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Monthly Archives: November 2009

Health Care, Politics and Education

November 30, 2009
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Health Care, Politics and Education

Today’s post contains a lot of little ideas that I assembled last week; in fact, I nearly titled it potpourri, but I was put off by the association with aromatic plant material, not to mention the fact that in French, the term means “rotten pot.” Upon further reflection, I realized the common theme uniting these elements is the theme of personal responsibility.  So here we go. Last week, I received a notice informing me that Cabot’s medical insurance premiums would go up next year.  No surprise there.  It happens every year.  What shocked me, however, was the amount of...

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Readers’ Respond to Stimulus Spending

November 28, 2009
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Readers’ Respond to Stimulus Spending

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you’ve been enjoying the festivities surrounded by loved ones (and that you’re over your food coma). Last week, I wrote about the misallocation of federal stimulus funds in Massachusetts and I received a lot of really great comments from readers. I’m re-printing some of the best below. Enjoy! If you missed last week’s post, you can read it here. Add your comment here if you haven’t yet! — Elyse: Thank you so much for writing that. It brought tears to my eyes. Doesn’t seem fair but that is the way it is. Nice to take...

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Franklin Resources: My Favorite Bull Market Stock

November 27, 2009
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Franklin Resources: My Favorite Bull Market Stock

Here are the most impressive stock market-related numbers I know of:  8, 6, 5, 2, 1, 6, 2, 8, 3 and 1.  What are they?  Those are the number of stocks on the NYSE hitting new 52-week lows during the past couple of weeks.  In our very long history of data (going back into the 1960s), our studies show that when the number of new lows is this small, the market has basically zero chance of entering a prolonged decline. In other words, this remains a bull market.  And while I’m seeing fewer stocks that really jump off the...

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What are the Characteristics of Winning Investors?

November 26, 2009
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What are the Characteristics of Winning Investors?

Building on what I wrote earlier today, I believe there’s a misconception about what makes a truly successful money manager … whether that person is managing his own money, or other people’s. To the man-on-the-street, the qualities that make a successful investor are usually high intelligence–often demonstrated through an MBA and/or a resume chock-full of jobs at places with great reputations–and the ability to foretell the future … the so-called “Seeing Eye” of investing. In my opinion, that is totally missing the boat. First of all, in the stock market, you’re probably better off having a master’s in psychology...

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What are the Characteristics of Winning Quarterbacks?

November 26, 2009
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What are the Characteristics of Winning Quarterbacks?

Happy Thanksgiving! I wish you a happy, healthy and safe holiday surrounded by friends and loved ones. — For the first time in a couple of years, I went to New England Patriots game last weekend.  It was a thrill not just for this huge football fan to see the game in person, but also to tailgate and enjoy the company of some good friends.  It was a great time … especially as the Pats beat their division rivals, the New York Jets, 31-14. Anyway, with a smile on my face, I was driving into work on Monday, listening...

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