Is Insurance a Good Investment?

By SETH STREETER AND BRAD STARK — Feb. 13, 2010

While the insurance industry, especially life companies, push insurance as an investment, we really believe it is more appropriate to look at this topic differently. Insurance is one of the most powerful tools you can have as part of your portfolio. ...

Geithner and Bernanke Get Slapped Around

By SETH STREETER AND BRAD STARK — Jan. 30, 2010

Earlier this week, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner stood in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to answer questions about the financial collapse and bailout decisions. He did not have a lot of fun. On Thursday, Federal Res ...

Biggest Tax Opportunity Ever?

By SETH STREETER AND BRAD STARK — Jan. 23, 2010

The US government is racking up debt faster than a speeding bullet and many are arguing that we are headed toward future tax increases. But effective this year for the first time in history, the IRS is allowing anyone and everyone to convert their re ...

The World Is Heating Up?

This week, Goldman Sachs released their 2010 global economic forecasts indicating solid overall growth. They estimate that the world economy as a whole should grow around 4.4% in 2010 and continue that trend into 2011 (see chart, “Real GDP Growth Forecasts”). The “BRIC” countries (Brazil, Russia, India & China) also referred to by many as “emerging market countries,” are expected to grow the most at over 9%. However, the United States is expected to have a rather tepid economic rebound ending up in the +2% range. For reference, economic growth between 3-5% is considered by many economists to be “healthy” and “sustainable.” When growth rates are too high or too low, they can come with a myriad of economic problems (i.e. currency valuations, hyper-inflation, pricing bubbles, manias, panics, deflation, etc.).