Howard McEwen, CFA

Dark ‘N Stormy
1.5 oz Gosling (use no other) dark rum
4 oz ginger beer (I like Barritt’s, but any will do)
lime juice & garnish (your choice see below)

Everywhere I read this is a drink for a hot day, but I like it in the cold too.  Spicy and flavorful.  Dark and rich, but not cloyingly so.

Alicia likes this with lime juice because it tends to cut the sugary molasses-ish taste the rum brings and the bitterness of the beer, but like it sans lime.

The link to my appearance yesterday on Eddie and Tracy’s Show on 700-WLW is here.  Why did the market stumble last week?  What will this week bring?

As for what 2010 may bring…Here’s a link to my Dayton B2B magazine piece Guilde to Wealth Management 2010.

Take a listen.  Take a read.

On last night’s show we talked about this past week’s 5% market drop as well as way too many other topics.

Take a listen.  Since I can’t figure out how to upload a file to my website bigger than 8 megs here’s part one and part two.

Take care.

We talked what 2010 will bring economically and financially and the Moscow Mule (recipe here).

Give it a listen.  Part one & part two.  Total time of about 19 minutes.

“Ideology and demagogic leadership turned the lovers of Mozart into the builders of Auschwitz.”

It’s from this essay at the GLORIA Center.

Mike McConnell had me on his show today to talk about why banks supposedly aren’t lending.  This came up because of President Obama’s meeting Monday with several bankers.

You can listen to the podcast here.

They are lending….but not to just anyone wanting a loan.  The lesson of our times: good credit is gold.

Thanks to Mary Ann Mader Jones at Union Savings Bank in Northern Kentucky and Jacob G. for sharing their lending experiences with me.  If you need a loan or re-fi, give Mary Ann a call at 859-801-5536.

I’m packing on the pounds already and it’s only December 3.  The main culprit is a not quite egg nog that I’m making too much of.   We’ve been tweaking a recipe originally written by Dale Degroff in one of his books.  It’s very nice…and very rich.

Into a cocktail shaker loaded with ice combine:

2 oz brandy (Navan vanilla Cognac makes it incredible but I’m cheap)
4 oz whole milk (this is nog - no skim or 1% or 2% dammit)
1 oz simple syrup (1 part sugar to 1 part water melted together)
1 egg (I’m narrowing it down to liking the mediums)
4 healthy dashes of vanilla
cinnamon to taste (good amount)

Shake this hard.  Then shake it harder.  Then shake it some more.  You’re beating that egg to death to create a light fluffy texture.

Strain into a glass with fresh ice.  Sprinkle some nutmeg on top.

Put on silly, Christmas themed pajamas, turn the lights down, sit down and drink.

I promise it will immanentize the eschaton.

I talked college aid with Eddie and Tracy last Friday.  I hope you enjoy.

The 6 minutes is here.

My latest Dayton B2B Magazine Wealth Management piece is here.

I just know someone somewhere is going to have one of these blow up on them.

Howard McEwen, CFA is available to provide comments and background to interested media about investments and the financial markets.

Many investors are still in the mentality that the market is down, but with the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and NASDAQ returning 22.4%, 25.62%, and 38.68%, respectively, this year, many of those same investors are going to be surprised when their mutual fund distributes capital gains - adding to their tax burden.

“Over the next few weeks, mutual funds will be announcing their distribution rates,” said McEwen.  “Investors need to check these and consult with the tax advisor on ways to minimize the tax impact.”

“These distributions are tax bombs that need to be defused before year end so they don’t blow up the owner’s tax planning and returns.”

Mutual funds are required by law to pass along to their shareowners all realized capital gains and dividends.  Fortunately, much of this year’s gains will be offset by prior year losses, but investors still need to be vigilant.  The capital gains tax rate is 15% for those above the 15% income tax rate bracket.

Howard is a writer contributing to several publications.  He has a boutique investment advisory practice in Cincinnati.  He specializes in working with middle income, middle-class families and individuals.

Howard has obtained the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst designation which has been called “the fruit of a grueling program testing topics from portfolio analysis and accounting to ethical standards.”  He is the author of The Pure Investor.  He has also contributed to the Enquirer, Community Press, Cincinnati Gentlemen, Dayton B2B, and City Beat.

“Readers need simple, coherent, jargon-free answers to complex questions,” said McEwen.  “They are concerned that something they don’t quite understand happening on Wall street or in Washington, D.C. is going to hurt their retirement.”

“Helping them understand it has been my job as a financial writer and advisor.”