Memorial Bridge - Springfield, Massachusetts
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 16, 2012
Stock futures flat as Greek crisis pressures equities
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures were little changed as investors continued to worry about Greece's political and financial crisis as the country prepares for its second election in just over a month.
May 16, 2012
Facebook boosts IPO size by 25 percent, could top $16 billion
NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc will increase the size of its initial public offering by 25 percent, a source familiar with the matter said, and could raise as much as $16 billion.
May 16, 2012
Mortgage refinancing applications jump; rates fall: MBA
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Applications for U.S. home mortgages surged last week, driven by increased demand for refinancing as interest rates hit fresh lows.
May 16, 2012
GE finance arm resumes dividend to parent
(Reuters) - General Electric Co's finance arm will resume quarterly dividend to the parent company and pay the largest U.S. conglomerate a $4.5 billion special dividend this year.
May 16, 2012
GM to drop Facebook ads due to low consumer impact
DETROIT/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - General Motors Co. said it will stop advertising on Facebook, even as the social networking website prepares to go public.