Blog

One of the great secrets of success in investing is that of persistence; defined as "firm or obstinate continuance on a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition." In this age of information overload, particularly in the area of investing, persistence has become considerably more difficult than it was 10 or 20 years ago. Throw into the mix an ever-expanding supply of 'financial advisors' backed by sophisticated marketing machines designing products to address today's 'opportunities' and its easy to see why staying the course is more difficult than ever.

Welcome to the Beacon Weekend Reader: A weekly compilation of interesting articles and videos designed to keep you informed and engaged in economics, personal finance and life. We hope you enjoy this week's edition. Please send us your thoughts on this week's articles and suggestions for future posts.

As you consider the question, do you compare yourself to others specifically, like say to the Joneses, or do you take a more general approach? Do you address wealth on a scale of ability to buy and do the things you want or do you dwell on security? Perhaps you consider friendships, connections, health, talents, shelter and provision as great wealth. Or maybe you don't ever think about it. Imagine that.

Welcome to the Beacon Weekend Reader: A weekly compilation of interesting articles and videos designed to keep you informed and engaged in economics, personal finance and life. We hope you enjoy this week's edition. Please send us your thoughts on this week's articles and suggestions for future posts.

The US economy continues to plow persistently ahead despite the strong headwinds of high unemployment and restrictive fiscal (government spending) policy. The economy added 195,000 jobs in June and has added an average of more than 200,000 each month this year. But the improvement in jobs, while steady, is not so robust that the Fed is going to soon reduce its generous stimulus measures of quantitative easing (QE3) or very low interest rates.

Welcome to the Beacon Weekend Reader: A weekly compilation of interesting articles and videos designed to keep you informed and engaged in economics, personal finance and life. We hope you enjoy this week's edition. Please send us your thoughts on this week's articles and suggestions for future posts.

For much of this year a powerfully rising stock market seemed immune to deteriorating economic fundamentals. The most plausible reason was the Fed pumping billions in liquidity into the economy through their quantitative easing program known as QE3. But last week's markets highlighted some flaws in that logic.

How we hate the idea of removing a bandage. It so nicely covers the damage and the pain underneath that we soon prefer the façade to the reality. We especially fear its removal as we know the adhesive will only reluctantly and painfully give up its sticky hold on our very sensitive skin. Knowing the quick yank is best, we often resort to the painfully slow tugging approach.