Month: November 2014

Giving Thanks for Family, Food and… the US Economy?

For many, Thanksgiving is about traditions. It's a time for traveling to spend time with family and friends. It's about sharing favorite recipes – turkey, stuffing, and grandma's famous pie. It's about community, gathering locally to watch a high school football game or watching a game huddled around the family TV. At our house growing up, my parents always hosted family as well as friends who did not have family nearby. We look forward to doing that again this year. Thanksgiving marks a return to a simpler time, providing temporary solace from a volatile world full of geopolitical risks, racial tensions and economic worry.

Today, I give thanks to friends, family, food, football and… yes, the US economy.

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3 Steps to Protect Your Brokerage Account From Cybercriminals

We are all aware of the increasing risks of cybercrime. Target, Home Depot and other major retailers have exposed the vast majority of Americans to cybercriminals; but most of us haven't seen the after effects… at least not yet. Therefore it is of utmost importance to protect your personal data as much as possible because you don't want to have your identity stolen. To do this you must stay ahead of the curve and more importantly ahead of the criminals.

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US Service Sector growth slows in October

US Service Sector

The US service sector slowed more than expected in October, marking the second straight month of slower growth and its lowest level since June. However employment hit a new nine-year high. The survey showed the key service sector, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of US GDP, remained solidly in growth mode.

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported that its service index fell to 57.1 from 58.6 in September. This was slightly below economists' forecasts of 58. This marks the 57th consecutive month of growth. A reading above 50 indicates the sector is expanding.

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