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You are here: Home / Annual Louis Rukeyser Memorial Market Prediction Contest / How to be a stock market guru and get on MSNBC

How to be a stock market guru and get on MSNBC

by jlcollinsnh 35 Comments - Updated: December 28, 2015

Back in the day Louis Rukeyser hosted a PBS program called Wall Street Week each Friday evening.  It was an end of the week ritual watching it for me.

Rukeyser

Louis Rukeyser

He’d open with a commentary on the follies and foibles of the previous market week and then turn to a rotating panel of three Wall Street gurus for their take.  Two of my favorites were Abby Joseph Cohen, a relentless Bull, and Marty Zweig, who was always relentlessly and deeply “worried about this market.”

Each guest was impeccably credentialled and Rukeyser made it a point to deftly schedule those who would each week present opposing views as to the market’s condition and direction.  Sometimes one would even prove right.

His commentaries, questions and comments were always delivered with a wink, a smile and with great good humor. Tragically, he passed away in 2006 and the current generation of investors is left without his insights and wisdom.

The key thing his program and its parade of guests taught me is that, at any given time, some expert is predicting any possible future that could conceivably happen.  Since all bases are covered, someone is bound to be right.  When they are, their good luck will be interpreted as wisdom and insight.  If their prediction happened to be dramatic enough, it could also lead to fame and fortune.

Every January Rukeyser would have each of his guests predict the market’s high, low and ending point for the year.  I forget his exact line, but after the predictions were in he’d say something like, “…with the understanding that even these experts could be wrong, there you have it.”  And he’d wink into the camera.

Come the following December he’d salute those who’d come closest and chide the goats.

In that spirit, here are my market predictions for the S&P (which incidentally closed 2012 up around 13% at 1426) in 2013:

High:  1825

Low:  1312

Dec 31, 2013 close: 1754

Clearly, I’m very bullish.  Here’s why:

Since the Spring of 2009 we have been on a slow, grinding climb back from the brink.  Corporations have cut expenses to the bone and accumulated formidable amounts of cash.  Balance sheets are exceptionally clean.  I expect the pace of recovery to begin to accelerate and as the market senses that stock price will continue to build on the 13%+ increase they posted in 2012.  But most importantly, the news, gurus and commentators are filled all with gloom.

Now, don’t take any of this too seriously.  My crystal ball is just as cloudy as everybody else’s. I’m certainly not changing my investment allocation and strategy based on this and you shouldn’t either.  As Mr. Rukeyser would gleefully point out, even I can be wrong.  As I’d point out, I most often am.  We’ll see come next New Year’s Eve.

If you want to join me in this silliness, post your high, low and close predictions in the comments below and come year end we’ll, in the best Rukeyser fashion, honor those closest and jeer those most far off.

Even if I turn out to be spot on, it won’t get me interviewed on MSNBC.  Not dramatic enough.  But then, that’s not my ambition.  If it is yours, however, here’s how:

Step 1: Make a prediction for a huge short-term swing. Up or down doesn’t matter.  But down is easier and might get you more play if you’re right.
Step 2: Document the time and date you made it.
Step 3: When it doesn’t happen wait a bit.
Step 4: Repeat Steps 1-3 until one day you’re right.
Step 5: Issue Press Release: Market Plunges!!!, just as (insert your name here) recently predicted.
Step 6: Clear your schedule for media interviews.
Step 7: Send me my 15% agent’s fee of your new-found wealth.

Be sure not to issue your press release until events prove you right.

Oh, and keep in mind that once your Guru status is established you’ll be expected to be able to repeat it.  For months, maybe years, everything you say will be noted.  Each misstep will be gleefully documented until you slip from view humiliated and discredited.  But also rich if you’ve played your moment in the sun well.

Here are 14 Spectacularly wrong predictions that should serve to keep us all humble.

2013 new year

May this New Year bring you Health, Wealth and Happiness!

That’s both a Wish and a Prediction I truly hope I got right!

