Credit card rivals MasterCard (NYSE:$MA) and Visa (NYSE:$V) released earnings on Wednesday, and both knocked the ball out of the park. We’ll start with MasterCard.  This smaller of the two rivals enjoyed earnings growth of 25% in the first quarter and a 17% increase in worldwide purchase volumes.  Not to be outdone, Visa announced a...Read More

It’s that time of year again, dear reader.  Twice per year, Barron’s does a survey of large professional money managers to get their outlook for the market (see “Reason to Cheer”). I get a lot of value out of reading the survey results, but not necessarily for the reasons you might think.  This is a...Read More

Sizemore Capital is making a strategic allocation shift for all ETF portfolios with U.S. large cap exposure.  This affects the Tactical ETF Portfolio and the Strategic Growth Allocation. To be consistent with Sizemore Capital’s focus on dividend growth, we are eliminating our long-term positions in the iShares S&P 500 Index (NYSE:$IVV) and replacing them with...Read More

Investing is not all that different from choosing a spouse.  At some point in every man’s life, he has to make a choice.  Does he go for the alluring but volatile young vixen who will ultimately put him in an early grave, or does he take the more rational course of action and choose a...Read More

Switzerland will always have a special place in the hearts of doom mongers.   For decades its franc has been the “go to” safe haven currency when the world got dicey.   The meticulous Swiss gnomes have always had a well-deserved reputation as prudent stewards of wealth—and a well-deserved reputation for discretion and privacy.  And importantly, their...Read More