Juggling Dynamite

If you haven’t seen this excellent Frontline report (originally released in April 2013), there was an encore presentation of it this week. Critical issues for financial market participants to comprehend.

Retirement is big business in America, but is the system costing workers and retirees more than what they’re getting in return, asks FRONTLINE correspondent Martin Smith. Here is a direct video link.

And now that the Canadian market has this month finally reclaimed its bubble peak from June 2008–and the few who were able to hang on through 50%+ losses, have now spent 6 long years making back their losses–the question to ask all those confident financial advisers today is, “ok, so what’s the plan to avoid repeating that painful cycle all over again?” Remember we are all 6 years older now, 6 years less time to waste in a journey to financial security.

Robert Shiller, Yale University professor of economics, explains his “Titianic” economic theory for why the stock, bond and housing markets all look pricey today. Here is a direct video link.

He points out that historically “there are always special factors” to argue why ‘this time is different’ and price to earnings ratios should remain permanently higher than their 144 year average. (Until they mean revert way below average once more of course)

“Stocks, bonds, real estate. How can it be that everything is expensive?” QE-seats on the Titanic everyone? Your friendly broker/dealer/financial advisers are all just itching to help you pick your seat. Step on up! Maybe you can enjoy the ride a little longer before all the passengers plunge below the waves. PE in blue below, interest rates in grey.

Nomi Prins talked about her book, All the Presidents’ Bankers: The Hidden Alliances that Drive American Power, in which she explores the multi-generational marital and protégé relationships in the financial and political worlds that she argues are the basis of power and influence in the U.S. She spoke with “In Bed with Wall Street” author and blogger Larry Doyle.  Here is a direct video link.

The rest of us and our democracy itself, continue to pay a heavy cost for revering bankers and allowing them to operate above the Rule of Law.