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You are here: Home / Life / Jack Bogle and the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Jack Bogle and the Presidential Medal of Freedom

by jlcollinsnh 28 Comments

jack-bogle

Jack Bogle 

Jack Bogle on why he started Vanguard

Above is a picture of Jack Bogle, the founder of Vanguard, the creator of the modern low-cost index fund and my personal hero. If you aspire to be wealthy and financially independent, he should be yours as well.

Before Mr. Bogle the financial industry was set up almost exclusively to enrich those selling financial products at the expense of the customers. It mostly still is.

Then Mr. Bogle came along and exposed industry stock-picking and advice as worthless at best, harmful at worst and always an expensive drag on the growth of your wealth. Not surprisingly, Wall Street howled in protest and vilified him relentlessly.

Mr. Bogle responded by creating the first S&P 500 index fund. The wails and gnashing of teeth continued even as Bogle’s new fund went on to prove his theories in the real world:

The best performance over time is achieved by buying and holding all stocks in a low-cost index fund. Stock picking, and the actively managed funds that employ it, are fated to fall behind, dragged down even further by their higher fees. So rare is the active manager who can actually outperform over time, the few that do become famous house-hold names:  Buffett, Lynch, Price.

As the years rolled on and the evidence piled ever higher, Mr. Bogle’s critics began to soften their voices; mostly I’d guess because they had begun to sound pretty silly. Other fund companies, realizing that their customers were becoming ever less willing to accept high fees for questionable performance, even began to offer their own index funds in an effort to keep them from walking out the door. Personally I’ve never believed their hearts were in it, and for that reason my money stays at Vanguard.

Almost everyday now I get an email or a comment on this blog thanking me for the investing information I provide, especially in the Stock Series. I’m deeply honored by this and such messages are deeply motivating. But everything here has it’s roots in the work Mr. Bogle has done and it is he who has provided the essential tools we need to most efficiently and quickly reach financial independence. If I’ve provided a flickering candle to light the way, his work has been a white-hot sun.

So, if you are one of the many readers who have written to me in thanks, or if you haven’t but have felt you’ve found benefit here, I ask you to join me in making possible a honor that my personal hero and our collective financial saint, Mr. Bogle, truly deserves:

Presidential Medal

The Presidential Medal of Freedom

The fact that Mr. Bogle is being considered for this honor was recently brought to my attention by my pal Gouri, who I met and got to know at this year’s Chautauqua.* If you want to join in this effort, Gouri’s email to me below tells you how:

As you probably know, Boglehead leaders submitted a letter nominating Bogle for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest civilian honors:

http://www.bogleheads.org/blog/john-bogle-nomination-for-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom/

Given that Jack is 85, has had at least six heart attacks and one heart transplant, time is precious to have him receive the honor in his lifetime.

Please consider sending a personal card, letter, postcard or email via White House website, however simple or detailed, to President Obama to help nudge the cause forward:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Alternate address per http://topic-finder.com/finance/investing/general/37524-john-bogle-presidential-medal-of-freedom.html :

Executive Office of the President
The White House
ATTN: Executive Clerk’s Office
Washington, DC 20502

 Thank you, Gouri, for bringing this to my attention and thank you in advance to those of you who chose to help. I gather that the decision will be made in the next 30 days or so, so if you are going to do it, please do it now.

The truth is, my guess is that the unpretentious, clear-minded, straight shooting Jack Bogle doesn’t give a rat’s ass about receiving this award. If you click on the link below his photo above you’ll see the list of those he’s already received is extensive. But he deserves it nonetheless and his receiving it will send an important message to an industry that sorely needs to hear it and, perhaps, to those investors yet to see the light.

Related

Important Resources

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  • NewRetirement offers cool tools to help guide you in answering the question: Do I have enough money to retire? And getting started is free. Sign up and you will be offered two paths into their retirement planner. I was also on their podcast and you can check that out here:Video version, Podcast version.
  • Tuft & Needle (T&N) helps me sleep at night. They are a very cool company with a great product. Here’s my review of what we are currently sleeping on: Our Walnut Frame and Mint Mattress.
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Filed Under: Life, Money

« Tuft & Needle: A better path to sleep
Stocks — Part XXVII: Why I Don’t Like Dollar Cost Averaging »

Comments

  1. Mr. Frugalwoods says

    November 3, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    He really does deserve it.

