Independent Investment Management and Financial Planning
Today, I’m trying something new. Instead of writing a commentary, I’ve recorded a podcast. This will allow you to access my perspectives while driving in your car!
Recently, Jamie Dimon called Bitcoin a fraud. While I don’t agree it’s a fraud, I do want to comment on the irony of his comments regarding cryptocurrencies as those comments pertain to the U.S. Dollar.
Take a listen and please share if you find this podcast interesting!
“Gold is the money of kings, silver is the money of gentlemen, barter is the money of peasants – but debt is the money of slaves.”
– Norm Franz, Money & Wealth in the New Millennium
“The consequences arising from the continual accumulation of public debts in other countries ought to admonish us to be careful to prevent their growth in our own.”
– John Adams, First Annual Address to Congress
Executive Summary
I’ve experienced weddings from a few different perspectives: as a guest, as the co-star, in a supporting role and as the bartender. Bartending is a great gig for a college-age kid by the way.
Bartenders are notoriously observant…especially once the guests are loosened up and start filling the dance floor because this is the time when things start to slow down for the bartenders giving them a chance to really observe the festivities.
Not long after this point (sometimes it feels far too soon when you’re a guest) the party begins winding down, and the cleanup begins, but you don’t need to be a bartender to make the following observations. In fact, I’m sure you’ve already made these observations:
Continue reading “What Does Free Beer Teach Us About Economics?”
I’ve been casually monitoring developments in the breakdown of Illinois state finances since the Financial Crisis, which appears to be picking up speed as of late. Illinois was recently downgraded and has the lowest credit rating of any state. It’s possible, if an acceptable budget deal isn’t reached by July 1st, that Illinois will be further downgraded to junk status.
Continue reading “Even Lotteries Are Pulling Out of Illinois”
Major economic policies are determined by economists and politicians relying largely on GDP and the Unemployment Rate. These policies have an enormous impact on our lives and wide-ranging implications for our nation’s future. The problem is that much of the data upon which we rely are imperfect at best. Today’s commentary is not meant to be exhaustive but intended to simply highlight a couple issues…certainly, there are more.
Continue reading “Should We Level New York City? Shortcomings of the Most Widely Tracked Economic Data”