Addendum 1:

Per Smedley’s suggestion in his comment below, we now have a prize for winning the Rukeyser Memorial Market Prediction Contest 2013.  The chance to have a guest post right here telling us how and why you’re so smart!

Remember you need to predict the S&P: High, Low and Close for the year in you’re comment below.  Then somebody is going to have to remind me about this in December.  🙂

Addendum 2:

For more on media panic and silliness, here’s Johnny Moneyseed: Stock market crisis syndrome

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Filed Under: Annual Louis Rukeyser Memorial Market Prediction Contest, Money

« See you next year….until then: The Origin of Life, Life on Other Worlds, Mechanical Graveyards, Great Art, Alternative Lifestyles and Finding Freedom
VITA, income taxes and the IRS »

Comments

  1. Emily says

    January 4, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    Thanks for the post! I always enjoys your posts – am very excited because last November I finally was able to start my Roth IRA (with Vanguard) so recently got my first dividends – and finally with the new year my investment is worth more than I put into it! I hope (and truly believe) that you are right about having a bullish year – but part of me is hoping that we don’t and that the prices stay low since I’m in my early investing years I want to buy low! So – either way I’ll be fine, and I’m glad to have your blog to keep my perspective. Happy 2013!

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 4, 2013 at 5:26 pm

      Hi Emily…..

      Congratulations on the Roth!

      You’ve got the right attitude for anyone just starting out: Hope for down markets to accumulate shares at fire-sale prices. Celebrate the drops!

      Reply
  2. Mortgage Mutilator @ Mutilate The Mortgage says

    January 4, 2013 at 4:18 pm

    We’ll be starting to invest this year actually, just a small toe into the waters to get a feel and know what’s what. After I’m more wary and know how it all happens in the real world as opposed to just theory we’ll be gong all in.

    My prediction is either stagnate or a drop due to all the issues of the debt you guys have. I reckon this will prompt the government to pull out some new harsh policies that will slow everything down.

    I predict about 1400 at the end of this year 🙂

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 4, 2013 at 5:28 pm

      Thanks MM….

      but to fully play you need to provide:

      High
      Low and
      Market close
      🙂

      Reply
  3. Joe says

    January 4, 2013 at 9:05 pm

    Wow, I used to watch Louis Rukeyser every week too. I even subscribed to his newsletter for a few years, My favorite guest was Julius Westheimer. ‘Westy’ was a local legend in the Baltimore area. No more newsletters for me, just low-cost index funds from Vanguard!

    Enjoy your blog,
    Joe

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 4, 2013 at 11:15 pm

      Thanks Joe!

      I had forgotten about Westheimer. He was another I always enjoyed. I think he was a favorite of Rukeyser’s as well…..

      Reply
  4. Nicki says

    January 4, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    Thanks for reminding us about Louis Rukeyser. I too loved watching him on Friday nights. I remember he would say just before his guests gave their predictions: “Get out your pencils….and your erasers”

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 4, 2013 at 11:13 pm

      Yep, he was a class act and the only finacial show I ever thought was worth watching. Glad to bring him back to mind!

      Reply
  5. Shilpan says

    January 5, 2013 at 1:06 pm

    Most gurus follow your advice, my friend. I also have some fond memories of Louis. I even read somewhere that a dog was his ardent fan. He created “The Rukeyser Effect” for sure during late 80’s and 90’s.

    I am also bullish on the market.

    S&P Predictions:

    High: 1675
    Low: 1403
    Dec. 31st, 2013: 1630

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 5, 2013 at 6:30 pm

      Yep! I came up with it by watching them!

      Thanks for playing!

      I see you are not as bullish as I, but you are also predicting less volatility…..

      Reply
  6. smedleyb says

    January 5, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    Before I post my predictions, I would like to request a guest blog spot for a week if my unscientific guesstimate proves to be uncannily accurate. Fair? lol.

    That said: 1550 SPX, (by March), 1250 SPX (by September) 1325 SPX by December 31.

