Here's something to think about that might get you guys on the same page: when you invest in the stock market and make money, where do the profits come from?It isn't way down my list. It is a serious issue that isn't getting enough coverage due to the complexity/opacity of the alternative investment and pension industries.Great job explaining why you chose to post about something way down on the list of reasons why pensions are in trouble.Predictable. The next time I read a response from you where you don't erroneously attribute what I think will be the first.If you now admit that it isn't the largest factor, why is it the only thing you mentioned in your post? Oh, that's right, because it pushes your narrative that "greedy wall street" is the root cause of all problems, including pension shortfalls.![]()
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You're obviously not interested in discussing it and explaining it or myself to you would be a waste of time.
Sorry, I'll refrain from bringing up topics I'm interested and experienced in here.take the internet slapfight somewhere else. thanks
Well, it should be. Pension funds were running into trouble long before alternatives were even on their radar. 2 and 20 out of a minority portion of their allocation is not a major factor in their shortfalls, and that's not even accounting for any benefits.It isn't way down my list. It is a serious issue that isn't getting enough coverage due to the complexity/opacity of the alternative investment and pension industries.Great job explaining why you chose to post about something way down on the list of reasons why pensions are in trouble.Predictable. The next time I read a response from you where you don't erroneously attribute what I think will be the first.If you now admit that it isn't the largest factor, why is it the only thing you mentioned in your post? Oh, that's right, because it pushes your narrative that "greedy wall street" is the root cause of all problems, including pension shortfalls.![]()
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You're obviously not interested in discussing it and explaining it or myself to you would be a waste of time.
Apology acceptedSorry, I'll refrain from bringing up topics I'm interested and experienced in here.take the internet slapfight somewhere else. thanks
Magic?Here's something to think about that might get you guys on the same page: when you invest in the stock market and make money, where do the profits come from?It isn't way down my list. It is a serious issue that isn't getting enough coverage due to the complexity/opacity of the alternative investment and pension industries.Great job explaining why you chose to post about something way down on the list of reasons why pensions are in trouble.Predictable. The next time I read a response from you where you don't erroneously attribute what I think will be the first.If you now admit that it isn't the largest factor, why is it the only thing you mentioned in your post? Oh, that's right, because it pushes your narrative that "greedy wall street" is the root cause of all problems, including pension shortfalls.![]()
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You're obviously not interested in discussing it and explaining it or myself to you would be a waste of time.
Interesting. I'd say I'm a samurai, but I'm still at 60/40 in my 401K. Maybe 70/30 including IRAs.Was poking around this week looking for some 401k allocation strategy stuff and ran across this.
Not anything we haven't discussed before but I like the approach this guy takes, I think this is pretty easy to understand material for the casual investor. I'm definitely a samurai, and my asset allocation is 85/15 which he says falls in-line with that approach. Winning?
No, but (except for dividends) it doesn't come from company profits, either.Magic?Here's something to think about that might get you guys on the same page: when you invest in the stock market and make money, where do the profits come from?It isn't way down my list. It is a serious issue that isn't getting enough coverage due to the complexity/opacity of the alternative investment and pension industries.Great job explaining why you chose to post about something way down on the list of reasons why pensions are in trouble.Predictable. The next time I read a response from you where you don't erroneously attribute what I think will be the first.If you now admit that it isn't the largest factor, why is it the only thing you mentioned in your post? Oh, that's right, because it pushes your narrative that "greedy wall street" is the root cause of all problems, including pension shortfalls.![]()
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You're obviously not interested in discussing it and explaining it or myself to you would be a waste of time.
Well of course not!!No, but (except for dividends) it doesn't come from company profits, either.Magic?Here's something to think about that might get you guys on the same page: when you invest in the stock market and make money, where do the profits come from?It isn't way down my list. It is a serious issue that isn't getting enough coverage due to the complexity/opacity of the alternative investment and pension industries.Great job explaining why you chose to post about something way down on the list of reasons why pensions are in trouble.Predictable. The next time I read a response from you where you don't erroneously attribute what I think will be the first.If you now admit that it isn't the largest factor, why is it the only thing you mentioned in your post? Oh, that's right, because it pushes your narrative that "greedy wall street" is the root cause of all problems, including pension shortfalls.![]()
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You're obviously not interested in discussing it and explaining it or myself to you would be a waste of time.
