Dear Survivor, “How long have you been in the investment business?” he asked. “Most of my adult life,” I said. “Did you know when you were my age (18) what you wanted to do?” “Not really. I went to business school at Babson College, worked at Fidelity Investments, and I’ve been here for 25 years.” “That’s cool,” he said. “My grandpa and grandma tell me all about you guys.” ………… Here’s the longer version. Growing up, we always talked about business at home. But it wasn’t about money. My dad would talk about interactions with customers he’d had that day, and because this … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive February 2023: 4 Life Changing Words: “You Should Try This”
Dear Survivor, Life throws you a curveball when you least expect it. Which is where I found myself recently when I came home from work. “I’m doing a liver cleanse,” she said. “You can join me or fend for yourself.” Bam! No warning. No time to grab a snack at the office before heading home for dinner. Just trapped like a rat. Cornered. What was I going to say, “No, you do it alone. Take care of yourself. I’ll be fine.” No. I like sleeping in my bed. We’re in week two. I’ve strayed here and there. Don’t tell anyone. One of the problems with the internet is you have all sorts of … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive January 2023: Stacking Wood and Compounding Money
Dear Survivor, With Your Survival Guy’s kids home for the weekend, it was the perfect opportunity to stack another cord of wood. Living in New England, you never know when the next natural gas outage will come. I don’t like the chances it will be smooth sailing, and the thought of being without a source of heat while it’s snowing outside (got a dusting of snow last night) isn’t my idea of fun. “Mornin’,” I said to my son. “I got a cord of wood delivered. Do you want to help stack it after breakfast?” If you recall, after a summer of work a couple years ago, I helped him set up a Roth … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive December 2022: Your Survival Guy Prefers Bombardier’s Global Express 7500
Dear Survivor, If you’re going to Paris, you’ll need a heavy jet. Your Survival Guy prefers Bombardier’s Global Express 7500. With only a handful to choose from, you’ll be in rarified air, literally—because when you’re cruising at altitude tens of thousands of feet up, the advanced air pressurization system makes it feel like you’re only at 4,000. Great for extra-long trips (and even not-so-long ones). Remember, it’s the small things in life that matter most. You’ll want to hit the ground running, not bogged down with a head cold. Then there are the 15-windows (per side), soft leather … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive November 2022: Arriving in Style at Le Bristol Hotel, Paris
Dear Survivor, OK, so you want to go to Paris? Your Survival Guy is back from another three-week research trip, the second this year, and I have plenty to report. For one, Paris is open for business, big time, as travelers from around the world, (sans China) are moving about the country. As for Paris itself, especially in the service/tourism industry, it’s at maximum capacity based on the sheer demand post-Covid and lack of labor supply. There’s still a hangover from lockdowns and the reluctance of workers—still living off government payouts—to get back to work. Sound familiar? Now, … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive October 2022: Sink Your Teeth into These Bond Yields
Dear Survivor, “Red sky in morn, sailors take warn,” goes the saying. On this morning, the sun was as red as a lollipop, the kind that turns your tongue so red you want to show it to whoever’s next to you. Your Survival Guy heard it’s the dust, spun up from the wind, reflecting off the sun. Scientific American says it’s from the Bible (Matthew 16:2-3), attributed to a quote from Jesus. "When it is evening, ye say, fair weather: for the heaven is red. And in the morning, foul weather today for the heaven is red and lowering." Your Survival Guy’s 4 Ways to YOUR Wealth NOAA, not Noah … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive September 2022: Do You Have the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?
Dear Survivor, You know the saying, “If it’s too good to be true…” It’s almost not worth finishing because fortunes are made and lost even though everyone knows the phrase. They think they see something “different” than the other guy, or that it’s a “can’t miss” opportunity—until it isn’t—like some cryptocurrency bankruptcy. I know fortunes are made and lost like clockwork. It’s why I want you to harness the power of time in your life. Here’s Why You Deserve a Vacation from Your To Do List How do you do that? Well, you can start with good habits. Habits that you can grow with and … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive August 2022: “Watch This Boat off Our Stern,” My Dad Said “He’s Coming in HOT”
Dear Survivor, “Watch this boat off our stern,” my dad said. “He’s coming in hot.” “He’s throwing off a huge wake. You’ve got another one coming at us up ahead off port bow. Watch your channel markers. Keep this red to your left. Remember, we’re leaving, it’s not ‘Red Right Return.’ Pick a side up ahead. Looks like starboard passage is clear.” How to Buy a Boat: Part I Such was the reality check for our sailing trips, clearing any cobwebs from our eyes while navigating Woods Hole, a narrow channel where water funnels into Vineyard Sound from Buzzards Bay or, depending on the … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive July 2022: MONEY TALKS: Your Survival Guy’s Best Service in Paris
Dear Survivor, OK, Your Survival Guy just got back from a two- and half-week research trip in Paris. The six-hour head start in Paris-time compared to the east coast gave me plenty of time to gather my thoughts over a café crème and croissant. In a word, Paris is busy. But it’s not too crazy yet with the demanding Chinese customer still in lockdown. It feels like a soft open. Staffing shortages are rampant while customer demands are as high as ever, understandably acting like they’ve been locked up for a couple of years. But it’s all relative. Because when you spend nine of your nights … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive June 2022: “I’ve Been with Richard Young for Over 30 Years Now”
Dear Survivor, Are you up to speed with Your Survival Guy? Do you check in daily at www.yoursurvivalguy.com? I’m E.J. Smith, Your Survival Guy. I created www.yoursurvivalguy.com to give Main Street Americans a boots-on-the-ground look at how to protect their most valued assets from natural and manmade disasters. My focus at www.yoursurvivalguy.com is: Retirement investing and planning Fixed income/bond strategies Your Survival Guy’s Super States Living a Liberty Retirement Constitutional Carry States and Freedom Generational wealth strategies for … [Read more...]
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