MARKET COMMENTARY: THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF OUR JOB MARKET
September 6, 2024
Our economy is heavily consumer driven. According to the World Bank, consumer expenditures account for 68% of our Gross Domestic
THE DEEP THOUGHT COMMENTARY: INNOVATION + WORLD PEACE
August 7, 2024
August is traditionally a vacation month in America, a time when families travel together to enjoy new experiences and bring
MARKET UPDATE: 8.6.24
August 6, 2024
US markets (i.e., S&P 500) experienced their worst sell-off in roughly two years amid a global market sell-off. It is
MARKET COMMENTARY: FUN WITH FINANCE
July 11, 2024
Innovation is a theme we speak about a lot at Fountainhead. It is not merely exciting given new discoveries and
MARKET COMMENTARY: POLITICAL ANGST: A GUIDE TO THE MARKETS GOING INTO ELECTIONS
June 10, 2024
On November 6, 2024, roughly 40% of the nation will wake up horrified because their preferred candidate lost the election.
MARKET COMMENTARY: THE SLOW AGING OF AMERICA AND ITS IMPACT ON FUTURE GROWTH
May 2, 2024
Within both our recent commentaries and podcasts, we have focused quite a bit on the expectation and effects of US
Navigating Digital Dimes: Equipping College-Aged Kids with Financial Savvy in a Digital World
May 2, 2024
In today's digital age, where cash is becoming less tangible and transactions are increasingly digitized, it's crucial to equip college-aged
MARKET COMMENTARY: THE EFFECTS OF ONSHORING ON THE US AND ITS CONSUMERS
April 8, 2024
We are a consumer-led economy. And boy, do we do a good job consuming! As of 2022, the United States
MARKET COMMENTARY: GLOBAL TREMORS: OPTIMISM AND CONCERNS
March 11, 2024
On a recent international trip, I watched Golda and All the President’s Men, two movies based on historical events that
FOUNTAINHEAD APPOINTS STEVE RALFF AS FINANCIAL STRATEGIST
February 29, 2024
WARREN, NJ, February 29th, 2024 – Fountainhead is proud to announce the addition of Steve Ralff, CFA
MARKET COMMENTARY: VALUE, TRUST, BITCOIN & HUMAN INGENUITY
February 5, 2024
I remember visiting my uncle’s house in the early ‘90s and watching with fascination as my cousin, 15 years younger,
MARKET COMMENTARY: INFLATION: LOCAL AND GLOBAL FACTORS – WHAT IS IN STORE FOR 2024
January 5, 2024
Mongol Empire Khagan-Emperor Kublai Kahn wanted to be more like his dad and grandpa, Genghis Khan, spurring on wars that
MARKET COMMENTARY: GLOBALIZATION, WAR, AND INFLATION
December 11, 2023
There has always been “international” trade of physical goods, knowledge, and concepts. Just two famous examples are the great library
MARKET COMMENTARY: RECESSIONARY WINDS
November 6, 2023
The job of the Federal Reserve (“Fed”) is to maintain a healthy and stable economy and financial system. Generally speaking,
MARKET COMMENTARY: EXPENSIVE HOUSING AND POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES
October 6, 2023
The average purchase of a residential dwelling in the US consists of 20% down and 80% in loans, typically taken
MARKET COMMENTARY: WHAT IS GOING ON IN CHINA?
September 8, 2023
The China – US relationship used to be quite simple: China produced anything and everything we wanted, cheaply and well-made.
MARKET COMMENTARY: HOW IS THE CONSUMER DOING AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMY
August 7, 2023
As the consumer goes, so goes the economy. A lot of attention has been justifiably spent on inflation, corporate health,
MARKET COMMENTARY: INVERTED YIELD CURVE: BUSINESS AFFECTS AND RECESSIONARY RECORD
July 10, 2023
Ever wonder how a yield on a loan is determined? Let’s say my neighbor thinks he has the best business
MARKET COMMENTARY: ARE US DEBT LEVELS TOO HIGH?
June 5, 2023
The United States has thankfully diverted a default by raising our debt limit. Our national debt stood at $31.4 trillion,
MARKET COMMENTARY: DE-DOLLARIZATION, DEBT DEFAULTS AND OTHER DIFFICULTIES
May 8, 2023
A new world order was established with the conclusion of World War II (“WW II”), with America firmly set as
MARKET COMMENTARY: BANK RUNS – MORE TO COME OR DISASTER AVERTED?
April 11, 2023
In one of the largest heists in history, Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated South America in the late 1570s and stole
MARKET COMMENTARY: ARE BOND YIELDS FINALLY GETTING INTERESTING? A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
March 8, 2023
When Paul Volcker took over as Fed Chair on August 6, 1979, he meant business. Two months later, Mr. Volcker
Market Commentary: Silly Predictions, Reasonable Trends and Short-Term Risks
February 2, 2023
Moore’s Law was actually a prediction, not a law as we tend to think of them. The long-term prediction was
Market Commentary: How Yields Affect Literally Everything
January 17, 2023
One of the prevailing investment themes of 2022 was rising interest rates, and their impact on financial markets. To put
Market Commentary: The Complexities of Innovation: FTX vs. Quantum Computing
December 5, 2022
The spectacular descent of once prominent companies can surely grab media headlines and investor attention. Fraudulent blow-ups like Theranos and
Market Commentary: CPI – Same Data Through Three Different Lenses
November 7, 2022
Our analyst team was on a call recently where a well-respected (to us) manager thought inflation would remain heightened because
Market Commentary: Making Sense of Inflation, Fed Tightening, and Geopolitics
October 5, 2022
The Fed is attempting to knock down inflation – and there are signs that it is beginning to work –
Market Commentary: The Longer-Term Rhythm and Consequences of Globalization
September 7, 2022
Globalization as we know it seemed to have hit its peak around a decade ago. Global trade as a percentage
Market Commentary: Why (and How) Are Gas Prices Down?
