Search found 319 matches

by drumminj
Wed Apr 24, 2019 9:38 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Permanently low interest rates
Replies: 46
Views: 15439

Re: Permanently low interest rates

It's also worth noting that stock buybacks were illegal prior to 1982.
by drumminj
Wed Apr 24, 2019 6:20 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Permanently low interest rates
Replies: 46
Views: 15439

Re: Permanently low interest rates

Tortoise wrote:
Wed Apr 24, 2019 5:44 pm
Seems like I may be missing something here?
They're borrowing money to buy back stock?
by drumminj
Mon Apr 22, 2019 10:31 am
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Tax Loss Harvesting Support Group
Replies: 32
Views: 32639

Re: Tax Loss Harvesting Support Group

That's definitely an interesting idea, though arguably you have less left/invested after paying the taxes, no? So while you may avoid that 25% tax rate, you likely have less gains in the end? Not arguing against, just thinking through the strategy. Personally my biases align with avoiding future tax...
by drumminj
Mon Apr 22, 2019 9:24 am
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Tax Loss Harvesting Support Group
Replies: 32
Views: 32639

Re: Tax Loss Harvesting Support Group

pmward wrote:
Mon Apr 22, 2019 9:17 am
In his opinion it's better to pay your taxes now at the guaranteed 15% rate than risk being stuck with too much in gains to sell when/if they jack the rates up.
So sell now, re-buy, and pay the tax?
by drumminj
Wed Apr 17, 2019 11:22 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: bud split
Replies: 11
Views: 5091

bud split

Xan wrote:
Wed Apr 17, 2019 10:08 pm
So... It's literally what he wanted.
Personally I very much appreciate it as well. Many threads lately seems to devolve into dealing with Budd and his moods -- it's a huge distraction.

You've shown great restraint, Xan, and openness to other ideas, but IMO this was long overdue.
by drumminj
Tue Feb 26, 2019 9:16 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: An excellent article on TDS
Replies: 86
Views: 27576

Re: An excellent article on TDS

Also, college women outnumbering men doesn't necessarily translate to greater success in the workplace. The gender pay gap still exists . And maybe it's just me, but the top levels & high status positions in my field are still mainly occupied by men. There are a lot of women around but they're more...
by drumminj
Wed Feb 20, 2019 10:23 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Major Measels Outbreak Fearred in Washington State (anti-vaxxers)
Replies: 116
Views: 38622

Re: Major Measels Outbreak Fearred in Washington State (anti-vaxxers)

But they do not have the additional right to mix their measly children in with the vaccinated ones, apparently. Seems fair. Yet it's mandatory for children to be schooled up to a certain age, either via the public/private school system, or a parent is mandated (can "choose"?) to home school, with c...
by drumminj
Fri Feb 08, 2019 8:05 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Major Measels Outbreak Fearred in Washington State (anti-vaxxers)
Replies: 116
Views: 38622

Re: Major Measels Outbreak Fearred in Washington State (anti-vaxxers)

I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark and suggest that with increasing lifespan and the dawn of interventions that keep medically fragile people alive much longer, we've got a much weaker, sicker population to defend. I've often thought the same thing -- we've been thwarting natural selection a...
by drumminj
Mon Jan 28, 2019 10:31 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Question on drawdowns
Replies: 1
Views: 1896

Re: Question on drawdowns

I think the issue here is draw downs test your commitment to your asset allocation, and big drawdowns cause people to do stupid things like buy high and sell low. For folks who don't have the stomach to weather a 50% drawdown and are likely to panic sell, an asset allocation that minimizes drawdowns...
by drumminj
Wed Jan 16, 2019 10:28 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: FDIC risk
Replies: 10
Views: 13065

Re: FDIC risk

I think the question isn't necessarily about the insurance paying out, but how quickly they will pay out, and what the dollars will be worth when paid out.
by drumminj
Thu Jan 03, 2019 7:05 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Looks like HB was correct about offshore assets
Replies: 4
Views: 2884

Re: Looks like HB was correct about offshore assets

Maddy wrote:
Thu Jan 03, 2019 4:01 pm
Not that I think most people give a damn.
But....I get airline points!
by drumminj
Tue Jan 01, 2019 11:50 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Trump as tragicomedy
Replies: 958
Views: 380356

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

I don't think it's that Central American economies are "unsound", simply that the US's is better...<snip>...I just question the emerging principle that immigration to the US is a "human right." I think it's certainly reflecting in this context on what is it that has made the US a better place w.r.t...
by drumminj
Tue Jan 01, 2019 11:13 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: 2018 Results Post Here
Replies: 26
Views: 17196

Re: 2018 Results Post Here

-1.91% overall, roughly. Contributed by buying the lagging asset

Ending allocation:

Cash: 28.33%
Gold: 22.38%
Stock: 23.24%
LTT: 26.05%
by drumminj
Mon Dec 31, 2018 8:14 pm
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Tight Money Coming?
Replies: 4
Views: 3191

Re: Tight Money Coming?

boglerdude wrote:
Fri Dec 21, 2018 12:08 am
Banks get 2.4% IOER simply for existing, and a 6% dividend from the Fed
Anyone interested in pulling together and starting a bank?????
by drumminj
Mon Dec 31, 2018 8:06 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Worst investing year ever...
Replies: 67
Views: 37210

Re: Worst investing year ever...

