lucretius

This is it. With bittersweet emotions, we have come to the final edition of Notes from the Investment Underground. Although without the burdens of daily writing chores I will be free to pursue some exciting trading endeavors, I will most certainly miss having a captive audience for my research and opinions. While my time at the helm of Notes resembles Jay Leno’s shortened primetime tenure, the last three months have been quite fun. I have written for several daily newsletters in my career... Read Full Story

Today is a huge day for this country. Not only did the GOP take back a pivotal seat, but the markets are reacting fiercely and appropriately to a horde of economic data. The possibilities from here are unlimited. Oddly, the action reminds me of my first few days as a fishing guide. There I was, a typical East Coast grad student with a vision and not much of a plan. As I dropped my bags on the dock outside the state’s southernmost airport, I used the change in my pocket to dial my only... Read Full Story

It’s a huge day in the nation’s history. As with a couple of other great revolutions, America’s latest smack to the face of an overpowering government comes from Massachusetts. Six months ago, few would have guessed one of the most left leaning of states would hold the fate of the nation’s healthcare and a super-majority in its hands. But disappointingly, I am far from convinced a GOP win means the end of Obamacare. I take Pelosi and her cronies at face value when they say they will cram... Read Full Story

The world remains shocked over the tragic events unfolding in Haiti. While every life saved is worth celebrating, for every success story, there are tens, if not hundreds, of tales with horrific endings. A country that many thought could get no poorer was dealt a knockout blow. As much as we complain about the problems in our own country – political, economic and social – the tragedy has done a terrific job showing the rest of the world, that even though we are in a rough patch, America is... Read Full Story

Some stories just have to be repeated. Like the one from Sweden that tells of a collapsing floor during a Weight Watchers weigh-in. As twenty or so dieters filled the room to measure the fruits of their effort, the floor beneath them rumbled then failed. Priceless irony. It proves Americans, especially us East Coasters, aren’t the only ones with size-management issues. As the markets sink under their own weight today, I cannot help but think much the same is taking place on Wall Street... Read Full Story

There is a time for making money and there is a time for giving money. Now is the time to reach into your heart and help your global neighbors. As rumors of a death toll in Haiti that could stretch into the hundreds of thousands slowly become reality, we need to spend a moment or two wondering why we do what we do. As investors, we risk our hard-earned money so we can obtain the freedom and enjoyment of spending that money how and when we want it. We can buy a boat. We can buy a pile of... Read Full Story

What’s worse than having Wall Street kingpins like Bernanke and Geithner in charge of America’s economic future? China taking the reins, that’s what. While Washington’s all-powerful ego may have our leaders believe they still control our fiscal fate, they lost that power long ago. Now, the Fed and the Treasury may dictate who gets what, but China decides how much and when. That’s scary. After yesterday’s unnerving trade-deficit report, Americans are waking up to Beijing’s power and its... Read Full Story

Baltimore — The radio is a fantastic mirror of the economy. Advertisements, radio personalities and even the tunes themselves, do a fine job of illustrating the highs and lows of a region’s fiscal situation. I spent the past weekend knocking a few items of my honey-do list. Living in a 110-year old farmhouse, however, it’s more of an ever-expanding notebook than a measly list. This time, I was charged with ripping out half-inch thick wood paneling and replacing it with modern drywall... Read Full Story

Baltimore — It is too late to debate. A debt-fueled crash is imminent. I made a promise to my wife late last fall. Once the holidays were over and she was well on her way to recovery after a recent surgery, we would hit the local furniture stores and redecorate our living room. Next time I make such a promise, I’ll research current furniture prices first. With four-digit price tags for a simple sofa, it is no wonder just about every furniture pusher is hocking no-payment, no-interest... Read Full Story

Baltimore — I admit that I probably spend more time discussing the realm of politics than I should in a contrarian investing newsletter. But in my defense, politics play a larger role in our personal wealth now than they ever have before. But while I so stubbornly poke holes in the political machine in Washington, I must avoid being hypocritical. If I shame our legislators for disregarding the democratic keystone principals of checks and balances, I must be careful to avoid the same... Read Full Story