dances on The Economy

May 30, 20182018, Christopher Walken, Economics, Investing, Stock Market, Uncategorized#WeQuarterbackMoney®, #WeShopThe Street®, Bear Market, Federal Reserve, Global Politics, Higgins Capital, Interest Rates, Investing, Kimberly Higgins, Ray Higgins, Raymond Higgins, Wealth Management, World EconomyRay Higgins

The Economy: Economic numbers come in two broad categories: 1) Hard data such as trade balances or housing starts and 2) Soft data such as sentiment or confidence surveys. Hard data is based on numbers. Soft data is based on how the respondent is feeling at that moment in time. You can dispute the numbers but the argument will remain grounded in statistics. Surveys based on feelings are completely subjective and should be taken with a dose of skepticism. Numbers this week neatly fell into these two categories. Hard data was mixed with initial jobless claims up, existing home sales and durable goods down. Soft data and surveys were positive with optimism and odds of a December rate hike falling below 50%. Geopolitical concerns have continued to weigh on markets as NOKO, Iran and trade wars remain unresolved. Stocks swooned over the Italians … But it’s officially summertime so don’t worry be happy. Grab the beach toys and head for the water.

Food for Thought: In keeping with the never-ending 73-year old Italian Opera Buffa, check out the Video of the Week link below. Few know that Christopher Walken is an accomplished hoofer. Lighten your day and watch him here or there. Courage! The latest Sign of the Apocalypse is another Italian Meltdown. Financial markets are having a hissy fit. It’s almost as if traders are trying to stay relevant in a world where the only thing that matters is what the Central Banks are doing. … and that remains unchanged . The 2012 ECB vow that they will do “whatever it takes” to keep the punchbowl full of moonshine remains in force. With the exception of the Fed, global central banks remain committed to free-money, for all, forever. How this ultimately plays out is anybody’s guess. Many investors see asset bubbles in both stocks and real estate. Others see compelling bargains. Both have seen years of gains. But while we know that all trends reverse, we don’t see anything to indicate an inflection point. Pick your poison. … onward into the Summer Doldrums.

Music of The Week: Beegie Adair’s “Dancing in the Dark”

Video of The Week: Christopher Walken Dances

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– Ray

Watch Inflation; Watch the Fed; Watch the Global Stage

March 13, 20182018, Asia, China, Economy, Federal Reserve, History, Investing, Politics, Stock Market, TechAtlantic 5, Bar Music Moods, China, Communism, Economic Numbers, Federal Reserve, Fedspeak, Financial Markets, Goldilocks Economy, Hardware Costs, Imperial Chinese Dynasties, Inflation, Investment Opportunities, Jaxx, Labor Costs, Labor Markets, Mao Zedong, Piano Music, Power Politics, Price Increases, Qing Dynasty, Romanov Dynasty, Russia, Statistics, Stocks, Supply and Demand, Tech, Technology, The Fed, The Romanovs, Turkey, Vladimir Putin, We Quarterback Money®, Xi JinpingRay Higgins

The Economy: After being dissed and dormant for a decade, inflation is front and center for financial markets. Concerns are being voiced by many. Fed members are among the loudest. Is inflation real or is the Fedspeak a stalking horse? Only your hairdresser knows for sure. While technology has driven labor and hardware costs down, a comparison of basic items in the grocery stores shows price increases of 40% or more over the past decade. The “Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics” crowd is complaining that economic numbers don’t measure the appropriate output. One recently asked how we could have tight labor markets with no wage growth. The cry is that the laws of supply and demand don’t seem to apply in the Goldilocks Economy. Meanwhile, stocks are off their January highs and moving sideways. This breather is either the calm before the storm or the pause that refreshes. Regardless of the metrics, the only thing that matters is whether you can sleep at night. Watch inflation; watch the Fed.

Food for Thought: China has a new Emperor. It took a few years after the death of Emperor Mao. But the song remains the same: a thousand years of dynasties with the occasional disruption. The Qing Dynasty ended in 1912. More than three decades of internal strife between warlords followed. Then the communist warlord Mao Zedong assumed The Mantle. A new Imperial Chinese dynasty was born: the Communist Dynasty. Now a successor to Mao has emerged: Emperor Xi. Likewise Russia. The Romanov Dynasty ended in 1917. Eventually the warlord Stalin emerged as the new Tsar. Then Brezhnev and now Tsar Putin. Triumvirate Great Power politics reignited. Will Turkey make it a fourplay? The investment opportunities are countless.