Well whaddya know? The 4x25 HBPP works. I didn't end up quite as balanced as you (I did contribute some to lagging assets this year), but look to have ended up down ~1.91% on the year, heaviest in cash at 28.33%. Note that I haven't annualized/pro-rated my contributions, just assume they were all p...
by drumminj
Mon Dec 31, 2018 9:50 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Trump as tragicomedy
Replies: 958
Views: 380356

Re: Trump as tragicomedy

boglerdude wrote:
Mon Dec 31, 2018 12:34 am
> get rid of the welfare state

Let people die?
Is this question meant sincerely?

People will always die. There will never be enough of "other peoples' money (or labor)" to provide food, shelter, healthcare, etc, for every human in the world. So where do you draw the line?
by drumminj
Sun Dec 30, 2018 5:12 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Worst investing year ever...
Replies: 67
Views: 37210

Re: Worst investing year ever...

buddtholomew wrote:
Sun Dec 30, 2018 5:11 pm
In Mr. Smith’s defense, I believe he meant don’t let any asset drift lower than 20% or higher than 35% - Ive heard something similar but with 10% re-balance bands the lower end of the range is 15%, higher end 35%
Yes, I was not meaning to give Smith a hard time, was just making a bad joke
by drumminj
Sun Dec 30, 2018 4:20 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Worst investing year ever...
Replies: 67
Views: 37210

Re: Worst investing year ever...

For what it's worth, Harry Browne in Best Laid Plans said that he hoped the reader would put no less than 20% and no more than 35% in each of the given asset classes. Maybe that changed in the intervening time between that book and his radio show. If I could just figure out how to put 35% in each o...
by drumminj
Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:09 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Purpose of the PP
Replies: 152
Views: 76582

Re: Purpose of the PP

Cortopassi wrote:
Mon Dec 24, 2018 12:35 pm
25% cash for the past couple months would have been nice, vs. the 10% I am at.
Yeah, I was a bit bummed being 4x25 earlier (vs golden butterfly-ish) in the year as stocks out-performed, but right now am happy to be 25% cash
by drumminj
Thu Dec 20, 2018 8:34 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Purpose of the PP
Replies: 152
Views: 76582

Re: Purpose of the PP

Warren buffet?
by drumminj
Tue Oct 16, 2018 9:04 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Purpose of the PP
Replies: 152
Views: 76582

Re: Purpose of the PP

I'm using it as my 'primary' vehicle, though I also have extra cash, and some Wellesley as well. I run a standard 4x25.
by drumminj
Thu Aug 02, 2018 10:08 pm
Forum: Gold
Topic: The GOLD scream room
Replies: 3689
Views: 1659605

Re: The GOLD scream room

Whew almost broke 1213... Gold sucks. Figure we break 1200 tomorrow. 1.5 years wiped away, yet again. I am channeling budd here... Are you selling anytime soon? No? Then it doesn't really matter. As you know (and have said), it's about the portfolio, not the components in isolation. All have draw-d...
by drumminj
Thu Mar 29, 2018 10:34 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Microsoft 4th quarter results
Replies: 3
Views: 2201

Re: Microsoft 4th quarter results

bedraggled wrote:Thanks for the quick response.
Sorry I don't have anything better to offer. I don't follow their earning so have no recommendations
by drumminj
Thu Mar 29, 2018 9:04 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Microsoft 4th quarter results
Replies: 3
Views: 2201

Re: Microsoft 4th quarter results

Not sure if it's a factor, but MSFT's most recent earnings were for their Q2, not their Q4. Their fiscal year ends on June 30th.
by drumminj
Wed Mar 28, 2018 10:11 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Flying !st class with a free upgrade?
Replies: 17
Views: 9302

Re: Flying !st class with a free upgrade?

My SO travels frequently for work, so we often get upgraded. I agree it's hard to go back to 'cattle class' once you've gotten used to first... I've gotten to a point where if the cost of 1st is 2x or less the cost of coach, I just buy it. But I'm at a place in life where can afford to splurge on my...