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pension plans A retirement plan is an arrangement to provide people with an income during retirement when they are no longer earning a steady income from employment. Often retirement plans require both the employer and employee to contribute money to a fund during their employment in order to receive defined benefits upon retirement. Funding can be provided in other ways, such as from labor unions, government agencies, or self-funded schemes. Pension plans are therefore a form of “deferred compensation”. (Wikipedia Feb 2010)
Financial Reform
By John Schroy, on July 17th, 2010 |

Unfortunately, instead of a ‘game-changing’ confidence-inspiring reform, the Obama administration presented the United States with the Dodd-Frank Act — a legislative miscarriage that has the potential to hold back recovery and impair the position of New York as a world financial center for decades — unless repealed or drastically amended.
Social change:
By John Schroy, on June 25th, 2010 |

Restricted availability of consumer credit and a greater propensity of households to save before spending, may result in less use of credit cards and smaller mortgages. A return, even partial, to saving habits of the 1950s could stimulate economic recovery.
The popular Dave Ramsey radio and TV shows suggest that a societal change in this direction is at least possible. Lower levels of personal debt would boost the economy and make people happier.
Blood in the Streets:
By John Schroy, on May 20th, 2010 |

Markets can be inefficient for different reasons and persist for long periods. The transition between one type of inefficient market to the next is usually a period of strife and uncertainty which may last five to fifteen years. Looking back at how the economy emerged from previous transitions, I note that in each new period, equity prices started at reasonable levels. This was true at the beginning of the Roaring Twenties, the Post WW II Period, and the Reagan Era. It is as if markets, recognizing prior inefficiencies ‘reset’ and start over. However, for the current market to ‘reset’, it will be necessary for equity prices to fall considerably, which will have dire consequences.
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