August 8, 2022
On June 14, the national average for regular unleaded gas was $5.016 per gallon. As of August 1, the average
Market Commentary: Mental Gymnastics
July 18, 2022
The mind is a powerful thing. We have heard the saying, we know it to be true, and we can
Mid-Month Market Commentary: A Three-Day 10%+ Drop… A U.S. Bear Market… Where Are We Now?
June 17, 2022
A surprise European Central Bank interest rate hike followed by a “bad” print on a closely watched inflation gauge created
Market Commentary: How Long Will We Feel Covid Reverberations?
June 6, 2022
Throw a pebble in a still lake and you create a ripple. As one moves further from the center, the
Market Commentary: ‘40s or ‘70s: What’s the Better Comparison?
May 6, 2022
It was late 1940, some of the darkest days of the war for Great Britain. The Luftwaffe was indiscriminately bombing
Market Commentary: Inflation, Invasion, Innovation!
April 16, 2022
In Smokey and the Bandit, Burt Reynolds wins a challenge by illegally taking alcohol over state lines in a big
Market Commentary: Financial Implications of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
March 4, 2022
First, our hearts go out to the 40 million plus citizens of Ukraine. It is impossible to imagine or feel
Market Commentary: Readjusting the Lens in Looking Past Current Market Headwinds
February 4, 2022
The market has become quite complicated lately, with several negative events coming to the forefront of investors’ focus, muddling the
Market Commentary: Where Are We Going? Disruption, Upheaval, Innovation!
January 14, 2022
A front-line chicken processing plant job is among the less desirable positions available.
Market Commentary: Supply Chain Traffic Snarl Explained
December 3, 2021
I am really excited about how LaGuardia Airport is coming together! Why? Well, it is 15 minutes from my house
Market Commentary: Making Sense of China: Buy or Sell?
November 5, 2021
Alibaba (BABA), a Chinese company primarily focused on e-commerce, is frequently compared to Amazon (AMZN), an American company with a
Market Commentary: Recognizing and Combatting Biases in Investing
October 15, 2021
True story: A father and son are caught stealing a TV. There is no question they did it. The father
Market Commentary: Jobs – All-Time High Job Openings vs. All-Time Low Job Participation: What Gives?
September 3, 2021
Serfdom in Europe was destroyed by the Plague. It was destroyed because there were too few serfs to do the
Market Commentary: What Delta Means for the Market
August 6, 2021
New cases of Covid have unfortunately increased over the last few weeks as the Delta variant has become the dominant
Market Commentary: How the Markets Really Work
July 15, 2021
It’s always a bit scary when going onto one of those travel sites, like Expedia, with the goal of booking
Market Commentary: Is Inflation Transitory? What We Learned from Used Cars
June 14, 2021
Typically, a new car loses one-third to one-half of its value the second you drive it off the lot –
Market Commentary: Timing the Top
May 12, 2021
In one of our first Explorations we had shared the following chart which illustrates that, at least historically, the longer
Market Commentary: Declining Productivity?
April 28, 2021
How exactly is productivity defined and why has it been so lackluster as of late?
Market Commentary: Exuberance? Mania? Our takes on GameStop, Dogecoin & SPACs
February 1, 2021
The first thing one learns in Economics is the Supply & Demand curve. It is so simple yet so powerful
Market Commentary: The US Treasury – Federal Reserve Connection & Associated Implications
January 1, 2021
Janet Yellen has made history. She is now the only person to serve as both the head of the Federal
Market Commentary: Is Our Empire Crumbling?
December 15, 2020
Immediately following the end of World War II, the US dominated as no empire had in the history of empires.
Market Commentary: Social Changes, Low Yields & the Effects on Growth Stocks
November 1, 2020
Thank God for technology. My children can attend school, socialize with friends, and waste away their days watching an infinite
Market Commentary: MONEY! Wealth’s Greatest Creation
October 9, 2020
Money is a human convention. Populations need to be convinced one way or another that currency has value.
Market Commentary: COVID Timeline and Implications
October 1, 2020
The good news is that 2020 is almost over. The bad news is that calendars are a human convention and
Market Commentary: Is the US Money Good?
August 26, 2020
America shut down for business rather quickly once it was evident that COVID was on our shores.
Market Commentary: Tesla – Opportunity or Bubble?
August 1, 2020
Tesla is a hot name for good reason. They are changing the world and hopefully for the better. They are
Market Commentary: Market Risk Due Elections (Delay/Fraud Accusactions) Material
July 1, 2020
Over the last 10 days of July, President Trump warned 6 times that the election would be inaccurate and fraudulent
Market Commentary: Are We Sweden? Continued COVID = Election Risk
May 1, 2020
After a ho-hum start, 2020 is turning out to be a historical year. Possibly one talked about for a long
Market Commentary: Is the Public Health and Economic Policy Response Adequate?
April 1, 2020
Dring up Avenue of the Americas there is no traffic, almost no people beyond sporadic groups waiting on food lines
Market Commentary: COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Current and Future Implications
April 1, 2020
COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Current and Future Implication
Market Commentary: Company Valuations in Context to COVID-19
February 1, 2020
Having issued a COVID-19 Update just last week and with everyone in the world laser-focused on the spread and immediate
Market Commentary: Longer Term Effects Of The Virus And How Far We Have Come
January 1, 2020
Will the Coronavirus have the ability to trigger a global economic slowdown resulting in a dip in financial markets?