Looking to get away? As Your Survival Guy, I want you to try to be invisible while traveling abroad. Don’t be the one creating a scene in customs. As Covid rears its ugly head, make sure you’re up to speed on the requirements to enter a country and to return to the U.S. They’re not the same if, for example, you’re going to France and back. Cash is king. Make sure you have travel cash on hand. Don’t rely purely on traveler’s checks. Have a mix of small and large bills and know the exchange rate before and during your trip. Make sure you pack some patience. Missed trips because of Covid … [Read more...]

Your life is a work in progress. You spend it gathering different skills like a Swiss Army knife. When I was at Babson College, one of the courses we all took was Operations Management. In it, we studied the manufacturing process of how stuff’s made. We looked at raw materials, for example, and the factory floor. It was like Breaking Bad but legal. At the time, a tectonic shift was underway. Globalization was picking up steam. Our manufacturing base was being offshored to China. (Turns out, that wasn’t the best practice in terms of U.S. survival. Now look at where we are with our supply … [Read more...]

You may be wondering, “Buy the dips?” Well, are you good with knives? Because trying to catch a bottom can be painful. And yet, that’s what seems to be happening. Ginsu investors flailing at falling knives with cuts and scrapes like Allstate’s creepy “Mayhem” guy. Bad stuff happens. Deal with it. Markets can be brutal for a long, long time. I’ve yet to speak with anyone who likes losing money. And yet investors make bets they can’t afford to live with on a regular basis. All of a sudden, they realize it was wrong. And I’m not talking about wrong for a few months. I’m talking years or a … [Read more...]

Thought I’d share this email with you that I received from a client yesterday. Hi EJ, Thanks for your e-mail today. Thanks for all you do for your clients and our investing. I have taken your advice and been with Richard Young for over 30 years now and am very satisfied with all you have helped me with. As we know, this too shall pass. I am happy that we went conservative with my accounts a couple of years ago. You and your firm really look out for your clients and stay in touch on a regular basis! Thanks! Your Friend, Jeff Action Line: Are you getting the advice you deserve? Let … [Read more...]

How are you feeling? Rough markets, I know. But if you’re in value-oriented equities and short to mid-term bonds, you’ve been able to avoid most of the market chaos. Because it’s chaotic out there. I wish I could say it’s going to get better soon, but I don’t know if it will. I’m Your Survival Guy, not Annie—the sun may not come out tomorrow. The carnage is brutal, and it’s widespread. The asset bubble is deflating. Those who have used leverage or borrowed money are either feeling the heat, hanging on for dear life, or they’re already done. We’re talking 50% losses and more, easily, where … [Read more...]

Thoughts from Your Survival Guy: “Sell in May, buy after Labor Day?” Not me. The volatility is what separates the good investors from the great. You don’t need to be a hero, just “Survive and Thrive.” How do you think ESG looks when the lead proponent says it’s OK to change mid-course because of the problems in Ukraine? Isn’t ESG yet another climate change money grab? If you’re stuck in mutual funds and ETFs, the mothership is voting your shares. Don’t let the “woke” vote their politics with your money. Take a look at the top ten holdings of ESG funds. You might be surprised how … [Read more...]