In a recent interview with Chuck Butler, he warned us that we may be in for a significant “Minsky Moment”. The federal reserve is raising interest rates and unloading trillions in their US debt holdings. Countries that normally buy our bonds are slowing down their purchases or reducing their holdings. With fewer buyers, what happens if interest rates continue to […]
» Read moreMy grandfather, William Paul Smith was an ordinary dairy farmer with a degree in common sense. One of his favorite sayings was, “It’s the same thing, only different.” 70 years ago, he warned me not to throw rocks at a wasps’ nest. As I cried and put ice on the sting, he explained what happened always happens – and I […]
» Read moreRemember when pundits suggested the way to get rich quick was to use “Other People’s Money” (OPM)? They pointed to real estate empires and stock market success resulting from investors leveraging debt to accumulate wealth. It’s not as easy as it sounds. I moved to Atlanta during the cable TV boom. Several friends worked for Scientific Atlanta, an innovator in […]
» Read moreI’m frequently asked about paying off a home mortgage. I tell everyone, “It depends!”. I asked that same question. A friend said his CPA was emphatic that one should not pay off their mortgage. He arranged a meeting where the three of us could talk. The CPA asked about the interest rate; 6% at the time. He showed me excellent […]
» Read moreWith a concerned look on his face, my friend John said, “A special assessment would be close to $5,000 per home.” My wife Jo and I live in a Del Webb community in the Phoenix suburbs. Our community is responsible for maintaining our own roads. Here is the conversation that followed: John – “Most roads are expected to last 20 […]
» Read moreThe political elite and the common man are at war over the power to govern. Will we end up as citizens or subjects? When the British voted to leave the European Union (EU), I highlighted comments from British citizens in “Brexit the Movie”: It’s the workingman versus people who think we have a better plan and a better mind than […]
» Read moreThe Illinois debt saga continues. The state operated without a budget since 2015. In June, just before their fiscal year end, both S&P and Moody’s downgraded Illinois’ credit rating to one level above “junk bond” status. Moody’s said: “Legislative gridlock has sidetracked efforts not only to address pension needs but also to achieve fiscal balance, allowing a backlog of bills […]
» Read moreHardly a day goes by without an article blaring about record levels of debt and warning of a collapse. Irresponsible borrowing can adversely affect everyone, including those who lived within their means. Reuters reports, “Americans’ debt back at record high after nearly a decade”: “Americans’ debt level reached a record high this year, surpassing the peak touched just as the […]
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