Thirty-somethings (Generation X) are suffering the most from the aftermath of the financial crisis, with long-term consequences that small-business owners should keep in mind. The last seven years have been financially difficult for most of the country. Job insecurity, stagnant wages, declines in real asset prices and an overall feeling of uncertainty about the future have taken its toll across multiple generations. Looking at the economic data reveals that this misery hasn’t been shared … [Read more...]
Cheap Credit Getting Dangerous
An important financial organization has issued a grave warning about the global economic "recovery." Global Economy's Addiction to Cheap Credit Getting Dangerous The Institute of International Finance issued an important warning in a recent report published in the Capital Markets Monitor about the condition of the global economy. The IIF is the world’s only international organization for financial institutions and has over 450 member companies representing 70 countries. The IIF believes that … [Read more...]
Dow Jones All-Time High Proves We are in Financial La-La-Land
Dow Jones All-Time High this Tuesday. Caveat emptor. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which measures the stock price performance of 30 companies that are representative of our economy, hit an all-time high on Tuesday, surpassing the previous all-time high set in 2007 before the financial crisis. What makes the record so worrying is that underlying economic condition apparently are having no impact on stock prices. As ZeroHedge blogger Tyler Durden (no, not that Tyler Durden) points out, by … [Read more...]
Subway Founder Sees Tough Times Ahead For Small Business
Why Subway's billionaire founder believes if he had to start the successful sandwich franchise today, he wouldn't be able to do it. He Sees Tough Times Ahead For Small Business. Fred DeLuca, the billionaire entrepreneur who founded Subway, is worried about the state of the economy and the future of small business. In addition to being the founder of what is now the largest restaurant chain in the world, DeLuca has direct access to tens of thousands of store managers and franchisees that provide … [Read more...]
Sequestration hits Friday: Will Your Business Take a Hit?
Sequestration hits Friday, and your small business may not be spared from the effects. Big Budget Cuts Coming Friday: Will Your Business Take a Hit? At this stage in the negotiations, it appears almost certain that a deal to avert sequestration will not be reached in time to prevent $85 billion in budget cuts from going into effect on Friday. Congress and the Executive Branch are too far apart on how to ameliorate these cuts, and each party believes the other will suffer more politically from … [Read more...]
Do We Have What It Takes For A Free Trade Deal With Europe?
The President set a bold goal of Free Trade Deal With Europe in his SOTU. Is it doable? During his State of the Union, President Obama mentioned his interest in securing a Free Trade Deal With Europe. With approximately $4.5 trillion in trade taking place between the U.S. and the EU annually, a free trade agreement could have a significant impact on U.S. exports. A modest 10 percent boost in trade would yield nearly half a trillion dollars in additional goods and services being traded. That’s … [Read more...]
Are You Ready for the Sharing Economy?
The ownership society is giving way to the sharing economy. Position your company now. The pride of ownership used to be something that parents taught their children. But it appears that Generation Y consumers aren’t particularly interested in ownership as much as they are in consumption. The idea of enjoying the benefits of something without the responsibilities of ownership has given rise to the “sharing economy” and your company needs to adapt to this new reality. Over the past decade … [Read more...]
Our credit-based economic model is in critical condition
Our Money is Running out of Time: Our credit-based economic model is in critical condition. Its time to position yourself. Legendary bond investor Bill Gross, co-founder of PIMCO which manages nearly $2 trillion, believes that our credit-based economy’s days are numbered. Our banking system is based on fractional reserves, whereby a bank with $10 in deposits can loan out $100 and in effect “create” an extra $90 of capital that can be put to productive use. The depositor wins because they earn … [Read more...]
What the Dive in Worker Productivity Means for Your Business
Worker productivity takes an unexpected fall. Expect your labor costs to go up and your margins to go down. Worker productivity is a key factor in determining your company’s profitability. As your employees become more productive, they deliver the same output in less time and for less expense, boosting profits. Everything has a limit though, and at some point your ability to squeeze more output out of the same workers will end. At a national level, it looks like we have reached this … [Read more...]
Zero Down Mortgages Making a Comeback with Small-Business Owners
They're back! Successful small-business owners can once again tap into the Zero Down Mortgages. Zero money down mortgages are making a comeback. These mortgages don’t require any down payment and provide for 100 percent bank financing for the purchase of a home. But unlike last time, when these helped usher in the greatest financial collapse in a century, the new zero money down mortgages are being reserved for people with significant assets and income. Banks offering these mortgages require … [Read more...]
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