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Old Man Winter

Posted by Larry Doyle on February 3rd, 2011 5:10 AM |

Old Man Winter is putting a major hurting on many parts of our nation. Let’s take a photographic stroll thanks to some fabulous, bone-chilling snapshots provided by the Denver Post.

New Hampshire

Captured: Huge Winter Storm

ChicagoCaptured: Huge Winter Storm

A satellite view of the United States Captured: Huge Winter Storm

Vermont….why did the owner leave this pooch in the cold?  Captured: Huge Winter Storm

Waterbury, ConnecticutCaptured: Huge Winter StormWisconsin

Captured: Huge Winter Storm

This collection is merely a semblance of the fabulous montage provided at this link.

In the midst of a normal economic period, we would be hearing a lot as to how this winter weather will definitely put a crimp into our first quarter GDP…and it will. What I find interesting, though, is that I have not heard one word about the economic impact of the weather…and yes, I watch and listen closely. I am not looking for negative reporting, BUT I do appreciate a keen sense of integrity and honesty. Yes, Old Man Winter will negatively impact first quarter GDP.

Enjoy the photos and please be safe!!

Larry Doyle


Is Egypt the Threshold of a New World?

Posted by Larry Doyle on February 2nd, 2011 7:33 AM |

Is the ongoing political firestorm in Egypt an individual event or part of a larger movement? Can the Egyptian turmoil be contained or might it spread to other nations in the Middle East? Are we witnessing the civil unrest of a disenfranchised populace or something truly much larger than that?

Certainly, peace loving people hope that calm can be restored in Egypt and the inevitable transfer of power happens in an orderly fashion. From that standpoint, we would hope a democratic regime ultimately gains control in Egypt. What if democracy does not carry the day, though? Read the rest »


Who is More Effective, Wikileaks or SEC?

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 31st, 2011 10:13 PM |

If you were a senior accountant at a firm and suspected senior officials of perpetrating a fraud, would you run the risk of professional suicide and bring the information to the SEC or maintain cover and contact Wikileaks? What do you think? Do the right thing and hope you are protected or put your trust in the great equalizer known as Wikileaks?

Let’s not lose faith in Uncle Sam, right? Go straight to Washington and let them do their thing protecting America, yes? Well, maybe not.

Let’s check in with somebody who went to Washington while blowing the whistle on one of the greatest frauds in the history of our nation. Of whom do I speak? Sherron Watkins. Sherron who? Remember Enron? Read the rest »


FCIC Report: Wall Street and Washington Failed America

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 28th, 2011 7:16 AM |

A multiple trillion dollar loss emanates from Wall Street and no crimes are committed? Will any form of real justice ever be served? Will those who facilitated and enabled this crisis to unfold ever be singled out? Are there individuals on both Wall Street and in Washington who just exhaled thinking, “We got away with it.”

The report released yesterday by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission highlights that Wall Street and Washington collectively failed our nation. Specifically the FCIC writes on page 23:

We do place special responsibility with the public leaders charged with protecting our financial system, those entrusted to run our regulatory agencies, and the chief executives of companies whose failures drove us to crisis. These individuals sought and accepted positions of significant responsibility and obligation. Tone at the top does matter and, in this instance, we were let down. No one said “no.”

How is it that these ‘supposed leaders’ failed to perform? Read the rest »


How Much Do We Trust Our Banks, Media, and Government? NOT MUCH!

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 27th, 2011 8:26 AM |

If you do not trust an individual, a company, an industry, or any entity, how can you really do business with them? At the very least, how or why would you want to engage them? The simple fact is without trust, nobody really wants to engage.  

Why are banks, the media, and our government finding it so difficult to get things done and grow their footprint and influence with American consumers, investors, and the populace at large? To an ever increasing extent, Americans do not trust our banks, our media, and our government. Why is that?

Americans know and feel that these industries and bodies have violated their trust. Once, twice, multiple times burned, Americans are now not so quick to trust. Can you blame them? Read the rest »


Will the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission ‘Name Names’?

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 26th, 2011 9:25 AM |

Tomorrow the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission will release its widely anticipated report investigating the causes of our financial crisis. While many on Wall Street would like to promote the fact that the financial crisis was nothing more than ‘the perfect storm,’ we know that is not the case. The New York Times has received a preview of the FCIC’s report and highlights the fact that the Financial Crisis Was Avoidable, Inquiry Finds,

The 2008 financial crisis was an “avoidable” disaster caused by widespread failures in government regulation, corporate mismanagement and heedless risk-taking by Wall Street, according to the conclusions of a federal inquiry. Read the rest »


POGO: “Reports the SEC Doesn’t Want You to See”

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 24th, 2011 10:52 PM |

The Project on Government Oversight has become the financial regulatory eyes and ears for our nation. While one would think Congress might care to thoroughly investigate government agencies and hold them to account, our recent history has shown us that the Congressional oversight is severely lacking. Enter POGO. What has POGO provided us now?

By utilizing the Freedom of Information Act, POGO has provided a huge window of transparency into the SEC. Why should POGO have to perform these acts? Where is the Congressional oversight? Heck, where is the SEC chair Mary Schapiro?

I strongly encourage readers to save this commentary as POGO provides links to a wealth of amazing stories and investigations. THANK YOU POGO for performing a national public service in opening the windows into the SEC. Read the rest »


John Lounsbury: “A Very Low Opinion of FINRA”

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 24th, 2011 7:00 AM |

“Who will protect me?”

How many investors in our nation continue to ask that question?

A lot!!

Throughout the crisis of the past few years and certainly well beyond that, investors have come to appreciate that they really need to learn to protect themselves. Why is that? We have rampant evidence  that neither Wall Street nor the financial regulators overseeing Wall Street have truly protected investors. So now what? Read the rest »


Walter Williams: “Politicians Exploit Economic Illiteracy”

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 22nd, 2011 8:14 AM |

Walter Williams

Prior to reading the Weekend Interview in this morning’s Wall Street Journal, I had never heard of Walter Williams. After reading this interview, I will be looking for more of Williams’ work. What really struck me this morning about the George Mason University economist? He badly wants the truth and he embodies the best of ‘sense on cents’ in pursuing it. How so? Do you have any doubts that Williams nails the truth after reading:

Over the decades, Mr. Williams’s writings have sought to highlight “the moral superiority of individual liberty and free markets,” as he puts it. “I try to write so that economics is understandable to the ordinary person without an economics background.” His motivation? “I think it’s important for people to understand the ideas of scarcity and decision-making in everyday life so that they won’t be ripped off by politicians,” he says. “Politicians exploit economic illiteracy.”

Amen!! Read the rest »


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Larry Doyle

Larry Doyle A Wall Street veteran's views and instincts on the markets, economy, and all things financial.







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