    Yes, the months too. (I don’t mess around with my market forecasts!)

    But jokes aside, the market will definitely be lower by the end of year. And you can take that prediction to the bank (of Greece).

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 5, 2013 at 6:34 pm

      Hmmm….

      That’s a great idea Smedley. Maybe the prize will be a guest post here. In fact, done deal!

      You prediction is duly noted as are the precision of the months, but we won’t hold you to that. And I like the fact we have at least one pessimist on board.

      Reply
  7. Mind = Blown says

    January 5, 2013 at 11:10 pm

    Hey, just posting here because I have a question, but I’ll hazard a guess. I work in the DC area and we are all terrified of the fiscal cliff – not that most of us would actually lose our jobs, the government is too afraid to produce cuts that would hurt anyone – so I’m a bit pessimistic. My guesses hedge quite a bit on what happens, and I know that we’ll have another non deal that will make everyone happy for a little bit. So I’ll say we’ll hit a high of around 1600 when that deal hits, hit a low of about 1385, and close the year at about 1475. Not very much volatility, but I really have no idea what I’m doing, and am mostly going off last year, the recent jump, and random thoughts.

    My question is this… I don’t really understand the difference between VTSAX and the ETF from Vanguard for the same thing. It appears that it has the same expense ratio, but that you can trade it any time, without waiting the day or so that they make you wait when buying or selling VTSAX proper. What is the difference? I don’t see a minimum purchase price for the ETF, but I don’t understand if there is a drawback. If there is no minimum, and no drawback, I would just say always buy the ETF, because then you don’t have a minimum to get the lower expense ratio of VTSAX over VTSMX. Maybe you could do a post about ETFs over VTSAX, if there is a reason? Am I missing a key reason why VTSAX is preferable to the ETF version? I’ve tried looking at bogleheads.org but haven’t had much success figuring this out. Thanks!

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 6, 2013 at 11:47 pm

      Hi MB…

      Glad you’re playing along in our little stock market prediction nonsense. Your calls are duly noted. Don’t worry. Truthfully, nobody else really knows what they’re doing when they make these kind of predictions. You call is a good as the next.

      As for your question regarding the difference between VTSAX and VTI (the ETF version), I should write a post. Just fielded the same question this week on this post:

      https://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/05/12/stocks-part-vi-portfolio-ideas-to-build-and-keep-your-wealth/

      VTSAX and VTI are just different versions of the same fund, along with what is called Investor Shares (VTSMX) which has a 3k buy in and a slightly higher expense ratio. VTSAX is just the version I own.

      VTSAX and VTI even have the same ultra low expense ratio and you can get into VTI without the 10k minimum invstment required by VTSAX.

      My only reservation with VTI would be if you are paying a brokerage commsion to buy and/or sell. That’s a no-no. But dealing directly with Vangard, no problem.

      Hope that helps?

      Reply
    • Zack says

      September 2, 2017 at 7:50 am

      To add to jlcollins reply, even if you have a Vanguard account with no brokerage account, there is the difference between the bid and ask price that you will play a factor in buying the ETF. This is normally only about $0.01 per share and if you are staying 100% invested, you will only pay this twice-once when you invest and once when you spend it.

      TL:DR Essentially the same thing.

      Reply
  8. Mad Fientist says

    January 6, 2013 at 6:50 pm

    Okay, here we go…

    High: 1616
    Low: 1361
    12/31/13: 1555

    When I win, will you really allow a post from a VT resident on your NH blog? I know how intense the Vermont/New Hampshire rivalry can be for some people 🙂

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 6, 2013 at 11:51 pm

      Yeah, that’s true. But really. What are the chances of someone from Vermont actually winning this thing??? To even have a chance they’d need to be awfully close to the NH border…. 😉

      But yes, even in the unlikely event of a Vermont win, the prize stands!

      Reply
      • Mad Fientist says

        January 7, 2013 at 12:04 am

        Haha, excellent!

        1555, here we come!

