Feb 1, 2015 by John Maxfield1 Chart Every Bank Investor Needs to SeeA chart of annual bank failures going back to 1865.
Feb 1, 2015 by John MaxfieldHere's How Social Security Benefits Are CalculatedWant to know how the size of your Social Security benefits is determined? This short slideshow walks you through it.
Jan 31, 2015 by John MaxfieldHere's Why Russian Businesses Are in So Much TroubleRussian businesses owe tens of billions of dollars in foreign-denominated debt that is growing prohibitively expensive due to a plunging ruble.
Jan 30, 2015 by John MaxfieldA Currency War Forces the Federal Reserve to Keep Interest Rates LowIn an effort to combat the rising value of the dollar, the Federal Reserve announced on Thursday that it will wait before raising interest rates.
Jan 29, 2015 by John MaxfieldWhy Banks Are Worried About Low Oil PricesIn the 1980s, a sharp drop in oil prices produced the first too-big-to-fail bank.
Jan 28, 2015 by John MaxfieldWhy I'm Wary of Lending Club CorporationWhile Lending Club claims to be unique, it too will someday suffer from the vicissitudes of the credit market.
Jan 28, 2015 by John MaxfieldHow Investors in the United States Should Think About the Events in GreeceRecent election results raise the possibility that Greece could leave the European Union. How should U.S. investors respond to this?
Jan 27, 2015 by John MaxfieldHow Warren Buffett Unknowingly Mentored One of America's Best BankersJamie Dimon religiously read Warren Buffett's letters to shareholders throughout the years. And it has clearly paid off.
Jan 26, 2015 by John MaxfieldThe 5 Most Important Points From Citigroup's Fourth-Quarter Conference CallDidn't get a chance to hear Citigroup's latest earnings call? We gotcha covered. Here are the five most important points from the quarterly conference call with analysts.
Jan 26, 2015 by John MaxfieldSocial Security: Why Working After 62 Won't Ruin Your Retirement BenefitsA short presentation explaining the rules that govern the relationship between working in retirement and Social Security benefits.
Jan 25, 2015 by John MaxfieldThe Simple Reason Home Prices Should Continue to Rise in 2015A compressed inventory of existing homes for sale should continue to push prices higher.
Jan 25, 2015 by John MaxfieldAre Banks Actually Evil, or Does It Just Seem That Way?Given the latest round of allegations against the nation's biggest banks, you'd be excused for concluding they haven't learned anything over the last six years.
Jan 24, 2015 by John MaxfieldShould You Apply for Social Security Benefits at 62?The answer to this question isn't as straightforward as it may seem.
Jan 24, 2015 by John MaxfieldWhy 2015 Could Be the Best Year Yet to Buy a HouseWith interest rates heading back down to their historic low, potential home buyers who missed out on the ultralow rates of 2012-13 have an opportunity to remedy their mistake.
Jan 23, 2015 by John Maxfield3 Reasons Bank of America's Fourth-Quarter Earnings Are Better Than They SeemThanks to lower litigation expenses, a smaller head count in its LAS unit, and a reduced branch count, shareholders in Bank of America have reason to be optimistic.
Jan 23, 2015 by John MaxfieldMillions of Retirees Make This Social Security MistakeSocial Security retirement benefits are great, but they shouldn't be relied on as one's sole source of income in retirement.
Jan 22, 2015 by John MaxfieldDid the Swiss National Bank Unleash Mayhem in Currency Markets to Protect Its Private Shareholders?It's wrong to assume that the Swiss National Bank unpegged the franc from the euro simply because it's quasi-privately owned.
Jan 22, 2015 by John Maxfield1 Chart Shows Why JPMorgan Chase Shouldn't Be Broken UpWith a return on equity generally above 10%, JPMorgan Chase is more than earning its keep in its current form.
Jan 18, 2015 by John MaxfieldWhy Financial Companies Collapse When Unexpected Things HappenThe combination of excessive leverage and overly simplified risk models makes Wall Street firms susceptible to failure when unexpected things happen.
Jan 17, 2015 by John Maxfield7 Reasons JPMorgan Chase Shouldn't Be Broken UpOn JPMorgan's fourth-quarter conference call, chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon laid out multiple reasons the nation's biggest bank shouldn't be broken up.
