How is it that investors treat their money like they’re living on a prayer—hoping for the stock market to do something for them—but when it comes to everyday spending, they hold on to every nickel like it’s the last one they’ll have? They read, and read, and read about this car and that one. They know this washing machine vs the others. They know when there will be “sales,” and they scour the internet, putting artificial intelligence to shame. Then, ask them what their stocks do to make money, and there’s, wait for it…silence. Ahhh, the sound of silence. But that doesn't last long…because … [Read more...]
COSTLY CUISINE: Dining Out Isn’t Cheap
Another round of CPI inflation data was released yesterday, and for the eleventh month in a row, the cost of dining out rose faster than the cost of food at home. The difference in inflation at restaurants was not inconsequential either. While the cost of eating at home rose 1.2% compared to the year before, eating in a restaurant cost those celebrating Valentine's Day over 5% more this year than last. Evie Liu reports in Barron's: Prices for food away from home, which tracks the cost of dining out and takeout meals, rose 0.5% in January from the previous month, according to the … [Read more...]
“Then One Day the Grandfather was Gone”
Originally posted on September 28, 2023. Your Survival Guy has a client whose grandfather left him some money. That was nice. But the real gift was how his grandfather would teach him about money when they were together. How to roll pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters sitting on the floor and talking. Adding up the pile and feeling the weight in their hands. The boy was taught what interest was, how it was paid, and the miracle of interest on interest. Compounding small amounts into larger ones. The small talk never felt like big life lessons. But they were. As they got older, the … [Read more...]
Congratulations Brad Marchand on Your 1,000th NHL Game
Brad Marchand of the Bruins chalked up his 1,000th game for the team on Tuesday night, as Your Survival Guy had previewed earlier that day. In The Boston Globe, Kevin Paul DuPont describes Marchand's career in Boston, writing: Brad Marchand’s Tuesday night found him lined up at his customary spot on left wing, awaiting puck drop at the Garden, fussing and fidgeting and looking to gain an inch, the slightest territorial edge, as he bodied up against Nicholas Paul, the Lightning’s 6-foot-3, 229-pound right winger. They are the kind of matchups the 5-foot-9 winger has faced for 15 years, one … [Read more...]
Radical Progressives Distort Tax Fairness
Radical progressive politicians are aiming to implement a wealth tax that will strip Americans of the assets they own. Your Survival Guy has discussed the dangers and problems of wealth taxes before. The wealth tax is a pet project of radical progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). In The Spectator, Lewis M. Andrews discusses Joe Biden's indirect appeal for "tax fairness" as a stealth push for wealth taxes. Andrews writes: As the level of US debt zooms past the $34 trillion mark, it has become increasingly clear that the American left has no intention of trying to help control government … [Read more...]
An Inflation Surprise Hits the Market
You know that Bidenflation has taken a toll on America. Now, inflation is down, but it's not out. A new report on CPI released this morning recorded slower inflation than the previous month but was higher than had been predicted. But the damage is already done for many on a fixed income. For instance, food prices have already settled in at a whole new level. Justin Lahart discusses the report in The Wall Street Journal, writing: Inflation cooled again in January, but the declines may have paused. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that consumer prices rose 3.1% in January from … [Read more...]
Make Sure You Get Paid to Invest in Stocks
Your Survival Guy wants you to be paid to invest in stocks. Think of investing as collecting cash, much like a landlord collects the rent. Too much weight is given to prices. Prices are a qualitative event. They’re opinions. Show me the money. That’s quantitative. In The Wall Street Journal, Jon Sindreu discusses the future of dividend investing, writing: This might seem to validate what the Federated Hermes portfolio manager and market historian Daniel Peris argues in his new book, “The Ownership Dividend.” He says that ultralow interest rates and the rise of high-growth digital companies … [Read more...]
Is China Entering a Deflationary Death Spiral?
It doesn’t matter how much you talk markets up. It’s like pushing on a string. Despite Chinese media hyping Xi Jinping's personal involvement in a potential turnaround plan, Chinese consumers and businesses aren't keen on the economy's prospects. The Wall Street Journal's Jason Douglas reports on deflation's tightening grip in China, writing: Deflation is becoming more entrenched in China, with consumer prices falling in January at their steepest pace in more than 14 years—a stark symptom of deepening economic malaise that spells trouble for the global economy. The latest data suggest … [Read more...]
You and I Have Had Some Good Conversations
In my conversations with you, we talk about some of the mutual funds you own that you oversee. One common refrain when we dig into the top holdings is the amount of overlap you have across your portfolio. Even with the different names and symbols, too many funds out there mimic each other. When times are good, it is no big deal. What you see in mutual funds is job protection. Because fund managers are under immense pressure to keep up with their benchmarks. When a fund manager misses the benchmark, upper management pays attention. There is nothing that grabs more attention than money going … [Read more...]
Retirees: The Black Swan Can Be So Cruel
Retired and soon-to-be-retired investors are in a tough spot. The idea of living off a fixed income is downright scary. Will the economy plunge into a recession? Will inflation continue to eat away at one’s purchasing power? You know how Your Survival Guy feels about predictions. If there’s one observation that’s true yesterday, today, and tomorrow, no matter how good the economy is or how attractive it might be, some investors always want more. They rub their hands together, wondering when their ship will come in, always feeling like we’re in a recession, and they leverage up to juice more … [Read more...]
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