    My folks talk about the days before index funds like some people tell ghost stories.

    It cost $40 to make a trade! (Wooohhhhhh)

    You had to call a guy, who would try to sell you more stuff! (OOoooooooo)

    Diversification meant holding tons of individual stocks or trusting some fund which inevitably underperformed. (Aaaaaaaahhhh)

    It’s remarkable how cheap, easy and accessible investing is today. Even though I use Fidelity (our 401ks are there, so might as well consolidate accounts) I still only use funds that are directly inspired by the Bogle philosophy. Would the Spartan funds exist without Vanguard forcing Fidelity to change fee-grubbing ways? I doubt it.

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      November 3, 2014 at 6:44 pm

      It really is remarkable how bad it was in the old days.

      I am continually reminded of this by the comments and questions from my international readers who don’t have access to Vanguard. They are living the “bad old days” right now!

      I doubt it, too. 🙂

      And I’d rather do business with the company that invented, preaches and thrives on index funds than a company that was dragged into them kicking and screaming. 😉

      Reply
      • Jonathan says

        November 7, 2014 at 7:08 pm

        “It really is remarkable how bad it was in the old days.”

        All the more tragic, then, that so many people today don’t save adequately for retirement.

        Reply
        • jlcollinsnh says

          November 7, 2014 at 8:47 pm

          Very true.

          Never have we had better or lower cost tools.

          It is also tragic that so many who do save still fall into the high cost, market timing, stock picking traps.

          Reply
  2. Sbvol98 says

    November 3, 2014 at 11:43 pm

    Mr. Collins,

    You don’t know me but I started reading your blog earlier this year and I have really learned a lot.

    While I have always considered myself financially savvy, you opened my eyes about investing, specifically:

    -The many advantages of Index funds
    -John Bogle and Vanguard
    -Disadvantages of Investment Advisors

    Due to your blog, I I moved my IRA’s from a discount online brokerage to Vanguard actively managed funds and purchased Vanguard index funds. I also started reading blogs from the Mad Fientist & Mr. Money Mustache, and picked up “Common Sense on Mutual Funds” from John Bogle.

    The way you write about investing makes so much sense and is easy to follow. I recommend your Stock Series to any friends or family that will listen.

    Just wanted to let you know the knowledge you are providing is very much appreciated.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      November 4, 2014 at 11:10 am

      Thank you Sbvol98…

      for your very kind words. It is wonderful to hear it has made a difference for you. You made my day and I’m honored to be mentioned in the same breath as MF and MMM.

      Thanks, too, for passing the blog on to your friends and family!

      Reply
  3. Done by Forty says

    November 4, 2014 at 1:01 am

    I’d love to hear a poll to compare how many people know the name “Bogle” compared to how many know the name “Buffett”.

    A great idea and I really hope he gets it. Cheers.

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      November 4, 2014 at 11:13 am

      My guess is that it would be Buffett in a landslide, and I think that’s too bad.

      While I have great respect for Mr. Buffett, no one has done more for us individual investors that Mr. Bogle.

      Me too! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Maverick says

    November 4, 2014 at 7:16 am

    He was the commencement speaker at my college graduation. Thanks, Jack! Without your vision in creating index funds in 1974 I wouldn’t have been able to retire early.

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      November 4, 2014 at 11:30 am

      Kudos to your college for selecting him!

      Reply
  5. Chris @ Flipping A Dollar says

    November 4, 2014 at 8:11 am

    Very true stuff here. You’ve definitely helped me out from an investing and house standpoint. Although we did buy a house, we really scrutinized the purchase and may rent it out in the long run. Either way, we plan on living in it for a long time and will most likely pay it off early (I’d rather the guaranteed 4.25% return).

    I just got asked today if I had any of my previous company’s stock since it just announced a new product and I said “Nope, I just buy index funds. Their stock will dip when some new product of theirs doesn’t pan out, so it’s not worth it for me.”

