Thomas Smicklas

Holding Cash? Might as Well Hold TIPS Instead

Good article and good individual commentary.

A case can be made for deflation and inflation. I fall into the inflation camp but have not placed too strong a bet on this occuring - yet.

I prefer to own TIPS purchased online through the US Treasury Direct site. Another technique I have included in my scheme is to purchase 6 month T-bills through Treasury Direct and rolling them over upon maturity. True, the current interest is poor, but T-bills are secure and will capture the bump in inflation. I temper these low interest holdings with other securities that provide me with a dividend/interest spike, but that is not relative to this discussion.

I Bonds and E Bonds could also be a part of today's post.

SPDR Convertible Bond ETF: Beats the Market, But Gets No Respect

I have this ETF in my portfolio and concur with your article.

PIMCO's El-Erian Warns Investors (Again)

Many of us missed the last leg of the financial crash. Taking a one year old plus post and waste your time hacking at it tells me you need professional help....not from a financial planner... from a shrink.


On Oct 01 01:57 AM warriornasdaq wrote:

> Tom you said to buy Imperial Capital Bank at $10 its now .40 cents
> im on board IMPC now time to back the truck up as well im buying
> Alliance Bank now the regionals charts are reversal underway climbing
> a mountain IMPC is the best regional you picked last september 2008.
>
> IMPC book value $19.50 as of June 30, 2009, As California recovers
> IMPC will mirror that recovery $4.3 billion assets too big to fail
> and the CFO is one sharp guy.
> As far as Pimco warning well they shouldve warned investors they
> couldnt pay interest or dividends last december, i did well with
> their ETF's ive since dumped them now im buying your regional banks
> Tom way to go just a year off.
> But thats good i got a 99% hair cut off IMPC stock price, i waited
> thanks for IMPC Tom i got a great deal under .40 cents on IMPC, the
> charts now have now reversed. ABVA is good at $2.50 anyways Tom just
> thought i let you know the all clear sign for regionals like IMPC
> ABVA you can now back the truck up Tom eom

Property Values Set to Fall 43% from Current Depressed Levels

Speculation.

One factor determining property value is what it will produce if rented. The rule of thumb for general discussion is rent should be 100x the value of the home. If (when) inflation kicks up, this will impact property values more than a graph. One would reason that inflation should bump up rents. However, if job destruction under the present economically challenged Congress continues, all bets are off.

Capitalism, Socialism and 10-Year Returns of Country ETFs

When one examines all of the OTHER taxes that are paid over and above those analyed in this article, I would think the surmises would be different.

Foreign Bond ETFs: Considering Dollar Devaluation and Maximizing Income Stream

BWX is a holding at present within my portfolios. I see no reason not to consider it a long term holding as a hedge against current US economic policy (tax more and spend a lot more).

Price Breadth Suggests that Financial ETF Exuberance May Be Short-Lived

I "prefer" the preferred ETFs.

At least until we come to the realisation that our $12 trillion in debt is due. TIPs foreign and domestic, anyone?

How Africa’s Changing Population Impacts ETFs

I remain to be convinced that Africa as a whole will be a viable investment inclusion. How many times over the past decades have we been told of the dawn of African investment opportunities? To many to count.

In one must invest in the Dark Continent, perhaps the best investment to consider are Chinese companies having a foothold in Africa using slave labor without environmental restructions to extract minerals and carbon-based entities from African earth - with the protection of African despots lining their pockets with bribes.

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Celebrating the 'Recovery': I'm Disgusted

Somebody needed to state this. You did.

It is not innappropriate to begin adjusting one's portfolio to hedge what many consider to be an inevitable economic reality to the free-for-all spending spree and robust class warfare.

Could Egypt’s Instability Cause Trouble for Africa ETFs?

Possibly, Africa itself never going to "stable". Ask any (legitimate) businessperson who has attempted to open up shop there.

The largest industry is corruption, and there is no index for that.

New Vietnam ETF: 3 Reasons to Proceed with Caution

I'll wait for Cuba, when, and if.......

Real Estate Has Hit Bottom? Not Even Close

I have a piece today on SA regarding the upcoming investment opportunity in apartments.

I agree completely with the above article regarding single family housing. Increased taxes, defaults (again) for the many who were given a break on their mortgage who shouldn't have had a mortgage in the first place, the preference to rent rather than buy from Millenials, a decrease in traditional familiy units creating a continuing surplus of 20th century-style homes on the market, the inability of big box builders to adjust to the size and taste of buyers who want less space and more energy savings...the list goes on.

And don't foget the forced lifestyle changes the Obama administration is pressing on many fronts.

Housing will continue to take a beating.

Housing, Dating, Marriage and the Tax Code

An old Benny Hill comment:

Question From Host: What is a bachelor?
Answer: A man who has not considered marriage.
Reply: NO, you're wrong. It is a man who HAS considered marriage.

Ingrid Beckles: Freddie Mac's Plan for the Housing Market

Excellent post.

I do believe that a majority of home occupiers (I set them apart from homeowners - who can afford to live in a home they finanvced) will crap out of almost any re-fi scheme because they are lacking income, budgeting habits, intelligence or all three. Just like the government.

Obama's Big Win at G20: Europeans Lose Control of IMF

The summary statement from the G-20 tells me that Obama gave away the store in order to make nice and be loved by the G-19. Net result is a big loss of independance for U.S.

No further stimulus was provided according to the summary document. Control over compensation is to be regulated worldwide. The lisy of giveaways is a path to socialism.

As Medvedev stated, "Obama is my comrade."