Good morning.
Investors can easily look at trends like retail sales from big-box stores to determine how consumers are spending. But the fact of the matter is, much of the economy isn’t driven by large companies of any sector. Small businesses tend to drive new job creation and the development of new technologies.
The National Federation of Independent Businesses now reports that small business owners have the same level of confidence that’s correlated with a recession, with an even worse read now than during the pandemic uncertainty in early 2020.
That’s a sign that investors will want to stay defensive in today’s markets, and continue to look for more downside trading opportunities until small business owners see clearer skies ahead.
Now here’s the rest of the news:
Like the Titanic, Social Security is Short on Lifeboats
The Social Security benefit program that hard-working Americans have been paying into for decades has been behind the 8-ball for some time. Now in 2022… [Read Here]
Fed Struggles to Stop Biden from Destroying America’s Economy
Wall Street’s hopes that the Fed would pivot back to lower interest rates and cheap money to bail out the market are looking like wishful thinking after… [Read Here]
September 06, 2021
Good morning.
Friday’s job numbers were rough. Whether it’s a one-time event or part of a bigger slowing down in the economy remains to be seen. But a dig into the jobs numbers shows that if it’s part of a bigger trend, things could get ugly for the markets fast.
For the 6th time since 2010, food service employees saw a drop, losing 41,500 jobs in total. If restaurants are losing waiters and bartenders, it could be a sign that dining out trends have stopped improving. As a key portion of the economy, it may be a warning sign of things to come.
In the good news category, however, manufacturing jobs continue to grow, with a notable increase in auto workers, an area where growing electric vehicle trends could significantly add to the economy’s bottom line in the years ahead. Once past the short-term caution, things don’t look so bad.
Precious Metals Prices
Price at week’s end (change over last week)
Gold … $1,828.77 (+1.0%)
Silver … $24.80 (+3.45%)
Platinum … $1,034.02 (+2.75%)
Palladium … $2,454.5 (+0.7%)
Now here is the rest of the news:
“Your Gold Is Your Insurance Premium” In an Uncertain Market
Today, we discuss this bit of Wall Street wisdom: “Put 10% of your portfolio in gold and hope it doesn’t go up.” Here’s why… [Read Here]
Taking the Training Wheels Off Your Retirement Plan
Each of us who wants to retire one day has to be our own financial advisor. Today, we’re exploring why your broker hates “alternative assets”… [Read Here]
Maybe This Is Why Wall Street Talking Heads Are Ignoring the “FedBubble”
Here’s a joke: How can you tell when a stock market bubble is forming? When Wall Street says, “It’s not a bubble.” Here’s why… [Read Here]
September 06, 2020
Here’s to a better YOU … and now … Today’s DarrenDaily Recap Sunday. A collection of the weeks videos from Darren Hardy. Enjoy!
Describing its beauty!!! Saint-Pierre and Miquelon … Breathtaking!
Just offshore of the southern tip of Newfoundland… France.
September 06, 2019
“Men do not die from overwork. They die from dissipation and worry.”
—Charles Evans Hughes
You can’t simply stop worrying. You have to replace your worry by thinking about desired results — something good instead of something bad. Start working on the solution rather than a possible negative outcome.
Thankfully, most of what we worry about never occurs. The French philosopher Michel Eyquem de Montaigne wrote in the 1500’s, “My life has been filled with terrible misfortune; most of which never happened.”
What do you worry about? I’ve found most people are excellent worriers. They worry about illness, lack of money, old age, taxes, the next generation — you name it! They burn up their energy, lower their resistance to illness and actually draw to them what they fear. Like Job in the Bible, “That which I have feared has come upon me.”
Our hospitals and cemeteries are filled with people who made worry an everyday companion. Don’t be one of them. If you suffer from this affliction, you need to cure yourself. By doing so, you’ll be healthier, live longer, have more fun and produce more of what you want.
I’ll leave with closing thoughts from Norman Vincent Peale:
“Worry is simply an unhealthy and destructive mental habit.”
P.S. After university, I bought a signage business of my own and operated it for several years. During this time, I learned the secret to making a small fortune in business. It’s kind of inside information, and I don’t pass it around to just anybody. Ready? Here it is: start out with a large one. And sooner or later, you’ll have a small one. 😉
September 06, 2018
This is what keeps me up at night!
I think of this quote: “It is what we don’t know that holds us back.”
I’m always thinking about the things I don’t know that I need to learn for the next step…
September 06, 2017
Meeting family for the first time can be interesting. “Will they like me? Will we get along … how well will we get along?”
Planning a two-week road trip can be a bit daunting. Implementing those plans when they intersect with real people’s lives … family people … that go to their day jobs, but now you want to meet, and they want to meet with you! Add in a course correction or two, take in the sites, and to still arrive on time. Where? When? We are meeting who? Siblings and children of a cousin “neither-has-ever met before today” … now that’s exciting. It’s even better when the smiles and hugs are genuine. I don’t know who it was within our group who said it first, “But why wouldn’t we? We come from good stock!” I can’t argue with that: The WILLIAM’S family heritage logic…
Here are the specifics of the day as they unfolded … if I get it wrong, I’m sure I will be made to make it right!
We piled into the KIA soon after enjoying our continental breakfast, and checking out of the Chocolate Lake “Best Western.” Yes, all our luggage was onboard, as we headed east toward Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. We had a timed stop and meet-up in Antigonish [Tim Hortons], NS with Liann and her daughter Kierra.
Liann is Dione’s sister, whom we met at the airport Saturday when we arrived, and again on Sunday, when we had lunch together. [Monday we travelled to Liverpool, Tuesday we came back to Halifax, and today, you guessed it is Wednesday.]
We piled into the KIA for a second time, after saying our goodbyes and exchanging even more hugs. We were informed while visiting in Antigonish that we should not eat anything more as [cousin] Joan and [her daughter] Dione were awaiting our arrival with a “big spread.” Joan lives in a lovely home, “back in the woods.”
Not exactly, the best of explanations, but it will suit this driver’s tale. The roads were great, the directions clear, but we still managed to miss the driveway … no problem … spoke to a few neighbors … and off we were again! This time we didn’t miss the sign. [Cousin Joan, pictured center below, said she had not see any “outside family” for forty-seven-years!]
Joan was wonderful. Her hospitality shone throughout … Lady! You had nothing to worry about. We all loved you! I’m sure we could have stayed much later than we did, but unfortunately, we needed to check-in with the proprietors’ of the McIntyre Cottages, located just up the road from Baddeck, NS. We again unloaded our luggage from the vehicle, checked out our respective cottages, and retired for evening. Tomorrow morning, after breakfast, we meet up with Joan and Dione to travel the Cabot Trail together in the spacious Sedona. [Stay tuned into tomorrow when we share our spectacular road trip together.]
REW
