My dog’s medical bills are higher than mine
On the surface, it was a good year if you were in the veterinary business. Year-over-year sales grew by 9.1%, while patient visits increased by 3%. For pet owners, however, not so much. Owners found that the cost of keeping their pets healthy jumped by about 10%. Some of that price increase was due to…
By Bill Schmick
January 6, 2022
Is it time to hire an investment advisor?
Individual investors have had a decade or more of gains, compliments of a stock market that has gone up with few interruptions. But as we enter a new era of tighter monetary policy, the road ahead may be a bit rockier than most investors expect. As such, it might be time to enlist a little…
By Bill Schmick
December 23, 2021
Has labor found its mojo?
Workers in America are rethinking who they are and what they want. For the first time in decades, the stars have aligned to give the labor movement a much-needed lift. Will this prove to be a flash in the pan, or something more lasting? The share of American workers who claim union membership has been…
By Bill Schmick
December 16, 2021
Japan is worth a look
It has been 30 years since the Nikkei 225 last touched the 30,000 level. However, many investors look beyond this island nation and focus instead on its Chinese neighbor. That may prove to be a mistake. To some investors, it is the epitome of value investing. Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway made some sizable bets on…
By Bill Schmick
September 9, 2021
Non-fungible tokens come of age
NFTs are digital assets. For those like me, who are old enough to be grandparents, and may still read the newspapers, the concept of a digital asset may not be all that intuitive. “Non-fungible” means that it is a unique asset that can’t be replaced with something else. NFTs are bought and sold online (usually…
By Bill Schmick
September 2, 2021
Climate change is costing billions
In 2021, worldwide, the costs of the ten worst disasters caused by climate change totaled more than $170 billion. It was the fourth time in the last five years that we have suffered that level of damages. Scientists expect next year to be even worse. Insurance companies, like Zurich-based Swiss Re, bear the brunt of…
By Bill Schmick
December 29, 2021