Executive Insights

Consumer spending is one of the main drivers of our economy, but inflation and higher interest rates seem to be taking their toll. And while this may sound like exactly what the Federal Reserve is hoping for—less consumers borrowing and spending to help slow inflation—Americans are also reportedly starting to fall behind on payments and...

In September 2023, China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China, added 840,000 ounces of gold to its reserves. This marked the 11th consecutive month that the central bank has increased its store of physical gold. China is far from alone. Central banks around the world have been purchasing massive quantities of gold fairly...

An individual retirement account (IRA) is a financial tool used by millions of people to save money for the years after they are done working. But what if you don’t work outside the home? What if you’re a spouse who decided to focus on taking care of your home and children? There are multiple types of IRAs, one of which is known as a...

A series of banking closures at the beginning of the year, which included the second-, third-, and fourth-largest bank failures in U.S. history, has left a long shadow over the banking sector. And if recent reports are to be believed, trouble in the banking sector may not be over. Thankfully, with a little research and preparation, we...

In today’s economic landscape, we’re surrounded by uncertainty. For example, we’re facing yet another indicator that our economy may be headed for a “hard landing” from high inflation. On October 4, 2023, the yield on the ten-year U.S. treasury bond reached its highest level since the subprime mortgage crisis began in 2007. According to...

Regular readers of “Gold News and Views” know I like to stay up to date on the news. Lately, a particular story has made a splash because of its surprising nature. The membership-based retailer Costco is selling 1-oz. gold bars to its members on their website—and they’re selling out within hours. As someone who has spent many years in...

Efficient frontier is a financial strategy that’s all about gauging return versus risk. It’s a concept that is used by financial advisors to inform which assets or asset classes should be included in a portfolio. The goal of efficient frontier is to maximize returns for the expected level of risk involved. While it may sound complex,...

Once again, the U.S. Congress is embroiled in a fight over funding that could lead to a government shutdown. And according to Moody’s Investors Service, which Bloomberg notes is “the only remaining major credit grader to assign the U.S. a top rating,” another shutdown could mean a loss in that top rating. But what does that really mean,...

Each year, the world in which we live becomes more expensive. That’s simply the nature of inflation—and in many experts’ opinions, inflation is a necessary part of an expanding economy. But just how fast inflation moves is something that our central bank, the Federal Reserve, continues to try and get under wraps. And in August 2023, it...

Experts Suggest Stocks May Be Overpriced, Federal Reserve May “Tank” Economy It’s never a bad idea to enjoy the good times. We work hard to build the lives we lead, and when we see positive results from that hard work, I think it’s important to take time to appreciate the rewards we’ve earned. But sometimes, it seems, times can be a...

If you have accumulated wealth, you may be wondering if you should focus on preserving that wealth or accumulating more. While many people may automatically think accumulating more wealth is the way to go, that may not always be the case for every financial situation. It may be beneficial to understand the key differences between wealth...