tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23851469698776233722012-01-29T21:31:45.126-05:00It's your life. BE FREE.Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-37008666063552555532012-01-29T12:52:00.002-05:002012-01-29T14:04:55.620-05:00

Investing in this economy can be an intricate process given all of the confusing signals evident within the current global economy.  In an economy such as this, people try to pay off bad debts and increase savings as a means to "wait it out" before putting their capital back to work in the market again.  But this strategy seems to put the average citizen in a bad predicament because they

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-72668450240674237932012-01-28T18:43:00.003-05:002012-01-28T18:43:44.502-05:00

In today's economy, people are doing the best they can to stay afloat and make ends meet.  Every family (poor, middle-class, and rich) is suffering from the loss of wealth, loss of employment, underemployment, taxes or some other form of financial burden.  Not to mention political sophistry, corporate distrust, and a growing gap between the rich and poor brought on by the Federal Reserve.

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-54505711448033729192012-01-19T15:08:00.001-05:002012-01-19T15:14:35.462-05:00

Working in the cube has its perks...but ask yourself : 1. Am I reaching my potential? 2. Is this the same stinking cube I want to see for the next decade of my life? 3. Will I make more than enough money here? If your answer to these questions is no - then we have to reassess where we are in life and change course.  Don't let the cube hold you back from what you want to achieve in life.   Will

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-45689668611371013092012-01-19T11:12:00.001-05:002012-01-19T11:12:59.386-05:00

Funny money? 11 local currencies - BerkShares (1) - CNNMoney

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-89596018712492822962011-08-24T14:06:00.001-04:002011-08-24T14:06:42.637-04:00

Interesting article - (click here) The Fed seeks to revive the American economy at the expense of exporting inflation to emerging and poor nations.  Is this the late 1970s and early 1980s all over again?  No wonder Gold and other commodities are reaching record high prices.  On the contrary, if our government doesn't devalue our currency (along with our standard of living) - how else can our

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-878816162023822932011-07-21T14:04:00.001-04:002011-07-21T14:04:40.366-04:00

Unemployment is steadily between 8-9% and yet to no avail, the government keeps printing money with reckless abandon. While expanding the monetary supply is somewhat appreciative in that it diverted us from potentially another Great Depression, it also has its consequences (i.e., high gas prices and increasing costs for food, clothing, etc.). The Federal Reserve and FOMC (Federal Open Market

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-29011293035703955112011-06-28T12:48:00.000-04:002011-06-28T12:48:04.629-04:00

For those of you who are curious about how that 401K plan of yours is doing compared to the rest of the market.... Or maybe you would like to get an update on how your financial advisor is perceived in the community.... Please see link:  http://www.brightscope.com/ BE FREE

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-25493949134538406592011-06-21T00:10:00.000-04:002011-06-21T00:10:01.773-04:00

Greek Flag Don't push me, cause I'm close to the...EDGE.  I'm trying, not to lose my...HEAD!  ha, ha, ha, HA! This might remind some of you of a verse from a classic song "The Message" by GrandMaster Flash and the Furious Five of the 80s - but these lyrics, just like it did in the 80s, still describe the hard times experienced by certain individuals being shackled by poor living conditions

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-54430614094499199032011-06-17T08:38:00.000-04:002011-06-17T08:38:14.697-04:00

Where are the jobs?  Where is the economic recovery?  Why has so much money been spent by the Federal Reserve over the past 3 years and what has the money been spent on?  AND why can't the American people know about the hidden details about where our money has gone?  (i.e., "bailouts", QE1 and QE2 programs?) Doesn't it seem strange that the Democrats keep saying that "the economic recovery is

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-71594847175222401652011-06-10T13:49:00.000-04:002011-06-10T13:49:53.045-04:00

What happened to the bailout programs that were supposed to put the economy back on solid footing? Even after trillions of dollars spent – the unemployment rate is still edging higher, consumer confidence is low, and the threat of a “repeat recession” still looms. Have we put too much faith in our government? Absolutely. The market can usually correct itself over time without any assistance from

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-68284543541955928602011-06-02T10:00:00.000-04:002011-06-02T10:00:24.656-04:00

A very interesting video explaining very simply the devalue of our monetary system, deceptiveness, and fraudulent activity sold to the American public.  If you watch the video in its entirety, one can clearly see and interpret the current deception fabricated by our government today.  It's no secret as to why we're currently facing a national default as Congress squabbles over the 14+ trillion

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-3583825113022576702011-06-01T09:49:00.000-04:002011-06-01T09:49:30.542-04:00

If you need another reason to become an entrepreneur - please see the article below.  Risk = Reward in most cases....so while you're working that day job, please be sure to take a chance on yourself and start a business.  You have a better chance of success than you do in playing the lottery!  Take a few business courses and/or seminars...but if you can't afford this...YouTube offers several