    My investing and eBay outlook are of the same vein – “purchase it and forget it” for investing and “list it and forget it” for eBay!

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      November 4, 2014 at 11:20 am

      Hi Chris…

      Great to hear you’ve found my posts useful. Thanks!

      For what it is worth, those on houses are not meant to dissuade anyone from buying but rather to help them consider the decision with eyes wide open, as it sounds like you did. 😉

      Reply
  6. Even Steven says

    November 4, 2014 at 1:10 pm

    Very few people make an impact on so many and get honored for such accomplishments while still alive, it would be a great thing for Mr.Jack Bogle to be honored with this award. I remember reading his book thinking “Is there a reason we all don’t invest like this”?

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      November 4, 2014 at 1:34 pm

      Thanks for checking in ES.

      I actually wrote a post on that question: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/01/06/index-funds/

      Reply
  7. Mr. FC says

    November 5, 2014 at 5:20 pm

    Had no idea that Bogle was up for this until I read your comment yesterday on MMM. I think it’s a fantastic idea and thanks for the links.

    And thank YOU for your work here as well. Your blog is an inspiration and the work you and select others do in this space is invaluable. It is such a needed and valued check against the tidal wave of garbage out there that passes for financial advice.

    Wish I could make the Chautauqua but with two small kids it’ll have to wait a little while. Would be awesome to meet you and Pete and Jesse and the others. If you ever did a live / remote session or put the presentations on the net somewhere that would be amazing…

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      November 6, 2014 at 12:08 am

      Until Gouri brought it to my attention a couple of days ago, neither did I. 🙂

      Thank you for the very kind words.

      If and when the timing works for you, it would be great to have you join us for the Chautauqua! But you don’t have to spend a week in Ecuador to meet me.

      Make your way here to New Hampshire and I’ll even buy the coffee. Of invite me to visit wherever you are. But be careful. I just might show up. 😉

      Reply
      • Mr. FC says

        November 6, 2014 at 9:12 pm

        Come on out to sunny LA! It’s 6pm and just cracked below 80. If I could find my way to NH surely would do so and thank you for the invite!

        Perhaps there could be a Palm Springs-area pow wow as an adjunct to the Ecuadorian Chautauqua…

        Reply
        • jlcollinsnh says

          November 6, 2014 at 9:16 pm

          Actually I have been thinking about getting out to LA one of these days.

          Last year, I think, I received an invitation from a guy who works at Dreamworks. Seems I have a little fan base there.

          My problem is I get all these cool offers and then forget who offered what when. 🙂

          That said, if you want to put together a pow-wow, with a bit of advance notice I’ll be there!

          Reply
  8. Justin @ RootofGood says

    November 5, 2014 at 7:48 pm

    I wish I could shake the guy’s hand. He’s saved me tons in investment fees at Vanguard and even saved me tons in fees at other fund companies like ishares and Fidelity due to the competitive pressure.

    And with some of vanguard’s awesome funds like Lifestrategy or Target Retirement, I have a quick recommendation handy for the DIY investor that doesn’t want to be a DIY investor (“put it all in Lifestrategy whatever”).

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      November 6, 2014 at 12:10 am

      Me too, Justin…

      …and you’re right. Bogle’s work in creating Vanguard has saved countless investors countless fees as those other firms were dragged kicking and screaming into the low-cost index world. 🙂

      Reply
  9. EarlyAndOften says

    November 5, 2014 at 9:12 pm

    Hi Jim,
    Thank you so much for such a characteristically articulate post.

    Hope all’s well in NH, and hope to see you in NYC at some point (we live blocks away from Columbia University and we have a guest room with your name on it)

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      November 6, 2014 at 12:12 am

      You are kind to say so, EAO…

      …but the thanks for this one go to my pal Gouri. 😉

      NYC, eh?

