Your Survival Guy’s Super States map gives you a bird’s eye view of where to immediately look for a better America—one where you can raise your family, own a house, and have a job with the peace of mind you deserve. The American dream. But simply putting your finger on a map and moving is easier said than done. Your Survival Guy’s 2022 Super States: #1 New Hampshire We’re talking about a moving target here, where one election could make or break how life moves ahead in your neck of the woods. Believe me, there are plenty of nice places to live in blue states like Newport, RI, but the … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2022
Young Investors Treating Financial Products like Lottery Tickets
In the Financial Times, Madison Darbyshire discusses the tendency for younger investors to take bigger risks, and to treat financial products more like lottery tickets than investments. Darbyshire writes: The appetite for high-risk speculation is particularly sharp among Americans, who tend to have high levels of personal debt, researchers say. The average US student now graduates with $37,000 in student debt — up from $17,000 in 2001. “The idea is that you’re supposed to be able to save money for college, but almost no middle-class family can in a significant way,” says Caitlin Zaloom, a … [Read more...]
Much of Europe Still Heavily Dependent on Russian Gas
Despite efforts in recent years to transition away from Russian gas, many of Europe's economies are still heavily dependent on it. The IMF has released a report indicating that the loss of Russian gas supplies could cause economic contractions of up to 6 percent in some nations, including Czechia and the Slovak Republic. The IMF reports: Dependence on Russia for gas, and other energy sources, varies widely by country. How could a Russian natural gas cutoff weigh on Europe’s economies? #IMFBlog rounds up three new staff research papers examining this question: https://t.co/aZBFX6dWnj … [Read more...]
Make It a Grand Slam with Your Survival Guy in Newport, RI
You might want to take it from me, Your Survival Guy, and visit Newport this year or next. The city by the sea is buzzin’. I told you recently we have a long-time family friend staying with us before she heads off to Nantucket. I also told you that some clients from Colorado who are renting on the Cape, came to visit last week. And on Sunday, while picking up our food from Pasta Beach, I ran into clients in town for a birthday gala the night before who were sticking around for our real pleasant Monday morning meeting. It’s a great time to be in Newport. On Sunday, the French-born, … [Read more...]
Americans Aren’t Paying Their Bills
Why aren't Americans paying their bills? More customers are not paying their bills. Veronica Dagher reports for The Wall Street Journal: More Americans are falling short on their financial responsibilities, like paying their bills or meeting with their financial adviser. In many cases, it’s happening because, they say, they simply forgot. Financial advisers and researchers say plenty of people are missing payments because they can’t afford them. Stress due to inflation, the Covid-19 pandemic and stock-market volatility is also causing them to miss items on their money to-do lists, they … [Read more...]
How to Avoid Going Back to Work after Retirement
Where did all the workers go? In what’s being called the “Great Resignation,” there’s nothing great about it, especially for investors who thought they had “enough” to retire on. It’s a terrible situation to be in, not knowing when to “get back” in or how to invest with safety in mind. That’s why you need a plan well before times like these, because a failure to plan is a plan to fail. In my conversations with you, the first area we cover is risk. We talk about diversifying your portfolio with an eclectic mix of dividend payers and allocating for income/safety with bonds. We don’t use just … [Read more...]
Can Jets Run on Hydrogen? The World Is About to Find Out
Pressures from governments around the world to limit emissions are forcing manufacturers to find new solutions to fuel their products. Rolls-Royce, the famous producer of aircraft engines, is testing new models that run on hydrogen. Hydrogen used as fuel has no emissions other than water, and its use in aircraft could dramatically reduce the industry's carbon footprint. The question is, can hydrogen be used to power jets? The world is about to find out. Sylvia Pfeifer reports in the Financial Times: Rolls-Royce plans to test whether hydrogen can safely power a small aircraft in ground trials … [Read more...]
How to Survive the Pressure in Times Like These
How we doing? Are you getting anxious about where the summer’s gone? Don’t worry. There’s plenty of time to do what you want to do. A close family friend is staying with us before heading out to Nantucket for a few days. The weather’s been gorgeous in Newport, RI. Not Tuesday, though, where the wind was howlin’ to the point the sailboat races were canceled. That never happens because of wind. FOOD SHORTAGE: Crazed Hoarding Is not Preparing How can we survive in times like these? That’s on my mind this morning. My simple solution is to just keep moving forward. You don’t need to save … [Read more...]
Oil Demand Feeling Pressure from High Prices
Oil demand in developed countries is under pressure from high prices, reports the IEA. David Sheppard reports for the Financial Times that IEA analysts believe that “Soaring fuel costs and a deteriorating economic environment are slowly starting to moderate oil demand growth in the OECD.” He writes: Record fuel prices are hitting oil demand in developed countries harder than anticipated, the International Energy Agency warned on Wednesday, in the latest sign of inflationary pressures forcing consumers to cut back. Paris-based IEA, which is primarily funded by OECD members, said that growth … [Read more...]
July RAGE Gauge: How to Invest Now for a Five Year Window
OK, my latest RAGE Gauge is in, and it’s not pretty. What’d you expect me to say? Dissatisfaction with the direction of America is at lows not usually met EVER. Gun sales are up probably due to gun control legislation being pushed even after the Supreme Court’s recent pro-gun decision. Employment is up. If you want a job, you can get one. Gold hasn’t moved much, probably because of dollar strength (for now) and rising rates. Remember, this is a competition between asset classes. All in all, not a great feel to be kind. On the rough and tumble streets of Newport, RI, it’s busy but not crazy … [Read more...]