But I am not your typical investor, scouring and poring over individual stocks. Instead, I’m a macro-investor, which means that I study the directional tendencies of financial markets. These tendencies are certainly impacted by economic data—things like unemployment figures, inflation rates, GDP growth rates and public company earnings reports. But financial markets are also responsive to Geo-Political events, changes in Currency Exchange Rates, Commodity Prices and Central Bank decisions. I respect how each of these factors can impact the direction of markets, which then dictate how I choose to invest. Said plainly, if I’m going to enter a race, I’d rather be running with the wind behind me.

To be certain, the stock and bond markets also move in response to US election news and the weekly/daily decisions made by the dream team—yes, our politicians. Whether their decisions are intelligent or not, they all impact the direction of the stock and bond markets. And since I’m politically agnostic, I don’t hesitate to call out “ridiculous decisions” when I see them, bluntly criticizing political and financial leaders when they deserve it, regardless of their party affiliation. This means mistakes and short-sighted decisions are exposed and discussed routinely.

Subscriber James G. Carlson, Former CEO of Amerigroup Corporation, wrote:

Fred offers a fresh voice and perspective on ‘the rhetoric vs. the reality’ of financial news of our times.  He is a very astute observer of the intersection of global financial topics, how markets work, and how the human element affects them.  The topics he discusses would help most people who are trying to figure out things ranging from where to allocate their 401(k) contributions to understanding why markets fluctuate globally, and how these factors may impact their own financial interests.

In the Dunlap Investment Newsletter, a blend of humor and financial analysis, there’s all of this and more, a common sense, easy-to-understand view of the financial marketplace. So take a ride with me and, along the way, you’ll have some laughs while learning up-to-date news and views that will guide you toward better understanding the investment world.