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HomeFDIC . . . For Doing It Correctly
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 19th, 2009 2:41 PM |
Sense on Cents is very judicious in selecting our Economic All-Stars (highlighted in the left sidebar). These individuals continually display a level of professionalism, maturity, consistency, and integrity which are not commonly found in our financial or political spectrum. I deeply appreciate their insights and perspectives and enjoy sharing them with our audience at Sense on Cents and No Quarter USA.
I thank Susan and Andy for tipping me off to remarks made earlier today in which Sheila Bair Says “Too Big to Fail” Strategy for Financial Institutions Must End. The administration and other political pundits are trying to make the case that the Federal Reserve should serve as the systemic risk regulator. In my opinion, Sheila Bair should occupy that role. There is a major political battle developing over this turf. Make no mistake that how this battle plays out will have deep and longstanding implications for our financial system as a whole and for individual consumers. (more…)
Could The FDIC Go Broke?
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 5th, 2009 9:45 AM |
In very short order, the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) has seen its reserves plummet from $50 billion to $18.9 billion at the end of 2008. At that pace and with the expectation of more bank failures, could this bedrock of our national banking system go broke? Well, FDIC’s Bair Says Insurance Fund Could Be Insolvent This Year. Is Sheila Bair unnecessarily sounding warning signals? Am I running to the bank to withdraw my money? No and no.
Sheila Bair is proactively managing expectations for all concerned, those being politicians, regulators, bankers, and consumers. In fact, if she did not highlight the current state of the FDIC reserve fund and expectations for future declines, she would not be fulfilling her obligations. (more…)
What Is a Mortgage Cram Down?
Posted by Larry Doyle on January 1st, 2009 11:35 AM |
On December 23rd in my piece, “Everything’s Negotiable…“, I wrote that I thought for those financially challenged and potentially facing personal bankruptcy with resulting mortgage default and foreclosure that principal reduction was definitely on the horizon. I wrote in that piece:
Additionally, the likely first piece of government assistance to come from the Obama administration is capital to help homeowners in foreclosure or approaching foreclosure. I expect that that assistance will incorporate some degree of mortgage principal reduction.
I would definitely broach with your banker the topic of principal reduction after laying out your budget. The worst that the bank can do is say no. If that is their response you will have been on record as having been proactive in the process and that can’t hurt you if in fact you end up actually defaulting.
Given the anemic response to the current loan modification programs along with the high level of re-defaulting, it is readily apparent that the powers that be should have been listening to Sheila Bair’s proposal on principal reduction from the outset. Sheila promoted the concept of government funding sharing in the losses with the banks in the principal reduction process.
McCain/Palin’s Economic Stimulus Plan
Posted by Larry Doyle on October 23rd, 2008 9:05 AM |
This post is written in response to the October 21st statement issued by the McCain/Palin campaign:
STATEMENT FROM SENATOR MCCAIN AND
GOVERNOR PALIN ON AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS
“We are deeply concerned about our nation’s economic outlook and will support measures that improve the outlook for American families. This economic crisis has its roots in the housing market and the most effective stimulus will be to reverse the cycle of foreclosure, neighborhood blight, and falling housing values. The American Homeownership Resurgence Plan is the best kind of stimulus.
“The Democrat-controlled Congress will likely propose additional measures. We do not believe that a national crisis should be taken as a license for wasteful spending or earmarked projects. Each new proposal must pass on the grounds that it is timely, effective in supporting business sales and job creation, and consistent with long-term fiscal discipline.
“In the past, raising taxes and cutting off international trade have only served to make hard economic times worse. We oppose harmful attempts to just ‘spread the wealth.’ Our job-creating economic plan is the best path for the economy and includes the types of policies that the Congress should consider.”
Prior to addressing the prospects of another economic stimulus plan, let’s review some of the steps that the Fed and Treasury have taken over the course of the last month: (more…)