So, doesn't it bother you that the price of stocks is so untethered from company performance?Well of course not!!No, but (except for dividends) it doesn't come from company profits, either.Magic?Here's something to think about that might get you guys on the same page: when you invest in the stock market and make money, where do the profits come from?It isn't way down my list. It is a serious issue that isn't getting enough coverage due to the complexity/opacity of the alternative investment and pension industries.Great job explaining why you chose to post about something way down on the list of reasons why pensions are in trouble.Predictable. The next time I read a response from you where you don't erroneously attribute what I think will be the first.If you now admit that it isn't the largest factor, why is it the only thing you mentioned in your post? Oh, that's right, because it pushes your narrative that "greedy wall street" is the root cause of all problems, including pension shortfalls.![]()
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You're obviously not interested in discussing it and explaining it or myself to you would be a waste of time.
Agree with you completely. The baby boomer generation got the benefit of the huge stock market run for the last 30 years. Around 1980 when the boomers were entering the work arena/already established, the S&P 500 was at 100ish. So, any money they socked away is now worth 19 times what it was now that they are retiring or already retired. Yes, there were bumps along the way, but considering inflation, house prices and the stock market, they have a lot of wealth that is going to be transitioning to their kids now through the next 20+ years. I think estate taxes will be a big change and corporate taxes.Long term something probably has to give in trust/estate taxation as well as corporate tax loopholes.
Jacking up income taxes just isn't going to fly. It will be in other areas.
Very reasonable discussion of asset allocation. I'd also recommend The Ivy Portfolio. It goes a bit deeper, but gives you some ideas on how to fine tune. I don't recommend financial books lightly as there are about a zillion pieces of crap out there. This is by Mebane Faber, though, one of the very few financial gurus who really knows his stuff and provides very high quality advice. (And by very few I mean a list like Buffett, Faber, Munger, and Gross).Was poking around this week looking for some 401k allocation strategy stuff and ran across this.
Not anything we haven't discussed before but I like the approach this guy takes, I think this is pretty easy to understand material for the casual investor. I'm definitely a samurai, and my asset allocation is 85/15 which he says falls in-line with that approach. Winning?
Where do you get the silly notion that the price of stocks is untethered from performance?So, doesn't it bother you that the price of stocks is so untethered from company performance?
Of course it does, I was being sarcastic. The stock market is the biggest sham and pyramid scheme in the history of the country.So, doesn't it bother you that the price of stocks is so untethered from company performance?Well of course not!!No, but (except for dividends) it doesn't come from company profits, either.Magic?Here's something to think about that might get you guys on the same page: when you invest in the stock market and make money, where do the profits come from?It isn't way down my list. It is a serious issue that isn't getting enough coverage due to the complexity/opacity of the alternative investment and pension industries.Great job explaining why you chose to post about something way down on the list of reasons why pensions are in trouble.Predictable. The next time I read a response from you where you don't erroneously attribute what I think will be the first.If you now admit that it isn't the largest factor, why is it the only thing you mentioned in your post? Oh, that's right, because it pushes your narrative that "greedy wall street" is the root cause of all problems, including pension shortfalls.![]()
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You're obviously not interested in discussing it and explaining it or myself to you would be a waste of time.
speculation or other factors outside of performance never affect stock prices????Where do you get the silly notion that the price of stocks is untethered from performance?So, doesn't it bother you that the price of stocks is so untethered from company performance?
Ben Graham: "With that perspective in mind, the stock owner should not be too concerned with erratic fluctuations in stock prices, since in the short term, the stock market behaves like a voting machine, but in the long term it acts like a weighing machine"speculation or other factors outside of performance never affect stock prices????Where do you get the silly notion that the price of stocks is untethered from performance?So, doesn't it bother you that the price of stocks is so untethered from company performance?