        Reply
  9. Prob8 says

    January 7, 2013 at 6:44 pm

    Welcome back! Here’s my 2013 guess:
    Low: 1326
    High: 1646
    Close: 1540

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 7, 2013 at 10:21 pm

      Thanks, Prob8….

      …and thanks for playing!

      Reply
  10. RW says

    January 8, 2013 at 6:17 am

    Happy New Year!
    Good to see you back safe and sound. Thank God the Mayan’s got it wrong!
    High 1875
    Low 1300
    Close 1525
    Looking forward to a great New Year!

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 8, 2013 at 9:25 am

      or that we got what the Mayans were saying wrong…. 😉

      Thanks and thanks for playing. Your, sure to be accurate, predictions are duly noted!

      Reply
  11. vinoexpressions says

    January 8, 2013 at 11:53 am

    Sounds optimistic – but there’s not much room left but to climb upward. Again, thanks for the insight!

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 8, 2013 at 3:02 pm

      glad you liked it. But now, your predictions, please!

      Reply
  12. Fritz Hahn says

    January 8, 2013 at 9:00 pm

    What? Only two bears??? In the spirit of Marty Z. here goes…
    Hi: 1530
    Low: 1160
    Close 12/31/13: 1210
    New Mexico Lobo…I hope that I’m the big loser on this one!

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 8, 2013 at 9:29 pm

      Yeah. That’s got me nervous. I’d feel better about my bullish forcast if more of these preditions were rolling in were bearish. 😉

      Reply
  13. RobDiesel says

    January 11, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    I sat down to polish my pecuniary crystal ball and came up with this.
    We’ll touch 1801, won’t drop lower than 1422 and close out the year at 1653.

    I do find it amusing to watch people like Jim Cramer, who spout daily predictions and “facts” and trends. Investing seems to be best done on a decade basis.
    Sometimes things change, but none of the pundits appear to have the common investor in mind. It’s more about self-promotion and “TV personality” sort of stuff.

    I buy with the intention of never selling. At times I have to correct that thought and clear out something where the upside is limited, but otherwise I hope that my few years of paying IN to the market will start turning and it starts to pay ME.

    The pundits and personalities don’t seem to be in my wavelength there.

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      January 11, 2013 at 3:25 pm

      Duly noted, Rob….

      glad you and your crystal ball joined us. Anyone as clear minded regarding pundits as you is worth listening to. at least about pundits. 😉

      Reply
      • RobDiesel says

        January 11, 2013 at 4:38 pm

        Flattery gets you everywhere, Mr. Collins. 😀

        It’s actually interesting to see my own progression over time. I used to be far more opinionated and “know-it-all” and over the years fewer things really stick to me, except my own smug thoughts of being able to retire before most people my age.
        Mostly I attribute that to ignoring the pundits and common knowledge and realizing that making money investing is more a game of time and patience than it is a hot-shot, quick-trade, fancy suit money game.

        Finding interesting and like-minded folks like yourself is a bonus along the way. I have to admit that I am not quite to the level of the ERE or MMM levels, because a big part of my life is ENJOYING life. I don’t sit at home in an unlit and unheated home, counting pocket change. I travel to Europe around once a year, stay with friends and family every time, eat decent food and don’t get the exercise that I should.
        But if I got hit by a bus tomorrow, I’d have lived a great life with lots of joy.

        Jim Cramer just stresses me out. Plus, I think The Motley Fool actually tracks his investments and found that he isn’t the wizard he might seem. I don’t know if they track what he talks about, or his subscription newsletter though. That might make a difference.

        Motley Fool often has articles (free, public) that seem to disparage stocks that they have picked in their subscription newsletters too.

        It’s a big game (hmm, Motley Fool has what, 200K stock advisor members paying $149/year?). I just want to get out of the game.

        Reply
  14. Nicki says

    February 20, 2013 at 11:13 am

    Just saw that Martin Zweig has died. I remember how Rukeyser and the others used to tease him about his market pessimism. Really miss the show.

