When it comes to growth-investing, trend spotters like to get in early on a theme that is just getting started. However, lucrative opportunities can also be found in themes that are coming to an end. #-ad_banner-#A key long-term theme in the U.S. economy that has peaked and is in retreat: full-time employment. The historical contract of traditional employment, which provided workers with a specific job description, set compensation and greater job security (or at least the perception of it) is no longer the obvious choice — for business owners and workers alike. Indeed, since the recession, this… Read More
When it comes to growth-investing, trend spotters like to get in early on a theme that is just getting started. However, lucrative opportunities can also be found in themes that are coming to an end. #-ad_banner-#A key long-term theme in the U.S. economy that has peaked and is in retreat: full-time employment. The historical contract of traditional employment, which provided workers with a specific job description, set compensation and greater job security (or at least the perception of it) is no longer the obvious choice — for business owners and workers alike. Indeed, since the recession, this employment model has been on its way out. Tepid economic growth has led employers to grow more cautious when it comes to new hires. The rising cost of healthcare benefits, along with other forms of overhead, has led many firms to turn to independent contractors — self-employed freelancers who work from home or onsite full- or part-time as needed, often on a per-project basis. Independent contractors can be more cost-effective for many reasons. Employers don’t have to share in their payroll taxes, buy benefits for them or provide them with other perks, like paid vacation and sick time. Read More