Music of The Week: Atlantic 5 Jazz Band’s “Bar Music Moods – The Piano Edition Vol. 1”

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The Fed’s Tightening Cycle and Market Vulnerability

March 8, 20182018, Economy, Federal Reserve, Investing, Oil, Stock Market, TechAirlines, Alphabet, Amazon, Andalusian Nights, Anti-Trust, Automobiles, Bear Markets, Beige Book, Big Oil, Big Tech, Diversification, Economic Expansion, Facebook, Federal Reserve, Freedom of Speech, Global Asset Values, Google, Government Surveillance, Govi, Information Overload, Interest Rates, Investment Portfolios, Loans, Netflix, Portfolio Diversification, Privacy, Public Companies, Railroads, Rate Hikes, Rate Increases, Retirement, Social Media, Stocks, The FANGs, The Fed, The Stock Market, The US Economy, Tightening Cycle, US Economy, We Quarterback Money®Ray Higgins

The Economy: The U.S. economy appears to be accelerating from its modest expansion over the past several years. While purists may argue the validity of the numbers that are released, they are the numbers that move markets and investors. After years of insisting that inflation is too low, we may be seeing that monster rearing its ugly head. The Fed’s Beige Book shows inflation increasing across a broad range. Consistent with increasing inflation, the Fed is now warning that higher interest rates are on the way. They have 4 hikes planned for 2018 and are leaving the door open for more. In the meantime, information overload is the order of the day. The actionable news is further confirmation that the Fed is in a tightening cycle. Loans of all types will continue to become more expensive. Those economic sectors that benefited from a decade of low rates may see increasing headwinds as rates continue to ratchet up.

Food for Thought: Stock markets are suddenly a hot topic of conversation. After years of the lockstep rise in global asset values, stocks have shown that they can go down as well as up. But let’s face it, making changes to an investment portfolio is like watching paint dry when compared to wine tasting or hiking Nepal. Sailors know that a rising tide floats all boats … and the reverse is true. The last bear market showed that diversification is no protection when all asset classes are getting crushed. But that message will have to be relearned. The FANGs may be particularly vulnerable. Regulatory issues could loom as Americans are waking up to the privacy/government surveillance/freedom of speech issues posed by big tech and social media. Anti-trust happened to the railroads, big oil, autos and airlines.

Music of The Week: Govi’s “Andalusian Nights”

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The Beat Goes On…

February 28, 20182018, China, Economy, EU, Federal Reserve, Investing, Politics, Retirement Strategies, Stock MarketAlexander Haig, Banking Regulations, Businessman, Capitalism, Central Banking, Chairman Powell, China, Comrades, Cryptocurrencies, Fed Chair Powell, Global Economy, Human Nature, Monetary Policy, Paul Carrack, Political Pendulum, QE, Quantitative Easing, Real World Experience, Renewable Energy, The Fed, The Manchurian Candidate, The Next Big Thing, The Swamp, Too Big To Fail, US Dollar, US Economy, We Quarterback Money®Ray Higgins

The Economy: Comrades Unite! Commissar Chairman Powell has arrived … and in the famous last words of Alexander Haig, “is in control.” The Star Chamber Bucking Bronco that we know as the Federal Reserve showed its new face to The Swamp today. In a welcome break with hoary tradition, Powell has real world experience as a businessman. Imagine the folly of having a businessman run the central bank of the greatest capitalist country in the history of the planet. But alas our joy, like a second marriage, may be the triumph of hope over experience. In his appearance on The Hill, Powell stated that 1) Further QE remains as viable monetary policy (All Hail Mammon); 2) The Fed saved the Post-Crisis World (All Hail Self-Praise); 3) Banking regulations are pillars of strength (All Hail TBTF). Long story short; The Beat Goes On. … the economy continues to expand; some indicators positive; some negative … .