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      February 20, 2013 at 11:31 am

      Awe man…..

      Marty was one of my favorites. Very sad to see him pass on.

      Thanks, Nicki, for the 411.

      Reply
  15. JohnD says

    July 30, 2013 at 12:38 am

    Been stumbling around your site (found it via MMM) and just couldn’t resist posting about Wall Street Week and Louis Rukeyser. Watching that show with my father is one of my earliest childhood memories. I had to google that the show started in 1970, which fits pretty well with my memory since I was born in 1969. So it must’ve been mid 70’s that my memories begin and it lasted through high school in the mid/late 80’s when I suddenly became far smarter than my parents :).

    Anyway — have truly enjoyed your site and your philosophies. I’ve got daughter 1 of 3 starting at university in about a month, so anything that improves my personal finances is greatly appreciated. Looking forward to being a regular reader and maybe an occasional commenter.

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      July 30, 2013 at 12:49 am

      Welcome John…

      glad you are here and decided to comment. Hope to hear more from you. Any friend of Louis’…. 🙂

      Reply
  16. Fhdz says

    November 28, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    My first post here is to revive the thread now at years end and it looks that even the most bullish of bulls got short!

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      November 28, 2013 at 1:58 pm

      Yeah, I was checking this out just the other day myself. My high target of 1825 is in striking distance and I’d be very surprised at this point if we don’t blow past it.

      But I wasn’t the most bullish. Another guy in the comments has 1875 and that looks to be the winner to me about now. 😉

