Ideas on Personal Finance
We’ve seen this movie before. And like most sequels, it’s louder, flashier, and still misses the point. The dot-com boom of the late 1990s promised to change everything. Groceries, news, relationships – even dog food – suddenly had a .com slapped on it like gold stars on a kindergarten report card. Investors threw money at … Read more
Regular readers of this blog have seen a few bear markets with me. However, there is nothing regular about this bear market. The speed at which markets have fallen has been unnerving. Most banks are now forecasting a recession. Even if a recession is somehow avoided, there is definitely a slowdown in the economy ahead. … Read more
A couple of years ago, the stock market crashed, and everyone was freaking out. The S&P 500 index fell from a high of around 4,800 to a low of about 3,500 in 2022—a 27% drop. Many stocks fell even more—Amazon’s stock dropped by half, and Meta (Facebook) was down 65%. Back then, I wrote a … Read more
In my last blog post, I discussed the growing concerns about the risk of World War 3. While I still consider such an event unlikely, it is worth exploring how one can prepare for extreme scenarios. Lessons from History Many books delve into the impacts of war on wealth. For instance, Wealth, War & Wisdom … Read more
Lately, headlines warning about the possibility of World War 3 seem to be increasing. Normally, I’m not one to worry about such things. However, when respected voices, like the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, start raising alarms, it’s worth paying closer attention. Why I Used to Dismiss the Idea I always believed World War 3 was … Read more
In addition to the rise of crypto; another key takeaway from this election is the rise of betting markets. While polls consistently showed Trump and Harris were tied, betting markets predicted a clear Trump win. How did that happen? Polls ask people who they will vote for. Betting markets are a place where people bet … Read more
It’s spooky time! And I’m not talking about Halloween… Every four years, our country gets excited, anxious, nervous, or downright terrified about the elections. Who will win? Who will lose? Will taxes go up? Will inflation come down? What will happen to my investments?? While I don’t have answers to any of these questions, history … Read more
In a world where everyone seems to be in a mad dash, the phrase “Slow Is Smooth, Smooth Is Fast” offers a refreshing perspective. Originating from the Navy SEALs, this idea emphasizes that mastering the basics at a deliberate pace leads to greater efficiency and effectiveness over time. Contrary to popular belief, the fastest route … Read more
In a prior article I had talked about why the government needs to create a recession in order to bring down inflation. I am not sure when exactly the recession will happen, but things are definitely slowing down. While the erudite readers of this blog prioritize saving before spending; the majority of Americans rely on … Read more
Habits shape our lives. But not all habits are created equal. Certain habits, known as keystone habits or cornerstone habits, trigger positive changes in other aspects of our lives. In the book “The Power of Habit”, Charles Duhigg writes that if you focus on one keystone habit, other positive habits will be easier to put … Read more