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-65024677721955596642011-05-24T09:47:00.000-04:002011-05-24T09:47:24.047-04:00

Below is the link to an article for those of you who are looking for the best ways to give to your high school graduate.  This article provides one of the best alternatives to give to your graduate (or someone else's graduate) and avoid heavy taxation on financial gifts. http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/05/20/gifts-high-school-graduate/ BE FREE

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-56803837985841548132011-05-17T15:44:00.000-04:002011-05-17T15:44:34.555-04:00

A: Taxes and Inflation Americans are constantly struggling to make ends meet and to scrap together whatever they can to have some form of retirement if/when they’ll be able to retire. Retirement is possible; however, one must know what to do with one’s money in order to retire one day. One must be organized and have a plan for the future and not be ashamed to ask for help. Financial planning is

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-29668714224136235382011-05-10T15:40:00.000-04:002011-05-10T15:40:43.940-04:00

Times are hard for a lot of people – and it can be even harder when you are working 2 jobs, or maybe working a full-time job and attending school part-time, while maintaining your household and/or raising a family (or soon to begin a family). On top of all of this – there’s a need to manage your finances as well to be sure that you’re on track financially. Have you planned for retirement? Are you

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-53370012047286691092011-05-04T09:03:00.000-04:002011-05-04T09:03:32.066-04:00

5 Easy Steps To Becoming A Millionaire - Investopedia.comAn excerpt from one of my most favorite books on becoming wealthy....definitely a good read for those who aim to be wealthy.BE FREE

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-11247236400912984902011-05-02T15:39:00.000-04:002011-05-02T15:39:18.968-04:00

http://www.bnet.com/blog/entrepreneurs/facebook-deals-a-more-powerful-platform-for-small-business/1865 A very interesting article for small business owners or soon-to-be-small business owners! BE FREE

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-18572198916141105332011-04-29T14:55:00.000-04:002011-04-29T14:55:03.704-04:00

While today most of you are distracted by the Royal Wedding, Obama’s birth certificate, and all other nonsense that has absolutely nothing to do with yourself or your personal financial well-being...notwithstanding, I would think more of you should be concerned about how fast your dollar power is decreasing and why. Or perhaps you should be concerned about why 50% of Americans will not retire and

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-30431885229393430242011-04-24T15:02:00.000-04:002011-04-24T15:02:56.418-04:00

Have you noticed the big changes at the pump?  Or a decrease in your discretionary income because the cost for a gallon of gasoline is going up?  Some speculators say that we can expect to see $5 - $6/gallon this summer given that it is "driving season" and also hurricane season.  Some say prices are going up due to the Feds are pumping printing billions of dollars to prop up our economy to

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-11870394994570255802011-04-19T07:59:00.000-04:002011-04-19T07:59:01.652-04:00

Interesting article - it looks to downplay the downgrade of the US debt levels.  However, I think it is a very serious issue. http://www.businessinsider.com/newsflash-ratings-downgrades-do-not-equal-higher-interest-rates-2011-4 BE FREE

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-17473197384275777152011-04-17T22:20:00.000-04:002011-04-17T22:20:45.253-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, Mysha, my wife, asks me about what would be the best route to pay for our daughter's college expenses.  Considering that college tuition has been consistently rising twice the rate of inflation, by the time our kid reaches college age, it might be a real challenge for her to fund her own education...even with scholarships, pell grants, and whatever else she manages to scrap

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-67126716983326177132011-04-10T19:42:00.003-04:002011-04-10T19:51:38.439-04:00

Business Rx: Advice from seasoned entrepreneurs - The Washington Post: "Business Rx: Advice from seasoned entrepreneurs" Here's an article that I thought was very interesting. Entrepreneurship is necessary in your income portfolio. Having multiple streams of income is vital for anyone seeking to retire early and live comfortably in their "golden years". Here's some advice from the "pros" in

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-70206670328944009682011-04-08T08:57:00.003-04:002011-04-08T09:07:18.974-04:00

Definitely worth a shot!  Get your ideas out there! http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110407006338/en/MIT-100K-Entrepreneurship-Competition-Launches-Inaugural-YouPitch BE FREE

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-87090179711115205112011-04-06T16:07:00.001-04:002011-05-08T09:56:14.822-04:00

Gold, silver futures rise on inflation fears Metals Stocks - MarketWatch: "Gold gains, silver up 2% on inflation fears Silver settles at 31-year high" Interesting article... The Feds printing money causes the dollar t0 depreciate, not to mention our government incessant spending and our increasing deficits also causes the global market to lose "faith" in our ability to repay our debts. No wonder

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-34476086344663031412011-04-04T23:34:00.001-04:002011-04-05T09:28:11.244-04:00

Just a quick thought of mine…. I’m still a strong advocate for introducing commodity indices to your portfolio in the coming years ahead…in addition to allocating at least 5-10% of your wealth to physical commodities (i.e., gold and silver coins) to have in your possession just in case. The way the Feds are debasing our currency is detrimental to our financial well-being long term.  What I find

