Gas prices are out of control and there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight.  In fact with Presidential elections in the U.S. this year, gas prices may continue to increase and be used as a political football for both political parties.
So who is to blame for high gas prices?
Who controls the gas prices?
Where does the money go after the pump?
The following graphic is a great illustration of one viewpoint on the gas situation.  We’d love to hear your opinion on the graphic below in our comments section.

Created by: …

Is Apple connected to the real economy? Apple is driven by consumer spending, but is their gain just someone else’s loss?

Sign of the times.  The group coupon thing is a booming business as shown by the two main players in the field doing Super Bowl ads tonight.  I found it rather interesting.  Of course Google trying to buy Groupon for something like 6 billion a little while back was all the confirmation we needed that this new business is here to stay.  Anything to help us consume more and save the world economy!

It’s truly amazing how impactful the stock market can be on emotion and behavior.  Unfortunately, our leaders realize this and they are willing to sacrifice a currency in order to inflate asset prices and make people feel better versus making them actually better off.
What am I talking about?  I’m talking about the wealth effect.  When stocks are higher, people feel wealthier and thus they spend money.  If you subscribe to the economic theory that consumption is what drives an economy, well, then this would be a good thing.
Yesterday was MLK …

I recently outlined my 2011 financial strategy.  The focus of this strategy was to accumulate capital, to deploy at attractive investments and opportunities as the economic environment continues to deteriorate in the coming years (a view I definitely hold).
It’s important to also look at the possible risks in 2011 that might hamper your efforts to reach your financial goals in 2011.  If you haven’t yet determined those goals, well, you should back up a step and determine them.  Then, move on to the risks that you need to prepare for.
There …

Once again, Black Friday has come and gone and the climax of American consumerism is upon us. The talking heads on CNBC and other mainstream financial outlets are talking about how shopping is strong and how shopping will save our economy. It’s been the same crap for several years now since the depression started.

Apple, Inc. (AAPL) is the most widely followed stock in the world.  No company has the fans and the following that Apple has for both its products and its stock.  Truly, it’s an incredible company.  As an investor, I tend to be a bit cautious about any company with such a high degree of popularity.  It’s tough to get stocks that are so incredibly popular at bargain prices or at a point that represents good value (unless of course you bought below $100 a couple years ago amidst the Steve …

If you attempt to describe the economy in the last couple years and where I believe we’re heading, you could call it the crumbling of the American dream.  Big homes, fun lifestyles and easy money have been the cornerstone of the American dream in recent decades.  Sadly, this is changing dramatically.
An industry that has been pummeled in the midst of this shift is leisure and recreational boating.  There are two companies here that I’d like to briefly look at: Brunswick Corporation (BC) and …