Because the gains from speculation should go up or down depending more on the amount of money investors have on hand than on company performance, or the economy's overall performance. The stock market fluctuates far more than our economy does. So while one stock might outperform another stock based on good reasoning, the overall investment in stocks isn't based on anything reasonable at all. The stock market is just a convenient place for the rich to gamble. It truly is a bit of a Ponzi scheme, because profits (outside of dividends) rely on new investment coming in and bumping up prices.Where do you get the silly notion that the price of stocks is untethered from performance?So, doesn't it bother you that the price of stocks is so untethered from company performance?
Think of quarterly/annual P&L performance for a publicly traded company as you would weekly stats for FF. Market prices in FF leagues drop and rise based upon past performance and overall situation for a player. The stock market and corporate earnings are the equivalent of player stats + situation for FF. Being a FF board, thinking this explanation can be made to loosely work.Because the gains from speculation should go up or down depending more on the amount of money investors have on hand than on company performance, or the economy's overall performance. The stock market fluctuates far more than our economy does. So while one stock might outperform another stock based on good reasoning, the overall investment in stocks isn't based on anything reasonable at all. The stock market is just a convenient place for the rich to gamble. It truly is a bit of a Ponzi scheme, because profits (outside of dividends) rely on new investment coming in and bumping up prices.Where do you get the silly notion that the price of stocks is untethered from performance?So, doesn't it bother you that the price of stocks is so untethered from company performance?
I don't have time to go into a deep debate on this, so I'll just throw a bomb and run.Because the gains from speculation should go up or down depending more on the amount of money investors have on hand than on company performance, or the economy's overall performance. The stock market fluctuates far more than our economy does. So while one stock might outperform another stock based on good reasoning, the overall investment in stocks isn't based on anything reasonable at all. The stock market is just a convenient place for the rich to gamble. It truly is a bit of a Ponzi scheme, because profits (outside of dividends) rely on new investment coming in and bumping up prices.Where do you get the silly notion that the price of stocks is untethered from performance?So, doesn't it bother you that the price of stocks is so untethered from company performance?
So you're keeping all your money under your mattress?Because the gains from speculation should go up or down depending more on the amount of money investors have on hand than on company performance, or the economy's overall performance. The stock market fluctuates far more than our economy does. So while one stock might outperform another stock based on good reasoning, the overall investment in stocks isn't based on anything reasonable at all. The stock market is just a convenient place for the rich to gamble. It truly is a bit of a Ponzi scheme, because profits (outside of dividends) rely on new investment coming in and bumping up prices.Where do you get the silly notion that the price of stocks is untethered from performance?So, doesn't it bother you that the price of stocks is so untethered from company performance?
MagicSo you're keeping all your money under your mattress?Because the gains from speculation should go up or down depending more on the amount of money investors have on hand than on company performance, or the economy's overall performance. The stock market fluctuates far more than our economy does. So while one stock might outperform another stock based on good reasoning, the overall investment in stocks isn't based on anything reasonable at all. The stock market is just a convenient place for the rich to gamble. It truly is a bit of a Ponzi scheme, because profits (outside of dividends) rely on new investment coming in and bumping up prices.Where do you get the silly notion that the price of stocks is untethered from performance?So, doesn't it bother you that the price of stocks is so untethered from company performance?
Why does it bother you so much? Yes, there is speculation with stocks and at the end of the day, the value of a particular stock is what people think it's worth and what price point they are willing to buy and sell it at. Although there isn't an exact calculation to figure out this value, it is sort of tied to a company's performance over time. If a company if consistently making money and growing its assets....guess what.....its value will increase.
Understood - that's why I said that one stock might outperform another stock for good reasons, within the overall pool of money. But the amount of money invested in the stock market overall has little to do with anything except the amount of money sitting around with nothing better to do.Think of quarterly/annual P&L performance for a publicly traded company as you would weekly stats for FF. Market prices in FF leagues drop and rise based upon past performance and overall situation for a player. The stock market and corporate earnings are the equivalent of player stats + situation for FF. Being a FF board, thinking this explanation can be made to loosely work.Because the gains from speculation should go up or down depending more on the amount of money investors have on hand than on company performance, or the economy's overall performance. The stock market fluctuates far more than our economy does. So while one stock might outperform another stock based on good reasoning, the overall investment in stocks isn't based on anything reasonable at all. The stock market is just a convenient place for the rich to gamble. It truly is a bit of a Ponzi scheme, because profits (outside of dividends) rely on new investment coming in and bumping up prices.Where do you get the silly notion that the price of stocks is untethered from performance?So, doesn't it bother you that the price of stocks is so untethered from company performance?
