For over eighty-five years, St. Germain's mission has been managing investments based on our clients' goals while delivering exemplary, personalized service regardless of the size or scope of their assets. You might be surprised to learn that our relationships do not start in the tens of millions of dollars. We do have some high-end accounts, yet many relationships start far lower than multimillion dollar accounts.
And now, more than ever, the need for good planning is more evident than in times past
You do have options worth considering which means investors do have opportunities. The significant question for you is this: With all that has taken place on Wall Street, the credit & mortgage markets and investment banking, can you afford NOT to call us? We're still here...and ready to listen.
All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. William Shakespeare
What, you may ask, does Shakespeare--and in particular this famous quote from, As You Like It-- have anything to do with financial planning, wealth management or anything else? Because, as most of us know, the financial uncertainty and fears plaguing Europe are playing out in all sorts of ways. The actions and reactions of money managers not only in Europe, but elsewhere influences some of the thinking and financial expectations of investors worldwide. The answer as to "why" such levels of anxiety and concern exist can be summed up with two points: 1) Europe has a very hard time paying what it owes and 2) it instead chooses to print more money to pay for these same debts. Yes, it's a simplistic answer but it also carries some truth.
David Weidner, noted columnist for The Wall Street Journal, has mentioned that some of the plans for the Eurozone aren't all that bad; the problem, instead, lies with the planners. Yes, he mentions that the United States also carries a lot of debt, but admits that the U.S. economy fares better than its cousins in Europe because the U.S. pays its bills. Our part in this ongoing drama is one of steadfast reliability. Is it any wonder that U.S. Treasuries are a safe haven?
Another perspective to this unfolding drama regards trade and commerce. Consider the exchange of goods and services. There's risk whether you look at the concerns through a financial or commercial lens. To get a better understanding of Europe's financial distress, click on the Washington Post story and check the interactive data points.
May 18, 2012
Stocks futures rise, markets to close worst week of year
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures edged up but major indexes were setting up to close their worst week of the year, while Facebook's debut could help lift battered investor sentiment.
May 18, 2012
Banks' rising bad loans add to Spanish troubles
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish bank bad loans rose in March to their highest in 18 years, figures from the Bank of Spain showed on Friday, underscoring the problems facing the government as it attempts to clean up the sector.
May 18, 2012
China cries foul after U.S. sets tariffs on solar imports
(Reuters) - The United States imposed punitive tariffs on solar panel imports from China, the latest in a series of trade disputes between the world's two biggest economies and sparking accusations by Beijing of protectionism.
May 18, 2012
BMW eyes new production sites abroad: source
MUNICH (Reuters) - Premium carmaker BMW is considering new production sites around the world, with one option being Mexico, a person familiar with the situation told Reuters.
May 18, 2012
Italy to keep debt profile outside riskier area
MILAN (Reuters) - The average lifespan of Italian debt, which has fallen during the euro zone crisis as investors favor safer short-term issues, should still be close to the current level of 6.8 years at the end of 2012.