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-84434474587066942422011-01-07T10:47:00.000-05:002011-01-07T10:47:54.620-05:00

What’s all of this nonsense being debated in Congress about the best way to revive the US economy? If 70% of our economy is driven by consumer spending – then why not give bailout money and tax cuts directly to the consumers?? So far – Congress has given taxpayer money directly to the major banks and big businesses in an effort to either increase lending for consumers/small businesses and to

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-78606031449379489282010-11-10T09:01:00.000-05:002010-11-10T09:01:09.385-05:00

America is somewhat curbing its dependence on foreign oil by investing in “clean energy” and by making improvements in its infrastructure. Our historical “oil-for-dollars” policy has been a significant transfer of wealth and will potentially jeopardize America’s standing as a world power amongst others...if we don't act now.  The Obama administration is spending billions of dollars to not only

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-24488261171841048252010-11-09T20:27:00.001-05:002010-11-09T20:28:57.620-05:00

The rise of online discount brokerages is a great way to make some money on your own….but please use with caution! Don’t get tangled up with excessive trading which leads to fees, commissions, and other expenses that can eat up your nest egg. Brokerage firms/banks already know that most investors will react with emotion when investing – which is why so many discount brokerages are popping up

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-83082617334755322302010-11-04T14:12:00.000-04:002010-11-04T14:12:00.295-04:00

Interesting article at MarketWatch.com about Quantitative Easing II and Ben Bernanke defending the Fed's decision to purchase $600B in securities (click here).  What does this mean in English?  Basically, the Federal Open Market Committee decided to put more money into our economy by printing more money - this causes money to be cheaper and hopefully increase the flow of credit and investments -

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-7952162531428867222010-10-25T23:25:00.001-04:002010-11-03T11:55:37.306-04:00

The American economy is very resilient and over the past decade we've made it through some tough ups and downs where some people made money and some people got burned.  As the market goes up - there are a lot of "con artists" stating that the economy is sound and can reach even new highs (remember the dot-com bubble, and the credit-era of 2007?).  When the market is super hot and everything is

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-31353462277707711972010-10-24T22:18:00.001-04:002010-10-24T22:19:55.204-04:00

Interesting article... http://www.marketwatch.com/story/more-401k-savers-take-loans-2010-10-22?siteid=nwhpf I'm not too surprised though - as most people are trying to stay afloat during the current state of the economy.  This is evident that many Americans are living beyond their means - and a good reason "why most Americans will not be able to retire". We're not investing enough, we're not

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-37673919881131549112010-10-12T10:34:00.001-04:002010-10-12T10:39:51.870-04:00

My investment picks for 2011 There's a war going on....a war with your money...yes your paper money.  Nations all over the world are becoming increasingly interdependent, and yet simultaneously more powerful ever since they all left the Bretton Woods system and began to intervene in the currency markets (i.e., The Plaza Accord).  But to avoid giving you a big history lesson - ever since the most

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-3573931941718194852010-09-30T23:12:00.000-04:002010-09-30T23:12:37.476-04:00

Workers in Europe Protest Austerity Measures - NYTimes.com: "Workers in Europe Protest Austerity Measures"Click on link above to read article...This is the result of a weak economy, too much government spending, and not enough taxes to fill the void. What's their solution? Well the Portuguese government proposes that they'll freeze pensions, increase the tax rate, and reduce their spending in

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-67136152545226596982010-09-29T22:52:00.000-04:002010-09-29T22:52:44.739-04:00

Everyone has heard the saying "the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer".  But has anyone ever thought why this is so?  What are the rich doing differently?  Well there is one obvious answer to this question- TAX SHELTERS!!!  "The Rich" have highly- paid wealth and tax advisors that find various tax shelters that shield their wealth from income taxes.  These highly paid advisors also find

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-77895867157816393472010-09-21T08:50:00.002-04:002010-09-22T09:13:27.848-04:00

There was an article released yesterday (click here to read the article) stating that credit card debt has been surpassed by student loans.  Everyday it seems as if the necessity of going to college to meet the skill demand for tomorrow's jobs has been rivaled with the necessity of scholarships, grants, and loans required to be able to afford the cost of tuition.  Some students are lucky enough

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-34637372130291947752010-09-20T15:42:00.000-04:002010-09-20T15:42:18.256-04:00

The recession is over – but is it a false sense of reality? The government still has the economy propped up with stimulus money, company bailouts, and many other incentives that make it seem as if the recession is over. But what happens when the government begins to withdraw the money from the economy? Eventually corporations that have borrowed taxpayer money will have to pay it back. But what

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-2417923952893786622010-09-12T16:07:00.000-04:002010-09-12T16:07:52.630-04:00

