Investing during the first quarter 2019 has been rewarding

Posted By on May 1, 2019

Those of us invested or following the stock market either with individual stocks, mutual funds or ETF index funds have to be pleased with the rebound in the economy since December 2018. The first quarter has rewarded those who remained invested (so as long as they have been diversified) for the long haul.

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Even with the inversion signal and long running bull market, the US economy continues to power higher. The trigger this spring was the Fed returning to a neutral from rising rate position. The longer term reason is that America is no longer punishing companies with higher taxes and onerous regulations making it more attractive to do business overseas. In fact, with President Trump’s tariffs and trade war, it is now far more attractive to manufacture in the US than most other countries. Add the tax cut, wages rising and low unemployment, consumers have a few more dollars to spend and less fear that another long lasting recession is on the immediate horizon.

The pessimist in me still worries. Our economy has always gone through up and down cycles and statistically we are overdue for a move down … hopefully small and painless. My biggest fear is from our heavy spending central planners in Washington DC be they Democrats or Republicans. President Trump for his part loves "easy money" and wants to goose the economy even more as the 2020 election approaches … and ridiculously is encouraging the Fed to lower rates by a full percentage point. Several Democrats (list of 23 below) running for president are far crazier in their rhetoric and obviously want even bigger government, higher taxes and some even a socialist takeover of some businesses. While I’m with them in being frustrated that healthcare is currently broken and the costs are ridiculous (as is higher education), a socialist takeover will not make it better or cheaper in the long run. Without competition, there’s no incentive to build a better or more efficient mousetrap.

As for now, those with an IRA or 401K … or investing in equities rather than fix income low interest accounts … have to be happy. If you own real estate in the right areas of the country, you’re also feeling pretty good. Let’s remember what worked in getting us to this point over the past few years and not rock the boat come 2020.

The following 23 elected officials and notable public figures—21 Democrats and two Republicans—have filed to run for president with the Federal Election Commission or announced exploratory committees.

  • Joe Biden (D), a former vice president of the United States, announced that he was running for president on April 25, 2019.[2]
  • Cory Booker (D), a U.S. senator from New Jersey, announced that he was running for president on February 1, 2019.[10]
  • Pete Buttigieg (D), the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, announced that he was running for president on January 23, 2019.[11]
  • Julián Castro (D), a former U.S. secretary of housing and urban development and San Antonio mayor, formally announced his candidacy on January 12, 2019.[12]
  • John Delaney (D), a former U.S. representative from Maryland, filed to run for president on August 10, 2017.
  • Tulsi Gabbard (D), a U.S. representative from Hawaii, announced that she had decided to run for president on January 11, 2019.[13]
  • Kirsten Gillibrand (D), a U.S. senator from New York, announced that she was forming an exploratory committee on January 15, 2019.[14] She officially announced she was running on March 17, 2019.[15]
  • Mike Gravel (D), a former U.S. senator from Alaska, announced he was running for president on April 2, 2019.[8]
  • Kamala Harris (D), a U.S. senator from California, announced that she was running for president on January 21, 2019.[16]
  • John Hickenlooper (D), a former governor of Colorado, announced that he was running for president on March 4, 2019.[17]
  • Jay Inslee (D), the governor of Washington, announced that he was running for president on March 1, 2019.[18]
  • Amy Klobuchar (D), a U.S. senator from Minnesota, formally announced she was running for president on February 10, 2019.[19]
  • Wayne Messam (D), the mayor of Miramar, Florida, announced he was forming an exploratory committee on March 13, 2019.[20]
  • Seth Moulton (D), a U.S. representative from Massachusetts, announced he was running for president on April 22, 2019.[3]
  • Beto O’Rourke (D), former U.S. representative from Texas, formally announced he was running for president on March 14, 2019.[21]
  • Tim Ryan (D), a U.S. representative from Ohio, announced he was running for president on April 4, 2019.[22]
  • Bernie Sanders (I)[1], a U.S. senator from Vermont, announced that he was running for president on February 19, 2019.[23]
  • Eric Swalwell (D), a U.S. representative from California, announced that he was running for president on April 9, 2019.
  • President Donald Trump (R) filed to run for re-election in 2020 on January 20, 2017.
  • Elizabeth Warren (D), U.S. senator from Massachusetts, announced she had formed an exploratory committee on December 31, 2018.[24] She formally announced she was running for president on February 9, 2019.
  • Bill Weld (R), a former governor of Massachusetts, announced that he was running for president on April 15, 2019.[25]
  • Marianne Williamson (D), an author and lecturer, announced she was running for president on January 28, 2019.[26]
  • Andrew Yang (D), an entrepreneur and author from New York, filed to run for president on November 6, 2017.

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Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
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