Thread: If Only They Hadn't Sold!

Reminds me, I bought a pile of Kohl's department store stock at the IPO for 14usd per share. I was just a kid then but knew they were on the move then with the right team.

As they expanded across the nation the stock split four times and at one point was up to eighty usd per share.

Silly me, when I heard Amazon was thinking of offering clothing online with a no hassle return policy I sold the Kohl's.

I was certain it was the smart thing to do, duh, as brick and mortar were soo yesterday.

Well Jeff Bezos of Amazon swings a deal with the Kohl's team and they were off to the races again.

I'm not complaining in the least. It's just another example that hindsight's 20/20. Or as my old man would say, It's 80/20.

...^so, still no saving strategy: mere (poorly informed) speculation...

Originally Posted by tomcat

saving strategy

Saving is merely setting aside money for emergencies or future purchases. Investing is buying assets (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, art, watches, whisky, cars etc.) with the expectation that they will increase in value.

rookie error

Originally Posted by Texpat

Saving is merely setting aside money for emergencies or future purchases.

...tell me again: who's the president?......

I'm up a buck thirty eight YTD in Value in one holding, so not bad in sixty eight days. That can change I know. Value doubled on a few places I picked up from the poor bankers in 2010. One is a nice little three bedroom home in the city that I took great pride in as well as had fun for a summer while I lived in it part time while I remodeled it. Oh,as for dividends, yea, I could retire now on them but why. I'm not done playing the game....yet. It's too much fun but have thought about blasting off lately I will admit.

Originally Posted by Texpat

Saving is merely setting aside money for emergencies or future purchases. Investing is buying assets (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, art, watches, whisky, cars etc.) with the expectation that they will increase in value.

rookie error

very good point Tex, but 99% of people confuse the 2 and don't see the difference

in many ways, savings is investing too, that is investing in your future and emergency fund capabilities

Excuse me for not having been blessed with the love of "money."

Originally Posted by Texpat

Aside from fresh fruits and vegetables, what do you have that devalues at anywhere near 18% annually for 10 years running?[/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR]

Respect for and trust in the establishment(all facets) of the society I was born into. Probably devalued at a much higher rate actually.

Have an even lower opinion of this society's currency...the FRN. Maybe Texpat can inform me which article of the US Constitution covers the Federal Reserve Note?

So as tomcat has informed us, if I had stayed in the "market" since 2009 I would have a bigger bog roll with which to wipe my ass.

https://danscollectiblesandmore.com/...UaAk0TEALw_wcB

Nah, investing is a lifelong undertaking. I started in my early 20s and still salt away a portion every month. Amounts don't matter in the percentage game. Even poor people can invest if they're disciplined. As for the US dollar -- it's just one of many vehicles in which investment is stored. Baht is another. Gold is another. Real estate another. A diverse portfolio is immune from destruction from the collapse of any individual sector. Lets you sleep at night. It also means you're not chasing the latest get-rich-quick scheme. If you live in Thailand it makes sense to hold at least a portion of your investment there. If your home currency and baht are near equal, fluctuations in currency exchange are less dramatic because when you become poorer in one, you become richer in the other -- by the same percentage -- it's a wash.

The Constitution is a bit cryptic when it comes to money. Article I, Section 8, says "Congress shall have Power ... to coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin." And Section 10 states, "no state … shall make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts." Congress holds the power to regulate the value of money and it's a federal level program -- not state level. If you don't like the dollar or US prospects, you can invest in funds that are completely outside the U.S. It's a piece of piss.

Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes the misery easier to live with.

Originally Posted by fishlocker

wide as a river nor deep as a well.

...here's the quote you want: 'tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a church-door...R&J...

Simplistic – diversification.

The experts have been trying to time the markets since they came into existence, if they can’t do it, what makes you think you can? Problem is the markets are emotional – logic and reason play a much lesser part than a humans fickle optimism and/or pessimism. If this weren’t the case – the market could be timed and timed correctly. Level playing field – no winners or losers.

I played the markets with mad money for a decade or so. Due diligence is a most time-consuming event. Either/or, regardless of my analysis, I lost some won some and never really lost money and never really gained money. A few winners offset the few losers, most were break even flatlines – But, when you factor in trading costs, capital gains taxes, fees, etc. and not even including the cost of my “time” – I lost.

Meanwhile, I put 10-15% of my salary into brokerage managed tax deferred and tax-free retirement accounts, and then “ignored” them. These developed into a most adequate nest egg for me and spouse to live off. Golden Rule – money is for saving, not spending.

Anyway, hindsight analysis of the “financial crisis” you know the good old 2008 recession, my holdings fell for a period of 16 months, a period of steady decline and 25% losses (I was well-diversified) the markets fell more (@ 50% depending upon the yardstick used).

Now, when it turned around it took six months for me to regain my “nest egg”. No harm, no foul, no impact (for me). Yet, I had a few friends that fell into the panic selling mode – some lost a ton, had one who sold close to the low and bought a very costly “annuity” – saying he’ll never have to worry about his money again. Without doing a real analysis, just going by the figures he gave me – he lost 75-80% of his “nest egg”.

Originally Posted by bowie

I put 10-15% of my salary into brokerage managed tax deferred and tax-free retirement accounts

..bingo...

Having had my thumb in a few pies you could call me Tom.

We used to play who could reach the SSI max first so as to not pay anymore tax. I'd love to win that about a dozen more times.

Buy when they're selling and sell when they're buying. - not sure who but makes sense

Warren Buffett. The div is close to nine so That's in the bank if I live a few more months.

No real reason to have sold though. I just wanted to lock in the gains at 13% and chill a bit. A lot of unanswered questions still on the table.

I do like NIE ( The Chinese Tesla) and various poted plant people. I'm telling you get in now if you have a buck to spare.

NIO. Sorry.

I figure it at 4usd after the class action suit.

Call me a sucker butttt. I jumped back in only after what I sold had dived. You knew it had to. Made a kick in the pants off the bonds though I could not sit by the wayside and take a chance on a loss so smelling like the fish I walked out like a rose. Yea bonds may be heading down as interest rates rise per the smooch. Triump talks smack again with his new nominees, so yes back in the game betting on staples.

The book will be out next April.