Anyone else noticed that gold has been slowly but steadily climbing since black Monday? So much for the apocalyptic sell-off of a lifetime.  ;)  Someone made a lot of money buying from the people panicking a week ago.  Things could drop again tomorrow, but this is a good reminder of the power of st...

Thanks, melveyr. Around the time I started my permanent portfolio, I learned about decision moose, and followed it for a couple of years and was impressed that the forward performance did not match the "moosistory", although it looked like fun. Did you see from your data how frequently you...

Given the recent market issues, I have become tempted to predict the future with a variable portfolio play, but I am reminded that for the nearly 4 years that I have held a permanent portfolio, I have been happy that my variable portfolio is under 5% of my investments. How are you doing?

I may be the last guy to see this, but on the off chance that others have not, GTU ninja steve posted this tool a year ago as a means for determining the nav intraday, with a delay in GTU price of about 15 minutes, so for me, close enough. Thanks, steve! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?authke...

Thinking about doing this tomorrow; is there an intraday report of price to NAV somewhere? I have seen the end of day report at Central Gold Trust.

Guinness lamb stew is my favorite comfort food to make, and quite simple, from the recipe at the link: http://www.grouprecipes.com/7406/authentic-irish-stew-with-lamb-and-guinness.html I use about 15 halved new potatoes rather than the russets, and only 1/2 cup of the barley. Gotta get a sous vide a...

Would you guys feel better if the PP was down 5% and S&P down 30% or PP up 5% and S&P up 30%? I personally would feel much better about the former. You bring up an interesting problem for human beings. Somewhere, I read a study  comparing the happiness of two different groups of people: (1)...

I am convinced that the greatest risk in the Permanent Portfolio, and investing in general, is the investor, making a move at the worst possible time. The premise of our portfolio is sound, and there will be opportunities to buy out of favor assets.  Reading this thread, I am reminded of Bill Bernst...

melveyr wrote: I guess I don't even really see my 30 year Treasury bonds as an "investment." I see them as an amazing hedge with respect to equities that happens to have a small expected return.

They certainly take some of the fear out of buying stocks when the market is down for me.

I have to add, Mr van Nes, your name produces an amazing amount of anagrams . Do you know how many English words can be made from rearranging the letters in "GERARDVANNESS"? Dozens upon dozens, including the word ARRANGED! "Darn Avengers!" Ooh, I want to play: "Danger Raven...

2009 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagen, manual. A pleasure to drive.

I agree that stocks are the most over-valued, but I would say gold is probably the most undervalued. But not enough to bet on it outside of the permanent portfolio. I run sub 5 percent variable portfolio, and after the beating that the gold miners have taken, I am thinking about finally getting in.

Pointedstick wrote:

dualstow wrote: Looks good, PFG.
I usually use my desktop, but now I'm tempted to learn how to take a screenshot on an ipod touch.

Hit the home and lock buttons at the same time. It saves the screenshot to your camera roll.

Thanks, Pointedstick. Works on iPad as well.

I just finished reading Craig's book after hearing about the Permanent Portfolio a year ago. I have decided to switch my IRA completely to the PP. However, at the moment, 3 of the four pieces are at or near 5 year highs. Stocks (S&P just went over 1500 today), Gold (not at record but close), an...

Tom, be aware that over the last forty years there have been periods of significant draw down in the permanent portfolio, and that one could occur when you are ready to cash out for the down payment.  It may not be likely, but it is possible. What is your time horizon for buying a home?

When this forum began, I appreciated, and still do, the fact that economic, political and social issues were not taboo, compared to the mega-thread at the Bogleheads site. These topics are at times difficult to discuss without strong feelings and potentially insulting decarations, and if I were to s...

I can absolutely identify with the original poster, and thought I would post a solution that has changed my life for the better: http://www.amazon.com/Fitbit-Wireless-Activity-Sleep-Tracker/dp/B0095PZHPE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358199196&sr=8-1&keywords=fitbit The fitbit is a device you ...

Thanks so much for posting the follow-up. I admire this intellectual honesty, and had forgotten how intrigued I was when you were initially discussing this.

After proving that I had no idea last year, I cannot resist the opportunity to publically prove that it was not a fluke.

VTI -6%
TLT +6%
GLD +10%
SHY +0.5%

On a quick glance, it does look like bugman is the winner. I, on the other hand, have been given the opportunity to again see how poorly my crystal ball works. Happy New Year to all!

I wonder, what has happened with Tulving?  I have always been satisfied with prior orders. I have seen complaints in the past, but delayed, uncertain delivery is a problem that I would pay a little more to avoid.

95%, excluding real estate.

Nothing specific, other than wondering if there will be an asset sale based on panic selling.

On another thread, Gosso wrote the following: " Honestly, I see no problem with someone converting the STT/LTT to an intermediate bond holding with an average duration of 5 years.  Below are the real CAGR of a portfolio with 50% allocated to a bond fund with an average duration of 5 years (this...

My concern is that his holdout is based on a continued belief in market timing, but my thought in supporting DCA is that it would allow him to have a stake in all of the assets of the portfolio, and watch how they respond to the unexpected in the future with some skin in the game. Certainly, all in ...