Anthony Isola

Charlatans, Carnival Barkers, and Liars

Bubbles and manias have no shortage of charlatans. Scoundrels often fuel the blow off breakouts that end in an ocean of tears. We are currently observing financial carnival barkers emerge from the shadows in this next stage of cryptocurrency mania. Sightings of “free” crypto classes are turning up as click bait. In the words of…

A Financial Predator’s Pinata

The little guy always seems to get screwed. This is the case regarding 401(k) plans for small businesses, compared to their larger company counterparts. Darla Mercado points out this disturbing fact: “However, small businesses generally don’t have the same bargaining power as employers with large retirement plans. In 2014, plans with less than $10 million…

Small Gains + Large Risks = Terrible Results

Investors constantly try to grab nickels in front of steamrollers. Trading dollars for nickels will never make you rich. Poor risk management goes for other parts of our lives. A trainer at CrossFit helped prove this hypothesis. Yes, I go there. I don’t mention it much for two reasons: #1 –  I suck at it….

It’s Monday Again…..When Is My Retirement?

Good Morning! Here are this week’s retirement links. Have a great day! Tax Bill Passed By Senate Backs Off 457(b), 403(b) Plan Changes – planadviser What To Buy Recent Retirees To Transform Their Quality Of Life – MarketWatch Divorce After 50: What I Wish I Had Known Beforehand – MarketWatch Ready to Retire? Here’ a…

We Are All at Record Highs

Why do people freak out when the stock market hits and roars past previous highs? In other aspects of our lives, we are constantly surpassing old peaks. Think of our age, each second we continue to breathe we smash through our previous records of longevity. The same goes for the planet we inhabit. Life did…

The Biggest Market Failure of All

    Picking the wrong parents is our nation’s biggest market failure. This “rigged” market could lead our country down a path filled with unprecedented turmoil and social chaos. The top 20% of our population has a vise-like grip on our economy (and the wealth it generates) at an unprecedented level. This group is defined…

It’s Monday Again…..When Is My Retirement?

Good Morning! Here are this week’s retirement links. Have a great day!   401(k) Managed Account Push Rife With Conflicts Of Interest – InvestmentNews Bill Sweet’s Year End Checklist – The Big Picture Three Keys To Happiness – HumbleDollar Even A $1 Million Retirement Nest Egg Isn’t Enough Anymore – CNBC Unions Could Be ‘Next…

There Are No Awards for Martyrs, Just Tombstones

Dina here … A little more than two months before my due date, panic set in.  Though I had much experience as an aunt and babysitter, and in spite of my life-long fantasies of motherhood, the moment was quickly approaching where my life would change forever. Change, even joyous change, can be terrifying.  In my case,…

The Most Ridiculous Statement in Finance

Markets don’t exist in a vacuum. “One hit wonders” love to make things simple. “The market fell/gained today because _____” is the most ridiculous statement in finance. Confusing a closed-ended science experiment with the reactions of billions of market variables is a death sentence for investors. Steven Johnson’s interesting book, The Invention of Air, illustrates this…

Rage Against The Fee Machine

Investment fees slash and burn retirement portfolios returns like napalm dropped on a jungle. In the words of Kyle Reese, describing the relentless Terminator from the classic 1984 film: “You still don’t get it, do you? He’ll find her! That’s what he does! That’s ALL he does! You can’t stop him! He’ll wade through you……