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John Maxfield

TMFMaxfield

I write about banks, trying my best to balance the good and the bad.

Recent Articles by John Maxfield

Feb 9, 2014 by John Maxfield

3 Dividend Stocks in Serious Trouble

The recent decision by CVS Caremark to stop selling tobacco products threatens to jeopardize the high yield at companies such as Reynolds American, Altria, and Lorillard.

Feb 8, 2014 by John Maxfield

1 Guaranteed Way to Lose Money with Bank Stocks

Value investing has long been touted as a prudent way for individual investors to make money in the stock market. But is it possible that following this approach could lead you down the wrong path? At least when it comes to bank stocks, Motley Fool contributor John Maxfield thinks that it does.

Feb 5, 2014 by John Maxfield

10 Reasons CVS Will Stop Selling Cigarettes

This morning, the nation's second largest pharmacy chain, CVS Caremark, announced its decision to stop selling cigarettes by Oct. 1 of this year. Here are 10 reasons that likely encouraged it to do so.

Feb 4, 2014 by John Maxfield

Warren Buffett, Freak of Nature

To get rich like Warren Buffett, the first thing one must do is stop acting like the cavemen that we are.

Feb 2, 2014 by John Maxfield

Want to Get Rich? Become an Optimist

Recent research has demonstrated that pessimists not only overestimate threats, but also underestimate opportunities.

Feb 1, 2014 by John Maxfield

Who’s to Blame for Low Wages? (Hint: Look in the Mirror)

The increasing discontent over low wages is understandable. However, it's not companies like Wal-Mart and McDonald's that are responsible. The real culprits are consumers.

Jan 31, 2014 by John Maxfield

Being Exceptional Is Easier Than You Think

Is being exceptional something that a normal person can realistically aspire to? Can I learn to be exceptional? Can you? Or is it something that’s ingrained only in a select and fortunate few at birth? The answers to these questions might surprise you.

Jan 30, 2014 by John Maxfield

The Evolution of Retail Is Complete; Amazon Is the Final Paradigm

The founding of Amazon.com exactly 20 years ago didn't mark the next step in the evolution of retail; it marked the final step.

Jan 28, 2014 by John Maxfield

Do You Hate Your Bank? Why Bank-Bashing Is Good for America

With the ongoing wave of regulatory and legal actions weighing on bank profits, some executives have begun complaining about the perceived injustice. Here's why they're completely out of line.

Jan 26, 2014 by John Maxfield

When Best Buy Fails, This Is How It'll Happen

New evidence suggests that Best Buy and Barnes & Noble aren't long for this world. What isn't as well understood, however, is the one factor that will likely precipitate their downfalls.

Jan 25, 2014 by John Maxfield

The Secret Behind Uncovering Big Ideas

Where do big ideas come from? Are they reserved for a privileged elite with Ivy League degrees? Or is the inspiration behind them accessible to all? Based on the ideas behind Starbucks, Nike, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.com, Motley Fool contributor John Maxfield reveals the secret behind uncovering big ideas.

Jan 23, 2014 by John Maxfield

10 Proven Traits That Will Make You a Success

The vast majority of highly successful business people have a handful of traits in common. Here are 10 that Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos has in spades.

Jan 21, 2014 by John Maxfield

40 Things Your Children Can Learn From Sam Walton

Raising happy and successful children is hard. One way to make it easier is to learn from the experience of others. Here are 40 things that Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, can teach us, and thereby our children, about attaining success.

Jan 19, 2014 by John Maxfield

Why Banks Aren't High on the Business of Legal Marijuana

Even though marijuana has been fully legalized in two states, most, if not all, banks still refuse to provide them with services.

Jan 19, 2014 by John Maxfield

Will Your Favorite Company Get Booted From the S&P 500?

Why do companies get removed from the S&P 500, and what impact does being added have on short- and long-term performance?

Jan 18, 2014 by John Maxfield

How Bank of America and Others Schemed to Exploit You

The nation's largest banks are often derided for causing the financial crisis. What's less appreciated, however, are all of the other ways they've unjustly tilted the financial system in their favor.

Jan 18, 2014 by John Maxfield

The Biggest Threat to Legal Marijuana

As states begin to legalize the sale, possession, and consumption of marijuana for recreational use, there remains one big threat to the industry that's making it difficult for industry participants to remain on the right side of the law.

Jan 18, 2014 by John Maxfield

Plummeting Mortgage Originations at Wells Fargo Don't Mean What You Think

On Tuesday, Wells Fargo acknowledged that its mortgage business fell further than at competitors like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America. While this sounds bad, there's a critical reason it isn't as ominous as you might initially assume.

Jan 17, 2014 by John Maxfield

Would Thomas Jefferson Have Supported Net Neutrality?

On Tuesday, a federal court of appeals struck down net neutrality, paving the way for broadband providers like Verizon and Comcast to block or impede access to websites like Netflix and Amazon.com's streaming video service. Does this spell the end of a free Internet, or is it merely a new hurdle in the paths of online users and content creators?

Jan 12, 2014 by John Maxfield

10 Fastest Growing Jobs Over the Next Decade

Are you likely to be in the job market sometime over the next decade? If so, then recently released information from the U.S. Department of Labor should be of high interest to you.

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