Imagine sitting on the board of your favorite company, attending the next meeting, clearing your throat, and asking “How much are we going to increase the dividend this quarter?” Welcome to the company! Because that’s what it’s like to be an investor in a stock that cherishes its shareholders, its owners if you will, showing appreciation through regular dividends and dividend increases. It’s nice to be appreciated, especially when stocks are a little shaky. Getting paid to be in them helps. A lot. Which is why dividends are so important to every investor no matter their age or net … [Read more...]
Tax “Cuts” will Fuel the Florida Migration
During his tenure, Florida Governor Rick Scott has improved on what was already America's favorite destination for retirees. President Trump's tax reform made Florida even more attractive for retirees living in the high-tax states of New England. If Floridians elect Scott to the Senate, they will give him the opportunity to continue to protect their state's appeal by working with the President to keep federal taxes low. Originally posted November 14, 2017. Want to get away? If you live in blue-states New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and while I’m at it … [Read more...]
Librarian Leaves $4 Million to UNH
If you want some inspiration for your savings, read this post I wrote back on September 2, 2016. It tells the story of Robert Morin and the power of saving. "Robert Morin worked nearly 50 years at the University of New Hampshire library and never seemed to spend any money,” writes Brian MacQuarrie of the Boston Globe. He ate fritos and coke for breakfast, a cheese sandwich for lunch and frozen dinners for dinner. I’m not saying this is the life for you. But I do think it’s pretty amazing how being frugal can impact one’s finances. At the core of Mr. Morin’s financial success is the fact … [Read more...]
U.S. is #1: World’s Most Competitive Economy
For the first time in a decade the U.S. is the world’s most competitive economy. That according to the World Economic Forum rankings. Thank you President Trump. And the good news is, there’s room for improvement. I can tell you from my conversations with investors that Trump has brought a new level of energy, an energy that was missing in the Obama years. And, finally, the misguided zero percent interest rate policy—a brutal time for savers as their life savings earned nothing as it was given away for free to Wall Street—may be behind us. Which leads me to believe that this is a … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Why This Home Survived Hurricane Michael
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Your Retirement Life: Is Owning a Second Home a Good Idea?
One of the sticky parts about owning a second home is property taxes. You can't escape them. Even my favored "live free or die," New Hampshire, by example, has the third highest property taxes in the country. California, perhaps surprisingly, has a much lower rate, coming in at #34. But, the median price of a home in California far exceeds that of New Hampshire. My advice to anyone considering a second home is to rent first or to be absolutely sure you love where you will live. You'd be surprised how much you can learn about a city or town by actually living there for a year or so as a renter. … [Read more...]
Hurricane Michael Damages F-22s
You can’t make this up. As Hurricane Michael ripped through the Florida panhandle, home to Tyndall Air Force Base, an unspecified number of F-22s were damaged because they lack the parts to be operational and were stuck in hangars to take a beating, reports the WSJ: Part of the F-22 problem is upkeep on a coating that helps the planes evade radar. Another issue is the supply chain for parts now that the U.S. no longer produces the airplane, and “some original manufacturers no longer make the parts or are completely out of business,” GAO notes. Air Force officials told GAO that a simple wiring … [Read more...]
Your Retirement Life: A Dire Warning Part III
It has been my experience that publicly managed funds, such as pensions, tend to be backward looking. They embody a rear-view mirror way of investing that is, often times, easier to defend to a committee to save one’s job, but not necessarily the best investment strategy, as I explain here and here. In another example of group-think, pensions are trying to “protect” against losses with a “crisis risk offset.” Sounds pretty serious. In reality, it’s a 20-year Treasury bond ETF that is almost guaranteed to lose money in an all but guaranteed rising interest rate environment. Remember, when … [Read more...]
Newport Rifle Club: Women-Only Pistol Course
The Newport Rifle Club, founded in 1876, is the oldest continuously operating rifle club in the United States. When our kids were younger, my friend and I would take them out to dinner once a month on a Friday and go to the club for kids' night, where they’d shoot .22 rifles. First, they’d review gun safety basics, then grab a mat, and target shoot for about an hour. It was a great time. Education and practice is a huge piece of the journey to becoming comfortable with a firearm. Our Friday night shoots were a great benefit for my kids. The club also offers a woman-only basic pistol course. … [Read more...]
Blue-Wave in November? Maybe Not
That blue-wave so many on the left expect to come crashing down on Republicans in November may never reach shore. On a recent trip home to attend a wedding in Ohio, The American Conservative’s Peter Van Buren writes: That slack-jawed yokel look on my face is because I just came back from a wedding and some visits in flyover country, which turned the last few days into a highly unscientific survey of old friends and new relatives. I crossed three states during my travels and talked to dozens of people about politics. It was easy, as the media had already slugged my pickup line into the same … [Read more...]