      Reply

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      • Chautauqua 2018 Greece: A week for the gods!
    • ► October (1)
      • On Twitter, gone for Chautauqua and dark on comments till November
    • ► September (2)
      • What we own and why we own it: 2018
      • Tuft & Needle: Our Walnut Frame and Mint Mattress
    • ► August (1)
      • Kibanda Part 5: Pretty, and pretty much done
    • ► June (3)
      • Stocks--Part XXXIV: How to unload your unwanted stocks and funds
      • Review: Empower Retirement Planner
      • Stocks -- Part XXXIII: Optimism
    • ► May (2)
      • Kibanda Part 4: Quicksand!
      • My Talk at Google, Playing with FIRE and other Chautauqua connections
    • ► March (1)
      • Stocks -- Part XXXII: Why you should not be in the stock market
    • ► February (1)
      • Chautauqua 2018: Mt. Olympus, Greece
    • ► January (1)
      • An International Portfolio from The Escape Artist
  • ► 2017 (15)
    • ► December (2)
      • The Bond Experiment: Return to VBTLX
      • How to Invest in Bitcoin like Benjamin Graham
    • ► October (1)
      • Kibanda Part 3: Running the numbers
    • ► September (1)
      • Sleeping soundly thru a market crash: The Wasting Asset Retirement Model
    • ► August (2)
      • Stocks -- Part XXXI: Too hot. Too cold. Not pure enough.
      • Kibanda, Part 2: Negotiating the deal
    • ► July (2)
      • Time Machine and the future returns for stocks
      • Kibanda: Mr. Anti-house buys his dream house
    • ► June (2)
      • Is there an interior designer in the house?
      • The Simple Path to Wealth goes Audio!
    • ► May (1)
      • Life on the Beach
    • ► April (1)
      • Sell! Sell!! Sell!!! Sell?
    • ► March (1)
      • Vicki comes to Chautauqua: United Kingdom
    • ► January (2)
      • Chautauqua - Ecuador 2017 open for reservations
      • Chautauqua - United Kingdom: August 2017
  • ► 2016 (22)
    • ► December (3)
      • Season's Greetings and other cool stuff
      • Angel Investing, or Angel Philanthropy?
      • Mr. Bogle and me
    • ► November (1)
      • Where did you learn about money?
    • ► October (2)
      • Buy Your Freedom; Rent the Rest
      • So, what do you drive?
    • ► September (2)
      • Stocks -- Part XXX: jlcollinsnh vs. Vanguard
      • A visit to the Frugalwoods
    • ► August (1)
      • What the naysayers are missing
    • ► July (1)
      • Reviews of The Simple Path to Wealth; gone for summer
    • ► June (2)
      • The Simple Path to Wealth is now Published!
      • A peek into The Simple Path to Wealth
    • ► May (1)
      • It's better in the wind. Still.
    • ► April (3)
      • Cool things to check out while I'm gone
      • Stocks — Part XXIX: How to save money for college. Or not.
      • Help Wanted: The Book
    • ► March (1)
      • F-You Money: John Goodman v. jlcollinsnh
    • ► February (2)
      • Q&A - V: The Women of Amphissa
      • jlcollinsnh gets a new suit
    • ► January (3)
      • Chautauqua 2015 Reviews, 2016 registration open
      • Case Study #15: The Scavenger Life -- Freedom first, then Financial Independence
      • 3rd Annual (2015) Louis Rukeyser Memorial Market Prediction Contest results, and my forecast for 2016
  • ► 2015 (18)
    • ► December (2)
      • Q&A - IV: Strawberry Patch
      • Seasons Greetings! and other cool stuff
    • ► October (2)
      • Personal Capital; and how to unload your unwanted stocks and funds
      • Stockchoker: A look back at what your investment might have been
    • ► September (2)
      • Case Study #14: One Woman's Journey to Financial Independence
      • Hotel Living
    • ► August (1)
      • Mr. Market's Wild Ride
    • ► June (4)
      • Gone for Summer, an important note on comments and random cool stuff that caught my eye
      • Around the world with an Aussie Biker
      • Case Study #13: The Power of Flexibility
      • Stocks — Part VIII: The 401(k), 403(b), TSP, IRA & Roth Buckets
    • ► March (2)
      • Stocks -- Part XXVIII: Debt - The Unacceptable Burden
      • Chautauqua October 2015: Times Two!
    • ► February (2)
      • YNAB: Best Place to Work Ever?
      • Case Study #12: Escaping a soul-crushing job before you're 70
    • ► January (3)
      • Case Study #11: John, a small business owner in transition
      • Trish and Stan take an Intrepid Sailing Voyage
      • 2014 Annual Louis Rukeyser Memorial Market Prediction Contest results, and my forecast for 2015
  • ► 2014 (29)
    • ► December (2)
      • Diamonds and Happy Holidays!
      • Micro-Lending with Kiva
    • ► November (3)
