Years ago, talking with Dick about Richard C. Young’s Intelligence Report, I asked him, “Dick, what do you think about when you sit down to write?” “Simple,” he said. “I imagine there’s a giant pile of cash sitting on my desk, and I need to get it invested.” Talking with Dick this week about the […]
What the Fed Rate Cut Means to You: Part III
With the return on cash and money markets coming down, expect investors to look for ways to replace the juicy yields they’ve become accustomed to. Don’t blame the weatherman for the weather—invest for the safety you deserve. Understand that returns on cash will be lower but not terrible—at least not yet. But if the Fed […]
What the Fed Rate Cut Means to You: Part II
Remember when former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan was referred to as “The Maestro” conducting the economy to a soft landing during the 90s? The only problem was when the music stopped, like it did during the Tech Bust earlier this century, hopes and dreams were crushed. The Maestro’s symphony could have been titled “This Time […]
What the Fed Rate Cut Means to You
Remember when the talking heads said to stay away from bonds? That the balanced approach was dead? Well, they were wrong. Not that I’m taking a victory lap, I’m not. Because now that the Fed has cut interest rates by a half point, fixed income investing just got that much harder. All those eschewing bonds […]
Interest Rates Your Dad Would Be Proud Of
America’s debt load is the highest it’s been since the post-WWII era. Look at the interest costs to carry all that debt in the chart below, and imagine you had such a personal debt load. Wouldn’t you want to reduce it? Of course, you would. Now, throw in the fact that the government can print […]
A Gold Standard Would Provide Discipline to Government
Your Survival Guy doesn’t want you to be in the interest rate prediction business because the talking heads just might end up being wrong. Sure, the Fed funds rate may come down, but what if the buyers for the rest of the yield curve have a different opinion? Bond prices trade in anticipation of what’s […]
Don’t Invite Problems into Your Portfolio
When you’re looking at dividend-paying stocks, mutual funds, or ETFs, you want to be selective because, historically, it’s not the highest payers that have performed the best. And when investors reach for yield and buy those highest payers, they tend to invite avoidable problems into their portfolio. There’s a difference between the dividend-centric investor who […]
Do You Look Marvelous? See My Friend Marc
Your Survival Guy visited my friend Marc Streisand this week, owner/proprietor of Marc Allen Fine Clothiers, Custom Suits, and Imported Sportswear, to pick up my handmade, bespoke cashmere sport coat. It’s such a beautiful piece, I can’t wait to put it on when we hit Paris for three weeks in October. Every time I leave […]
September RAGE Gauge: Win Friends and Influence People
Well, that was an interesting debate, wasn’t it? Not exactly a seminar on how to win friends and influence people. When I talk with you, you tell me it didn’t sway you one bit. And you feel the same way about the undecided voters—they weren’t compelled either way. When I think of Dale Carnegie’s classic […]
A Word on the Trump/Harris Dystopian Debate
We knew going in that former President Donald Trump would not get a fair shake from ABC, but it felt like we were watching a trial from The Hunger Games without the costumes. Vice President Kamala Harris was treated like the incumbent and heir to the throne by the moderators. The primetime show was borderline […]
