Recent content by innova

I hate to be the resident dream-shatterer... but I feel obliged to point out bluntly what others seem to be casting aside. The notion that you can reliably earn 9% annualized (7.5% real) by picking your own stocks is ludicrous and you are going to get wiped out. Why do you think that the...

I haven't read anything yet about income the land could produce. 1) Tillable acres? 2) Timber? What is the nature of the land?

I bought a 1997 Saturn (manual trans) in 2003 with 96k miles for $3200. Flash forward to 2010. Car now has 178k, and I have put a grand total of maybe $350 into it. Brakes/rotors, water pump, belt, brake caliper. Still has original clutch. Saturns also have a timing chain and not a belt...

As a fellow MN-ite I can heartily recommend canoeing: Rice Creek (N suburbs) - spring Minnehaha -spring if rainy. 2009 a total bust. Cannon river (cannon falls area) Root river (lanesboro) Rum River - spring/summer Kettle river (certain parts to be avoided unless you have a death wish) St...

One other thing came to mind, Do not ignore the overwhelming influence of so-called 'free' samples the reps leave at the physician offices. I can cite numerous studies showing the influence that samples exert, and I can say from personal experience that the Nexium reps are taking full advantage.

Ahh the power of commercials. If you believe it works better (hint hint) it must be working better. "I trust my heart to lipitor", for example. Here's the deal. Prilosec is made from a mixed enantiomer - that is to say it contains mirror image molecules, right and left handed. Not identical...

Did y'all know that Roubini is holding 100% Equity? He is hoping this thing will drag out as long as possible. Same for Warren Buffett - fortunes are made in times like these. The longer down, the more shares these fellas can snap up.

Bottom shelf hooch? Man we ARE having hard times :) I'm in the total return investing theory camp - only down 50% or so. Stay the course!

Yeah but... zzzzz The scenario you post is not typical of anyone I know. Sorta driveby media-ish. How about running it again - pit a $500/mo investment in W5000 vs. MMA and then compare. That would be somewhat useful.

Ahh I figured I'd draw you out of the woodwork :) Exceptions exist.. but in general fund managers tend to be all stock heading into declines (ie, they won't consistently protect you) and build large cash positions that they maintain well after the rally starts (they lag in performance relative...

Beta is hardly a static measure. I think you'd be better served by choosing an appropriate stock:bond (and cash) ratio than trying to pick an arbitrary, ever-changing beta. Fund managers achieve beta by holding cash - why pay them a high ER to hold cash when you can do it yourself for free?

Use whatever is indexed and lowest cost, be it ETF or fund. Picking individual stocks or bonds is for suckers. Picking individual TIPS may be of benefit if you are trying to match income streams with future obligations. Since my crystal ball is cloudy and I have no idea what financial...

The title of this thread is misleading. A debate implies (to me) that there are valid points and counterpoints and that the decision can be correct either way depending on what variables you use to decide... There is no debate - there are those that know and those that think they know better...

Would you rather buy low or buy high? Future returns are tied closely to valuation at the time of purchase. Nobody knows what the market will do tomorrow. Historically, it is more likely to go up than down. Recoveries start before bear markets end. To stop contributing would be to ignore...

Weakest argument for hiring a FA, ever. I'd buy the emotional argument for having a FA, but thats about the only reason.