      • Chautauqua February 7-14, 2015: Escape from Winter
      • Stocks -- Part XXVII: Why I Don’t Like Dollar Cost Averaging
      • Jack Bogle and the Presidential Medal of Freedom
    • ► October (3)
      • Tuft & Needle: A better path to sleep
      • Nightmare on Wall Street: Will the Blood Bath Continue?
      • Help Wanted
    • ► September (1)
      • Chautauqua 2014: Lightning strikes again!
    • ► August (2)
      • Stocks -- Part XXVI: Pulling the 4%
      • Stocks -- Part XXV: HSAs, more than just a way to pay your medical bills.
    • ► July (3)
      • Stocks -- Part XXIV: RMDs, the ugly surprise at the end of the tax-deferred rainbow
      • Summer travels, writing, reading and other amusements
      • Moto X, my new Republic Wireless Phone
    • ► June (1)
      • Stocks -- Part XXIII: Selecting your asset allocation
    • ► May (1)
      • Stocks -- Part XXII: Stepping away from REITs
    • ► April (3)
      • Q&A III: Vamos
      • Q&A II: Salamat
      • Q&A I: Gaijin Shogun
    • ► March (2)
      • Top 10 posts
      • Cafe No Se
    • ► February (4)
      • Chautauqua 2014 preview, closing up for travel and other random cool things that caught my eye of late.
      • Case Study #10: Should Josiah buy his parents a house?
      • Case Study #9: Lars -- maximizing some good fortune and considering "dollar cost averaging"
      • Case Study #8: Ron's mother - she's doin' all right!
    • ► January (4)
      • roundup: Some random cool things
      • Stocks — Part XXI: Investing with Vanguard for Europeans
      • Case Study #7: What it looks like when everything financial goes wrong
      • 1st Annual Louis Rukeyser Memorial Market Prediction Contest 2013 results, and my forecast for 2014
  • ► 2013 (40)
    • ► December (4)
      • Closing up for the Holidays, see you in 2014
      • Betterment: a simpler path to wealth
      • Case Study 6: Helping an ill and elderly parent
      • Stocks -- Part XX: Early Retirement Withdrawal Strategies and Roth Conversion Ladders from a Mad Fientist
    • ► November (3)
      • Death, Taxes, Estate Plans, Probate and Prob8
      • Case Study #5: Zero to 2.6 million in 25 years
      • Financial Independence Case Study #4: Using the 4% Rule and Asset Allocations
    • ► October (3)
      • Republic Wireless and my $19 per month phone plan
      • Case Study #3: Let's get Tom to Latin America!
      • The Stock Series gets its own page
    • ► September (2)
      • Case Study #2: Joe -- off to a fast start!
      • Chautauqua 2013: A Week of Dreams
    • ► August (1)
      • Closing up shop plus an opening at Chautauqua, my new podcast, phone, book and other random cool stuff
    • ► July (1)
      • They Will Kill You For Your Shoes!
    • ► June (4)
      • Stocks -- Part VIII-b: Should you avoid your company's 401k?
      • Shilpan's Seven Habits to Live More with Less
      • Stocks -- Part XIX: How to think about money
      • Financial Independence Checklist for College Graduates (My path for my kid -- the first 10 years)
    • ► May (4)
      • Stocks — Part XVIII: Investing in a raging bull
      • Dining with the Ghosts of Sarah Bernhardt and Alfons Mucha
      • How we finally got the house sold
      • Stocks — Part XVII: What if you can't buy VTSAX? Or even Vanguard?
    • ► April (4)
      • Greetings from Prague & a computer question
      • Swimming with Tigers, a 2nd chance on the Chautauqua, a financial article gets it wrong and I'm off to Prague
      • Storage, Moving and Movers
      • Homeless, and a bit on the strategy of dollar cost averaging
    • ► March (4)
      • Wild Turkeys, Motorcycles, Dining Room Sets & Greed
      • Roots v. Wings: considering home ownership
      • How about that stock market?!
      • The Blog has New Clothes
    • ► February (5)
      • Meet Mr. Money Mustache, JD Roth, Cheryl Reed & me for a Chautauqua in Ecuador
      • High School Poetry, Carnival, cool ads and random pictures that caught my eye
      • Consignment Shops: Best business model ever?
      • Cafes
      • Stocks -- Part XVI: Index Funds are really just for lazy people, right?
    • ► January (5)
      • Social Security: How Secure and When to Take It
      • Fighting giraffes, surreal landscapes, dancing with unicorns and restoring a Vanagon
      • My plan for 2013
      • VITA, income taxes and the IRS
      • How to be a stock market guru and get on MSNBC
  • ► 2012 (52)
    • ► December (6)
      • See you next year....until then: The Origin of Life, Life on Other Worlds, Mechanical Graveyards, Great Art, Alternative Lifestyles and Finding Freedom
