Silver Trading Range Ready To Change [View article]
Mark Thomas, I have been on a slow learning curve with precious metals for the past couple of months. I've been reading everything I can so that I could be in a position to invest wisely. Your article was excellent! Thank you for such an in depth analysis. It really helped me understand why I need to get into this segment of the market. I jumped in today in a small way and will follow with more shortly. (My wife doesn't know it yet but she'll be investing in silver pretty soon too!)
What You Need In Order To Retire Before Age 65 [View article]
Mostserene1, I think you are a little confused about SS "excess funds". Since the Social Security program began, the contributions have exceeded the monthly payouts. Of course they did, because there were more people paying into the fund than who were receiving the benefits. In theory, all of those funds should be sitting in a huge multi-Trillion dollar Trust fund.
But the "trust fund" was raided and spent by the government. Sure they gave us Treasury notes in exchange. Would you like to collect on that? Good luck, because it is part of the $15.5 Trillion National Debt. To make matters worse, it appears the only way out of this mess is for the taxpayer to be taxed again for the SS taxes that were 'borrowed'.
Social Security is the biggest Ponzi scheme that has ever been perpetuated on our citizens. You may believe there are surplus monies in the Social Security program, but I don't.
What You Need In Order To Retire Before Age 65 [View article]
I've checked the facts: "(CBS News) The National Debt has now increased more during President Obama's three years and two months in office than it did during 8 years of the George W. Bush presidency. The Debt rose $4.899 trillion during the two terms of the Bush presidency. It has now gone up $4.939 trillion since President Obama took office." Worse yet, there is no relief in sight and the national debt is expected to hit $16.3 trillion during 2012.
I do like your retirement portfolio suggestion though........
Why American Capital Agency Is A Better Buy Than Annaly Capital [View article]
Michael, Thanks for your comments regarding Jonk. You appear to have a lot of followers who are quick to come to your defense. I didn't see any "rude" comments that Jonk made nor do I think he should be banned as one of your supporters suggested. Perhaps they should be lighten up a little bit. I sense that they have long-festering issues with him. I really don't care. I'm here to expand my education and comments are sometimes more beneficial than the article. I thought Jonk's comments made a lot of sense and they helped me understand AGNC and NLY a little more. So did your article. Good job.
What You Need In Order To Retire Before Age 65 [View article]
That's true if you believe the mainstream media, which has been distorting the "benefits" of Obamacare. But recently the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office calculated that Obamacare costs will exceed $2 trillion over the next 10 years (not the $900 Billion the administration had claimed). There's no such thing as a free lunch. Medical costs will continue to increase. BTW, current law allows a retiring employee to purchase COBRA for the 36 months prior to their 65th birthday.
'Too Good To Be True' Income Usually Is [View article]
Bruce, has the FASB rule ever been applied to banks with respect to all of their overvalued real estate portfolio? If not, it seems to me that our government has been allowing banks to hold onto their portfolios of properties that the market value at 50% or less than book value. The banks here in Oregon have delayed foreclosures and dragged out the sales of "short sales" properties for years.
It is my opinion that the government is complicit in delaying the inevitable write-down of loans that they encouraged everybody to make and/or obtain.
Of course, how can we trust a government that buys 61% of the Treasury debt with money they don't have? (Yes, I realize that the FED is not the government but just a private club.)
Dividend Growth Investors Should Avoid Altria [View article]
njja -- Thanks for ending the discussion. So far all I've learned from your posts is that: You are a millionaire. You drive a Ferrari. You've made a ton of money from your investments.
I wonder if you ever think how these types of statements come across and how irrelevant they are? Richjoy403, on the other hand, sticks to the facts.
Silver: Looks Like Lower Levels Will Be Seen [View article]
Avi, Why didn't you answer that question when I asked it last week instead of sending me to Elliottwavetrader.net? Posting a question there didn't work either so I dropped my trial subscription. I enjoy reading your articles. But, with all due respect, if you won't share your fundamental index, I can't follow the concept. Why did you wait until today to add this important (but not totally defining) comment to your article: "As an aside, I want to make sure everyone realizes that my levels in silver relate to silver mini-futures." Great! We are making progress. But what the heck is YI? I'm not the only person that needs an answer...just one that is not too insecure to ask.
Plump 14.40% Dividend Yielding Stock For Retirees [View article]
Kwm3-I'm not sure calling somebody an idiot is very nice. I thought Willirup was just trying to be funny. Maybe you've seen some other comments that would cause you to want to "ignore, dismiss and block this guy" but based solely on this comment, I didn't take offense. But I thought yours was rude.
Dividend Growth Investors Should Avoid Altria [View article]
njja How many "last comments" are you going to make? I though you were going to quit after your July 5th comment. In any event, I agree with you that MO has been a great stock. It may continue to be in the future. But I also think Richjoy is correct by saying not to ever, ever, ever fall in love with a stock. Emotions can get a guy into trouble in the stock market. Analytics can too, but at least they are based on facts. I like tangible things, like the money I made off of my MO holdings when I sold them. I loved the dividends but the numbers were starting to make me nervous. I felt the party was over...at least for a while.
