You have read for years that Your Survival Guy is worried about the risky bets being made by state pension fund managers who, after politicians overpromise and under-fund for state employee retirements, are left chasing performance to fill in the gaps. One way states have attempted to juice performance in pension funds is by allowing them to invest in private equity. The problem is that these investments are often riskier than what's available on public markets and don't always turn out well. Missouri is the latest state to find out that riskier investments in private equity can come back and … [Read more...]
Texas Economy Roars with Record Jobs
In Governor Greg Abbott's state of Texas, total jobs hit a new all-time high in October by adding 49,500 new positions. Bethany Blankley reports for the Washington Examiner: Texas in October again broke an all-time record for job gains. Texas also had the fastest annual jobs growth rate from October 2021 to October 2022, according to new data reported by the Texas Workforce Commission. For the 12th consecutive month, Texas broke its all-time record for total jobs. The state's employers added 49,500 nonfarm jobs last month. “Texas continues to create jobs and set historic employment … [Read more...]
CRYPTO CHARLATANS: Investors Lulled to Sleep by Celebrities, Influencers
Investors in cryptocurrency on the FTX exchange weren't just taken in by the celebrities they saw pitching it to them during the Super Bowl. There were self-styled "financial influencers" who also pushed crypto onto unsuspecting investors eager to beat the zero-interest rate environment. Despite Tom Brady's endorsement of FTX, investing is supposed to be boring, not run like a fantasy football team. Listen to what crypto buyers interviewed by The Wall Street Journal have to say about their involvement with FTX: “My blood is boiling,” said Matthew Way, a fundraiser for an Illinois orchestra … [Read more...]
Are You Prepared to Survive a Cold New England Winter?
New England families are facing one of the toughest winters in years as temperatures get colder and a fuel supply crisis looms. In the Washington Examiner, Breanne Deppisch reports: A fuel supply crisis in New England has sent consumer utility bills soaring and threatens blackouts this winter — even as the United States exports record volumes of fuel to customers overseas. New England’s woes are attributable to two factors: its lack of pipeline infrastructure , which prevents it from receiving supplies from other parts of the U.S., and a century-old law known as the Jones Act that limits … [Read more...]
Remember This from FTX Bankruptcy and You Can Thank Yourself Later
The fall of crypto exchange FTX is a brutal lesson in fear and greed. Not the fear of losing but the fear of missing out or FOMO. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBM) said this on the podcast “Odd Lots” describing how venture capitalists pick investments (highlighted by Jason Zweig in his WSJ column the “Intelligent Investor”): You get a bizarre f—ing process that does not look like the paragon of efficient markets that you might expect. [Venture capitalists] see what all their friends are chattering about, and their friends keep talking about this company…and they start FOMOing [feeling the … [Read more...]
MARTHA’S VINEYARD: Shocking Crime Hits Liberal Stronghold
If it can happen on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, it can happen anywhere. Prepare yourself and your family accordingly. Abby Patkin reports for the Boston Globe: Armed robbers held up a bank on Martha’s Vineyard Thursday morning and escaped in a stolen vehicle, officials said. “Active police scene at Rockland Trust in Vineyard Haven,” Tisbury police wrote on Facebook. “Confirmed armed robbery with firearms.” Tisbury Police Chief Chris Habekost told the Vineyard Gazette that the robbery occurred around 8:15 a.m., when three people armed with handguns entered the building. They tied up … [Read more...]
Protect Small Business Owners with Flat Taxes
At the Tax Foundation, Jared Walczak performs a detailed analysis of flat taxes in the fifty states and draws some conclusions about their benefits. Your Survival Guy is a big supporter of America's small business owners. After reading Walczak's analysis, all supporters of small businesses should be pushing hard for their states to adopt flat taxation. Walczak concludes his piece by writing: Of the nine states that already have flat taxes, five enshrine that status in their state constitution, locking in the benefit and making it harder for lawmakers to raise taxes by switching to a … [Read more...]
The Clock is Ticking: You Must Protect Your Family
Originally posted on July 20, 2020. If you live anywhere near Chicago/Seattle/Portland, you’re asking me, how much longer will it take for them to come to my neighborhood? Over the last two days alone in Chicago, 63 people were shot, 12 fatally. In Seattle, twelve police officers were hurt in violent protests. And in Portland, the Police Association office was burned. What a weekend. Listen, the clock is ticking for you to do everything you can to make you and your family a hard target. In other words, as difficult as possible to damage you or a loved one. Thugs like easy … [Read more...]
What’s the Hardest Thing About Owning Company Stock?
OK, we know how much the billionaires are worth—less than they were—like they’re acquaintances. Job cuts are happening by the tens of thousands. The tech oligarchs will be just fine paying the heating bill. But think about the worker who started the year with stock worth a million—worth less than a hundred grand now. That’s life changing. It’s tough selling company stock. It’s a double-edged sword. A sale looks like a lack of faith. And it’s devastating to think about missing out on future gains. And then the crash comes. When prices are going up, it’s hard to think about developing a … [Read more...]
Trump’s America Is Better than Biden’s
OK, “Stop the Steal” didn’t work outside the base, but it’s rich when Dems campaign on this stuff: In my conversations with you, you tell me how you’re fed up with Trump’s antics (including his support for LIV Golf). He has a knack. But I’ll take Trump’s personality gaffs if that means getting his policies back. And give me a break with the also-rans from years past trying to make their case. Do we really need the same old characters? How about some fresh blood? I’m a huge fan of DeSantis. But maybe some more seasoning as governor of Florida is in order here. We know how well … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- …
- 386
- Next Page »