Few asset classes performed more poorly than gold in 2013. But with the recent run-up in the precious metal into the start of 2014, investors are asking: is now the time to buy? Before you start stocking your basement with bullion, however, let’s take a look back at gold’s history. Gold is notorious for long … Continued
“It is tedious to tell again tales already plainly told.” – Homer, The Odyssey The ancient Greeks were great storytellers. That tradition continues to this day – for better and, unfortunately, for worse – as the world has witnessed over the last several years. We fear that just as King Odysseus faced obstacles and headwinds … Continued
“Under current law, on Jan. 1, 2013, there’s going to be a massive ‘fiscal cliff’ of large spending cuts and tax increases. All those things are hitting on the same day, basically. It’s quite a big event.” – Ben Bernanke There is always a lot to be said for keeping things simple, and it is … Continued
“The arch of history is long, but it bends towards justice.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. The future doesn’t seem to be what it used to be. Global financial calamities last year, ranging from the ongoing European sovereign debt crisis to the unprecedented downgrade of our Treasury market, combined with the Japanese natural disaster, the … Continued
“A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi” – Latin Idiom lit: “a precipice in front, wolves behind” The world economy once again stands upon a precipice. As the developed economies post slower growth and the emerging economies debate whether inflation or recession is the greater threat, the need for global balance between fiscal austerity and economic … Continued
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” – Keyser Söze, from the 1995 film “The Usual Suspects” When censors first sat down and watched the movie Psycho, they deemed it to be too violent. In response, Hitchcock reviewed with them the violent scenes frame-by-frame. To their amazement, there was … Continued
“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” – Albert Einstein Fictional narrative storytelling is one of the most memorable and effective ways to teach a lesson, capture a universal truth about the actions and consequences of human … Continued
“The hills are alive with the sound of music, with songs they have sung for a thousand years.” – The Sound of Music, Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II Are we at the top of the mountain, or are investors still scaling the foothills? As we celebrate the 4th anniversary of the global economic recovery and … Continued
“This is not a prediction, it is a certainty–there will be serious disruption in the world’s financial services industry…. It’s going to be ugly.” – The Times, London, 1999 (discussing the “Y2K” threat) Years ago in the midst of another date-specific moment in time, the world became obsessed that planes would drop from the sky … Continued
“It was on this day when a solemn vow was made that the peacock became the great object of admiration, and whether it appeared at the banquet given on these occasions roasted or in its natural state, it always wore its full plumage … before all the assembled chivalry … and each made his vow … Continued