Author: Jeff Tudas

I graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and worked in the Chemical industry for 22 years. I then went on to obtain my MBA from Rockhurst University and pursue a career in investment management in 2001. After obtaining my Certified Financial Planning certification in 2003 I worked for a few firms before founding Normandy Investment Advisors (a Registered Investment Advisory Firm) in October 2021.

Credit Rating Drop Likely Linked To Congressional Differences

Economy

Fitch Rating dropped U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+. For perspective, Standard and Poor’s (S&P) dropped the US credit rating one notch from AAA to AA+ on August 5, 2011, almost exactly twelve years ago. While the S&P 500 fell 6.65 percent the next trading day, between the twelve years spanning S&P’s and Fitch’s downgrades, the S&P 500 is up 421 percent. Debt downgrade did not usher in poor returns. In principle, a lower debt rating for corporate or government bonds should lead to higher borrowing rates. Spirit Airlines (rated B+ by Fitch) will pay a higher rate of…

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79th Anniversary of D-Day Rings Personal For Son Of Utah Beach Infantryman

Lifestyle

June 6th marked the 79th anniversary of the D-Day land invasion to end World War II in the European Theater. To most Americans, it is a day of remembrance that comes and goes each year. To us, it is very personal. My father, Pfc. John H. Tudas, went ashore in the first wave with the 8th infantry regiment of the 4th Infantry landing on Utah Beach. He would talk about riding in the rough seas in the Higgins boat and the anxiety among the men prior to the ramp dropping. After facing the challenge of getting dropped off 2,000 yards…

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The Debt Ceiling Crisis: Separating the Signal from the Noise

Investing

We don’t believe a long-term investor should lose sleep over the current debt ceiling crisis. Unlike issues over which the crisis is being fought, like massive government spending and future tax rates, the debt ceiling is a short-term issue. It can’t sustain itself. Or, in the words of Stein’s Law…if something cannot go on forever, it will stop. Both sides of the aisle have taxpayer money they want to part with, be it to social programs, the military, etc. They will eventually raise the debt ceiling, allowing funding for their favored projects. What investors should be focused on is whether…

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