During the credit-era (2005-2007), America had a false sense of production, growth, and access to easy money in the form of credit. Anyone that could blink their eyes could get credit to buy cars, houses, investment properties, etc. We thought there was no end in sight and wanted to “let the good times roll”. But as we all know, a house of cards will soon come crashing down...and then there’s a

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-85695935799047194262010-09-09T10:13:00.000-04:002010-09-09T10:13:36.422-04:00

Interesting article concerning the debate over giving the power to cancel the internet, to one man....the President.  Important issues such as this one never become important to the majority of Americans.  As I type this - the #1 search trend on Google is Willow Smith. Please click on link: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2009758,00.html Our freedoms are slowly being taken away

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-63860893327523037762010-08-16T13:48:00.000-04:002010-08-16T13:48:47.925-04:00

China's economy passes Japan's as world's second-largest - latimes.com: "China's economy passes Japan's as world's second-largest"Interesting article - click on link above!I wonder if China will soon have the ability to pass the USA as the world's largest economy? They seem to be allowing their currency to fluctuate with the market now...instead of keeping it artificially low which unfairly

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-49684279233814013862010-08-11T10:10:00.000-04:002010-08-11T10:10:50.499-04:00

The REIT Way: "The REIT Way"Interesting article - click on link above!BE FREE.

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-14378274338395249522010-08-02T10:24:00.001-04:002010-08-02T10:38:24.831-04:00

Mysha, my wife, and I were having a discussion about the Obama administration’s solution for healthcare in America. We discussed how the government has overstepped its boundaries and pretty much eliminated (at least temporarily eliminated) any solution that the private sector would have to offer. Instead of simply making healthcare more affordable, the government would rather take control of the

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-91178462281550681602010-07-20T13:17:00.000-04:002010-07-20T13:17:46.051-04:00

New tax reporting rules leave IRS to mop up Congress's mess - Jul. 9, 2010: Click on link above to see article. My comment: Looks like the government has found another way to rust out the wheels of commerce and entrepreneurship. Seriously, does this new mandate allow for increased productivity and lower unemployment? Or does this mandate serve to further complicate business and increase the

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-9737529143905135772010-07-18T19:14:00.002-04:002010-07-18T22:55:56.199-04:00

This is a read for financial fanatics like me… The term “Lever UP” is a term used by mostly investment bankers/politicians when they’re considering using leverage (or in other words – debt) to expand, increase profits, or to cover an entity’s operations. Using leverage requires great discipline of the individual, corporation, or government entity that chooses to borrow money for whatever

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-89046331464666570732010-07-14T10:41:00.001-04:002010-07-14T10:49:33.953-04:00

Where the Wealthy (and Scared) Invest: U.S. Trust Advice - TIME: Click on hyperlink above. Very interesting article - I especially liked the paragraph that details the unemployment rate on uneducated, and unskilled workers versus the unemployment rate on educated and skilled workers. Proves that education must be a valuable commodity - one that helps people stay employed in good times and bad!

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-26902304744499622372010-07-07T11:12:00.000-04:002010-07-07T11:12:31.016-04:00

China Says It Won't Use U.S. Debt as Threat - WSJ.com:Click on link above:The fact that this even needed to be said should be cause for alarm...It's your life. BE FREE

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-21670293331586306052010-07-01T23:39:00.001-04:002010-07-01T23:42:38.342-04:00

Retirement age could rise every five years - Telegraph: "Retirement age could rise every five years" See link above: Unfortunately, this really isn't news...in fact this is expected. It's eventually expected for all nations. It's a shame that a nation's citizens can't foresee or don't get upset enough over such an obvious heist. For instance, let's say a person put their money in a savings

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-43261847613289942742010-06-29T11:33:00.001-04:002010-06-29T11:34:42.239-04:00

Greeks Strike to Protest Pensions, Labor Law Overhaul - BusinessWeek: "Greeks Strike to Protest Pensions, Labor Law Overhaul" Click on link above: This is what happens when a government is close to defaulting on its debts - it's currency's value plummets, deficits soar, and people protest the outcome. Therefore, little gets accomplished that would help turn the economy around...in this case

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-73829625533002451942010-06-24T14:24:00.000-04:002010-06-24T14:24:49.201-04:00

The market is up a few days…then down the next few days. European debt is solved…and European debt is a problem. US government is cutting spending…and US government raises the debt ceiling. The dollar is strong…the dollar is weak again. Gas prices go down…and gas prices are up. Get the picture? Recession or not – people all over the world will have to get comfortable with a seesaw economy. When

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-87069135046383000922010-06-21T11:04:00.000-04:002010-06-21T11:04:49.209-04:00

Wall St jumps on China yuan promise News Business Spectator: "Wall St jumps on China yuan promise"Looks like China is going to play ball - and stop artificially lowering their currency to make their goods cheaper than anyone else. Imagine how the global market will change as China becomes more of a consumption based economy and not just an export-based one?Time for US manufacturers/