No, of course not - we're part of the pyramid, too.So you're keeping all your money under your mattress?Because the gains from speculation should go up or down depending more on the amount of money investors have on hand than on company performance, or the economy's overall performance. The stock market fluctuates far more than our economy does. So while one stock might outperform another stock based on good reasoning, the overall investment in stocks isn't based on anything reasonable at all. The stock market is just a convenient place for the rich to gamble. It truly is a bit of a Ponzi scheme, because profits (outside of dividends) rely on new investment coming in and bumping up prices.Where do you get the silly notion that the price of stocks is untethered from performance?So, doesn't it bother you that the price of stocks is so untethered from company performance?
Why does it bother you so much? Yes, there is speculation with stocks and at the end of the day, the value of a particular stock is what people think it's worth and what price point they are willing to buy and sell it at. Although there isn't an exact calculation to figure out this value, it is sort of tied to a company's performance over time. If a company if consistently making money and growing its assets....guess what.....its value will increase.
You can't prove this, nor does the data support this historically. We had a rising P/E curve for the markets in WWII up until the war ended and then it fell off (labor should have come back into this country after WWII and boosted the markets). The opposite happened in WWI, BTW. We had a massive spike in market P/E in 2000 with no magic infusion of funds. There are lots of factors that go into the market, but to say it is 99% Ponzi is, frankly,JohnfrmCleveland said:Also, there is still a movement in this country to replace Social Security with private investment. Now think about what would happen if the government made the switch, and all the money currency going to FICA taxes suddenly went into the market. Prices would go nuts, would they not?
.Why would that post-WWII labor boost the markets? Those guys didn't have any money yet. And when they got it, they were buying houses and stuff for their families, not stock.You can't prove this, nor does the data support this historically. We had a rising P/E curve for the markets in WWII up until the war ended and then it fell off (labor should have come back into this country after WWII and boosted the markets). The opposite happened in WWI, BTW. We had a massive spike in market P/E in 2000 with no magic infusion of funds. There are lots of factors that go into the market, but to say it is 99% Ponzi is, frankly,JohnfrmCleveland said:Also, there is still a movement in this country to replace Social Security with private investment. Now think about what would happen if the government made the switch, and all the money currency going to FICA taxes suddenly went into the market. Prices would go nuts, would they not?.
In fact, a reasonable argument can be made that such a reintroduction of private cash would boost interest rates, which would cool the markets.
An infusion of cash introduces all kinds of spending, not just investing. Good and services become more in demand, thus inflationary. This is why we worry about printing money and inflation.A reintroduction of private cash from savings should lower interest rates, because there would be excess money looking for a return.
Unlike goods and services, which expand to meet demand, there are a limited number of shares of stock. So more money will equal higher prices. If SS was privatized and all of that FICA money was shunted into stocks, yes, I really think that prices would go up accordingly.
I knew I recognized John.Can't you nerds talk about this in some macro economics thread? No one gives a ####!
Oof, Totally inexcusable. For the vast majority of americans, saving 10% of salary is very achievable.A bankrate.com study:
36% of Americans have not saved $1 toward retirement
24% of Americans aged 50-64, have not saved $1 toward retirement
Every day more than 9000 Americans turn 65. Nice job Baby Boomers, you're killing it.![]()
There will always be people who simply don't plan for the future, or just tell their future selves to #### off. That's what SS is for, right?Oof, Totally inexcusable. For the vast majority of americans, saving 10% of salary is very achievable.A bankrate.com study:
36% of Americans have not saved $1 toward retirement
24% of Americans aged 50-64, have not saved $1 toward retirement
Every day more than 9000 Americans turn 65. Nice job Baby Boomers, you're killing it.![]()
correct. Actually those stats weren't surprising to me.. you're talking about the bottom 1/3rd of society... these are people who don't work jobs that have retirement programs and couldn't tell you the difference between a Roth and a MothThere will always be people who simply don't plan for the future, or just tell their future selves to #### off. That's what SS is for, right?Oof, Totally inexcusable. For the vast majority of americans, saving 10% of salary is very achievable.A bankrate.com study:
36% of Americans have not saved $1 toward retirement
24% of Americans aged 50-64, have not saved $1 toward retirement
Every day more than 9000 Americans turn 65. Nice job Baby Boomers, you're killing it.![]()
If I stay in this area, I will move the day after I retire. This is absolutely a key component in the calculation and something I have always considered. Thing is the real estate is so good in this area and it's not likely to get any worse, that I'm going to be able to buy three houses in another state for the amount I get for the one I live in now. I don't necessarily consider that when I'm looking at retirement assets, but it's going to put me way the hell over the top.The surest retirement gamble - where you decide to retire. According to this study there is a 35% difference between states in buying power. Looks like you have to be Chet to survive well in DC. I feel fortunate to live in one of the cheapest states.
