Another Week of Good News, Bad News

The Dow is up today early and then down by the end of the day. If you're like my wife and I, you've watched your 401k and investment portfolio erode to the tune of 25% to 35%. Incredible buys are out there if you have any money waiting to invest but I'm wondering how long it is going to take for the markets to get back to where they were?

Unfortunately, we're in for more bad economic times. My clients are cutting back their project budgets and hiring demand. I have to assume businesses who aren't my clients yet are doing the same. Finding good candidates isn't quite as difficult as it was a year ago and compared to two or three years back it is downright easy. My advice to job candidates is to find ways to improve their resumes by taking classes or seminars that enhance your market knowledge, soft skills, or relevant certification. Again, if you have the time and the money do something pro-active.

The next President appears to be Barack Obama. I beg that each of us truly looks at the issues from a source that is reliable to decide what is best for them. I am encouraged by the large number of people getting involved but I fear that many new voters are taken in by the Obama rhetoric of change. His emotive calls to change pit an 'Us versus Them' tone where anyone with any money or success is part of the problem. I'm not a believer in redistribution of wealth and don't think his positions are well grounded in economic improvement. I fear that our military will suffer and internationally we will be weakened further by his Administration. The 'Anybody but Bush' bandwagon is in full effect. Let's hope Obama can help us out of the current situation and can do it with a plan that isn't simply an enabler of the leeches on our Federal programs designed to help the needy.

Please visit http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/news/0806/gallery.election_issues/ to really learn about the candidate's stances on the fiscal issues.

Joel