Great economic news yesterday. The Census Department announced that median household income rose 5.2% in 2015. That’s much higher than expected, and the biggest jump since the Great Recession ended. What does it mean? First, that other signs of wage growth aren’t an illusion. Lower unemployment tends to put upward… Read More

Despite advances elsewhere, U.S. remains the dominant producer with an unmatched range of investment opportunities. Read More

Ah, football. Still savoring that first weekend.But my pigskin party was interrupted yesterday by the latest evidence that the average American family is woefully unprepared for retirement.The Economic Policy Institute, CNBC reported, found the average retirement savings of all U.S. families is around $96,000, which is low, and even… Read More

After stocks nosedived last Friday following hints that the Federal Reserve would raise rates, every word from Fed Governor Lael Brainard’s speech Monday were scoured, sifted and sniffed for meaning.Fortunately, sulky investors received this pacifier: Brainard said the case for a preemptive rate hike was “less compelling.” For clarity, in Fedspeak… Read More

Unemployment is low. Wages are rising. Consumer spending is up. Good news for retailers, right?Not necessarily. Plenty of retailers are getting hammered, and so are their stocks.Times like these are ripe with opportunity, especially for an analyst who knows how to make money on both winners and losers in an… Read More

Investors may have some big decisions to make in the next few days as the stock market reacts to an increasingly likely rate hike from the Fed, perhaps as soon as next week. So, in this column, let’s take a look at the stock market and identify the major reason why… Read More

The Enbridge-Spectra mega-merger has left unitholders of the latter’s MLP subsidiary wondering what’s next. Read More

Enbridge’s audacious bid for Spectra will create a continent-beating midstream empire, but leverage is still a big concern. Read More

Like most people, I listen to music while on the treadmill at the gym. What I don’t enjoy is untangling the knot of headphone cords that somehow forms during the five minute walk from my house to the YMCA.It’s not a major aggravation, but I have considered wireless headphones to… Read More

You know that song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”?For many of us, it’s not about the Christmas season. It’s about a season that begins tonight.Because tonight the NFL season kicks off (Broncos versus Panthers, 8:30 p.m. on NBC).Look, I love baseball; its near-daily games are stitched into… Read More