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While we haven't had much time to work on our website in May we have had time to read--as we always do. It doesn't take much to conclude that both the stock and bond markets are on the edge of a big time tumble---and that is exactly what we have concluded. Honestly this is a feeling we have had for…

We just wanted to let our readers know that we have been unable to write as much as we normally do as our 'real workload' (the work that pays the bills) has been crushing.  We are hoping that a week from today (June 1) we will be able to devote lots of time to the website.  Remember that this website…

Overall this has been a quiet week in the stock and bond markets--quiet is good.  Quiet markets give us the opportunity to collect dividends and interest without all the drama of melt downs and melt ups.  In a quiet market well chosen common stocks, REITs and MLPs will move higher if it is warranted--under the radar so to speak.While May…

Private banker, First Republic Bank (ticker:FRC), has sold an investment grade preferred offering.  Being a bank the issue is non-cumulative.  The issue is investment grade rated and has a coupon of 5.70%.While the quality of this issue is high the reward is not attractive to us, plus it is perpetual and we have no interest in perpetuals at this point…

Date Issued   5/20/2015Shares Issued   4,000,000   Overallotment Shares  600,000NOTE THAT FIRST REPUBLIC BANK IS NOT SEC REGULATED THUS THERE IS NO PROSPECTUS AVAILABLE.  ONE MUST GO TO THEIR WEBSITE. S&P Rating   BBB-   Moodys Rating   Baa3Security Ticker Symbol   FRC-F   OTC Temp Ticker   FREPPMarket Traded ON   NYSEDividend Payment Paid on the 30th of March, June, September…