U.S. News: Yes, Risky Investments Have a Place in a Portfolio

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Many people will tell you to stay away from risky investments. But if you follow that advice, there is a chance that you might throw out the baby with the bathwater.

Think of risky investments like you think about salt: Too much could eventually kill you, but too little can be bad in other ways.

The same is true for assets like gold, industrial metals, grains, or even art. A little can be a good thing. Go overboard with it and you'll probably go bust.

Read more here.

Outside on the Street: Buy Amazon For The Firm You Don’t Know

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Bullseye Brief's founder Adam Johnson explains what is still special about the iconic online retailer.


Buy Amazon For The Firm You Don't Know from Simon Constable on Vimeo.

Forbes: How My ObamaCare Coverage Is Almost Worse Than No Coverage

By SIMON CONSTABLE

For many people, like me, ObamaCare has become like a flat fee tax.

Let me explain how.

It’s an amount that must be paid each month. Failure to do so will result in a fine from the government.

It’s not a flat rate tax, which is meant to be the same percentage tax rate but which is still dependent on income. A ten percent tax on a  $40,000 annual income is $4,000. But a 10% tax on $250,000 is $25,000. Same percentage rate but a different amount. It is neither a regressive or progressive tax.

Beyond a certain income level, which is relatively low, the net amount charged for ObamaCare coverage doesn’t change. Anyone with the same plan as I have (and who doesn’t receive a government subsidy) pays the same flat fee each month regardless of their income. Read more here.

Outside On The Street: How Government Is Killing Wall Street Innovation

By SIMON CONSTABLE

RSM's chief economist Joe Brusuelas explains himself.

How The Government Is Killing Wall Street Innovation from Simon Constable on Vimeo.

Photo by Kvalifik on Unsplash

Outside On the Street: Banning the C-Note Is A Ruse

By SIMON CONSTABLE

ECRI's Lakshman Achuthan explains his thoughts.

U.S. News: Investments in Nigeria Are Going Nowhere Anytime Soon

By SIMON CONSTABLE

While the media has been focused on the U.K.'s political theater of the absurd, elsewhere serious economic problems have been developing. 

A case in point is Nigeria, where the once booming economy has fallen on hard times and looks set to get even worse following events in late June. The country has both the largest population in Africa and the biggest economy on that continent, according to data from the World Bank. But those data points belie an economic malaise. Read more here.

Seeking Alpha: Why You Want A Strong Dollar

By SIMON CONSTABLE

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Brian Bain for his radio show. He sums it up here and you can listen to out discussion as well.

Read and listen here.