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-78001586794685704122010-06-20T00:45:00.002-04:002010-06-20T07:19:10.868-04:00

A dollar today is better than a dollar tomorrow….. However, most people are saving dollars today that will be worth considerably less in the future. Yet – we hope we have enough depreciating dollars to live off of in retirement. How foolish are we? Why would anyone try to save water in a bucket that has a hole in it? We’re constantly told that we must save for retirement – especially since

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-3853977722454129262010-06-10T22:29:00.002-04:002010-06-15T21:03:48.935-04:00

Just a quick thought of mine... Why do people spend their hard earned money to buy luxury vehicles?  Just to put them in traffic on the same roads with people who might've spent $500 or less on their vehicle...?  And to make matters worse - there are some nuts on the road!  People act as if cars are assets - when indeed they're just a liability and an expense.  Purchasing a car between $30K -

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-8753966850279123182010-06-04T21:15:00.001-04:002010-06-15T21:04:57.985-04:00

What’s going on with the markets? As the market goes up and down, so does people’s retirement plans and 401k’s – with all of the so-called “experts” out there, not too many of them are getting good results (or as they call it, “finding alpha”) in this economic environment.  And there are a plethora of problems out there causing a fear factor and massive sell offs of equities and a rush to buy up

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-27676458468063132402010-06-01T15:24:00.000-04:002010-06-13T20:44:52.352-04:00

The Union Pension Bailoutvia Review & Outlook: The Union Pension Bailout - WSJ.com.Here's an article from the Wall Street Journal about bailing out those who have pension funds...OK - this is REALLY getting out of hand folks.  Something has got to be wrong here....will increased government intervention stifle innovation and growth here in America?  Let me know your thoughts.BE FREE

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-5892542923969219202010-05-18T15:25:00.000-04:002010-06-13T20:44:52.355-04:00

America's Underclass: The Growing Gap Between the Rich and Poorvia america's underclass the growing gap between the rich and poor: Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance.Take heed people!  If there is an underclass emerging - let's work to make sure that we are on the "rich" end of the stick.BE FREE

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-4460825856203504102010-05-17T07:52:00.000-04:002010-06-13T20:44:52.358-04:00

New study finds racial wealth gap quadrupled since mid-1980s.Very interesting article!

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-21578194116891786002010-04-22T18:11:00.004-04:002010-06-15T18:25:54.654-04:00

Just a quick thought of mine.... I've recently read a book written by Milton Friedman and Anna Schwartz titled "The Great Contraction: 1929 - 1933", in this book it details about the events leading up to the Great Depression and how the government failed to identify "bubbles" in the economy before they popped - and also how the government failed to properly react in order to get the economy back

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-26042607313405993262010-04-21T22:07:00.000-04:002010-06-13T20:44:52.361-04:00

Obama suggests value-added tax may be an optionvia Obama suggests value-added tax may be an option - Yahoo! News.Interesting topic - with the current deficits growing, the Obama administration needs to find away to deal with cutting debts and also not harming America's recovery.  Time to take your medicine America...we've come a long way baby, but now it must be time to pay up.

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-1455823704982721362010-04-15T00:28:00.001-04:002010-06-15T18:38:56.182-04:00

Managing debt may not be a complex concept within personal finance – but, interestingly enough, managing debt seems to be the most complex subject for individuals & families today (Even the government could use a lesson…but that’s another story!) Many hard working Americans have huge amounts of debt in the form of a mortgage, student loans, credit cards, etc.  But why is this?  The answer can be

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-1825455558889288392010-04-12T15:42:00.000-04:002010-06-13T20:44:52.365-04:00

PersonalFinance: Negotiating Student Aidvia PersonalFinance: Negotiating Student Aid - ABC News.Interesting article for those looking to return to school now or in the future.  Click on link above... my comments are below:The demand for educational loans is skyrocketing.  But what is this about the government taking on the brunt of the matter (i.e. Stafford loans) and eliminating guaranteed loans

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-66826449150280025022010-04-05T10:01:00.001-04:002010-06-15T20:09:04.549-04:00

As many of you know or may not know – I write to a few blogs all over the web.  One blog (Examiner.com) requested that I post my articles to their website…and in return they will pay me and also give me corporate discounts at major retailers nationwide.  Well, today I’m allowed to share these discounts with family and friends.  So I figure, why not give these perks back to my readers?!  Everyone

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-75540242902206690342010-03-31T13:59:00.001-04:002010-06-15T20:09:54.949-04:00

In my efforts to help those seeking advice about investing - I thought I'd post my email response to a FAQ (frequently asked question), from a friend of mine in regards to her question of "What is the best way to get started with investing in the stock market?".  While it should be understood that one person's risk preference or investing strategy will differ from the next - this is a good

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-62037609688379943042010-03-29T13:44:00.001-04:002010-06-15T20:59:31.130-04:00

