Should You Retire Abroad?
A key factor in retirement happiness is where you retire. Familiarity, the relationships, and other factors tend to keep us planted at home when we retire. Most American retirees plan to spend their leisure years somewhere in the United States. However, a stateside retirement is not the only option. If...
Beware of MLPs in ETF Wrappers: AMLP
Note: Please also read the ALPS response to this article. Many investors have been looking forward to the day when they could buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF) containing a basket of Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs). I am not one of them. Although I generally prefer ETFs over ETNs (exchange-traded...
Van Eck Challenges Emerging Global Advisors for India Small Cap Dominance
Yesterday (8/25/10), Van Eck launched Market Vectors India Small-Cap Index ETF (SCIF), the second ETF to target India Small-Caps in as many months. Foreign single-country small cap funds are a relatively new growth area for the ETF industry. This marks the first time ETF investors will have a choice...
Emerging Market Telecom May Be Better Than U.S. (TLK)
Data point after data point shows plenty of reason for concern about the U.S. economy. Consumer sentiment, manufacturing activity, jobless claims, home sales, GDP, you name it: when the data disappoints – as it has recently – stocks suffer. The U.S. isn’t the only victim. Canada...
Book Review: The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide
My friend and colleague, Dr. Martin Weiss, wrote an excellent book last year which rapidly climbed the best-seller lists. The title is both lengthy and provocative: The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide: Protect Your Savings, Boost Your Income, and Grow Wealthy Even In The Worst Of Times. As you...
Grail and RiverPark To Liquidate Two ETFs (RPQ and RFF)
“By all appearances, the marketplace is not ready for these sector funds” stated the August 20 press release from Grail Advisors. It’s refreshing to see an honest statement on a subject that often falls victim to the spin machines. Shareholders of Grail RP Technology ETF (RPQ) or Grail RP Financials...
WMCR: Trying to Cheat Deathwatch
Representatives of most ETF firms don’t like seeing their products on ETF Deathwatch, although some follow the “any publicity is good publicity” theory. Then there is Claymore, a firm that seems to take avoiding ETF Deathwatch to great extremes. Last Friday (8/20), a Claymore press release trumpeted...
Registered Rep On The ETF Deathwatch
Registered Rep – The Source for Investment Professionals interviewed me for an August 11, 2010 article on exchange-traded funds that are struggling and may not survive. The article by Stan Luxenberg, On The ETF Death Watch, includes data and examples from my August ETF Deathwatch report as well as analysis...
FLAT Has Your Back Amid Flattening Yield Curve
There’s been a lot of talk recently about a flattening yield curve, a condition where the yields on short-term and long-dated Treasuries converge. This is especially bad news for banks because a major source of profits for money-center banks is the ability to borrow money at short-term rates and...
Claymore Closing Four ETFs: EXB, ROB, CRO, and IRO
Claymore Securities announced August 13, 2010 its intent to close and liquidate four ETFs with the last day of trading set for September 10, 2010. I advise all shareholders to avoid the liquidation process by selling their shares on the open market prior to the de-listing date. Be sure to use a limit...
