With all the talk about quantitative easing and its subsequent variations called “asset purchases” and “expanding the balance sheet” at the Federal Reserve, one would think the average investor and Joe Sixpack would be familiar with these terms and what they mean. In my many discussions with investors and people on the street, nothing could be further from the truth. Few people understand what all these terms mean, yet most believe whatever the Federal Reserve is doing is certainly meant to help. Many economists and analysts support such quantitative easing programs, while many others (this analyst included) do not. Regardless …