Food for Thought: It’s human nature to assume that the future is going to look like the immediate past. So stocks and real estate will go up forever. Interest rates will remain low forever. Central Bankers will be able to manipulate the global economy forever. The political pendulum will swing left forever. China is a benevolent capitalist player forever. The dollar will remain the world’s reserve currency forever. Renewable energy subsidies will remain forever. The Manchurian Candidate has landed and Vlad Rules forever. The crypto-currencies world should be ignored forever. … If you see chinks in any of this armor, that is where “the next big thing” is shining like a diamond in the rough.

Music of The Week: Paul Carrack’s “Live at the London Palladium”

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Inflation Indicators Heating Up

February 15, 20182018, Economy, Federal Reserve, Investing, Real Estate, Retirement Strategies, Stock MarketAnnuities, Consumer Price Index, Consumers, CPI, Creating an Estate, Economic Activity, Home Mortgages, Inflation, Inflation Indicators, Interest Rates, Investing, Life Insurance, Lovers Rock, Music, P, PPI, Producer Price Index, Pyeongchang 2018, Real Estate, Retirement Income, Retirement Planning, Rising Rates, Sade, South Korea, Stock Market Indices, Stock Rebounds, Supplementing Income, The Fed, The Olympics, We Quarterback Money®Ray Higgins

The Economy: The CPI and PPI prints were hotter than expected and have helped to juice the stock market indices to a 50% rebound. The feel good mood has been further enhanced by the Olympics. Winners all. Inflation indicators watched by the Fed are are heating up. … and bond vigilantes seem to be on the loose with interest rates accelerating higher. As has always been the case, the Fed will follow the markets. There are few consumers who remember interest rate hikes that crimp economic activity. Fewer still who remember being priced out of a home or auto loan because interest rates moved against them. … remember when an 8% home mortgage was to die for? How many real estate players could handle those metrics today. How about those halcyon days of 16% home mortgages? Fun!

Food for Thought: Annuities and life insurance have evolved in ways that work well with investors seeking income or the possibility of establishing an estate. In specific situations they may be a prudent investment for retirees. Contact us if you have questions about creating or supplementing your retirement income.

Music of The Week: Sade’s “Lovers Rock”

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Bungee Jumping Stock Markets

February 8, 20182017, Economy, Federal Reserve, History, Investing, Politics, Retirement Strategies, Stock MarketCautious, Cautious Investing, Central Banks, Corporate Profits, Economic Expansion, Economic Numbers, Exotico, Financial Planning, Global Economy, Global Stock Markets, Hedge Funds, Individual Investors, Inflation, Interest Rates, Lara & Ryes, Market Rebound, Market Volatility, Monetary Policies, Money Managers, Pension Funds, Planning for Retirement, Retirement, Retirement Strategies, Stimulative Deregulation, Tax Cuts, Taxes, The Economy, We Quarterback Money®Ray Higgins

The Economy: The economic numbers have been dwarfed by bungee jumping global stock markets. However, economic numbers do not support all the gloom and doom talk generated by the wild ride in stocks. Global and U.S expansion remains steady. Global and U.S. monetary policies remain very accommodative. In spite of 5 interest rate hikes in the U.S., inflation adjusted interest rates remain at historic lows. Tax cuts, stimulative deregulation and a Federal Reserve committed to supporting the stock market should continue to juice U.S. economic expansion.

Food for Thought: The Bungee Jumping stock markets have been dominated by money managers, pension funds, hedgies and other professionals. Individual investors have remained firm in their belief that markets will rebound and continue to move higher. The brief 2-day, 10% drop is already forgotten. That 10% drop is seen as nothing more than as having eliminated the “no 5% pullback in 400+ days” boogeyman. The assumption, based on a decade of monetary policy stimulus, is that the way is now clear for the next leg up in stocks. However, as I pointed out yesterday in my special report, investors approaching retirement should be increasingly cautious. The market volatility of the past few days are rumblings that shouldn’t be ignored by those who no longer have decades to recoup losses. The zeitgeist is that stocks will go up forever … so you have to stay on the dance floor. We simply recommend that you dance closer to the exit door.

Music of The Week: Lara & Ryes’ “Exotico”

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What’s your Long-Game?

