Search found 339 matches

by 6 Iron
Mon Oct 25, 2010 3:20 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Best Depression-Proof Businesses?
Replies: 16
Views: 11118

Re: Best Depression-Proof Businesses?

I was thinking about this thread this weekend when I met a marital counselor at a college reunion. At least for him, business is booming.
by 6 Iron
Wed Oct 20, 2010 7:38 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Bogleheads PP Thread Locked
Replies: 21
Views: 12867

Re: Bogleheads PP Thread Locked

Lone Wolf wrote:   Bizarro Lone Wolf will wind up losing all his money pursuing an investment strategy based around Fibonacci number patterns.
Reading this caused me to launch a small volume of cheap Trader Joe wine out of my nose, but it was worth it.
by 6 Iron
Wed Oct 20, 2010 1:53 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Bogleheads PP Thread Locked
Replies: 21
Views: 12867

Re: Bogleheads PP Thread Locked

This is sad news. While Craig's site is much easier to use to investigate the PP, the bogleheads site is much more heavily trafficked, with more divergent opinions. There are members of the bogleheads community that have always been offended by the thread, IMHO, unreasonably so, but I am biased. I w...
by 6 Iron
Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:31 pm
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Decision Moose
Replies: 30
Views: 23871

Re: Decision Moose

Clive, I am intrigued by your interest in decision moose, particularly considering such a substantial weighting. I have thought of using a small portion of my variable portfolio to scratch the market timer's itch in this fashion, but I have the following issues with Decision Moose: What if he stops?...
by 6 Iron
Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:08 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: TLT and SHY vs owning LT and ST outright?
Replies: 6
Views: 6136

Re: TLT and SHY vs owning LT and ST outright?

Using TLT will cost you more than direct ownership of bonds to the tune of 0.15% of your holdings less the costs of trading for those buying and selling individual bonds. I use TLT; originally I had planned to move to direct bond ownership, but after discussion with my wife, she likes the idea of no...
by 6 Iron
Mon Oct 11, 2010 11:15 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: How Did You Learn of Harry Browne?
Replies: 18
Views: 12104

Re: How Did You Learn of Harry Browne?

I'm just happy that I learned of the PP before losing any MORE money trying to win in what is basically a casino.  I think, too, that a person has to be ready for something like the PP, ..... In the 90's, I was an indexer, but after a job change in 2000, I thought that my finances had become compli...
by 6 Iron
Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:30 pm
Forum: Gold
Topic: Non-Inflation Adjusted Pension
Replies: 3
Views: 3896

Re: Non-Inflation Adjusted Pension

Pkg Man, in a world of underfunded pension plans, I might be more inclined to view any pension as I do my future social security benefits: theoretical. I would probably be more conservative, and have a smaller variable portfolio, rather than try to inflation protect the pension. 
by 6 Iron
Wed Oct 06, 2010 9:10 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Has The PP Restored Your Confidence As An Investor?
Replies: 7
Views: 5040

Re: Has The PP Restored Your Confidence As An Investor?

My confidence has been restored, while my attitude towards my investments has changed.  We are all so used to having one or more parts of the portfolio zig while the others zag, it can be disturbing as noted above to not see it. I now like for some part of the portfolio to go down, so that I can buy...
by 6 Iron
Tue Oct 05, 2010 10:14 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Why should I buy Treasuries now?
Replies: 46
Views: 36414

Re: Why should I buy Treasuries now?

I was reading some older bond threads, and came across this. As I check the record of TLT it was at around $98 at that time, and since then peaked above $108, now around $104. At present, in my own portfolio, and I supect many of yours, long term bonds are lagging. In the past, I have been putting n...
by 6 Iron
Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:44 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Is there a PP Plan B? Worst Case Future Scenario
Replies: 14
Views: 8414

Re: Is there a PP Plan B? Worst Case Future Scenario

MiniB, these are important considerations for an investor. When do we decide that our strategy is not successful? I started my transition to the PP about a year ago. Your scenario of rebalancing into a black hole was one of my greatest concerns. But I have come to the conclusion that while there may...
by 6 Iron
Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:40 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Jim Rickards Interviews
Replies: 1
Views: 2762

Re: Jim Rickards Interviews

Thanks, Wonk. I was not familiar with Rickards, but the two segments are excellent. I particularly liked the way he addressed the stimulus package and its lack of success by calling it what it is: debt.
by 6 Iron
Fri Aug 27, 2010 8:13 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: iPad
Replies: 29
Views: 13973

Re: iPad

I can now vouch for the iPad, but have noticed that when viewing this forum with it, the "show unread posts" feature does not seem accurate, showing far fewer than I have seen. Otherwise it works like a charm.  Craig, or other iPad users, have you noticed this?
by 6 Iron
Fri Aug 27, 2010 7:57 pm
Forum: Gold
Topic: Buying a lot of gold in person
Replies: 4
Views: 4790

Re: Buying a lot of gold in person

I prefer the anonymity of the mail, but if I could borrow Bambi and the Lambo, I would consider it. ;)
by 6 Iron
Sun Aug 22, 2010 2:23 pm
Forum: Gold
Topic: Another reason for owning at least some bullion?
Replies: 0
Views: 3036

Another reason for owning at least some bullion?

