Think
Retirement
Now.

Not long ago, the Canadian dollar was killing the U.S. dollar and our friends from the North were buying up Arizona real estate. We look at a Wall Street Journal report on how the tables have turned. The economy of Calgary, especially, has been hit by the oil bust, and the dollar is now killing the Looney (Canadian dollar.)  Alert U.S. investors are finding bargains in untouchable areas like Banff National Park. Then, we review what experts are calling an “earnings recession” among key big cap corporations. Rather than being helped, they are being HURT by the strong dollar overseas.

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The break up of Met Life was a surprise to many investors and annuity holders. The Wall Street Journal has some background in a special report and some comparisons to AIG. Steve reviews 3 important points for consumers comparing annuities with a key mistake to avoid.

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Once upon a time, dividend stock investing was the only way to invest in the stock market. Before the days of computers, automated trading systems, discount brokerages, and all the other technologies that have made stock investing accessible to almost everyone, stock prices just plain didn’t move very much. The 1950s to mid-1980s were flat and down much of the time, but dividend investors kept getting rich slow.  Steve and Sinclair dig into what is most important about selecting dividend paying stocks–no matter what markets are doing. Then in the Q & A, angel investor Bobby Martin, author of the Hockey Stick Principles joins the A Team for insights into how small businesses turn the corner and experience exponential growth, IF, they get these things right.

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You think you have it bad with 1% CDs and 0.025% money markets? If you lived in Europe, you’d be thrilled.

In the topsy-turvy world of negative interest rates, the ECB’s deposit rate is minus 0.2%. Two-year German bonds are now yielding minus 0.4%.

Bond yields across the eurozone have tumbled, meaning investors are effectively paying a fee to have their money stored. Now, in a very literal sense, they’d be making more in the mattress. Steve and Sinclair review a Wall Street Journal report on the state of interest rates going into 2016. How will it affect you and your investments?

In the Q & A, CPA Nick Stefaniak joins the A-Team to answer questions on “what happens if your parents or an ex-spouse dies owing a bunch of back taxes?” Are you liable? Always? Sometimes? Join us–Nick has the answers.

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In the past 12 months, companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 have doled out nearly $1 trillion to shareholders in the form of both dividends and stock buybacks, the highest level since 2007. For years, hedge fund managers have been big proponents of share buybacks.

Hedge fund managers are suddenly changing their tunes.

They know that the economy will begin to affect the stock market more and more as the effect of buybacks gets watered down. When the only objective is higher stock price, money management suffers at major corporations.

U.S. corporations have taken on record levels of debt for all the wrong reasons–they borrow the money at two or three percent, then turn around and buy back shares to shrink the supply. Even though the demand for a stock may stay flat, the lower supply can raise the stock price. Corporations are no longer using the money to expand or create jobs, which is bad for long term trends. Steve and Sinclair review a timely article by Sarah Max of Barrons on the subject.

In the Q & A, Steve answers some hard questions on annuities and income planning, clearing up some important aspects of when annuities may or may not be appropriate.

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Daily IQ Retirement Brief 8/22/25

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Daily IQ Retirement Brief 9/3/25

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Is A.I. a passing fad, and therefore too risky? Or is it the basis of the FOURTH Industrial Revolution in America and here to stay?  Answers for you in the Market Intel Segment. THEN , are women really more risk averse than men? On today’s show, Steve reveals some statistics that may shock you, and how to make sure you are on track to live a “Work Optional” retirement….  MASTERING MONEY is on the air!!!

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The 60-40 stock bond strategy for retirement has had several terrible years. It is like the 4 % withdrawal rule—it can work in a perfect world, but we are no longer in a perfect world…have you noticed?  The 60-40 portfolio had its worst year in history last year reports the Wall Street Journal. We’ll review the important points of that report in the Market Intel segment, then Shelley Grandidge joins us…MASTERING MONEY is on the air!!!

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American homeowners are finally digging out of the hole created by the housing crisis says the Wall Street Journal, but their housing wealth is playing a much smaller role in the overall economy than it did before the downturn.

Home equity has roughly doubled to $12.1 trillion since house prices hit bottom in 2011, according to the Federal Reserve. As a result, a key gauge of housing wealth—homeowners’ equity as a share of real-estate values—is nearing the point seen a decade ago, before the downturn.

That would have resulted in a double-barreled boost to the economy by providing owners with more money to tap and making them feel more flush and likely to spend. But today, that new-found wealth has had little effect on behavior. There seems to be a reluctance to take out home equity loans. Lines of credit and cash-out refinances are higher than last year, but are still depressed, according to bankers. Steve and Sinclair review the trends in multiple areas.

In the Q & A Segment, CFP®, CIMA® Murray Titterington with IQ Wealth brings up to date on final changes in Social Security and tax saving opportunities that have been extended for 2015 and 2016.

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