This week a long-time reader contacted me looking for some insight he could pass along to his children about the dangers of market timing. I’ve written on the topic many times over the years and wanted to share something he might find compelling. In April of 1996, I wrote about how three of Wall Street’s bright minds had completely failed while attempting to make market timing predictions about the future of the Dow Jones Industrial Index. Back then my advice was—as it is now—marry compound interest, divorce market timing. I wrote: Market timing is a bankrupt strategy whose time has never … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2018
Has Amazon Officially Jumped the Shark?
Would you buy your tires from Amazon? According to Fortune, Amazon is getting into the tire business. Yup, the tire business. An e-commerce tire business? Apparently we are going to try that. As Fortune reports here, Amazon is partnering with car maintenance firm Monro to sell tires. Monro will initially offer tire-installation services to Amazon customers in the Baltimore area before expanding to more than 1,170 stores across 27 eastern states, the Rochester, New York-based company said in a statement Thursday. The company, which offers similar services to customers of online sellers … [Read more...]
Your Retirement Life: The World’s Largest Man
Looking for a good summer read? Check out The World's Largest Man, which I wrote about here back on April 5, 2018. “E.J., Here is a little taste of Mississippi life. Enjoy!” That was the note from a client written on the inside cover of the funny as well as tender memoir, The World’s Largest Man, by Harrison Scott Key. Turns out, some parts of growing up in Mississippi aren’t that much different from any town USA. In one excerpt Key writes about how his father would read the telephone bill like some Old Testament scholar with a gift for high blood pressure. “Who called 734-908-4560?” he … [Read more...]
American Workers See Biggest Pay Raise in a Decade
Corporate tax-reform and deregulation have been a potent tonic for U.S. economic growth, and now that growth is translating into higher pay. The employment cost index, which measures the total compensation paid to employees including wages and benefits, is up 2.8% over the last year—the fastest rate of growth since 2008. For employees in private industry, the news is even better. Wages and salaries are up 3% over the last year—faster than the average wage growth over the last two-decades. Bloomberg has more details. The latest results indicate employers are offering better compensation … [Read more...]
Small Towns Welcome Big Tech
The people of Nampa, Idaho are hoping an Amazon distribution center rumored to be coming to town becomes a reality. The boost in jobs such a facility brings is very attractive to cities like Nampa, home to a little over 80,000 souls. The Idaho Press reports that distribution centers of size rumored to be coming to Nampa normally create 700 to 900 jobs, a nice boost. While the city is welcoming of new business it also has concerns. The editors of the Press write: The benefits are many. The developer last week said the center could employ as many as 2,000 people. We’re a little skeptical of … [Read more...]
Work, Live and Save Money in these Three Power States
My take-away from this excellent piece by Joel Kotkin is that keeping more of your money matters. In other words, state taxes matter. Look at the magnetic pulling power of the three power states in the sun belt with no income taxes: Texas, Tennessee, and Florida. It turns out state lines can be re-drawn with the help of overbearing government excess. Because the new California is Texas and Tennessee, and the new New York/New England is Florida. Money travels to where it’s treated well. Just don’t tell the politicians. Kotkin writes in Forbes: Among the 71 largest metro areas, the biggest … [Read more...]
Are Apple Bulls Paying Attention?
Apple shares are up more than 4% this morning in early trading as the firm beat revenue and earnings estimates last night. Apple also raised projections for their fourth quarter. Apple’s better than expected results came on the back of higher average selling prices for the iPhone. Is that good news? It could be if you believe the higher price for the 10-year anniversary model is sustainable. We aren’t so sure. Pricing power tends to be illusive in the consumer electronics space. The chart below is perhaps the single most important chart for Apple investors. What you are looking at is … [Read more...]
Your Retirement Life: Roaming the Earth
You don’t need an EarthRoamer to see America. But it would be cool if you had one. Imagine where you could go. Save your money, learn a few tricks from the experts, and create your own expedition. What are you waiting for? Originally posted on Yoursurvivalguy.com. … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 5
- 6
- 7