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.
California is not alone in using gasoline taxes for purposes other than roads. Washington state does the same thing. It all goes into the general fund.
It could be like this for the rest of the year. I believe Ted predicted that there would be no rate increase this year. I would agree with that.
The main action is on AAPL today before they report earnings after the bell. News out this morning tha…
My mindset was shocked by Black Monday 1987. After a year of investing into a plain stock mutual fund I saw over $2000. dwindle to about $800 overnight. What did I do? I pulled out my money and started educating myself. Within six to eight months I …
I'll keep working on it. I also try to use italics as it defines the quote better but on the iPhone that function is under the copy and paste function that pops up. Desktop is much easier for these things.
It does seem like they are paying attention to the viewers comments. I wish they would go all the way and set up the living room or office setup and let everyone sit instead of being up on a news counter. It had a more professional feel to it. The n…
@Junkster, regarding your thoughts on old age, perhaps you are correct in general but remember that stuff happens once you get past the age of 50 or so. I was doing well then all of a sudden I was fatigued. Type 2 diabetes. Diseases have a way of …
@Junkster, regarding your thoughts on old age, perhaps you are correct in general but remember that stuff happens once you get past the age of 50 or so. I was doing well then all of a sudden I was fatigued. Type 2 diabetes. Diseases have a way of …
@Anna, it is similar with eye exam benefits. Many insurance companies list only optometrists that take the plan instead of ophthalmologists. Places like Lens Crafters get a lot of business that way.
It is another way of reducing costs. The hospit…
To add to the crown debate; most if not all crowns are made in dental labs. I suspect these things are very cheap to make. I would be curious to know the profit margins.
@Junkster, Wow, and I thought I had the record for staying away from dentists at 22 years. I hope you didn't just jinx yourself. In 2007 I developed a bad toothache and I went in. Guess what? I needed a crown. My procedure was painful. Haven't been…
@Mona, You are right. People these days will spend thousands on surgeries, chemotherapy or whatever for their pets. My brother just spent $3300 for surgery on his dig to remove a tumor in his intestinal tract. We haven't heard the biopsy results ye…
Just my opinion, but dentists are becoming more and more like unethical stock brokers. They are churning their patients because that's where the money is, just as brokers churn their client's portfolios. Now I am not painting a broad brush here as s…
Dentistry is a huge business now that every person must have super straight white teeth or their self esteem will be low. Look at the number of kids getting braces or other straightening methods. When I was young hardly anyone had braces. Now it's a…
@hank, I had lots of issues with explaining my answers. In math for example, I had figured out ways to do the computations in my head using shortcuts. Ex: what is 120x9=? 9x100=900. 9x20=180. Answer is 1080.
The teachers hated it. I was supposed…
I noticed recently that a couple of my funds increased their holdings of emerging markets debt. I wonder how much of this stuff exists and is there enough supply for everyone?
I thought the foreign tax paid by mutual fund investors became a credit towards regular taxes? Or if not, just something that has to be declared? I remember something of this sort when I held shares in The Japan Fund back in the 90's.
On the inaugural show of the new Wall Street Week, Mr. Gundlach mentioned that a crisis in junk bonds was coming. I guess he knows the day and the hour when it will begin.
http://m.wyff4.com/money/junk-bonds-the-next-financial-crisis/32465346
I think what might be the point here is that the mom and pop shops and small stores have not gotten the credit card equipment to accept cards. The multinational companies and larger stores in the malls should have them.
My experience in the Philip…
I think the usage of cards is not an issue but that Union Pay handles all the clearing. This would give Visa and MC the opportunity to get into the clearing end as well. If I have this wrong let me know.
It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. Credit cards are used by professionals and high net wealth people but the middle class is still in cash mode. This is true for a lot of Asia. Advertising may be the key for Visa and MC.
I apologize for the thread drift. Getting back to Chipotle, as I mentioned earlier, it's just a restaurant chain. The stock price is approaching $700. It still smells like a fad. When tougher times come, people will forsake expensive Mexican food fo…
Starbucks is very pricey for what you get. At the beginning their food offerings were also expensive but unique. Everyone else has the same things now. It does become an expensive habit. The frugal part of me pushed the idea of making my own. Never …
Pretty much every young person I have met that I mentioned saving for retirement to, has said they would start in a few years. Current debt load or just wanting to have fun might be two of the biggest reasons. These were twenty somethings who got in…
