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Mom and Pop retail investors who have been holding municipal and corporate bonds are about to get whacked. All signs point to significant declines in bond values. Look out for increased volatility and limited liquidity. Retail investors beware. The junk bond market this week took a hit. “Investors pulled $2.56 […]
The Puerto Rico economy keeps spiraling downward. With fears of bond defaults and/or restructurings and bondholders fighting each other for priority of payments, it’s like watching an ancient Greek tragedy unfold with the knowledge that a king or a queen, at the play’s end, will wind up with a knife […]
For investors who suffer stock market losses as a result of improper conduct by their brokers, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration process provides a relatively efficient method for seeking financial compensation. FINRA is an independent non-profit organization that Congress has tasked with regulating the U.S. securities industry. Its […]
As one might expect, there are numerous laws and regulations that apply to the sale of stocks and other investment opportunities. While most of these laws are intended – in one way or another – to protect the interests of individual investors, understanding them and the ways they interact to […]
Are stockbrokers fiduciaries who put their clients’ best interests first, or are they simply salesmen, like peddlers of used cars or vacuum cleaners? It may come as a surprise, but they are salesmen that work on commission, same as the guy flogging vacuums door to door. A registered investment adviser, […]
As children, most of us were taught to respect our elders. This simple yet sage advice eludes stockbrokers who prey upon the elderly. Remember, the oldest Americans, after decades of work to accumulate wealth, are often the most vulnerable to friendly sounding financial advice. With yields on bank certificates of […]
When you suspect that your stock market or other investment losses are the result of something other than ordinary market forces, it is important to take action promptly. You will want to try to protect what’s left, and in some circumstances, a delay can make it more difficult to pursue […]
Since at least 2012, when the three major rating agencies began downgrading Puerto Rico bonds, it’s been clear that Puerto Rico’s economy and bondholders were in serious trouble. If you are an investor in Puerto Rico bonds or closed-end bond funds, buckle up. It appears that the finish is very […]
As investors in the stock market, we are told to be prepared to experience losses from time to time. Brokers cannot predict the future, and with diversification comes the expectation that overall gains will exceed overall losses over the long haul. With these thoughts in mind, it can often be […]
Financial advisors have been pushing complex investment products to their yield-starved retail investors. Such opaque and complex products have names like structured products, equity-indexed annuities, leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds and alternative mutual funds. Notice the abundance of hyphens in such investments. Maybe a good rule of thumb for Mom […]