Blog

Does it Really Matter? How do you write about Japan and its economy when the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami is expected to exceed 10,000? After all, nothing really matters like life, liberty and family. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan.… More >>

What Gets Us into Trouble as Investors Is What Keeps Us Alive As Humans Inductive reasoning is one of the many thought processes we use today to make decisions and has helped us survive throughout our history. It's our ability to make judgments (or should I say… More >>

  Sesame Street takes on the Federal Budget   It has finally gotten to me. I have seen and heard so much about budget cutting and deficits and I suspect you have too. What's the big deal about all of this and what is the possible impact on our markets and investments?  … More >>

Departure Speed While scrolling through the hundreds of tweets I receive on a daily basis; I found a nice chart that truly keeps things in perspective for me and I hope you as well. The stock market is up 100% and that's amazing (Reference 1). The Fed has done it's… More >>

"Either we change the way we live or change the way they live"- Don Rumsfeld   With all that is going on in the Middle East I can’t help but reflect on an asset class that has been out of favor the last few years: energy. Looking at the chart below, out of all US Equity… More >>

Some things in life really count and should be counted, some things in life really count and can't be counted There are two sets of data that I want to bring to your attention in this very brief blog (as it is Super Bowl Sunday). I have a Super Bowl diet allocation of… More >>

Two Sides of the Same Coin This week the news was dominated by the turmoil enveloping Egypt, the geopolitical center of the Middle East. What is occurring shares many of the same characteristics of the popular revolt in Iran during the 70's. In that instance, extremists… More >>

Objects in the Rear View Mirror Are they closer than they appear? Retail sales rose 7.9% on a year over year basis for 2010. Retail sales are up 13.5% from the bottom and up 0.2% above the pre-recession peak in November 2007. The consumer is back! Here is a recent quote… More >>

Investor Class vs. Working Class The economy is expected to possibly grow at a rate of 3.5% in 2011. By comparison, to achieve stable employment, a GDP of 2.7% would probably be necessary. Clearly the estimates being put forward suggest a significant improvement in the… More >>

New Year's Resolutions Our focus for the New Year. Call it a recommitment, an affirmation, or simply stating the obvious. It's clear to me that in order for Phillips and Company to thrive and grow we need to make a couple of New Year's Resolutions. It's not to eat… More >>