There are many theories (proven and unproven) concerning economics that will explain what is going on with our economy and how to fix it.  For instance, Supply Side economics, Keynesian economics, and Classical economics are just a few theories from the Economic school of thought that attempts to elaborate on past and current problems concerning supply and demand.  So I decided to introduce my

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-11987311834249632052010-03-13T00:34:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:07:11.467-04:00

When the economy drags, and the unemployment rate soars, many people that are laid off or can't find jobs find themselves running to the refuge of the colleges and universities in order to gain skills and/or certifications that will separate them from their peers for better jobs.  What makes this educational voyage possible is the availability of all the loans out there provided by the government

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-46932963678722263392010-03-11T22:36:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:11:46.931-04:00

As we all know, there are 3 class of people in America - poor, middle class, and the wealthy folks.  Once all classes of people begin their working years and actually begin saving for retirement, say about 23yrs old, the retirement vehicles available to the poor and middle class for retirement differ greatly from the vehicles available to the wealthy people for retirement.  Because the poor

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-79993541660660161082010-02-24T23:15:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.379-04:00

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99DYh8ZpkpwVery interesting video - if the government can produce money from nothing, and banks can increase the money supply exponentially from that same money...what happens when the walls come crashing down?  Or when the house of cards cannot stand alone? BE FREE

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-83046145485466817982010-02-23T20:40:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:13:23.151-04:00

Why are gas prices rising?  The US inventory of oil is full (the stockpile we keep full in case of an emergency) and with unemployment being high - we are not consuming as much oil as usual.  But unfortunately, gas prices are still rising.  One reason is the value of the dollar is declining...the value of oil is based on the not-so-mighty dollar - so as the dollar the declines, the cost of oil

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-27071121846725975052010-02-23T09:07:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.383-04:00

new-credit-card-rules-could-help-banks: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance.Very interesting article about credit cards - click on link above.  How are you doing with your credit cards?  Hopefully you're working on a plan to get rid of them!BE FREE

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-69316090019993931592010-02-18T17:23:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:14:17.247-04:00

There are a lot of bogus bankers and others out there who say they have your "best interest at heart" when it comes to retirement...but we all know that this just can't be true when you look at the facts.  We know now that pensions don't really work in today's market and are subject to being raided by CEOs and other top level managers who want to use that cash for company "operating expenses". 

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-30252117073366401782010-02-11T19:32:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:16:13.670-04:00

I'm back everyone! - I took a little vacation from my blog for a while.  But now I'm resuming my research and writing to challenge the usual "norms", or traditional rules of personal finance, investments, and government fiscal policy. The economy needs to recover jobs lost during the "great recession" that occured late 2008 to present.  Just about every industry lost jobs- especially the banking

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-56205970902776314612010-02-04T12:55:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:18:21.523-04:00

Congress has raised our debt ceiling 5 times within the last 2 years under the Bush and Obama administration.  The US economy is struggling to recover from a "great recession" and has avoided a depression by various bailout and stimulus programs in place. Here's the Catch 22: The government needs to spend money to pull the economy out of recession - however, when the government "spends" it

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-18945932010520840242010-01-14T11:37:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:19:18.384-04:00

Mary Schapiro, chairwoman of the SEC, admits before a US Financial Crisis Panel that the [SEC] cannot keep up with the "cleverness" or innovation of the financial industry in terms of regulation. This is huge – which means that the savviness of the large banking institutions is way ahead of regulation.  This has led us to the financial demise we are currently in today – and this is why laws and

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-913895007373734062010-01-13T12:19:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:19:48.544-04:00

The American economy is a very sound and powerful one – thanks to bright individuals we have made it through great depressions and great recessions.  Lessons learned from the Great Depression of the 1930s are well known by Ben Bernanke and Paul Volcker of the Obama administration, which helped to prevent another great collapse of the American economy that led to the Great Depression. In summary,

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-27414455696601227622010-01-07T17:57:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:20:10.950-04:00

If you're going to work for someone - then make sure you're getting the best deal possible when it comes to your retirement options.  Most employers already offer some type of traditional 401k plan for their employees as required by the government (some of these basic 401k plans have limited investment options).  But not enough employers offer a Roth 401K - maybe because their lazy or just don't

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-60225059855329446852009-12-31T14:13:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:20:35.339-04:00

In my last blog of 2009 - my focus for my blog in 2010 will have more entrepreneurial articles for you to read in addition to my usual investing and finance articles.  Because the markets were failing in early 2009 and most people (including some economists) were afraid that the sky was falling, I wanted to focus most of my blog articles on investing to motivate you all to take advantage of the

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-71430307702889917352009-12-28T23:36:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:20:59.969-04:00

Well the year is finally coming to a close!  2009 was a roller coaster ride and the financial effects of this year will be carried over to the next.  The 1st qtr of 2009 we saw turmoil and the stock markets at their lowest - which also meant this was a good time to buy (I hope some of you who follow my blog actually took my advice and got into the stock market).  Ford Motor company was down to

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-19957504431309858732009-12-25T18:48:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.414-04:00

Health care reform bill that passed Senate is a monstrosity - and a giant step for Americavia Health care reform bill that passed Senate is a monstrosity - and a giant step for America.Interesting article on the reform of healthcare.  There should be some type of reform - but the current format of the bill is not the best answer overall and I think we could offer a better bipartisan alternative.

