The Dividend Cafe

As of press time Thursday it has been another strong week in markets, with the formal signing of the phase one-U.S/China trade deal, a strong start to earnings season, and the continued general feeling that this is a good market in a good economy. Of course, life is never that simple, and markets are really never that simple, so we have a lot more to say about everything. Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Topics discussed: We have a full Dividend Cafe to bring you today. The news cycle did not slow down for the new year, and indeed, we have already opened the year with a slew of geopolitical events that add drama to capital markets. Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Topics discussed: But first, I would direct you all to the annual white paper I do every year recapping the year behind us and offering our perspective on the year in front of us - Year Ahead/Year Behind. I believe you will find it to be an informative and useful tool in understanding the recent past and considering the immediate future. Share with any you would like. Links mentioned in this episode: A Year Ahead/A Year Behind DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Consider this week’s Dividend Cafe an early Christmas present, not just because of Brexit and the phase one China trade deal and, of course, a 2019 in risk assets that has been one for the ages … but mostly because this is essentially a double issue Dividend Cafe with ample coverage on all the things you should be caring about right now as an investor. Because there will not be a Dividend Cafe next week we doubled up for you this week, so take a break from wrapping presents, grab a coffee (or egg nog), and jump on into the Dividend Cafe … Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Topics discussed: On Friday the regular Dividend Café for the week went out, and it included as much of an update as possible around the UK elections and the China trade war … But within hours of the submission there was more news, and then the next day even more, and then over the weekend even more still. I don’t want to wait until Friday to provide the latest and greatest … Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Topics discussed: The markets ripped higher and I will unpack more details when you click into this week's Dividend Cafe ... Since the market’s massive rally last Friday after mind-numbing good jobs numbers the market had barely budged this week. The Democrats in the House filed articles of impeachment against the President this week. The Fed stood still on interest rates. And the British voters headed to the polls to elect their Prime Minister. It wasn’t a boring week in the world, just in the market (until Thursday morning). So this week we’ll dive into the jobs data, the strength of the economy, the vulnerabilities in the economy, the pending tariff deadline, and all sorts of big things. It’s a whopper of info, so let’s get caffeinated in the Dividend Cafe ... Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Topics discussed: Welcome to the final month of 2019! I. Love. December. I love it no matter what the market does. I love it no matter what the news cycle is doing. It is just a wonderful time of year, and I have done my best to bring in this special month with a special Dividend Cafe - covering all the ups and downs in the market this week, really meaty stuff on the trade war, the most important thing I could ever say about "perma-bears," the timely reality under-pinning dividend growth, and a really crucial economic lesson. I think this is the best Dividend Cafe of the year (okay, maybe I say that too much), but jump on in and let's get in the December spirit ... Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Thanksgiving is the one week of the year, where we bypass market commentary and economic analysis in the Dividend Café. It serves as a logical week to take a break from the Fed, global GDP growth, the trade war, earnings, and market valuations. And affirmatively, we should be doing a Thanksgiving edition of Dividend Café every week, because that is how much gratitude we have at The Bahnsen Group. Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

In this week’s special Dividend Cafe podcast and video, The Bahnsen Group’s Investment Committee dives into the economic policy platform of surging Democratic nominee, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Some refreshers on dividend taxation are in order, and so much more. A pre-Thanksgiving special edition! Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Topics discussed: As of press time mid-day on Thursday, the market was down about 250 points on the week, which is not noteworthy in that 250 points is nothing, especially divided by 28,000, and especially because it is three or four days of action. I only mention it because (a) Some of you are getting bored by the low volatility market of the last few weeks and this makes it sound like markets moved, and (b) Some of the chatter behind the couple points we moved are interesting. But I am not going to pretend that there is much substance behind a 250 point move; markets can move 250 points on a sneeze! What I will do this week is provide some history, provide some economics, and provide some perspective – because frankly, I don’t think there are a lot of other places to get it right now! Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com