Fed’s Bubbles to Slaughter Middle Class
"The economy is heading for unprecedented volatility between rampant inflation and deflation courtesy of Ben Bernanke’s sponsorship of the $7 trillion increase in new Federal debt since 2008," writes...
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Montana Tax Strikers and Me
While writing a check last week for my 2012 federal income taxes, I couldn’t help remembering a bunch of militant Tax Strikers from Whitefish, Montana. Unlike them, I am...
When the Empire Didn’t Strike Back
Conservative reviewer Hutchinson praises Benn Steil's new book on the 1944 Bretton Woods negotiations, which documents how Britain lost its economic crown jewels at the historic conference in New...
Distribution of Wealth in the U.S.
This video, which has been viewed over four million times on YouTube, shows how the explosive growth of stock market wealth over the past 30 years has changed U.S....
Two Dollar Fallacies
If progress is not made in reducing the projected fiscal imbalances and limiting the growth of bank reserves, reduced demand for dollar assets could cause the dollar to fall...
The Research Points to Annuities
In case you overlooked last week's cover story in Retirement Income Journal on the 16 best income-related research papers of 2012, here are the four papers that are aimed...
A Few Words of Advice for You Advisors
While I was reading an excerpt of a new report from Boston-based Cerulli Associates and Phoenix Marketing, memories of close encounters with brokerage advisors came rushing back to mind.
Ten Questions about Quantitative Easing
If quantitative easing and other unconventional monetary policies remain in place for too long, their side effects could be severe – and the longer-term costs very high, warns this...
Prudential Enters DIA Space with All-Bond VA
“The annuity space is book-ended at one end by the SPIA, and at the other end by the VA with a guaranteed lifetime income benefit. Our new product resides...
In Off-Year for Annuities, FIAs and DIAs Shine: LIMRA
Overall, annuity sales were $52.6 billion in the fourth quarter, down 8% from the previous year. For the year, annuity sales dropped 8%, tallying $219.4 billion. Variable annuity sales...
Crime writer wins $50.9 million verdict against advisor
"Notwithstanding eight figure earnings per year during that period, CEI and Cornwell learned that their net worth, while substantial, was the equivalent of only approximately one year’s net...
Hyper about hyperinflation? Read this.
Many people look at the massive bond purchases by the Federal Reserve and conclude that America is headed for Weimar-style hyperinflation. But before you resign yourself to using a...
The Unloved Dollar Standard
Can large US fiscal deficits and near-zero interest rates be justified because they help to revive domestic economic growth and job creation? No, writes Ronald McKinnon, professor emeritus of...
$300 billion parked with former employers
After leaving a job and a 401(k) plans, most Americans take five years or more to move their retirement savings into a rollover IRA, according to a new survey...
Meir Statman recommends mandatory national DC plan
“It is time to switch from libertarian-paternalistic nudges to fully paternalistic shoves,” writes Meir Statman, a professor of finance at Santa Clara University, in the draft of a new...
Poor Standards at S&P, U.S. Alleges
The ratings agency that downgraded the federal government's debt in 2011 now finds itself accused of fraud by that same government's attorney general. The credibility of life insurer strength...
Who Do You Love (in the Retirement Income Space)?
Cogent Research has just published its broad, bi-annual survey of financial planners, RIAs, and investment advisors. They were asked to choose their favorite income product providers.
Second-Guessing the Fed
A Harvard professor and author defends the Fed against charges that it should have seen the financial crisis coming.
Jefferson National VAs to offer Braver Capital tactically managed portfolios
Braver’s Tactical Balanced, Tactical Core Bond, Tactical Opportunity and Tactical Sector Rotation portfolios use quantitative algorithms applied to asset class price movement to identify trends in numerous asset classes...
Allianz Life Launches New Bonus-Laden FIA
Allianz 222 Annuity is the third fixed indexed annuity offered through the Allianz Preferred platform, joining the previously issued 360 and 365i contracts.
