The Biggest Expense for Baby Boomers Over the Age of 50 Is Not Health Care...

Housing-related costs consumed close to half of Baby Boomers total expenses in 2009.

Americans 50 to 64 spent a median of $18,828, or 47% of their total expenses, on mortgages or rent, as well as insurance, property taxes and repairs.

Economy Hamstrung by Soaring Regulation Costs...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, March 9, the S&P 500 closed @ 1371, and that was...
  
    +6.5% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1287.
    +9.0% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1258.
    +2.7% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1335.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS BULLISH 
and the LONG-Term trend is BULLISH.

The Greater Fool Theory Explained...

Quote of The Day: How Gasoline Prices Impact Consumer Spending...

"Every penny increase in the price of gas at the pump equates to a loss of $1.0 t0 $1.5 billion in lost consumer spending in other areas."

Bloomberg News

Consumer Sentiment Is Improving...

August low was 55.7.


Latest reading is 69.7.

Euro-Zone Debt Exploded in 2011...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, March 2, the S&P 500 closed @ 1370, and that was...
  
    +6.4% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1287.
    +9.0% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1256.
    +3.4% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1324.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS BULLISH 
and the LONG-Term trend is BULLISH.

22% of U.S. Homeowners Underwater...

Quote of The Day: Recession On The Horizon?...

“When underlying growth slows to this degree, a recession always follows. Basically, growth has flatlined."

Lakshman Achuthan, co-founder of the Economic Cycle Research Institute

U.S. Life Expectancy Reaches New High of 78.7 Years, Thanks to Rising GDP...

Life expectancy at birth of Americans has increased by
+10.5 years in the last 60 years (i.e., 1950-2010), reaching 78.7 years today. Thus since 1950, life expectancy at birth has increased by +2 months every year.

Source: Center for Disease Control

The Eldery Can't Afford To Retire...

 The labor-force participation rate of people 75 and older is the highest since 1966.

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, February 24, the S&P 500 closed @ 1366, and that was...
  
    +7.4% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1272.
    +8.8% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1255.
    +3.9% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1314.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS BULLISH and the LONG-Term trend is BULLISH.

Reality Check!: Expectations vs. Reality

All About Bank On Yourself: A Worry-Free Retirement Plan...

60% of Baby Boomers Don't Have A Will and 80% Don't Have Long-Term Care Insurance...

While Productivity Soars, Inflation-Adjusted Wages Stagnate...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, February 17, the S&P 500 closed @ 1361, and that was...
  
    +7.1% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1271.
    +8.5% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1255.
    +4.8% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1299.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS BULLISH and the LONG-Term trend is BULLISH.

Attention Investors! Don't Do This...

Why The Welfare State Is Unsustainable...

Private Schools are OUT. State Schools are IN...

According to the College Board, tuition and fees at the average private college is $27,293. Tuition and fees at the average public university? $7,605.

Parents are discovering they can cover practically a child’s entire college education for what they’d pay for one year at a private university, which is probably why 44% of parents said they’re considering this option (up from 38% in 2007).

Global Debt Levels Threaten Economic Growth...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, February 10, the S&P 500 closed @ 1343, and that was...
  
    +5.9% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1268.
    +7.1% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1254.
    +4.2% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1288.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS BULLISH and the LONG-Term trend is BULLISH.

The Dollar In 1970 Is Only Worth 18 Cents Today...

Gross Domestic Income Is Not Keeping Pace with Inflation...

Gross Domestic Income (GDI), an alternative gauge of economic output to gross domestic product, shows the U.S. near a standstill. GDI — income received by U.S. households and businesses — rose +0.4% in the 3rd quarter 2011.

GDI should, in theory, be equal to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which rose +2.0%.

The discrepancy raises fears that 3rd-quarter growth was much slower than GDP figures suggest.

Asset Class Returns in 2011...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, February 3, the S&P 500 closed @ 1345, and that was...
  
    +6.1% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1268.
    +7.2% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1254.
    +4.4% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1288.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS BULLISH and the LONG-Term trend is BULLISH.

The Federal Reserve Is Abysmal At Forecasting GDP Growth and Inflation...

Not Even Germany Has Complied With European Union Debt Limits!

Quote of The Day: The Fed Is Concerned About A Japanese-Style Economy...

“The Fed outlook was so extreme they have to be worried about a Japanese-style no-growth deflationary environment. ”

Harvard Professor, Niall Ferguson

"The Fed has made it clear they intend to be accommodative and proactive, and now I can assume that 'short' rates will remain effectively zero for three years, rather than a year and a half."

Christopher Molumphy, Chief Investment Officer, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income.