Dave Ramsey approves.So a savings tip.
I have two stealth accounts which I take money out of my check before I get it.
One pays for my cabin and for my nieces' private school. I always have a nice balance in this mostly because I refuse to even get an ATM card for it. So to withdrawal money my Dad has access to get money for my nieces and I take bulk sums when I visit my cabin. There are bank branches near me now, but when I lived in Texas and overseas I had no access at all. Even now I have to actually physically go to the bank to withdrawal money, and that is such a pain. So I rarely do it, and that important money stays relatively safe.
So why not implement that sort of idea again? Two weeks ago I decided to start a bar/game fund. Basically this is money I spend at the bar and at sporting events, which I think needs its own account. So I am trying to train myself to only use this account for games and bar trips, but does not include tickets. $40 a pay period seems fair, let's start there and see how it goes. Debit/ATM card with this one though, and I have to wait until there is some balance there before I begin biblically using it.
But I was the person who hid money under the carpet when I was a kid, for no real reason. I think having depression era grandparents rubbed off on me, although they wouldn't take kindly to my credit card balances over the past 11 or so years. Those days are over though, I've entered the cash for goods portion of my life now.![]()
I'm not much for on-line shopping although I do religiously order Gorditas from Amazon, lol.Dave Ramsey approves.So a savings tip.
I have two stealth accounts which I take money out of my check before I get it.
One pays for my cabin and for my nieces' private school. I always have a nice balance in this mostly because I refuse to even get an ATM card for it. So to withdrawal money my Dad has access to get money for my nieces and I take bulk sums when I visit my cabin. There are bank branches near me now, but when I lived in Texas and overseas I had no access at all. Even now I have to actually physically go to the bank to withdrawal money, and that is such a pain. So I rarely do it, and that important money stays relatively safe.
So why not implement that sort of idea again? Two weeks ago I decided to start a bar/game fund. Basically this is money I spend at the bar and at sporting events, which I think needs its own account. So I am trying to train myself to only use this account for games and bar trips, but does not include tickets. $40 a pay period seems fair, let's start there and see how it goes. Debit/ATM card with this one though, and I have to wait until there is some balance there before I begin biblically using it.
But I was the person who hid money under the carpet when I was a kid, for no real reason. I think having depression era grandparents rubbed off on me, although they wouldn't take kindly to my credit card balances over the past 11 or so years. Those days are over though, I've entered the cash for goods portion of my life now.![]()
My wife and I, when we are on-track, have moved back to an all-cash system for groceries and misc. shopping money. All budget items (utilities, mortgage, insurance, etc + gas because cash for gas is a pain in the ###) goes from one account on auto bill pay. For everything else - we pull a set amount of cash out once every two weeks and only spend that. If you can't afford it with the money in your wallet, don't buy it. Makes a big difference, but tough to reconcile on-line shopping.
My paternal grandparents never gave me anything, never got X-mas stuff from them or anything. They had 25 grandchildren though (I am the oldest), so they had to pick and choose their spots. In the summer my Grandpa would come and get me to work on some home project he had going. Deck, fence, basement caulking, etc. I'd get $10 ($25 or so in today's money) for 5-6 hours of work, and I;d get a deli sandwich for lunch. Great deal for everyone.also, I hear ya on depression era grandparents. IMO that's something kids these days are missing. My grandma used to save the plastic containers her margarine came in and used it like tupperware. She was fairly wealthy, but used to buy day-old donuts. Cheap as the day was long, but died a wealthy woman despite not being a woman of means.
