Blog Archives

Dynamic Disequilibrium - New Era in Retail REIT's and Housing

Housing Retail REIT

Key economic data and stock prices almost always change before the narrative does. Although the housing meltdown didn’t really come into force until 2007, new home sales had already peaked in 2005 and this corresponded with the stock price of home builders hitting all-time highs. The first chart shows new home sales topping out in July 2015 and the same for Lennar’s stock price as the second chart depicts.

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Shifting Into Reverse - Where is The Auto Market Headed?

Auto

Auto sales have been one of the real bright areas of the economy ever since the “Cash for Clunkers” program ended and sales dropped back down to recessionary levels. The following chart shows how they have grown by approximately 100% from trough to peak.

Auto Sales

US Total Auto Sales

Unfortunately,

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How Strong Are Older Families' Financial Report Cards?

Report Card

Last week I discussed research showing the correlation between wealth and education. The Federal Reserve followed up with additional research about wealth and demographics, the subject of this post. More specifically, wealth and age. Not surprisingly, the older a household is the more wealth has been generated since people have had more time to save and invest.

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You Gotta Serve Somebody - Who is the Fed Serving?

Fed Serves

Bob Dylan said, “You gotta serve somebody.” The Federal Reserve is no exception. The Fed has the mandate to use its policy tools granted to it by Congress to help achieve full employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates (most people are not aware of the third mandate).

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I Don't Buy It So I'm Selling It

Selling

I probably should have written this two weeks ago but I wanted to finish my Munger trilogy. I dislike when hindsight bias is used and prefer when people tell me when they are going to do something or just did and the reasons for it so that the decision can be evaluated objectively.

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Man Up! Munger On The Benefits Of Diversifying Investments

Diversifying

This is the last in my three-part series excerpting what were the highlights for me from Charlie Munger’s extemporaneous comments and responses to questions at the Daily Journal shareholders’ meeting. Most financial professionals recommend diversifying your investments to avoid being wiped out financially and/or emotionally.

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Marshmallows, Munger, and the Benefits of Delayed Gratification

marshmallows munger

Warren Buffett and Bill Gates were interviewed recently to discuss why they are both so optimistic about the future of America as well as other issues. Naturally, one of the topics covered was philanthropy as Gates and Buffett are leading the charge with regard to the Giving Pledge and the two have given more money away than other people in the world.

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Bob Dylan - Blowin' in the Wind My Variation on His Lyrics

Bob Dylan Blowin' In The Wind

With Bob Dylan having been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature over the weekend I thought I would honor him by being very self-indulgent and creating my own lyrics to Blowin’ in the Wind. I have often found that taking the time to figure out the most important questions to ask can be more mind expanding and powerful than just focused on getting answers.

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Right Speech: The Power of Words in a Post Literate World

Truth Speech

I was struck by the powerful insights set forth in an article I read recently on Bloomberg. The premise is that Donald Trump is the first post-literate President. Prior to the written word, and I would also add subsequently the printing press,

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Power to the People? The Role of Insecure Growth

insecure-Power-to-the-People

One of the driving forces in the economy and society that has made us bullish on apartments is what I like to call “Insecure Growth.” It’s a situation in which the economy continues to grow, albeit slowly, jobs are materializing, and households continue to be formed and yet there is an underlying insecurity and anxiety about job security and how long one might be in a particular location.

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