      • Stocks -- Part XV: Target Retirement Funds, the simplest path to wealth of all
      • Stocks -- Part XIV: Deflation, the ugly escort of Depressions.
      • Stocks Part XIV: Deflation, the ugly escort of Depressions.
      • Stocks -- Part XIII: The 4% rule, withdrawal rates and how much can I spend anyway?
      • How I learned to stop worrying about the Fiscal Cliff and you can too.
    • ► November (2)
      • Rent v. owning: A couple of case studies in Ecuador
      • So, what does a month in Ecuador cost anyway?
    • ► October (4)
      • See you in December....
      • Meet me in Ecuador?
      • The Podcast: You can hear me now.
      • Stocks -- Part XII: Bonds
    • ► September (6)
      • Stocks -- Part XI: International Funds
      • The Smoother Path to Wealth
      • Case Study #I: Putting the Simple Path to Wealth into Action
      • Tales of Bolivia: Calle de las Brujas
      • Stocks -- Part X: What if Vanguard gets Nuked?
      • Travels in South America: It was the best of times....
    • ► August (1)
      • Home again
    • ► June (4)
      • Yellow Fever, closing up shop for the summer and heading to Peru y Bolivia
      • I could not have said it better myself...
      • Stocks -- Part IX: Why I don't like investment advisors
      • Happy Birthday, jlcollinsnh; and thanks for the gift Mr. MM!
    • ► May (6)
      • Stocks -- Part VIII: The 401K, 403b, TSP, IRA & Roth Buckets
      • Mr. Money Mustache
      • Is College Worth the Cost?
      • Stocks -- Part VII: Can everyone really retire a millionaire?
      • Stocks -- Part VI: Portfolio ideas to build and keep your wealth
      • Stocks -- Part V: Keeping it simple, considerations and tools
    • ► April (6)
      • Stocks -- Part IV: The Big Ugly Event, Deflation and a bit on Inflation
      • Stocks -- Part III: Most people lose money in the market.
      • Stocks -- Part II: The Market Always Goes Up
      • Stocks -- Part 1: There's a major market crash coming!!!! and Dr. Lo can't save you.
      • You can eat my Vindaloo, mega lottery, Blondie, Noa, Israel Kamakawiwo 'Ole, art, film and a ride on the Space Shuttle
      • Where in the world are you?
    • ► March (7)
      • How I lost money in real estate before it was fashionable, Part V: Sold! and the taxman cometh.
      • How I lost money in real estate before it was fashionable, Part IV: I become a Landlord.
      • How I lost money in real estate before it was fashionable, Part III: The Battle is Joined.
      • How I lost money in real estate before it was fashionable, Part II: The Limits of the Law.
      • How I lost money in real estate before it was fashionable, Part I: Impossibly Naive.
      • You, too, can be conned
      • Armageddon and the value of practical skills
    • ► February (5)
      • Rent vs Owning Your Home: Opportunity Cost and Running Some Numbers
      • What Poker, Basketball and Mike Whitaker taught me about Luck
      • How to Give Like a Billionaire: Vanguard, Tax Deductions, & Nuns
      • Go ahead, make my day
      • Muk Finds Success in Tahiti
    • ► January (5)
      • Travels with "Esperando un Camino"
      • Beanie Babies, Naked Barbie, American Pickers and Old Coots
      • Selling the House and Adventures in Staging
      • The bashing of Index Funds, Jack Bogle and a Jedi dog trick
      • Magic Beans
  • ► 2011 (22)
    • ► December (1)
      • Dividend Growth Investing
    • ► November (2)
      • The Mummy's head, Particle Physics and "Knocking on Heaven's Door"
      • "It's Better in the Wind" or why I ride a motorcycle
    • ► October (1)
      • Lazy Days and School Days
    • ► July (2)
      • The road to Zanzibar sometimes goes thru Ecuador...
      • Johnny wins the lotto and heads to Paris
    • ► June (16)
      • Chainsaws, Elm Trees and paying for College
      • Stuff I’ve failed at: the early years
      • Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat
      • The. Worst. Used. Car. Ever.
      • Top Ten reasons your future is so bright it hurts my eyes to look at it
      • The Most Dangerous Words Your Customer Can Say
      • How not to drown in The Sea of Assholes
      • What we own and why we own it
      • The Ten Sales Commandments
      • My ever so formal and oh so dry CV
      • How I Failed My Daughter and a Simple Path to Wealth
      • The Myth of Motivation
      • Why you need F-you money
      • My short attention span
      • Why I can’t pick winning stocks, and you can’t either
      • The Monk and the Minister

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