Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
Thinking about healthcare sector, too, since I keep getting mail from my LTC policy telling me they are trying to raise my premium by 75%. Maybe this is an option for counter-balancing strategy-- if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! These for-profit-…
Formula:
1.) Sign up for multiple domain names.
2.) Ditto multiple aliases
3.) Quickly, quickly write official-sounding predictions, preferably citing multiple sources (including many at random, since few will actually read the sources) containi…
@ John Chisum:
Years ago I had a Branch Chief, who later became a Division Chief, and then became (the) Laboratory Chief (of a Laboratory with international repute). He (& his wife) did not believe in debt. Eventually however they decided …
I would be curious to see what Blankfein a.) does when he retires (assuming he does)
and b.) does with his estate when he dies. Of course, I will be dead first, so it is idle speculation, but I think there is more to this guy than meets the eye (ex…
The strongest argument AGAINST home ownership (IMHO) is that it hurts mobility. When jobs are scarce and/or there is economic turmoil, owning a home, with or without a mortgage, can be a barrier to moving to where the jobs are.
@ Scott: Agree with much of what you pointed out. Would add another comment: My generation (pre-WW2 babies) were all about into buying houses. While I believe that the present situation of saddling college grads with ridiculous amounts of debt …
You beat me to it. It is beyond my (admittedly limited) understanding why people deal with these huge banks, which seem to be totally shameless about putting their hands in your pockets at any & all times. I deal with a small bank (well, it di…
Might be worth considering a position if a.) you feel nervous about being overweight in equities, but b.) you don't want to put more into MM, c.) you trust the manager's judgment on "patience" better than your own. (Of course, this assumes he kee…
I have to admit that I am perpetually surprised at the lack of mention/recognition for TRPrice organization on this board in comparison with Fidelity and Vanguard. Maybe I'm biased as a local, but I just have to respect the quality of the TRP or…
Er... How about raising another question:
Should there "be" such a thing as a "nontaxable account"?? At all, or perhaps only within certain severe limits (ie, total individual limits, not general classifications). Yet another special incentive…
Mary Lou, Mary Lou -- where are you?????
(Wasn't it Mary Lou (of FA) who always had input about EJ???) Always wondered what became of her -- one of the few ladies of FA....
Reply to @rmt:
Thanks for the added comment. Mea culpa, I've actually never held mutual funds in a brokerage acct, only stocks. Funds I always have dealt direct. I assume Z-shares are Z-shares wherever held, but I honestly have never personally …
Re: BobC post
My own experience: I've held shares in both Acorn & Mutual Discovery for ????(many) years. They are Z-shares, created & consecrated when the ownership changed and I can testify that despite being a "nobody" I have been able …
Re: MikeM That would be the reason for not actually cancelling the undesired/BoA card immediately, especially if you have only 2-3 cards. Guess I didn't make that point clearly. I'd just set it aside, & when things settle down, look at the p…
It is my impression that this should not impact, but that it may be best to just keep the BoA card for a while until you have a "history" with the new card. This may be more important if you do not have numerous cards (I have exactly 3), and par…
"Putting 2008 in perspective: It's been said the crisis was akin to the proverbial "Hundred Year Flood"."
Yes, but "hundred year flood" is based on semi-old data and we seem to be having "hundred year floods" quite regularly these days.
By "semi…
Wimps! Wimps! Who are you guys??? In the last 32 years I have had 3 ("three") VW's, all stick, all hatch (the single person's wagon), all purchased new.
1980 Rabbit Diesel: 198,000; totalled when rear-ended by drunk driver. Rain gutters for rack…
One aspect of opt-in/opt-out that I have never been sure about. Suppose I agree to let company A to collect certain data because they have a strict privacy policy & excellent reputation for integrity. Time passes, and A is acquired by B, which i…
Great job Chip!! Tack så mycket!
Couple of points -- in addition to supporting MFO (don't forget to have your bookmark set up to take you in through the MFO portal!), I have found the Amazon "browse" option to be surprisingly helpful in getting t…
"Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why" By Laurence Gonzales. Although it is an outdoor survival book, it deals with how survivors confront disasters and engage, as opposed to those who fail and die.
As an added interest, I happened to be…
@ Ted & Bob C: Thanks for your comments, much appreciated. My resolutions for this year include streamline portfolio, gym 3X wk, and have fun. #1 is most important -- well, maybe #3, but #1 is an underlying factor.. Will report in 12 mos ;-).…
Some years ago I had an educational experience. Bought an electronic device (don't recall exactly, prob VCR) on line. Excellent price, lowest by far. No problems.
What I later learned about this Co. is that they had a pattern of advertising very …
Not addressing the issue of how retirement benefits should be funded (and determined) but rather how accounting requirements and practices have affected retirees and about the kinds of choices (and consequences) that may be offered (or not):
"Reti…
@msf: Well, I appreciated it - thanx!! Have a much better handle now on the workings.
But I look at some of the funds I have held forever, & some I haven't, & look at how wildly my income fluctuated over the past 8-9 years (remember that b…
Did. Just saw the check show up on my bank acct so paper should be arriving soon.
I am slowly reevaluating/reorganizing portfolio & particularly core holdings, and it seemed like a good fit in the overall scheme of things.
The gentleman I s…
Manning & Napier Equity Series, followed by Dodge & Cox Balanced.
I am finding this interesting, but suggest it would be more so if accompanied by some indication of age.
OK, so I am "over 70".
Very pertinent analysis. Too many in our economic environment today blindly insist that " ..incentives are what get people to work harder..” and hence, "all" rewards to them. Unfortunately, as in most aspects of life, balance matters, not to ment…
Cathy:
Just want to say that I appreciate and always follow your well-thought-out inqueries and the discussions that follow (and I suspect that I am not the only one to do so). While they do not correspond exactly to my situation, there is much…