Why American Capital Agency Should Be A Core Holding In Your Retirement Portfolio (Part 2) [View article]
Wow! That's $259,512 for 8800 shares. Some would call that a "gutsy" move. Personally, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. Right about now I'd be converting the paper profit into a real one. I used to own AGNC but am now only long NLY.
Building A Capital Preservation And Income Portfolio Part 5 [View article]
WMT will go ex dividend on March 9th and the option expires on March 16th. If you deliver the 100 shares of stock to your option buyer, won't you lose $36.50 in dividends? I'm confused about the timing of the delivery of the stock to the buyer.
I really enjoy your articles and appreciate your efforts in helping guys like me understand how stock options work and your general philosophy about investing. I'm a retired banker and am pretty cautious with my retirement funds.
Silver Trading Range Ready To Change [View article]
I have been on a slow learning curve with precious metals for the past couple of months. I've been reading everything I can so that I could be in a position to invest wisely. Your article was excellent! Thank you for such an in depth analysis. It really helped me understand why I need to get into this segment of the market. I jumped in today in a small way and will follow with more shortly. (My wife doesn't know it yet but she'll be investing in silver pretty soon too!)
What You Need In Order To Retire Before Age 65 [View article]
But the "trust fund" was raided and spent by the government. Sure they gave us Treasury notes in exchange. Would you like to collect on that? Good luck, because it is part of the $15.5 Trillion National Debt. To make matters worse, it appears the only way out of this mess is for the taxpayer to be taxed again for the SS taxes that were 'borrowed'.
Social Security is the biggest Ponzi scheme that has ever been perpetuated on our citizens. You may believe there are surplus monies in the Social Security program, but I don't.
What You Need In Order To Retire Before Age 65 [View article]
"(CBS News) The National Debt has now increased more during President Obama's three years and two months in office than it did during 8 years of the George W. Bush presidency.
The Debt rose $4.899 trillion during the two terms of the Bush presidency. It has now gone up $4.939 trillion since President Obama took office."
Worse yet, there is no relief in sight and the national debt is expected to hit $16.3 trillion during 2012.
I do like your retirement portfolio suggestion though........
John
Annaly: Buy This High-Yielder After The Next Capital Raise [View article]
Why American Capital Agency Is A Better Buy Than Annaly Capital [View article]
Thanks for your comments regarding Jonk. You appear to have a lot of followers who are quick to come to your defense. I didn't see any "rude" comments that Jonk made nor do I think he should be banned as one of your supporters suggested. Perhaps they should be lighten up a little bit. I sense that they have long-festering issues with him. I really don't care. I'm here to expand my education and comments are sometimes more beneficial than the article. I thought Jonk's comments made a lot of sense and they helped me understand AGNC and NLY a little more. So did your article. Good job.
What You Need In Order To Retire Before Age 65 [View article]
BTW, current law allows a retiring employee to purchase COBRA for the 36 months prior to their 65th birthday.
'Too Good To Be True' Income Usually Is [View article]
It is my opinion that the government is complicit in delaying the inevitable write-down of loans that they encouraged everybody to make and/or obtain.
Of course, how can we trust a government that buys 61% of the Treasury debt with money they don't have? (Yes, I realize that the FED is not the government but just a private club.)
Dividend Growth Investors Should Avoid Altria [View article]
You are a millionaire.
You drive a Ferrari.
You've made a ton of money from your investments.
I wonder if you ever think how these types of statements come across and how irrelevant they are?
Richjoy403, on the other hand, sticks to the facts.
What You Need In Order To Retire Before Age 65 [View article]
I hope I didn't start anything!
John
Silver: Looks Like Lower Levels Will Be Seen [View article]
Why didn't you answer that question when I asked it last week instead of sending me to Elliottwavetrader.net? Posting a question there didn't work either so I dropped my trial subscription.
I enjoy reading your articles. But, with all due respect, if you won't share your fundamental index, I can't follow the concept. Why did you wait until today to add this important (but not totally defining) comment to your article:
"As an aside, I want to make sure everyone realizes that my levels in silver relate to silver mini-futures."
Great! We are making progress. But what the heck is YI? I'm not the only person that needs an answer...just one that is not too insecure to ask.
Plump 14.40% Dividend Yielding Stock For Retirees [View article]
Dividend Growth Investors Should Avoid Altria [View article]
In any event, I agree with you that MO has been a great stock. It may continue to be in the future. But I also think Richjoy is correct by saying not to ever, ever, ever fall in love with a stock. Emotions can get a guy into trouble in the stock market. Analytics can too, but at least they are based on facts.
I like tangible things, like the money I made off of my MO holdings when I sold them. I loved the dividends but the numbers were starting to make me nervous. I felt the party was over...at least for a while.
Why American Capital Agency Should Be A Core Holding In Your Retirement Portfolio (Part 2) [View article]
I used to own AGNC but am now only long NLY.
Johnson & Johnson: Strong Dividend Play [View article]
Building A Capital Preservation And Income Portfolio Part 5 [View article]
I really enjoy your articles and appreciate your efforts in helping guys like me understand how stock options work and your general philosophy about investing. I'm a retired banker and am pretty cautious with my retirement funds.