The COVID Effect on Supply and Demand
Much has been written about the COVID experience from a medical health standpoint. Let’s talk about the impact on the economy. COVID was first recorded in Wuhan, China. Wuhan is a factory floor for...
ECB Press Release February 2, 2023 – What Has Changed?
Summary Decided to raise the three key ECB interest rates by 50 basis points; accordingly, the interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility...
FOMC, February 2, 2023, Press Release – What has changed?
Summary: Modest growth in spending and production. (change) Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. (No Change) Inflation remains has eased somewhat...
Philip Chao featured in CNBC article “2022 Was the Worst-Ever Year for Bonds.”
Bonds are supposed to be an asset class that counteracts the volatility of stocks, especially on the downside. Well, that did not happen in 2022 which led to the pronouncement of the death of the...
ECB Press Release December 15, 2022 – What Has Changed?
Summary Decided to raise the three key ECB interest rates by 50 basis points; accordingly, the interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility...
FOMC, December 14, 2022, Press Release – What has changed?
Summary: Modest growth in spending and production have softened. (No change) Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. (No Change) Inflation remains...
Philip Chao Featured in CNBC Article "Robin Hood to pay a 1% 'Match' on Customer Contributions to Retail IRAs"
Free Toasters to Free 1% Match Four decades ago, savings and loans and banks lured customers to deposit their money by giving toasters away. Today, we are hearing a free 1% "match" for encouraging...
ESG Factors Can Be Incorporated when Selecting Plan Investments
Please access our summary of the Labor Department’s long awaited final rule on Financial Factors in Selecting Plan Investments here. We find the approach in the investment selection process for...
Philip Chao featured in CNBC article "Retirement savers seek safe havens within their 401(k) plans. They may regret it later."
Key Points Eighteen of 21 trading days in October saw 401(k) investors favor fixed income (like stable value, money market and bond funds) versus stock funds, according to Allight Solutions....
Investing in Current and New Energy
Energy transition to “new energy” is an expansive topic that is decades in the making and will be decades more before we really can transition. So far, the problem has been the idea that there...