Dear clients, friends and family: Following is the 2014 first quarter net performance information for CMG’s Tactical Investment Strategies along with our thoughts on each strategy over the past quarter.  In addition, we have provided the net performance for the CMG Managed Blends and the CMG [...]Read More >

April 25, 2014 By Steve Blumenthal “The Fed’s manipulations have left it in the position of a tightrope walker with no net; one who must exert all his energy in a concentrated effort just to keep moving forward, even as the slightest slip or unexpected gust could cause a catastrophic end to the [...]Read More >

April 11, 2014 By Steve Blumenthal The Fed owns 30% of all mortgage backed securities and nearly 25% of all the Treasury bonds.  Wow! Unimaginable, but real. I find myself frequently visiting the Fed’s website.  I particularly like Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher.  As a former fund [...]Read More >

Recent pieces have focused on the likely path to higher interest rates.  This is a major problem for all bond investors, especially if you have 40% or more allocated to bonds.  The vast majority of investors own bonds. I believe the bond market is experiencing a long-term secular bull peak.  With [...]Read More >

March 28, 2014 By Steve Blumenthal “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”  Winston Churchill. Last night I had the absolute pleasure of seeing NY Times columnist Adam Bryant, speak at my stepson’s school.  Bryant [...]Read More >

March 21, 2014 By Steve Blumenthal It was a big week for Chairwoman Janet Yellen.  Loved her transparency.  Can’t you just feel the collective investment world sitting on the edge of its seat?  We are all watching with concern and for good reason. So with interest rates front and center, [...]Read More >

March 14, 2014 By Steve Blumenthal It sure feels like we are moving towards a point of crisis.  The number two economy in the world is in serious decline; their customers' economies (mostly the U.S. and Europe) have slowed.  The great boom in China appears to be over.  Prime the printing presses [...]Read More >

March 7, 2014 By Steve Blumenthal On Thursday I spoke at the NWA Financial Fitness Forum sponsored by Mach-1 Financial Group in Northwest Arkansas.  The keynote for the event was former Governor Mike Huckabee.  He spoke about the mess in Washington (of course) and his deep belief that they have [...]Read More >

February 28, 2014 By Steve Blumenthal If the big bubble is in the bond market, as I believe, we need to keep a close eye on the direction of interest rates.  I have my own long-term fundamental views towards higher rates (Fed QE driven), but the question is when. Patience is required. As a [...]Read More >

February 20, 2014 Steve joined Paul Vigna on WSJ Live's Money Beat to discuss the Fed's talks of potentially moving up the timeline for raising interest rates. What can investors do? Check out the video. [...]Read More >

February 21, 2014 By Steve Blumenthal One of the upcoming challenges for the Fed, aside from tapering, will be the decision to raise interest rates.  Keep in mind that the equity rally we have experienced has been largely fueled by the Fed (click here for a chart) and it is the end of this [...]Read More >

"Don't Trust the Traditional 60/40 Split" Steve joined Gregg Greenberg at TheStreet.com once again for a discussion on the overvaluation of the market after last year's rally and how to optimize a portfolio allocation despite these ever-changing market conditions. To see the interview on [...]Read More >

February 14, 2014 By Steve Blumenthal “The investor’s chief problem – and even his worst enemy – is likely to be himself.” - Benjamin Graham   Just what are tactical investment strategies and where might they fit into your clients’ portfolios? A few months ago, I was on Bloomberg [...]Read More >

February 7, 2014 By Daisy Maxey Excerpt: Many high-net-worth investors see recent stock declines as a buying opportunity thanks to lessons learned from the market implosion of 2008-2009. The financial crisis left wealthy investors with a better understanding of risk and of the importance of [...]Read More >

February 7, 2014 By Steve Blumenthal What trips the wire?  The bubble is in the bond market and it just might be the biggest bubble of them all. The headlock we find ourselves in is caused by the massive weight of debt.  We owe too much, we have promised too much and are not making enough.  [...]Read More >