To this day, I get a guilty twinge when I toss something out that could possibly be useful somewhere else, but then my wife calls me a pack-rat or a hoarder and that's the end of that.
I agree that the cap should be raised (along with the retirement ages) but you the higher wage earners would definitely cause a ruckus if it jumped to 175k.Doctor Detroit said:I know it'll be gone, but you can estimate your Social Security here.![]()
Also I had no idea the Social Security salary cap was only $117k, I thought it was actually more like $175k. Seems like if they just slowly bumped that up, the system would be fine.![]()
I have so many different accounts that my wife has given up asking how we are doing.So a savings tip.
I have two stealth accounts which I take money out of my check before I get it.
One pays for my cabin and for my nieces' private school. I always have a nice balance in this mostly because I refuse to even get an ATM card for it. So to withdrawal money my Dad has access to get money for my nieces and I take bulk sums when I visit my cabin. There are bank branches near me now, but when I lived in Texas and overseas I had no access at all. Even now I have to actually physically go to the bank to withdrawal money, and that is such a pain. So I rarely do it, and that important money stays relatively safe.
So why not implement that sort of idea again? Two weeks ago I decided to start a bar/game fund. Basically this is money I spend at the bar and at sporting events, which I think needs its own account. So I am trying to train myself to only use this account for games and bar trips, but does not include tickets. $40 a pay period seems fair, let's start there and see how it goes. Debit/ATM card with this one though, and I have to wait until there is some balance there before I begin biblically using it.
But I was the person who hid money under the carpet when I was a kid, for no real reason. I think having depression era grandparents rubbed off on me, although they wouldn't take kindly to my credit card balances over the past 11 or so years. Those days are over though, I've entered the cash for goods portion of my life now.![]()
doubtfulDoctor Detroit said:I know it'll be gone, but you can estimate your Social Security here.![]()
Also I had no idea the Social Security salary cap was only $117k, I thought it was actually more like $175k. Seems like if they just slowly bumped that up, the system would be fine.![]()
Read as: socialist utopian ivory tower professor devises way for a top down government controlled retirement system over and above the one that we already have.Interesting paper on another way to solve the retirement problem.
Q & A http://www.marketwatch.com/story/time-to-get-rid-of-all-those-401k-plans-2014-08-28?siteid=yhoof2
Full paper http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2450471
There has been a lot of chatter lately about how the stock market is overpriced, can't go higher, blah, blah, blah. Vanguard recently ran hundreds of thousands of market scenarios in developing a module to try and predict returns over the next ten years.
What they came up with was the most probable outcome is a 7.7% gain in the broad index over the next ten years. The chances of that happening were nearly 50/50. The high end of the curve was 17.5% and the low end was -2%. Thought that was pretty interesting.
This guy I work with who I know makes about 1/3 more than I do (and I make a decent living), told me he just cashed out all his stocks and is 100% U.S. Treasuries. He's less than ten years from retirement but he's a federal agent and is forced to retire at 55, meaning he'll be more than able to produce more income if he so desires. I tried to tell him gradually moving in and out of stuff and understanding risk versus age is what is important, and very few people actually time the market correctly.There has been a lot of chatter lately about how the stock market is overpriced, can't go higher, blah, blah, blah. Vanguard recently ran hundreds of thousands of market scenarios in developing a module to try and predict returns over the next ten years.
What they came up with was the most probable outcome is a 7.7% gain in the broad index over the next ten years. The chances of that happening were nearly 50/50. The high end of the curve was 17.5% and the low end was -2%. Thought that was pretty interesting.![]()
I get so frustrated when people I know say they don't want to invest in the Wall Street casino after 08. It's 6 years later, and you simply cannot afford to sit on the sidelines because of a paper tiger dip like 08 if you're like 25-30 years for even being able to touch the funds.
Yes, the market will go up, and down. Your Vanguard model proves, if your horizon is long enough, you can absorb them without realized impact and have a reasonable 8ish % annual return expectation over the entire time horizon.