Third Quarter 2011|Jim Williams| The newest Nobel Prize (shared) winner in economics, Thomas J. Sargent, seems to be a man of few words. His research on cause and effect in the macroeconomy focuses on expectations; how they are formed, how they matter, and how they might be measured in macroeconomic models. The effort toward extending theories of expectations is particularly relevant these days.
Second Quarter 2011|Jim Williams| We are all being bombarded with concerns about increased debt limit, not increased debt limit, bond rating agency threats, continued federal overspending, and on and on. As much as I assiduously avoid making predictions, I would like to address a few of these concerns.
First Quarter 2011|Jim Williams| Over the last several years, I’ve come to realize and recognize that I’m essentially an optimist. Whether this is by my essential nature or by the force of the professional position I’ve chosen; that of counseling others on investment matters and financial planning, I’m not sure. But I tend to think it is the former.
Third Quarter 2010|Jim Williams| The markets we’ve been through over the last three years have left investors uncertain and a bit shell shocked. Our intuition tells us that something has changed since we have just been through something big and ugly.
First Quarter 2010|Jim Williams| Zweig delves into the inner workings of the human brain as decisions about finances and money are processed. This is a fascinating subject.
Third Quarter 2009|Jim Williams| This last year has been a searing experience for investors (and investment advisors). The scary panic- driven declines from September into early March brought talk of a return to a Great Depression-like economy. Fear was palpable, and financial markets responded to the nightmare scenario by driving stocks to the lowest level in years.