Climate Change With Be the Biggest Economic Disruptor
In my history classes when we studied the Second World War I remember looking at pictures of all the devastated cities. War destroys everything it touches: lives, cities, wildlife, even the forests. After the First World War northern France was marred by a huge ruined landscape. Whole towns and forests had been wiped off the map. There are places in France today that are still too toxic for people to live in them.
What Are the Best Industries to Invest In?
Looking forward a few years or decades I think we may be looking at significant changes in a few major industries. As a small investor I feel like flotsam and jetsam being tossed around in a storm. The big decisions about the success of companies are made by the corporate investors, the big fund managers who buy up the shares and sit on the boards of directors. And the worst kinds of investors are these "activist" investor guys who demand that companies make changes in the name of "profitability". They are just highway robbers looking for quick infusions of cash.
So I Was Wrong About Bitcoin
When I wrote about the possible failure of Bitcoin early last year a lot of changes were still in the queue. I think I was correct to be a little anxious. Without some words of caution investors won't pay attention to what is happening behind the scenes in the Bitcoin world. For example, we finally experienced that fork which led to the creation of Bitcoin Cash. And for some Bitcoin holders it was like money magically appeared in their hands because they got to keep their Bitcoin as well as start out with Bitcoin Cash. Another fork is planned for November. I wonder if it will go the same way.
Good Financial Advice Really Isn't Hard to Come By
My great-grandmother, God rest her soul, lived through the Great Depression. When I was growing up whenever I found a penny or a nickel she would say to me, "a penny saved is a penny earned". According to this phrases site the expression goes back at least to the 1600s in the form "a penny spared is twice got". It's useful advice even after 300 years. If you don't waste your money you don't need to replace it as quickly.
Who Should Build All the Infrastructure We Need?
We need to rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, and water system networks. We need to hire more construction workers for a wide array of projects. And we need to train new electricians and other skilled workers. There's just one problem: almost no one wants these old school jobs. That's the impression I get from articles about skilled labor shortage from 2016. If this country is really going to invest in its infrastructure, who will do all the work? Is this guaranteed lifetime income for the small pool of laborers willing to do these jobs?
Keep Your Personal Finance Separate from Your Investment Finance
No matter much money you earn, once you begin investing you need to think of your investment portfolio as a separate financial world. It's not money you should borrow from. Nor is it money you can make up for out of your remaining income. Whether you only invest 2% of your paycheck, 10%, or some random spare change doesn't matter. Once that money leaves your personal budget you must treat it as though it is gone forever.
