The 30,000 members of the B.C. public service recently received an email from the government's pension manager: Stop calling us - your pension is safe! Furthermore, they stated, we are looking to buy stocks in this environment, in order to "normalize" our equities exposure (currently at 62% ... Read more

I have read a considerable amount over the past while on the genesis of the current crisis. Some blame CEO stock options in creating a risk-free environment to create an illusion of short-term wealth (at the expense of real long term wealth); Others have blamed greed in general; While still ... Read more

Random Roger did a posting last week about thinking contrarian, after large moves in the market. Obviously, perfect timing remains, as elusive as ever, yet the message is sound . Although the world hasn't changed notably since August, the stock market acts like it has - witness the ginormous mo ... Read more

The following provides links to the Market Tremors series, which is an examination of the factors you should consider when preparing a plan to invest in stocks. It was written in September 2008, a period of extraordinary volatility, as the credit crisis unfolded as Congress considered whether to ... Read more

Market Exposure This is the final installment, 6, in the Market Tremors series. In prior postings, I stated that few retail investors ask and answer the right questions before portfolio construction, with the result that they panic during both bear and bull markets. This panic, whether ... Read more

Holdings This is 5 in the Market Tremors series. In prior postings, I stated that few retail investors ask and answer the right questions before portfolio construction, with the result that they panic during both bear and bull markets. This panic, whether due to significant market decl ... Read more

Much has been said and made about Warren Buffett's $5 Billion purchase into Goldman Sachs. There's no doubt that Mr. Buffett is a very cagey investor, having waited until Goldman was (effectively) permitted to turn itself into a commercial bank. This lowered the risk of Goldman Sachs measurably, s ... Read more

Emotions This is 4 in the Market Tremors series. Previously, I stated that few retail investors ask and answer the right questions before portfolio construction, with the result that they panic during both bear and bull markets. This panic, whether due to significant market decline or po ... Read more

Breaking news: Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, bailout. Morgan Stanley (MS) and Goldman Sachs (GS) saved, read here . Can you say "ka-ching" to the bailout price? ... just keeps rising. Just like Morgan Stanley's and Goldman Sachs stocks will on Monday. In more news involving prudent ... Read more

Rationale This is 3 in the Market Tremors series. I previously stated that few retail investors ask and answer the right questions before portfolio construction, with the result that they panic during both bear and bull markets. This panic, whether due to significant market decline or po ... Read more