There was an interesting discussion on the Boglehead site regarding the following article from William Bernstein, regarding the permanent portfolio (hat tip to petrico): http://www.efficientfrontier.com/ef/0adhoc/harry.htm Dr. Bernstein made a strong, and I think valid point regarding the inflow of ...
by 6 Iron
Sun Aug 22, 2010 2:00 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: PP Buyers Remorse...Some Sound Feedback Needed!
Replies: 45
Views: 26974

Re: PP Buyers Remorse...Some Sound Feedback Needed!

The problem with stocks as per the firecalc outcomes is that lets say hypothetically you were about to retire in 2-3 years and you were at the end of a bull market (as would have happened if you wanted to retire in 1999-2000 or 2006-2007), you may have suddenly suffered a huge loss 20-30%.  This lo...
by 6 Iron
Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:52 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Time logged in
Replies: 5
Views: 5375

Time logged in

At the top of the home page, we are greeted with a total time logged in statistic; at present I sit at 18 hours and 50 minutes. I may be in the minority here, but this makes me feel guilty when I come to read the latest posts (with thoughts of what else I should be doing with my time). I think it is...
by 6 Iron
Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:55 am
Forum: Gold
Topic: iShares cuts expenses on IAU
Replies: 10
Views: 8878

Re: iShares cuts expenses on IAU

I am a little surprised that this has not generated more discussion. As many of us have a portion of our gold in ETF's in tax advantaged accounts for rebalancing purposes, has anyone moved from GLD to IAU, or if not, why? When I chose ETF's for gold, I opted for GLD (largest, smallest bid/ask spread...
by 6 Iron
Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:55 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: iPad
Replies: 29
Views: 13973

Re: iPad

A friend has the smaller kindle and iPad. He thinks the iPad is of course superior to the kindle for reading any type of book with images or technical papers. But he likes the kindle for reading novels. Craig, I have a kindle, and have enjoyed it, but as you said, anything with images, graphs or ch...
by 6 Iron
Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:28 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: iPad
Replies: 29
Views: 13973

Re: iPad

craigr wrote: Well I bought an iPad last week after resisting for months
I have been resisting for months, as well, trying to wait until the first update. I am having a difficult time waiting, though, with the convenience of a birthday next month as an excuse luring me in. You have not made it any easier!
by 6 Iron
Sat Jul 24, 2010 3:23 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Recommended Books?
Replies: 38
Views: 17756

Re: Recommended Books?

If you want something in an audio format This podcast makes for interesting listening in a car: http://www.econtalk.org/ Russ Roberts is quite skilled in explaining economic issues to the layman, with interesting and varied guests. Incidentally, he was also a driving force behind the boom and the b...
by 6 Iron
Fri Jul 23, 2010 10:29 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Recommended Books?
Replies: 38
Views: 17756

Re: Recommended Books?

Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt. Also available online. This is a short, easy to read book, with a profound lesson in the fundamental of economics (from an Austrian school perspective).
by 6 Iron
Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:32 pm
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Is there a cult of the equity investor (speculator)
Replies: 11
Views: 8829

Re: Is there a cult of the equity investor (speculator)

When an economy has unfavorable demographics, a poor macroeconomic situation, political strife and a huge debt overhang, then stock markets are typically going to struggle as the underlying economy struggles.  With regard to poor macroeconomics, particularly when you combine our Keynesian governmen...
by 6 Iron
Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:13 pm
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Is there a cult of the equity investor (speculator)
Replies: 11
Views: 8829

Is there a cult of the equity investor (speculator)

This blog post from seeking alpha is not comforting, but does support the agnostic, and diversified approach to investing of the permanent portfolio. It can be summarized as a reflection on our country, and in particular, our financial services industry, having become centered on making money by doi...
by 6 Iron
Sun Jul 18, 2010 10:29 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: How do you separate PP from VP?
Replies: 3
Views: 3463

Re: How do you separate PP from VP?

I use an Excel spread sheet, and it makes it very easy to keep track of both the VP and PP, as well as percent holdings for the PP, despite having multiple accounts. If you are unfamiliar with Excel (as I was), I learned how, and created my spreadsheet in a couple of hours from a user.
by 6 Iron
Sat Jun 26, 2010 1:15 am
Forum: Cash
Topic: Cash level and the accumulation phase
Replies: 2
Views: 4893

Cash level and the accumulation phase

When I add to my permanent portfolio, it goes into the cash component initially, regardless of the account (retirement, taxable, etc). When my cash component exceeds 25%, I use the surplus to buy the most lagging component, but do not allow my cash component to drop much below 25%, allowing for mino...