Don’t Let Your Employer Treat You to Disability Insurance
It's very rare when a company offers a free benefit that an employee should pass on... 401k matching contribution? – Yes Please! Three weeks paid vacation? – Don't mind if I do! Group disability income insurance – Um, no thanks,…
Don’t Ignore Your Female Financial Intuition
By nature, women tend to see the big picture when making decisions - big and small. So why is it that we often drag our feet when it comes to planning for our financial future? 80% of women will be…
“Citigroup” – What’s in a Name?
Investors appear to be punishing stocks that played inauspicious roles in the credit crisis of 2008. One stock in particular, Citigroup, stands out as a world class bank with a global presence and a strong brand. In my view, Citigroup…
Happy Birthday = Happier Retirement!
What do Jon Bon Jovi, Jon Stewart and Chris Cordaro all have in common? Rock star status? Good sense of humor? New Jersey residents? All true, but additionally, these gentleman were also all born in 1962, which means they will…
Investors are Their Own Worst Enemy
When market conditions generate extreme levels of optimism or pessimism, behavioral market timing mistakes are amplified. Investor confidence tends to rise after stocks do well, reinforcing the behavior to buy stocks when they are expensive. Similar behavioral forces work in…
Consider a Pre-Nup Before Changing Status to “Married”
There aren't too many people who can say within one week: I turned 28 My net worth grew to about $20 billion I got married Those seem to be lofty enough goals for a lifetime, but Mark Zuckerberg checked off…
Facebook Faceplants – Largest Ever Web IPO a Loser for Early Investors
Facebook's IPO priced on May 17th. When it went public at $38 per share, it became the biggest internet IPO ever, so it has generated a significant amount of interest. This high level of interest has resulted in a very…
Rip Van Winkle’s Mortgage Mess
If Rip Van Winkle purchased an average home with an average mortgage 30 years ago, waking up today he'd be happy to know that his debt is paid, but he'd also be shocked to know how much interest he paid…
Can Competitors Take a Bite out of Apple’s Profit Margins?
Apple is now the biggest company in the S&P 500. The last three tech companies to reach Apple's position had a hard time maintaining it - Microsoft, Cisco and Intel all saw their stock prices drop dramatically afterwards. Interestingly enough,…
The Continuing Evolution of the Pharmaceutical Industry: Career Challenges and Opportunities
Everyone working in the pharmaceutical industry cannot help but notice that it is undergoing a vigorous evolution. Much has been written about how pharmaceutical companies will need to change the way they do business in order to remain profitable in…