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-80882768652011935432009-12-21T00:45:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:21:57.055-04:00

NOT FDIC Insured NOT Bank Guaranteed MAY Lose Value Have you seen this wording before?  Does this look familiar?  It should because it is stated on your retirement plan.  This phrase is disclosed in each and everyone's 401(K) retirement plan no matter which employee benefit company you're invested in (Fidelity, Principal, Schwab, Hewitt, etc).  Most people are truly depending on their 401

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-36758962269253314792009-12-18T21:19:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:29:18.145-04:00

Analysis of the President’s Budget via Director’s Blog » Blog Archive » Analysis of the President’s Budget. Interesting analysis of the President's budget by the CBO (Congressional Budget Office).  An informative an interesting read....at least I think so.  Click on the hyperlink above.

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-81466795183419598912009-12-17T22:36:00.001-05:002010-06-15T21:22:30.730-04:00

Research proves that our beloved 401(K) cannot save us in retirement.  In fact, it was never meant to be the primary retirement vehicle - but instead a way for top level CEOs to shield some of their income from taxes, and to be a supplement retirement plan for the rich.  Forget Healthcare Reform...we need Retirement Reform.  But a reform in the form of financial education that won't raise taxes

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-48470682548343482752009-12-16T22:07:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.423-04:00

Schooling the Competitionvia Schooling the Competition - student entrepreneurs - Entrepreneur.com.I'm fed up with corporate and their schedules, dress codes, set vacation and sick times, etc.  It's time to get out....And anything is possible once you put your mind to it....

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-66851841513528524122009-12-12T23:05:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.425-04:00

The CIA World Factbook has some words about the US economy that many people may find very interesting.  These are profound facts published by the CIA about our economy concerning long term problems and risks such as the increasing wealth gap and deficits that can cause detrimental effects between the top and bottom percentage of families in America.As briefly stated on their website at https://

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-62639199608906333502009-12-11T13:26:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.427-04:00

Congress to Raise Debt Ceilingvia Congress to Raise Debt Ceiling - WSJ.com. Say it ain't so Demo's!  Why do these politicians believe that we can keep spending without eventually having some  consequences??!  Should we just say the US has an unlimited debt capacity?  I'm tired of seeing increased deficits of the US....  one day the bill will become due.  And guess who gets to repay it...

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-38855763602312306852009-12-03T22:10:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.429-04:00

Once upon a time, in a land called the United States, an employee would work for one company for 50+ years and could eventually retire from their job and live out the rest of his/her life knowing their expenses would be covered by their employer sponsored pension plan.  Not too long ago, pension plans were the norm and if you worked hard and long with one employer you could expect to get a

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-41846934680946267682009-12-03T17:04:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.432-04:00

House Votes to Restore Estate Tax, Exempt $7 Millionvia House Votes to Restore Estate Tax, Exempt $7 Million Update1 - Bloomberg.com.No surprise here - unfortunately the government needs money and will get it from us in life and death.  We work all of our lives paying income tax, sales tax, property tax, capital gains tax, retirement tax (401k), you would think we could at least die without a tax

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-30321975000112155862009-12-02T00:24:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.435-04:00

How will the Obama administration pay the tab?  $30 billion for additional troops in Afghanistan $1 trillion Universal healthcare plan $700 billion TARP $800 billion Stimulus plan Expanding US deficitsWith an economy barely in the recovery stage - President Obama and his administration is utilizing "deficit spending" to get the economy back on track, the consumer spending again, and to pay for

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-68872382576153236152009-11-30T22:36:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.438-04:00

Why Its Time to Retire the 401kvia Why Its Time to Retire the 401k - TIME.Very interesting article depicting the truths about Americans' savings & 401k retirement accounts.

