When Detroit defaulted on $19 billion in general obligation bonds, it barely caused a ripple in the $3.7 trillion muni market. But for the unlucky few who held those bonds, it’s a dime-on-the-dollar catastrophe. What’s the lesson we can learn from the Detroit experience? Bond defaults are very rare these days. The wave of big muni defaults that Meredith Whitney…

For too long investors have not gotten the full story about their investment returns. What’s missing is one simple, understandable performance number: after-tax return.  It’s time for investors to expect and get this crucial figure: “Here’s your rate of return after taxes.” I expect much of the financial industry cringes at this idea. Let’s say your portfolio starts the year at…

It’s easy for a few little words – maybe an idea in your head, or something you overhear at the office – to trigger some truly unfortunate investment decisions. For instance, “It’s a sure thing!” rarely is. This week’s post is a series of eight brief phrases that are better left unsaid and unheard.   “They say gold is going…

Citius, Altius, Fortius – (Faster, Higher, Stronger) After months of training, we finally had the opportunity to compete at the RBC Decathlon this weekend. It was a blast, and all for a great cause. First things first, a round of applause for the $1.4m raised for Memorial Sloan-Kettering cancer care and the enormously high standard set by the field of…

Jack Lew, as Treasury Secretary, signs our dollar bills. In my mind that gives him some credibility in the field of investing. Based on a recent Bloomberg article that described his own personal investments, I give him fairly high marks on his approach. Here’s what we know. Government disclosure documents show that part of Lew’s assets are held in five…

We all know college costs a fortune, and many parents would rather leave it at that. But to get a realistic handle on how much you need to save for tuition, you have to get into the real numbers. This terrific calculator developed by Max Osbon will help you quantify the challenge ahead and determine how much to put away…

By Max Osbon Since joining Osbon Capital in May one of my top priorities has been to streamline our operations and workflow, including our public face, our website.  I am pleased to announce our newly redesigned site www.osboncapital.com. What will you find there? Not just information, but investment insights, delivered in an engaging interactive, graphics-based format. Highlights: Interactive – On…

By Max Osbon Whether you intend it or not, holding cash is a direct investment decision. And just like real estate, gold, fixed income, and equity markets, cash is an investment that provides compensation for the associated risks. How are you being compensated for risking your money in a cash investment? It may seem like the compensation for holding cash…

For the fifth year, Fidelity sponsored TEDxBoston, an event “catalyzing innovation by sharing ideas with citizens around the world.”  I think I speak for everyone there last week when I say that the TEDx speakers are an impressive group.  Most of us, I believe, were positively overwhelmed by the creativity, boldness, drive and vision of these Boston locals. The event’s speakers are “luminaries who hail from…