You have watched Bidenflation drive prices higher on nearly everything you can buy. From food to fuel, housing, and healthcare, Americans are paying way more this year than they were a few years ago. There has been some progress made on slowing inflation, but there are signs it may be more difficult to stamp out the last vestiges. In The Wall Street Journal, Amara Omeokwe explains that one reason inflation slowed was because so many workers came back into the workforce, easing labor shortages and helping to slow price increases. Omeokwe writes: Many workers came off the sidelines to join … [Read more...]
Citigroup to Layoff 20,000, Schwab Stock Down 24%
When Citigroup lays off 20,000 employees, as it announced last week it will do by 2026, then Your Survival Guy concludes: not all is right with the financial world. When Charles Schwab’s stock, the largest publicly traded U.S. brokerage, declines by 17% as it did last year and was down seven percent through Friday of this year, not all is good in the financial world. When Citi announced its exit from the municipal bond market, as it did recently, who will be the buyer of last resort as it was for so many? When Citi got into a Second Amendment battle, some states, Texas being the big … [Read more...]
How’s Vanguard GNMA with YTM of 4.6%?
If you hold Vanguard GNMA like I do, then you will be pleased to know, regardless of its price being down, that as of 12/31/23, its yield to maturity was 4.6%. Sure, it’s been a rough ride for its price from the aftershock of historic interest rate hikes. But as you all know, Your Survival Guy doesn’t get too worked up about prices. At today’s yields, legacy positions maturing will be invested at rates you can sink your teeth into. But what if interest rates spike from here? So what? As investors look at the landscape of the huge debt overhang, won’t interest rates have to go higher? Maybe. … [Read more...]
Your Survival Guy’s Mt. Rushmore of Investing Legends
For The American Conservative Magazine: If you were in shop class back in high school (remember that?) and you were instructed to build your own Mount Rushmore out of wood, I would have one piece of advice: leave room for expansion. Because when I think of my visit to the site back in the mid-80s as a kid, I remember the magnificence of the late presidents but also how more names were still being considered. Note to self: There will always be someone to add down the road. Which leads me to this: who would be on your "Investment Mt. Rushmore?" Take your time. This isn't a quiz, but allow … [Read more...]
Dick Young to Your Survival Guy: “Diversification Is Discipline”
One of the more common trends Your Survival Guy sees in investment portfolios is a lack of diversification. Through the years, investors add more money to the winners while the losers are shoved to the side like misfit toys. Over time, portfolios look less like a toy box and more like a mantle of six or seven trophy stocks. That’s dangerous. If you look at the S&P 500 today, it reminds me of that mantle or trophy case. It looks nice. Who doesn’t like a shiny trophy? But will the winning continue? Yesterday, in a conversation with my father-in-law Dick Young we talked about … [Read more...]
Your Survival Guy’s Not a Psychologist, But…
Your Survival Guy’s not a psychologist, but I do know a thing or two about the emotions of investing. You hear plenty about not drawing more than a certain percentage of your money each year. You hear plenty about getting to a certain number where you’ll feel comfortable calling it quits from your job. You also hear about getting the right amount of sleep. Is it eight hours, or can some get by with less? It’s all pretty stressful. You all know that life’s bad events are stressful. But you also know that even life’s so-called “good” events can be hard (having just rounded the … [Read more...]
Dumb Money
Your Survival Guy watched Dumb Money this week. I can’t say I’m in the camp of the day traders. They’re just as bad as the hedge fund guys in terms of hoping for prices to go up. That’s not investing. That’s speculation. And a lot of money is invested in it. Everyone thinks they’ve found the better mousetrap until they don’t. Look at the returns over the past 15 years of the alternative mutual funds (which use hedge-fund-like strategies) below. You can see high costs, plenty of volatility, and weak performance. No thanks. The Wall Street Journal's Derek Horstmeyer reports on hedge fund … [Read more...]
Top 10 Stressors in Life and Why
Your Survival Guy’s not a psychologist, but I can see why “Retirement” is a “Top 10 Stressor in Life.” At PsychCentral, Sian Ferguson writes that the top ten stressors are: Death of a spouse Divorce Marital separation Being incarcerated Death of a close family member Major personal injury or illness Marriage Being fired or laid off from work Marital reconciliation Retirement In describing the stress of retirement, Ferguson writes: Although many of us look forward to our retirement, it can cause you to feel upheaved. When you’re used to working, it might be … [Read more...]
Is Your Cash Flow Prepped for 2024 and Beyond?
Just when you feel like you can take a break after the busy holidays, now is when you realize how much you still need to do. Things you need to do for you. Is your portfolio in the right mix, balance, or allocation? How about cash flow? When it comes to your investment income and requirements, this is a busy time, if not the busiest time of year. Many of you, because we work together, have already satisfied this year’s RMD or have adjusted your income stream. Simple stuff, yet a matter of survival, so you can take that trip with your family to the beach this summer or a European river … [Read more...]
Still Have Some Lazy Cash After the Holidays?
Do you still have some lazy cash sitting around after the holidays? It’s time to get it up and moving, especially with interest rates and dividend yields you can sink your teeth into. And this has nothing to do with predictions for 2024. I’m simply looking at the lay of the land and like what I see in both bonds and stocks. Your key to retirement success is coming up with a plan you can live with. Remember all those years ago when you purchased your first home and wondered how you’d make the payments? I know you don’t want to have to do that again. But what you did then was develop a plan … [Read more...]
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