Dear Survivor, How well are you securing your cash and valuables? Do you have a safe at home? A safe is an obvious choice for convenience, but unless you have serious security, you wouldn't want to leave major wealth sitting unattended while you're at the office or on vacation. You need a better option. The obvious choice for most is a safe deposit box. That is the route an increasing number of the world's wealthiest are taking. Disasters like the wildfires and hurricanes that have hit the United States in recent years have made securing wealth an urgent endeavor in the minds of many. … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive December: Rich Grandchild, Poor Grandchild
Dear Survivor, This is one of my favorite investment pieces by the late Richard Russell: Rich Man, Poor Man By Richard Russell The most popular piece I’ve published in 40 years of writing these Letters was entitled, “Rich Man, Poor Man.” I have had dozens of requests to run this piece again or for permission to reprint it for various business organizations. Making money entails a lot more than predicting which way the stock or bond markets are heading or trying to figure which stock or fund will double over the next few years. For the great majority of investors, making money … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive November: Our Cabin on Kodiak, Alaska
Dear Survivor, I’ve been working with Dr. Lee for 16-years. He was only 53 when he became a client. Even back then he was the millionaire next door. But for about two weeks of every month, he doesn’t have any neighbors. That is unless you happen to have a cabin on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Even then you probably won’t see each other. Overlooking the water, his cabin is a fly cast away from world-class King Salmon fishing. He loves to fish. He also loves to share his knowledge and to keep learning. Before he retired he would sharpen his professional axe teaching university students … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive October: The Rich and Famous: How to Invest Like Jay Leno
Dear Survivor, If you want to see Jay Leno’s home in Newport, RI all you have to do is leave my office, turn on to Bellevue Avenue and head out to Ocean Drive, and you’ll see it right there on the water. “Leno and his wife first admired the house around 30 years ago, when he was in Rhode Island for a standup gig,” explains Fred Albert in Newport Life. “In 2017, the couple drove by it again — only this time, they stopped. ‘Let’s see if it’s for sale,’ Leno said, taking advantage of a departing gardener to slip through the open gate and drive up to the front door, where a caretaker greeted … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive September: As Our Family Celebrates Babson’s 100th, a Reminder on How to Make Money
Dear Survivor, Recently Becky and I had the pleasure of attending Babson’s Summer Reception in Newport. Hosted by Mary and Thomas Gilbane, Jr., it was an opportunity for the entire Babson community in Rhode Island to get together and speak with Babson’s new President Stephen Spinelli MBA ‘92. Spinelli as President makes this year for Babson—it’s 100th—even more special. As you may know, Babson has played a special role in our family with Becky’s dad Richard Young ’63 (a former trustee), brother Matthew Young ’92, Becky ’94, and me ’94 all graduates of the college. Seeing and … [Read more...]
Survive & Thrive August: Your Survival Guy Escapes a Heat Wave on the Tom Sawyer
Dear Survivor, You may have experienced a heat wave this summer. Ours was this weekend, all over New England with temps in the 90s and the “real feel” reaching the low 100s. It was a scorcher. There’s no beating the heat, but going out on the boat is a nice break. In the first video I’ll show you what it feels like to leave Newport at cruising speed, with Castle Hill off the port side, the Newport bridge to stern, and Jamestown, RI to starboard (pardon my finger it was hard to hold the phone). In the next video we’re approaching Mattapoisett harbor. You’ll see Ned’s Point … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive July: FIRE! Financial Independence, Retire Early
Living Your Best Life Dear Survivor, Are you familiar with the FIRE movement? You should be, and you will be shortly. And I’m not talking about a fire where, for example, a tree falls in your backyard onto power lines, ripping them down along with a transformer and nearly burning down your house on a quiet afternoon in Newport, RI. (You can read about that here). The FIRE I’m talking about stands for—Financial Independence, Retire Early—and it’s a big-time movement especially with Millennials. Because more and more of them, are disillusioned with a life working for “the man” and not … [Read more...]
Survive & Thrive June: Your Survival Guy Goes to College
Dear Survivor, Your Survival Guy went to college recently. Actually, I went on a college tour. Our daughter is a Junior in high school and that’s what you do, right? Driving with her for a couple hours in the car was a real eye-opener, because we not only talked about college in general, but she actually asked me questions. Questions from a teenager? It was an amazing feeling. She was relying on me for the answers, and not on social media. The college search is like the 800-pound gorilla in the room, or in this case our kitchen. Have you seen the books? The “best colleges in the … [Read more...]
Survive & Thrive May: Why Stay Away When You Can Buy GNMA?
Dear Survivor, Much of your long-term investment success depends on your ability to shrug off markets. It sounds simple, but is hard to do. Sell in May and go away? Not me. Why risk missing dividend and interest payments, especially when Vanguard GNMA, by example, is a consistent income producer through thick and thin? In this record-breaking market, I want you to consider the future of long-term investing, the economy, and what you want to do with your hard-earned money. Take action, because at the end of the day your retirement life is all about my favorite three letters: Y.O.U. A Record … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive April: Is an EMP Attack Imminent?
In March, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to identify the threats posed by an electromagnetic pulse (EMP)—believed to be potentially dangerous to critical infrastructure like the electric grid (understatement to be kind)—and find ways to guard against them. As you have read right here we’ve been sounding the alarm for years. Boom—Your Life Changes EMP Threat: Be Prepared EMP Technology in the Hands of Terrorists EMP Attack: When the Lights go Out SCADA Vulnerable to Cyber Attack and EMPs Is Your Data Protected from EMP? Nukes, … [Read more...]