Boosting Our Gold Holdings

We made a small adjustment in allocation of assets in our taxable investment accounts. I can’t say I feel great about it but that’s OK. Read more

Lines for iPhones – Really?

People are lined up at Apple stores to buy the latest and greatest iPhone. Really?

Are these gadget addicts unemployed? Calling in sick for a job that ranks below cell phones in importance?

What is going on with out of control consumerism in this country? Will the Apple fanboys and girls walk out of the store taking HD videos of each other while chanting the name of their Great Leader Manipulator, Steve Jobs?

I am eager to learn how much more money AT&T will make selling bandwidth to these data-sucking phones.  Maybe there’s an app for that already.

Realtors Behind the Scenes of Our Economic Mess

I often wonder why Realtors haven’t received much of the blame and scorn for their role in the inflation and collapse of the real estate bubble. As much as the banks are accused of predatory lending to simpleton home buyers, why aren’t Realtors targeted as well? Read more

There Are No Stock-Picking Geniuses

I shake my head when someone writes about managed funds or picking individual stocks as a preferred way of investing. For every lucky home run investor or fund manager genius of the day, there is a genius has-been. Read more

The BP-Induced Economic Hangover

President Obama made promises last night on behalf of the federal government for which there is no present money to fulfill. Millions of gulf coast residents will be expecting billions of dollars to flow their way and not just from BP. Indeed, I will not be surprised if BP is forced into bankruptcy and/or becomes a takeover target. Read more

Benefiting from the Satellite TV Wars

Yesterday I saw some prominent web advertising from Dish Network. It is now offering new subscribers a free upgrade to HD programming – for life. The conditions were a 24 month contract and autopay. This intrigued me as part of my battle plan to reduce recurrent expenses in our media plans. Read more

Personal Finance and the iPhone Affect

How many hours will you waste this year staring at your hand?

That’s the rhetorical question I asked in a comment to this sad admission from a personal finance blogger:  I Want the New iPhone & I Don’t Care What’s In It. It seems that the Latte Factor has now been joined by the iPhone Affect. Read more

Disciplined Customers Bad for Banks

If you have a disciplined financial life, you don’t bounce checks or overdraw your account at the ATM. Sadly, banks don’t like you. You may find yourself hit with account maintenance fees or fired as a customer altogether. Read more

Municipal Bonds for Junk Collectors

Poor financial management exists at all levels of government. City politicians have to buy votes too. Also, local politicians and bureaucrats are more likely to be naive in their thinking about where the money will come from to pay for everything. It’s no surprise, then, that we have cities staring bankruptcy in the face, including a state capital. Read more