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Steven Orlowski's FREE Financial: Pure investing and financial planning advice and guidance

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Got a question? Want a qualified opinion? Let me know. Submit your questions and make your requests here and I will respond to you when you do either via email or within this blog. I will not charge a fee nor will I sell you a thing. I am giving advice and guidance away for free. My expertise is the culmination of 36 years as a stock broker, financial advisor, insurance agent, registered investment advisor, Certified Financial Planner, and writer and editor of hundreds of articles published around the world, on every continent, in most major financial markets and countries, even in print in mainland China in Chinese. Evidence can be found best by searching for Steven Orlowski CFP via your favorite browser and at www.linkedin.com/in/stevenporlowskicfp/. Please also submit your inquiries to me at Stevenorlowskicfp@proton.me. I will answer all inquiries that I receive and will publish many on this blog. Rest assured that you will never receive a solicitation for business. I am doing this ...
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Storm Clouds Over the Economy: Why Gold and Silver Just Became Essential to Your Financial Strategy

In times of economic turbulence, one truth remains clear: protecting your financial future is not optional—it’s essential. As July begins, two major policy shifts have taken center stage, and both carry serious implications for anyone focused on preserving their wealth. If you’ve ever wanted a front-row seat to fiscal chaos, you’re in it now. The first seismic shift came from Capitol Hill. In May, the House narrowly passed President Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending package, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill.” This measure alone is projected to increase the federal deficit by $2.8 trillion over the next decade. But the Senate wasn’t about to be outdone. On July 1, they passed their own version of the bill—this one even more aggressive. According to the Senate plan, federal revenues will be slashed by $4.5 trillion, while spending is only reduced by $1.2 trillion. That leaves a $3.3 trillion hole—half a trillion more than the House’s version. When you factor in borrowing costs, we’re stari...
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Active, Crypto Take Center Stage in Global ETF Landscape According to the Trackinsight Survey

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  Active, Crypto Take Center Stage in Global ETF Landscape According to the Trackinsight Survey By Steven Orlowski, CFP, CNPR May 25, 2025 In a notable shift in investor preferences and market dynamics, active exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and cryptocurrency-themed ETFs are gaining prominence worldwide, according to the latest annual Global ETF Survey conducted by Trackinsight in collaboration with J.P. Morgan Asset Management and State Street. The survey, which polled over 500 professional investors across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East, revealed that more than 40% of institutional and professional ETF users plan to increase their allocations to active ETFs over the next 12 months. This marks a significant pivot from the historically passive nature of the ETF market, suggesting that investors are looking for strategies that can navigate increasingly complex macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions. Active ETFs Break Through Traditionally dominated b...
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A Case Study in Mismatched Fund Returns - Why do a fund's returns sometimes differ from its underlying index? A longstanding legal principle holds the key.

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  A Case Study in Mismatched Fund Returns Why Do a Fund’s Returns Sometimes Differ from Its Underlying Index? A Longstanding Legal Principle Holds the Key By Steven Orlowski, CFP, CNPR In the world of investing, index funds are often promoted for their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and transparency. The pitch is compelling: by mirroring the performance of a benchmark index like the S&P 500, investors can achieve broad market exposure without the risks and costs associated with active management. However, a curious phenomenon sometimes puzzles investors. Even when a fund is designed to track an index, its returns don’t always match the performance of that index. The discrepancies are usually small—fractions of a percent—but occasionally they are large enough to raise eyebrows. Why does this happen? At first glance, the mismatch might seem like an operational error or hidden fee structure. But in many cases, the answer lies in a lesser-known but longstanding legal and acco...
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Amid the volatility, these high-quality assets have attractive valuations — and solid yields

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  Amid the Volatility, These High-Quality Assets Have Attractive Valuations — and Solid Yields In today's turbulent market environment, where inflation remains sticky, interest rate policy is uncertain, and geopolitical tensions continue to flare, many investors are searching for a safe harbor. Volatility has returned with a vengeance, pushing some investors to the sidelines — but for those willing to look past the noise, a compelling opportunity is emerging: high-quality assets trading at attractive valuations, offering both capital appreciation potential and robust income streams. The Market Backdrop: Uncertainty Breeds Opportunity Equity markets have been on a roller coaster ride in recent quarters, swinging between optimism over AI-driven productivity gains and pessimism around global growth prospects. Bond yields have surged, cooled, and surged again, reflecting shifting expectations about central bank policy. Against this backdrop, many quality companies — those with strong b...
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America’s Economy Will Survive Trump and His Tariffs. The Biggest Loser May Be Trump Himself.

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  America’s Economy Will Survive Trump and His Tariffs. The Biggest Loser May Be Trump Himself. By Steven Orlowski, CFP, CNPR “By the middle of 2026, U.S. growth will be experiencing a strong recovery. But Trump will have been damaged politically.” – Nouriel Roubini Former President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade agenda is poised to return with a vengeance if he wins the 2024 election. With pledges to reimpose steep tariffs on China, expand duties on imports across the board, and decouple key U.S. industries from global supply chains, Trump’s economic platform marks a radical departure from free-market orthodoxy. Yet for all the noise surrounding Trump’s return to tariff-driven economics, the U.S. economy may ultimately weather the storm. The bigger question is whether Trump’s own political legacy can. Tariffs: A Blunt Tool with Blunt Consequences Trump’s first term saw the imposition of tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars in imports, particularly from China. The r...
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‘Discouraging’: Frustrated sellers are cutting house prices by tens of thousands of dollars as buyers grow more selective

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  ‘Discouraging’: Frustrated Sellers Are Cutting House Prices by Tens of Thousands of Dollars as Buyers Grow More Selective The typical home seller is asking for 9% more than what the home eventually sells for, Redfin data show. By Steven Orlowski, CFP, CNPR The U.S. housing market is sending a clear message to sellers: it’s no longer a seller’s game. As mortgage rates hover near multi-decade highs and affordability concerns mount, homebuyers are becoming increasingly selective—forcing many sellers to slash asking prices, sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars, just to attract offers. According to new data from Redfin, the average home is selling for 9% less than its original list price , a growing gap that signals serious mismatches between seller expectations and buyer realities. “It’s discouraging,” said Angela Fuller, a homeowner in Phoenix who recently cut her listing price by $45,000 after weeks with no offers. “We thought the market was still hot, but buyers just ar...
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