New love for mortgage REITs

2014 could be a good year for mortgage REITs and here's why. Plus: Which housing markets are vulnerable to rising rates, gold-mining stocks for the truest gold bugs, an ETF end zone dance, social media apps took over in 2013, and more proof of Obamacare bumbling.
DEC 30, 2013
  • A closer look at how mortgage REITs could prosper this year shows that interest rates might not be a big factor. Of course, you have to know why you're investing in something that invests in mortgage bonds but trades like a stock. What's not to like about a double-digit dividend yield?
  • As interest rates slowly creep higher, the housing market already is looking fragile. Zillow identifies 10 places where a 5% mortgage rate could potentially crush the housing market. A reality of rising rates
  • If you can look past a consensus forecast calling for gold to drop another 14.5% this year and continue to hold out hope in the heavy metal, there are some gold-mining stocks worth watching. With gold now hovering around $1,200 an ounce, any price increases will directly benefit gold miners. Don't count on rising gold prices alone to justify the position
  • In yet another jab at relative performance, the ETF space is highlighting that fact that hedge funds saw outflows last year while index-based investing gained ground. No mention of the fact that ETFs probably are the least expensive product on the market, while hedge funds have to be the most expensive. Investors vote with their feet
  • 2013 was a record year for mobile apps and social media. Messaging and social app usage triples
  • In the latest embarrassing display of your government at work, an HHS cybersecurity chief admits to raising concerns over the Obamacare website. He said the questions he raised leading up to the botched launch went unanswered or were ignored. The site didn't follow basic best practices

Latest News

SEC corporate enforcement hits multi-decade low as agency refocuses on fraud
SEC corporate enforcement hits multi-decade low as agency refocuses on fraud

Just five actions were started in the first half of fiscal 2026, a new analysis finds.

Beyond the Business: Why Advisors Must Help Owners Separate Wealth from Identity
Beyond the Business: Why Advisors Must Help Owners Separate Wealth from Identity

For business owners, the company is often more than an income source. It becomes their largest asset, their retirement plan, and in many cases, part of their identity. Advisors who understand that dynamics can deliver far greater value than traditional financial planning alone

Ex-Edward Jones advisor gets three-year prison sentence for stealing from widow
Ex-Edward Jones advisor gets three-year prison sentence for stealing from widow

John S. Winslow, 57, was indicted just over a year ago for his scheme to steal from an elderly client.

Vestmark, Hamachi push AI further for advisor portfolio intelligence
Vestmark, Hamachi push AI further for advisor portfolio intelligence

Hamachi's new model portfolio partnership and an industry-first solution from Vestmark join the growing wave of AI tools for wealth managers.

Advisor moves: Cetera's enterprise channel draws experienced Osaic duo in California
Advisor moves: Cetera's enterprise channel draws experienced Osaic duo in California

Meanwhile, LPL attracted a five-advisor team managing $380 million in Kansas, while a veteran with stripes from Morgan Stanley, UBS, and Fidelity has joined Prime Capital Financial.

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

SPONSORED Durability over scale: What actually defines a great advisory firm

Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline