Where do you buy gold coins? For non-collectible coins, I’ve done repeat business with Blanchard and Co., Inc. and I like how I’ve been treated. I would expect the same for you. And, I say non-collectible coins because I’m not a coin collector. How many gold coins should you buy? When you buy gold coins do it as if the price is going to be cut in half tomorrow. Ask yourself how much you can comfortably afford to buy if that were to happen. That’s one way to make the right choice for you and your family. This was my thinking when I was establishing my gold coin position: What I set-out … [Read more...]
RAGE Gauge: Your Survival Cash and the Gold Rush
You and I both know there’s inflation today. It’s at the grocery store, education, real estate, taxes etc. As long as there is government controlling your money, there will be inflation. As I write here, cash may be king in a sudden disaster, but should be paired with a hard asset hedge for long term protection: Cash is king! Try selling that one to your spouse. But cash is pretty powerful. You never know when you’ll need it. Like when there’s a Wi-Fi outage that shuts-down businesses. No Wi-Fi, no credit cards. No Pizza. Cash is powerful to an empty stomach. But predicting an outage is … [Read more...]
An Investment Risk That Can do Real Damage to Your Portfolio
We write a lot about monetary policy on this site, not because we enjoy the parlor game of trying to predict what the world’s central bankers are going to do next, but because over recent years, monetary policy has become the king-maker in financial markets. Those ignoring the actions, reactions, and mostly overreactions of the global central banking cabal may be unwittingly taking risks that have emerged as a result of the unprecedented scale of central bank intervention. First it was zero rates, then it was quantitative easing, then it was zero rates for longer. When these unconventional … [Read more...]
Hooked on a Feeling: It’s What Separates the Best from the Rest
Do you want to know what investing is to me? It’s a feeling. To have a feeling for the market, like sailing a boat, is to separate the good investors from the greats. Why is it important to get a feel for the market? Because the knowledge we seek is not always available in reports, and often it’s distorted by reporting bias. It’s why I personally favor anecdotal evidence for the truth about the markets. For example, nothing in the world can replace conversations I have with my clients or emails from you. They give me on-the-ground intelligence I never, ever find in daily stock … [Read more...]
One Simple Trick for Beating the Collapse of Social Security
Social Security is underfunded, and in one way or another, your retirement is going to be affected. There are two solutions, 1) more money goes into the system, meaning a tax hike or 2) less money comes out of the system, meaning a reduction in benefits. In the first instance, you'll have less of your own money to invest as you see fit, and in the second you'll need to invest more of your disposable income to make up for the loss. Either way there's bound to be pain. Stephen Entin of The Tax Foundation writes: Social Security retirement programs (Old Age and Survivors Insurance, and … [Read more...]
Why a Million Bucks ain’t what it Used to Be
U.S. savers and retired investors who planned to fund their retirement with their life’s savings have been savaged by the Fed’s ultra-low interest rate policy. Yellen & Co., insist on subsidizing big banks and other borrowers with ultra-low rates in an effort to stimulate growth. That effort has clearly fallen flat by any reasonable measure of success. The Fed’s policies have helped knock the yield on 10-year Treasury securities down to a mere 1.70%. You have to save a lot more or plan to spend a lot less if you are going to fund your retirement with a 1.70% yield. But as bad as a 1.70% … [Read more...]
“For My Money the Sun Rises and Sets on…”
I found this gem from Richard C. Young’s Intelligence Report, December 1988 issue. Some things never change. When it comes to serious money invested in common stocks, for my money, the sun rises and sets on dividends. With dividends as your friend, you have the miracle of compounding on your side through thick and thin. What question should you ask first before you invest in common stocks? You ask, what is today's yield on stocks compared to the historical yield on stocks? If the current yield is higher than the average yield over many cycles, you can take advantage of a period of value. … [Read more...]
International Orgs Paint Cautious Picture of Economic Future
The OECD and the World Bank have both recently released forecasts of future GDP trajectory. The OECD's Composite Leading Indicators (CLIs) index fell in April, as it has done since January 2015. The index is built to lead the business cycle by about six months, and to project a slowdown or even a recession with a declining trend line. Despite the current negative trend worldwide, the index did highlight some spots of optimism, with stabilization in the U.S. and China, as well as for Russia and Brazil. While the OECD is predicting stabilization, the World Bank is projecting a more … [Read more...]
My Favorite Stock-Market Gauge
In constructing the RAGE Gauge, I’m using the dividend yield. I will not buy a stock unless it pays a dividend. Plain and simple. Take a look at the dividend yield today compared to any other point in post WWII history and you get an idea for why I chose the name: RAGE Gauge … [Read more...]
Introducing the Risk Analysis & Grouping Estimator or RAGE Gauge
Wouldn’t it be incredibly helpful to you and your family if you could swipe your iPhone and instantly gauge the pulse of the nation? Risks to the economy? And do it on multiple levels? At your fingertips would be an intelligent way to take the temperature, if you will, of the country. I wanted such a tool and I thought you would too. And I wanted it to be about stuff I’m interested in and not some irrelevant government statistic. Allow me to introduce to you the Risk Analysis & Grouping Estimator or RAGE Gauge. Stay tuned over the coming weeks to learn how it’s constructed. … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 504
- 505
- 506
- 507
- 508
- …
- 631
- Next Page »