January 31, 20182018, Economy, Federal Reserve, Investing, Politics, Stock Market, Taxes, TrumpAnnuities, Bearish, Bullish, Charitable Giving, Dovish, Economic Expansion, Estate Planning, Fed Chair, Financial Planning, Funding Needs, Gonzo Journalism, Hawkish, Hunter S Thompson, Investors, Janet Yellen, Jay Powell, Long-Game, Markets, Planning for Retirement, Profit Repatriation, Recession, SOTU, Synchronized Global Growth, Tax Cuts, The Fed, The Financial Crisis, The Media, The State of the Union, Unemployment, US Economy, US Electorate, We Quarterback Money®Ray Higgins

The Economy: The State of The Union clearly showed the sharp divide in the U.S. electorate. Pick your flavor. Markets have cheered Trump since the election. Given the ongoing economic expansion, expect the Fed to continue to tap-the-brakes with further interest rate hikes. Jay Powell replaces Yellen as Fed Chair at cob today. Yellen was the most dovish Fed Chair in history. Powell, by contrast is on record as saying, “… it is not the Fed’s job to stop people from losing money.” This in itself will be a sea-change, if there is follow through, since the Fed has been stock market driven since the Financial Crisis. Markets, the media and investors in particular have been enamored with synchronized global growth, tax cuts, profit repatriation, one-time bonuses and historically low unemployment. The Fed interest rate moves have created every expansion and every recession; every bull and every bear market. Party on Garth!

Food for Thought: What is your long-game? Gonzo Hunter Thompson spoke for some when he said, “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” For most however, there are more prosaic goals such as planning for retirement, creating an estate or other bequeaths to family, friends and charitable organizations. Annuities may be the appropriate way to achieve funding needs. Contact us if you have questions about Annuities.

Music of The Week: Chaka Khan “Chaka”

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All Systems Go for the Economy and Davos

January 24, 20182018, Economy, Federal Reserve, Investing, Oil, Politics, Real Estate, San Diego Real Estate, Stock Market, The Middle East, TrumpAmerica First, Bastion of the Globalists, Bernanke, Billionaires, Bridgewater, BUll Markets, Central Banks, Chaka Khan, Davos, Deregulation, Donald Trump, Easy Money, Fed Chair, Fed Chair Powell, Global Economic Summit, Gold, Holiday Spending, Inflation, Jerome Powell, Monetary Policy, Oil, President Trump, Prince Alwaleed, Private Jets, Ray Dalio, Real Estate, Saudi Arabia, The Fed, The Global Economy, The Middle East, Tight Labor Markets, Trump Tax Cuts, US Corporate Profits, We Quarterback Money®, YellenRay Higgins

The Economy: All systems are go on a global economy that shows signs of continuing to expand. Easy money from central banks remains the order of the day. Trump tax cuts and deregulation have bolstered business confidence. The holidays showed Americans on a spending spree. Naysayers see the band on the Titanic bravely playing as she went down. Optimists see hundreds of billions in repatriated US corporate profits, tight labor markets, inflation and Trumponomics as the next leg up in the economy and the 9-year bull market in stocks. Ray Dalio of Bridgewater has called this a new bear market in bonds as Jerome Powell was confirmed by the Senate as the new Fed Chair. Powell is seen as dovish and a continuation of the Bernanke/Yellen school of gradualism in monetary policy. But it pays to remember that markets tend to drive the Fed and not the other way around. Interest rates are rising. Gold has broken through its $1,300 resistance and oil is at multi-year highs. With global expansion, investors are complacent that central banks will keep stock markets and real estate moving up forever.

Food for Thought: Davos, billed as the Global Economic Summit is in full swing. Over time it has morphed into another rich kid’s confab with the glamorous and notorious. It is known as the Bastion of The Globalists. This year Donald Trump will upset the apple cart as he presents America First Shock and Awe with his appearance and speech on Friday. The annual ego rush of whose private jet is bigger will be sadly missing Prince Alwaleed’s private 747 with the gold throne. The Prince is apparently still confined by his King who reportedly wants billions in return for a kiss-and-make-up return to business as usual.

Music of The Week: Chaka Khan “Chaka”

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