economy - Registered Investment Advisor

The Epic of America, Still

By Scott Burns In his bathtub, Napoleon decided to sell the Louisiana Territory. His goal wasn’t lofty. He just needed cash for his various wars. Fortunately, President Thomas Jefferson did have a lofty goal— a vision of a coast-to-coast America...

Posted Jul 02 2010, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Economy

The Future… as a Large, Sullen Stranger

By Scott Burns Q. How about a column on bad times? What happens to different investments if our country goes bankrupt? Or if terrorists do something really bad in a major city? I am 78 years old and want my investments to be as safe as possible. —J...

Posted Apr 28 2010, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Economy

The Coming Asset Preference Quake

By Scott Burns Sometimes a single statement can be so loaded with import that it just stops you. That happened recently when I interviewed economist David Ranson. A consulting economist for H.C. Wainwright, a research firm serving investment managers...

Posted Apr 23 2010, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 4 comment(s)

Filed under: Economy

The Great American Bank Robbery

By Scott Burns The largest bank robbery in history is in process, but no police cars have been dispatched to the scene of the crime. That’s because no bank is being robbed. Instead, the banks are robbing their depositors. While all depositors are...

Posted Mar 19 2010, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 3 comment(s)

Filed under: Economy, Financial Crisis

A Convenient Fiction

By Scott Burns Suppose we stopped pretending the corpse is breathing. Suppose we laughed at our leaders for suggesting the U.S. banking system is alive and recovering? Suppose we recognized that putting makeup on a corpse doesn’t bring it back to...

Posted Mar 12 2010, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Economy, Financial Crisis

It’s “Garden Party” Time

By Scott Burns When it comes to change, we’re all a tad on the slow side. We’re a bit slow as individuals. We’re a bit slow collectively as well. Things change, but we don’t. I’m not saying this to add yet another bruise...

Posted Feb 26 2010, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Economy

When will the Economy Float Your Boat?

By Scott Burns Lake Travis is a great metaphor for the U.S. economy. The man-made lake near Austin, Texas, is simply stunning. Whether you are on the water or above it, applauding a magnificent sunset from the many decks of the Oasis restaurant, it is...

Posted Aug 21 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Burns at Large, Economy

Reversion to the Mean May Be Good, Not Mean

By Scott Burns It’s official. The stock market has been a terrible place to be. And not just for a few years, but for decades . New research from the Leuthold Group, a Minneapolis-based institutional research and mutual fund firm, indicates that...

Posted Jul 17 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Income Investing, Economy

Home Lending: Still A Problem, But Another Kind of Problem

By Scott Burns Analysts greeted the tiny May increase in existing home sales with minimal cheer. I guess they were looking for something more dramatic. In fact, they didn’t understand the meaning of the little uptick. It was a miracle . It is miraculous...

Posted Jul 10 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 2 comment(s)

Filed under: Mortgages, Economy, Financial Crisis

Buy a Home, Save America, Become a Citizen

By Scott Burns Our friends in Washington continue to reward witless members of the financial sector. Meanwhile, those of us who don’t fly Bonus Class think about importing guillotines from France. Thankfully, we may not need to place the order....

Posted Apr 17 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 3 comment(s)

Filed under: Burns at Large, Economy

Lock n’ Load: We’re on Foreclosure Safari!

By Scott Burns LAS VEGAS . If you’d like to learn about adapting to change, spend an afternoon with Jennifer Martin, Realtor. You might also buy a condo or house while you’re at it. Priced to insane levels at the top of the bubble, lots of Las Vegas real...

Posted Apr 03 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Mortgages, Economy, Financial Crisis

The Upside of Changing Horses (or Houses)

By Scott Burns If you are in your 50s or early 60s, you’re in the Peril Period. And the Worst of All Possible Worlds appears to be happening. Everything--- home value, 401(k) and job--- is going down the drain just as you’re getting really serious about...

Posted Mar 06 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 6 comment(s)

Filed under: Home Ownership & Mortgages, Economy

Your Wealth Is Not Your Standard of Living

By Scott Burns Here’s a challenging thought: Things aren’t as bad as they seem. Since there is plenty of bad news out there, how can I say this? We see things dark and hopeless because we are looking at the world through a wealth window, not an income...

Posted Feb 27 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Economy

Deflation May Be in the News, But Inflation Protection Is Still Valuable

By Scott Burns Q. I have been self-employed for 25 years and have never been comfortable in the stock market. I had some money in mutual funds but pulled them when the economy began to tank. I have a little money in IRAs that I have re-directed to money...

Posted Feb 11 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Economy

If You Play the Odds, It’s Time to Buy

By Scott Burns The question started coming in last summer: “Is it time to sell?” Many are still asking. But the right answer, then and now, was the same: “No, it’s time to grit your teeth and hold.” Why? Easy. It’s a lot easier to blow a market call than...

Posted Jan 30 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Income Investing, Economy

AssetBuilder - Registered Investment Advisor :: Simple Investing Smart Future

Subscribe to our RSS

Registered Investment Advisor

The Epic of America, Still

The Future… as a Large, Sullen Stranger

The Coming Asset Preference Quake

The Great American Bank Robbery

A Convenient Fiction

It’s “Garden Party” Time

When will the Economy Float Your Boat?

Reversion to the Mean May Be Good, Not Mean

Home Lending: Still A Problem, But Another Kind of Problem

Buy a Home, Save America, Become a Citizen

Lock n’ Load: We’re on Foreclosure Safari!

The Upside of Changing Horses (or Houses)

Your Wealth Is Not Your Standard of Living

Deflation May Be in the News, But Inflation Protection Is Still Valuable

If You Play the Odds, It’s Time to Buy

Contact Us