“Freedom is just another word for nothin’ left to lose.”
– Kris Kristofferson “Me and Bobby McGee”
I hope you had a wonderful end of 2025 and start to 2026.
Like most people,
…
The Philosophical Investor's Blog
2025—A Year of Impact, Presence, and Woah
by 
Gary Carmell
Gary Carmell
If there’s one word that keeps returning to me this year, it’s “woah.” Not the “woe” of victimhood, but the woah of awe—the inhale that invites presence, humility, and gratitude. 2025 brought plenty of reasons to pause: service that nourished the soul,
…
The Perils of Water Mismanagement
by Gary Carmell
Gary Carmell
In 2018 I was on a cruise that took us to eastern Africa, two stops in India, as well as Myanmar, Malaysia, and Singapore. The cruise departed from Cape Town, South Africa. Upon arriving there we were immediately struck by how dire the water situation was.
…
Dual Mandate-->Dueling Tensions
by Gary Carmell
Gary Carmell
Rather than laboriously going through the Fed statement released after it cut rates by 25 basis points last week, along with Jay Powell’s key statements at his press conference, I thought I would turn to one of my A.I. assistants to produce an analysis of what was said and how investors reacted to last week’s move.
…
Pendulum Interrupted
by Gary Carmell
Gary Carmell
The U.S. apartment market has gone through a very intense swing from the greatest market in my life in 2021 and early 2022 to a far more challenging one from 2023 through today. The pendulum swung far to the left in the wake of low interest rates,
…
Emily Dickinson - Hope Is Not a Strategy
by Gary Carmell
Gary Carmell
I many times thought Peace had come
When Peace was far away—
As Wrecked Men—deem they sight the Land—
At Centre of the Sea—
And struggle slacker—but to prove
As hopelessly as I—
How many the fictitious Shores—
Before the Harbor be—
-Emily Dickinson
Every so often I will read poetry to tap into timeless thoughts and wisdom.
…
December Is Back in Play
by Gary Carmell
Gary Carmell
It’s been awhile since I have had a blog post with a lot of charts and graphs. This is largely because my typical source for these, www.thedailyshot, had been off line for a long period of time.
…
Talking Rates in Abu Dhabi
by Gary Carmell
Gary Carmell
When I was in Abu Dhabi, I was on a panel for one of the breakout sessions focusing on global interest rates. And while there was a resource from Oxford Economics brought in to give a presentation, I couldn’t resist making my opinions and beliefs known since interest rates are one of my obsessions.
…
GCC in the GCC
by Gary Carmell
Gary Carmell
My middle name starts with a C, which makes my initials GCC. It just so happens that last week I was in a GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) country. I was in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for a conference hosted by a global real estate organization I joined this year.
…
Building Your Productive Capacity
by Gary Carmell
Gary Carmell
Over the years I have periodically written about approaching some of the choices I make in life and habits I have cultivated, or would like to do so, with the goal of growing my productive capacity. This is particularly the case when it comes to exercising and learning.
…