Social Security is underfunded, and in one way or another, your retirement is going to be affected. There are two solutions, 1) more money goes into the system, meaning a tax hike or 2) less money comes out of the system, meaning a reduction in benefits. In the first instance, you'll have less of your own money to invest as you see fit, and in the second you'll need to invest more of your disposable income to make up for the loss. Either way there's bound to be pain. Stephen Entin of The Tax Foundation writes: Social Security retirement programs (Old Age and Survivors Insurance, and … [Read more...]
“For My Money the Sun Rises and Sets on…”
I found this gem from Richard C. Young’s Intelligence Report, December 1988 issue. Some things never change. When it comes to serious money invested in common stocks, for my money, the sun rises and sets on dividends. With dividends as your friend, you have the miracle of compounding on your side through thick and thin. What question should you ask first before you invest in common stocks? You ask, what is today's yield on stocks compared to the historical yield on stocks? If the current yield is higher than the average yield over many cycles, you can take advantage of a period of value. If … [Read more...]
My Favorite Stock-Market Gauge
In constructing the RAGE Gauge, I’m using the dividend yield. I will not buy a stock unless it pays a dividend. Plain and simple. Take a look at the dividend yield today compared to any other point in post WWII history and you get an idea for why I chose the name: RAGE Gauge … [Read more...]
Introducing the Risk Analysis & Grouping Estimator or RAGE Gauge
Wouldn’t it be incredibly helpful to you and your family if you could swipe your iPhone and instantly gauge the pulse of the nation? Risks to the economy? And do it on multiple levels? At your fingertips would be an intelligent way to take the temperature, if you will, of the country. I wanted such a tool and I thought you would too. And I wanted it to be about stuff I’m interested in and not some irrelevant government statistic. Allow me to introduce to you the Risk Analysis & Grouping Estimator or RAGE Gauge. Stay tuned over the coming weeks to learn how it’s constructed. … [Read more...]
Introducing the Risk Analysis & Grouping Estimator or RAGE Gauge
Wouldn’t it be incredibly helpful to you and your family if you could swipe your iPhone and instantly gauge the pulse of the nation? Risks to the economy? And do it on multiple levels? At your fingertips would be an intelligent way to take the temperature, if you will, of the country. I wanted such a tool and I thought you would too. And I wanted it to be about stuff I’m interested in and not some irrelevant government statistic. Allow me to introduce to you the Risk Analysis & Grouping Estimator or RAGE Gauge. Stay tuned over the coming weeks to learn how it’s constructed. … [Read more...]
This Guy “Earned” $3.9 Billion in 2011 and Asks Connecticut Taxpayers for Money?
The incompetent Gov. Dannel Malloy of Connecticut is providing taxpayer money, to the tune of $22 million, to keep Ray Dalio’s Bridgewater hedge fund headquartered in the state. This is the same Ray Dalio who was paid $3.9 billion in 2011 alone. Are you kidding me? This is what happens when the 2 and 20 gang teams up with politicians. This is not just a Democrat problem. It was started by a Republican as the WSJ points out: “Mr. Malloy’s Republican predecessor Jodi Rell raised the top marginal tax rate to 6.5% from 5% on individuals earning more than $500,000, and Mr. Malloy raised it again … [Read more...]
RIP Roger Enrico
From the WSJ: Born in the small town of Chisholm to Italian immigrants, Mr. Enrico won a scholarship to Babson College in Massachusetts, studying business administration, before enlisting in the Navy. He served in Vietnam, whereas a lowly ensign he said he convinced an admiral to build a fuel pipeline instead of flying in supplies, only for the pipeline to be repeatedly blown up. After a stint as assistant brand manager for Wheaties at General Mills Inc., Mr. Enrico joined chips-and-soda giant PepsiCo in 1971, initially helping market Funyans, an onion-flavored snack. He quickly was promoted … [Read more...]
Who Says There’s no Inflation?
Over the weekend my kid’s asked for some money for ice cream. I gave them $20 and didn’t get much change. Who says there’s no inflation? … [Read more...]
Questions Still Loom for the F-22 Program
"Rather than thinking of a sixth-generation fighter, can you modify the F-22 and re-open the line cheaper and keep the numbers up?" asks outgoing US Air Force chief of staff Gen. Mark Welsh. "I don’t know. We’re working on that right now. We’ve got to open the spectrum a little wider about how we’re going to get the job done 20 years from now." And this from defensenews.com: Although top Air Force officials have said in the past such a project would be cost-prohibitive, it’s “not a crazy idea,” Welsh said. “I don’t think it’s a wild idea, I mean the success of the F-22 and the capability of … [Read more...]
Warning! Pension Funds Continue to Swing for the Fences
You really can’t make this stuff up. Pension funds refuse to read the writing on the wall: We are living in a reduced return world. It’s as simple as that. Yet instead of taking their lumps, and I’m not even talking about funding what they should have paid years ago into the plan, they are reaching for returns. If you’ve learned anything from my posts to you about investing, it’s that you cannot “hope” for the market to do something for you. You do not want to “reach” for returns. And yet that’s what pensions are doing. It’s not teachers, firemen, and policemen doing this. They leave it to … [Read more...]
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