New Population Projections Show Much Slower Growth – NewStrategist 12/18/12

Salient to Investors: The Census Bureau’s new projections show: The US population of just 399.8 million in 2050 versus 439.0 million projected in 2008. 90 percent of the US population in 1950 was white, versus 64 percent in 2010. (Beginning in 1980, whites are non-Hispanic white) Non-Hispanic whites will peak

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Those Money Problems, They’re All in Your Head – FiveCentNickel.com 12-16-12

Salient to Investors: We know we carry too much credit card debt, own too little retirement savings. Our confidence in our abilities to live on our meager nest eggs is far too high, and our emergency reserves too low. Schools don’t teach money management skills, despite their importance. Parents don’t hand down any money managing skills.

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Holiday Shopping Tips From Behavioral Economists – Bloomberg 11-27-12

Salient to Investors: Cass Sunstein at Harvard writes: Joel Waldfogel at University of Minnesota said Americans spend $65 billion on winter holiday presents every year, much of which is unwanted. Personal debts tend to jump after December. Most people have an exaggerated sense of how much other people are like them so beware of thinking that

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Home Equity Loans Make Comeback Fueling U.S. Spending – Bloomberg 11-26-12

Salient to Investors: Moody’s forecast home equity lines of credit will rise 30 percent in 2012 to the highest level since the start of the financial crisis in 2008, and rise another 31 percent in 2013. Mustafa Akcay at Moody’s Analytics said lending will keep rising if house prices continue to rise. The Mortgage Bankers Association forecast

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