One of the greatest things about winter is you can dream about summer. After a few days of warm(er) temps here in New England, we’re seeing some of the snow melt. Quite a bit, actually, has already melted in Newport, RI, except for those stubborn piles of petrified snow—not very pretty. I’m not sure it can be called snow. It’s more like groups of fossils. In speaking with you, most of you are between rounds one and two of the vaccine, not getting it at all, or already done with two rounds—and you’re all itchin’ to get out. It’s a common theme where you’re looking to move freely about your … [Read more...]
Your Retirement Life: Meet Larry the Car Wash Guy
This is one of my favorite stories about a guy following his passion and making a career out of it. If you haven’t checked out his videos on how to wash a car, then you’re in for a treat. Enjoy! CNBC tells the story of Larry Kosilla, a Wall Street trader who decided to give up the fast lane to instead pursue his dream of being around expensive cars all the time. Marguerite Ward reports: “You can’t fake enthusiasm,” Kosilla tells CNBC. “There’s not enough money in the world to fake enthusiasm.” He created a website Ammo NYC to sell detailing products online in 2011. From there, he … [Read more...]
America’s Growth Corridors as Written in 2013 by Joel Kotkin
In 2013, in contrast to the majority of the establishment media, Joel Kotkin wrote that America's future economic growth would be driven by what he called "four growth corridors," including "the Great Plains, the Intermountain West, the Third Coast (spanning the Gulf states from Texas to Florida), and the Southeastern industrial belt." Kotkin told readers of The Wall Street Journal that these growth corridors tended to be "generally less dense, more affordable, and markedly more conservative and pro-business." He continued: Overall, these corridors account for 45% of the nation's land … [Read more...]
What You’re Telling Me on Any Given Day
You’re telling me about the snow in your neck of the woods while on your afternoon walk. You’re telling me about how you’re setting up to sell your business. And you’re telling me how you’ve read Richard C. Young’s Intelligence Report for years, and you’re ready to become a client. After one of my conversations with you, you emailed me and said, "It just came to me that during our conversation we did not speak a word about our investments. Nothing about stocks or fixed income. That tells me something.“ Once you get your financial situation on terra firma, it opens the world up in a way … [Read more...]
Your Retirement Planning Can Feel Like Catching an Airplane
Retirement planning is a lot like catching an airplane. You rush to get there then sit around and wait. When it comes to retirement planning there’s a rush to get there, to retirement. Your finances are all you think about. Do I have enough to retire? Should I work another couple of years? But then something funny happens. You find yourself retired. You do what you want to do and there’s not a whole lot of thinking about planning. Here’s a reminder to always stay focused on your savings. Action Line: Open an account with Fidelity and check that box for your financial security. Fidelity: … [Read more...]
Secession: Elected Officials Are Protecting Themselves From You
How much information do you want big tech to have on you? With big data forming a virtual Panopticon, how much of your life is for sale? Probably not any of it as far as you’re concerned. Isn’t the foundation of our Republic all about keeping big government and others out of our lives? Of course, it is. Leave us alone. But, when you see the steel walls surrounding the Capitol building in D.C., you realize your elected officials are protecting themselves from you. They’re scared of you. They want to control you to protect their power. And it’s not getting any better. There has to be a way … [Read more...]
Your Retirement Life: Meet Your BMW Club Racing Program Director
I had a great conversation with my friend and client Wayne Dobson this week. We were talking about his decision to retire and how he’s currently set-up. Not one to drive quietly off into the sunset, Wayne told me about his next endeavor with BimmerWorld BMW CCA Club Racing Schools. Enjoy! BimmerWorld BMW CCA Club Racing Schools announced on January 10: In our continuing effort to bring the sprint racing community nothing but the best in on-track experience, I am extremely pleased to announce that Wayne Dobson has been appointed to lead our much-admired BimmerWorld BMW CCA Club Racing … [Read more...]
Stimulus Rewards States That Have Abused Their Businesses the Most
States that have abused their businesses with the harshest COVID-19 lockdown rules are going to reap the most from the COVID-19 stimulus package. The Wall Street Journal editorial board writes: States will also benefit from the federal enhanced $300 weekly unemployment benefits, which are taxable income in most states. The jobless benefit sweetener will especially help states with higher unemployment such as New Jersey (10.2%), Hawaii (10.1%), New York (8.4%), Connecticut (8.2%) and California (8.2%). New Bureau of Economic Analysis data show how blue states that shut down more businesses … [Read more...]
Enjoying Christmas in a New Home Was Pricey This Year
When new home sales are falling because there isn't enough supply to meet demand, the only short term solution to balance the market is for prices to go up. It takes time to build new supply, but many of this year's home buyers are trying to escape the city now. They want to have Christmas away from the densely crowded, COVID-filled cities, and they don't care how much it costs. A combination of rising prices and short supply actually pushed down the number of sales in November. The Wall Street Journal reports: Homes sales slipped in November as the supply of properties for sale fell to a … [Read more...]
Red State Cities Booming as People Look for a Better America
What's to love about high taxes, high cost of living, high regulations, and business-killing coronavirus mandates? Nothing. That's why many of America's small business owners and entrepreneurs are leaving blue state cities where their retirement savings are treated like a piggy bank for politicians. They want to choose their own retirement life. They're moving to red state cities where governors and mayors look at business and entrepreneurs as something to be nurtured, not targeted for redistribution. One of the newest destinations for Americans fleeing their city is Nashville, … [Read more...]