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-43735468240453111612009-11-24T10:09:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.440-04:00

Lawmakers Propose War Surtax to Pay for Troop Increase in Afghanistan - FOXNews.com.Democrats propose more taxes!  Tax the rich they say - but how long can they expect to tax the rich for every cost burden/expenditure of America without crushing the spirit of independence/ingenuity that motivates people to be rich in the first place??  If we punish American citizens for having too much money - or

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-55489712211898753002009-11-22T01:22:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.442-04:00

The United States needs a recovery...and fast.  By keeping a devalued dollar, the US can increase its manufacturing sector and export more goods than we import -  and possibly create more jobs (eventually) to restore our country back to its feet.  Ben Bernanke and Timothy Geithner have pledged their support for a strong dollar, but it will be a while before this will come to fruition since the US

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-49921696083112274362009-11-18T23:21:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.445-04:00

---------------1st Thought-----------------------If you take a step back in history, you will find that the US Economy has been through bad times and good times.  Our economy has gone through various depressions and recessions, as well as prosperity  and increase within a century.  It reminds me of the popular game show "Wheel of Fortune", where contestants spin a wheel hoping to win money while

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-27513859312376092162009-11-08T23:31:00.000-05:002010-06-13T20:44:52.448-04:00

Gold is at an all time high - which means that several people are trading their dollars for gold because of their fear of the dollar potentially becoming less valuable due to inflation.  The more people that invest (demand) in gold drives its price higher... and when demand increases for gold, then the supply increases, which drives the price of gold downward.  I think people are fooled into

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-173175364097906212009-10-31T17:47:00.001-04:002010-06-15T21:23:55.668-04:00

Today I went to an H&M Auction here in Atlanta, GA and had the opportunity to see investors making big moves on a rainy Saturday while most people were gearing up for the infamous Florida - Georgia game.  I was able to experience how investors were able to acquire property in the form of condos, multi-family complexes, and single-family homes that were once valued at over $100,000 - being

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-10322864580032104062009-10-25T22:12:00.000-04:002010-06-13T20:44:52.454-04:00

While I'm mostly a fan of dividends  - this week I've turned over to capital gains!  Of course, there is some risks involved because when one is investing for capital gains, there is always the chance that you could get a capital loss!  I usually love investing for dividends because there is not much chance for loss, and there is a monthly or quarterly check in the mail from a company that I've

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-47500269107153208362009-10-15T22:55:00.000-04:002010-06-13T20:44:52.459-04:00

Remember the term price fixing? Where a group of direct competitors within a certain radius would conspire together and decide on a price of a product/service, and offer that product/service at the same price to all their customers? For example, a group of gas companies such as Chevron, BP, and Exxon - all of them in Lakeland, Florida - would get together and "fix" their price for a gallon of

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-25816190687368077272009-10-08T16:07:00.001-04:002010-06-15T21:25:28.048-04:00

Ok folks – I know I was going focus most of my time on other projects for a little while, but how can I not post to my blog when I come across some financial articles that make me upset? Such as the one from Kiplinger.com that “teaches” how one can retire a milionaire. You might be thinking – “What’s wrong with that?” “Shouldn’t we all want $1 million dollars by retirement? Why is Barrington

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-82571948363431522282009-10-04T22:58:00.000-04:002009-10-04T22:58:09.786-04:00

Some people are stuck in neutral - they just don't get it and probably will never get it when it comes to their own personal finance or creating wealth for the next generation.  The average American has student loans, maxed credit cards, car notes, and other miscellaneous debts that we tend to carry for decades hoping to rid ourselves free of it by the time we retire.  But why do we have these

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-27922293687827464292009-09-24T16:05:00.000-04:002010-06-13T20:44:52.471-04:00

By definition, free enterprise is business governed by the laws of supply and demand, not restrained by government interference, regulation or subsidy. It is also recognized as the free market. This system of supply and demand places emphasis on competition, where only the strong survive and the weak…well…they die. It reminds me of a forced bell curve that was implemented in my college courses

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-81164968664877097872009-09-23T21:34:00.000-04:002009-09-23T21:34:09.323-04:00

10% unemployment rate is bad, but it also suggests that 90% of Americans are working – Barrington Lewis I’m back folks!  Took a little break from the blog to focus on the Level 1 CAIA exam. But now I’m ready to get back to writing! Today the G-20 summit met in Pittsburgh, NY to discuss powerful decisions that affects international economic and monetary policy and President Obama delivered a

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-82819996191089137302009-09-15T19:35:00.000-04:002009-09-15T19:35:45.331-04:00

President Obama wants more regulation of the banking industry and aims to prevent companies from ever becoming "too big to fail" and causing another meltdown of the economy.  After supplying the banks with taxpayer funded bailouts - the Obama administration wants to limit the "size" or assets of these banks to keep another meltdown from happening again.  This may backfire given that now, after

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-90295245677227340652009-09-11T15:59:00.000-04:002010-06-13T20:44:52.477-04:00

It is all over the news about whether the super rich (the top 10%) should be taxed at a higher percentage than the bottom 90% of Americans, or if these high net worth individuals should be given a tax break.  Some middle class and poor Americans (the bottom 90%) believe that the super rich should be taxed at a higher percentage to cover the high costs of the healthcare reform, Medicare, Social

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385146969877623372.post-64733014395564191192009-09-08T21:56:00.000-04:002009-09-08T21:56:12.914-04:00

For stocks, September is the cruelest month - MarketWatch: "September is the cruelest month for stock investors."

Barrington Lewisnoreply@blogger.com0