Ben Dinsmore

The Sting of American Capitalism

It is absolutely ridiculous that these CEO's, CFO's, Presidents, COO's and other executive types of these failing companies are awarded so much money year in and year out when they are literally driving these companies into the ground.

Maybe I am naive, perhaps the job of the modern day executive is to see who can decieve the investor the most into thinking that there investments are safe.

Exercise Caution - Cramer's Mad Money (10/13/08)

I've never been a huge fan of Cramer. Investing for the short term may work for some people, but when I tried day trading a few years ago I lost my shirt!

People argue that you can make money if you know what you are doing but even then, the amount of research that goes into making a "good buy" for short term investing doesn't seem worth it if you are playing around with less than $100K.

On the other hand, I do enjoy watching running around his studio with his typical "hysterical" demeanor.

This Is What Happens When Everything Is Undervalued

This post would of been a little more approptiate before today wouldn't it, if the market was "screaming" at us?

Wednesday Outlook: Commodities, Emerging Markets

Mr g,

That wouldn't be a bad idea at all. Very similar to what they did after 9/11.

Intervention of some sort is inevitable.

What's an Investor to Do - Patience or Panic?

Indeed, these are difficult times to be invested in any sector of the stock market. Triple digit drops in the Dow day after day can make even the most optimistic investor second guess his position. As the days wear on and portfolios drop this inevitable question rears itself: Should I Get out of This Market?

No you shouldn’t! And here’s why. The market is more transparent now that it ever has been. That is, every conceivable scrap of information that would have any impact on the markets (with the exception of illegal insider trading) is already factored into market prices.

We already know that housing prices have lost value; we already know that energy prices are high. We know that the market went down because particular companies have declared a huge quarterly loss.

The problem is no one can predict how much more negative or positive information will come out on any given day. If they could then that information would already be available and factored in to the markets. When we lose sight of the main reasons we invest in a particular security (good products, services, poised for growth, exc.) all we have left as investment guides are our emotions. I challenge that you won’t get back into the market at the right time! Unless of course your lucky!

What's an Investor to Do - Patience or Panic?

Indeed, these are difficult times to be invested in any sector of the stock market. Triple digit drops in the Dow day after day can make even the most optimistic investor second guess his position. As the days wear on and portfolios drop this inevitable question rears itself: Should I Get out of This Market?

No you shouldn’t! And here’s why. The market is more transparent now that it ever has been. That is, every conceivable scrap of information that would have any impact on the markets (with the exception of illegal insider trading) is already factored into market prices.

We already know that housing prices have lost value; we already know that energy prices are high. We know that the market went down because particular companies have declared a huge quarterly loss.

The problem is no one can predict how much more negative or positive information will come out on any given day. If they could then that information would already be available and factored in to the markets.

When we lose sight of the main reasons we invest in a particular security (good products, services, poised for growth, exc.) all we have left as investment guides are our emotions. I challenge that you won’t get back into the market at the right time! Unless of course your lucky!

Wednesday Outlook: Commodities, Emerging Markets

3 Trillion is a lot of money to be out of this market! I hope that some of it begins moving back in soon. I have 20+ years before retirement, but I feel bad for those who are (or will be retiring soon)

Wednesday Outlook: Commodities, Emerging Markets

Blaming the government and mortgage lenders for the current financial meltdown, is akin to blaming McDonalds or the candy aisle at Wal*Mart for making us fat. Yes they offer the product for sale, but ultimately we have the choice of whether or not to buy it.

With the exception of those families who truly faced financial hardships beyond their control (medical emergencies, jobloss, etc.), a significant number of American Families willingly positioned themselves within a paycheck or two of bankruptcy due to their own greed.

Roger Wiegand: 'Severe Bull Market' Ahead for Gold

I've never been a big fan of investing in gold because the premise of it having intrinsic value is lost on me. Like any security, bond, currency, commodity, or service, gold is only worth what someone else is willing to pay or trade for it. I

And as far as that goes, blaming the government and mortgage lenders for the current financial meltdown, is akin to blaming McDonalds or the candy aisle at Wal*Mart for making us fat. Yes they offer the product for sale, but ultimately we have the choice of whether or not to buy it.

With the exception of those families who truly faced financial hardships beyond their control (medical emergencies, jobloss, etc.), a significant number of American Families willingly positioned themselves within a paycheck or two of bankruptcy due to their own greed.