      We’ve been talking about making our way down to NYC…

      Reply
  10. Shan says

    November 7, 2014 at 9:30 am

    This is a great idea. I just sent my e-mail (via the White House website). All of our investments are with Vanguard. We certainly appreciate paying lower fees and it’s also nice to know that we are not enriching the charlatans that make up much of the industry. So we very much appreciate Jack Bogle. However, I must say that it is entirely due to reading your blog that I moved our investments over to Vanguard. I feel that I have learnt a great deal and have benefitted from reading your posts. So thank YOU very much for sharing your knowledge and advice – since you made the case for why we needed F-you money, we haven’t looked back.

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      November 7, 2014 at 11:07 am

      Thanks Shan…

      I appreciate you taking the time to cast your “vote” 🙂

      Thanks, too, for the kind words about the blog. I’m delighted to hear it helped guide you to Vanguard and on your journey to F-you money!

      Reply
  11. Jeremy E. says

    November 11, 2014 at 6:17 pm

    If anyone is like me, you probably have no idea how to write a letter to the president, here is an example of the one I did to give you some ideas, I’m not sure I did it exactly how it’s supposed to be done, but hopefully I at least got my point across.

    Dear Mr. President:
    I am sending this letter in hopes that you might consider presenting one of my personal heroes, John C. “Jack” Bogle, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Jack has done more for the investing world than any other person. I’m sure you know about the contributions he’s made, through creating the S&P 500 and starting The Vanguard Group, so I’ll just say what he means to me.

    Jack has given the middle class Americans a chance to prosper and achieve Financial Freedom, something I didn’t even think was possible. Financial Freedom means being free from the need of money, free from stress, free from the heavy bonds of your employer, free from the chains in Plato’s Cave, finally able to go experience the world. Financial Freedom means being able to live life to the fullest and pursue utmost happiness.

    To me, Financial Freedom means being able to travel this beautiful country, visit National Parks, volunteer wherever possible, and commit my time to being the best I can be. Before learning about Dr. Bogle’s incredible company and funds, I invested with a financial advising company who charged a 5% management fee, on top of a 1.3% average expense ratio of the funds it put me in. Even when the market did well, and Bogle’s S&P 500 grew substantially, I lost money. The financial advising company was getting rich off of my stupidity. The Vanguard Group is incredible, it is owned by the people that invest in its funds and is extremely ethical, a very rare trait in investment companies.

    Please Mr. President, give Jack Bogle a strong consideration for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

    Thank you for your time and consideration,

    Sincerely,

    Jeremy Exxxxx

    Again, I’m not sure this is the exact format or what not, just to help give ideas.

    Reply
    • jlcollinsnh says

      November 11, 2014 at 6:30 pm

      Thanks Jeremy….

      It is a fine letter and others can easily pick it up and use it with their own modifications. I problably should have included one myself in the post.

      But the important thing is to just send something! Even as simple as: “I nominate Jack Bogle for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”

      Truth is, I doubt anyone is going to read these. But, hopefully, they’ll be saying, “Gee, here’s another for that Bogle guy. Maybe we really should give him a look…” 🙂

      Reply
      • Jeremy E. says

        November 11, 2014 at 6:36 pm

        I thought about if it would actually be read while writing it, my best guess was that there would maybe be some intern reading them and replying with a copy paste of some predetermined response and changing the name in it(for the email letters). But whatever the case, it couldn’t hurt trying

        Reply
  12. Taylor Larimore says

    October 28, 2016 at 10:54 pm

    Mr. Collins:

    I have posted a link to your article and the beautiful video featuring Jack Bogle. This is the link: http://www.bogleheads.org.

    Thank you for supporting our quest for Mr. Bogle to receive The Presidential Medal of Honor!

    Taylor Larimore
    Miami, Florida

    Reply

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      • 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: To Dream the Impossible Dream (and then realize it)
      • 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 (41)
    • ► 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
      • 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
      • My path for my kid -- the first 10 years
    • ► May (5)
      • Why your house is a terrible investment
      • 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 (53)
    • ► 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
      • The College Conundrum
      • 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 (6)
      • Rent v. Owning Your Home, opportunity cost and running some numbers
      • The Casanova Kid, a Shit Knife, a Good Book, Having No Regrets, Dark Matter and a bit of Magic
      • What Poker, Basketball and Mike Whitaker taught me about Luck
      • How to Give like a Billionaire
      • 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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