Good Point! I didnt write that post to try and start an argument on such a useful thread so I hope ppl wont take it as such...The kevin costner and junk shot thing was supposed to be sarcastic!

Yeah and I work for Halliburton so I was just messing around. I doubt we will ever know what truly happened. Investment wise though, it's going to be interesting to see what ultimately becomes of BP. They are a very large company and the blow out in the gulf was a serious problem. Was it enough to sink the company or will people who stick it out and buy while it's low become the next Google investors that some how saw the light at the end of the tunnel and reaped ridiculous sums from their gamble? No clue and honestly, I don't care. I'm not invested with them nor will I ever be. I'm also not gambling.

Well said boys...

Yes we will get back to investing..

As Greg says sometimes we post like we are sitting around and talking .

No big deal and nobody should take it as anything more than that..

On a side note, Dividends keep rolling in no matter what..

I have some small portions of my Portfolio that are high dividend plays to offset my safer investments.

Always good to see them come in.. No matter what the market is doing...:cheers: :lateral:

So i have a question for everyone. In this book i was reading they were talking about how not only is it important to have a diversified portfolio, but it is equally important to have both stocks with American based companies as well as with Internationally based companies. It makes sense since just about everything you look at is Made in China, or Made in Korea, Made in India, etc. However, my question is how does one go about researching international companies and trying to figure out which ones to invest in? Do you just look at american companies in certain sectors that you would invest in and then try to find their international counterpart??

For me, Investing is not only Diversified, But Global, Nimble, and Liquid.

For my research, I have used Schwab to check and then invest in certain things. I know some people do not like Mutual Funds, but I own Templeton and Oppenheimer Global funds. Their long term returns have done pretty well for me.

Also I do take small risks with Global High Dividend payers, but with only a small amount of money.

But I believe that part of Diversification is being Global..What percentage is a personal choice.

I believe that the US is the biggest player on the block, but that does not prevent me from buying outside the US.

Let us see what Greg and others have to say..:cheers:

You do not necessarily have to purchase stock in foreign companies to get international exposure. There are many U.S. based companies that operate worldwide that will give you some international exposure. For example, Catepillar is one stock that is international and has recently been declining due to growth concerns in foreign markets.

If you are interested in purchasing individual stocks rather than a mutual fund as Bucketlist suggested, you could look at the holdings of "international" mutual funds and research some of the stocks in their holdings to see which ones you may want to invest in.

thats kind of the take i have on it.. companies that sell internationally, not just within the US.

good idea about checking out some "international" mutual funds to find companies to start researching.

I think one of the major concerns with true international stocks is understanding the taxation of the stocks. Greg spoke on his dealings with Banco Santander and what he goes through with regards to dividends, taxes incurred and the reinvesting of the dividends. Hopefully he chimes in for a response to this.

wth is banco santander doing. my google finance says its $73. has to be a error?

I see it too.. shows $6.24 on Schwab tho. so google must be playin games. heh

If that share price is true, someone made a killing on Banco Santander. FML

i figured as much.

I knew something was up. it said i had a 1095% return. I was like WTF!!

Where's Greg when we need an exlanation.

Hey there- It appears Banco Santander changed it's ticker symbol today from STD to SAN. :thumbsup:

Yes it shows san now instead of std. But they still got theprice wrong!!

If that is true could it be the benfactor of some confusion on the part of investors not expecting a symbol change? Everywhere else I've checkd has a share price of +$6. Google finance seems to be the only ones showing a share price of +$72.

Yeah, Banco Santander is a little confusing when it comes to the various ticker symbols they use around the world. It appears that CNBC and Nasqaq are quoting the stock correctly under the new ticker. But the NYSE (where Banco Santander is listed) is showing an incorrect daily change. Go figure.

Here is a pretty good article on the change:

http://buzz.money.cnn.com/2012/06/12...ticker-symbol/

I'd be cashing out if it was $73

Guys.... I'm in Pomona at the LA Roadsters show. And then a week of cruising up California highway 1.... So don't look for any posts from me! I'm out spending my dividends....lol

have a nice trip Greg. :thumbsup:

I never thought I'd live to see the day when a VOTE in Greece would/could/does affect MY investments. But that's the world we live in today. Go figure....

I hope they get it right.

But regardless of these types of macro events. Bond interest will still be collected and dividends will still keep rolling in... and that's what I want the "newbs" to be focused on. While these events do 'matter' they don't really matter in the long run (3/5/10 years).

In the meantime - The L A Roadsters Show here in Pomona has just been fantastic! The weather amazing! The people have been even better... The key is that you have to have a roadster... otherwise you park out in the back 40. :woot:

BP have and are going through major changes - something other oil and service companies will eventually catch up with. THe Macondo accident was a Major screw up by several companies, and was a tragedy much like the Piper Alfa.

BP is not British Petroleum and hasn't been for many many years, its just plan old BP - the issues started when BP acquired AMCO and AMACO (Both american companies, worst move that BP ever made) 48 odd % is American owned. It should also be noted that all the Managers, Engineers etc involved in the bad decisions resulting in the accident were also American, both BP Halliburton and Transocean.

I am not British I am just sick of it being blamed on them. Take a look at Chevron and how they hide their screw ups.

I bought BP shares after the incident and have made some good coin, have a look at their previous exploration and development success and its easy money.

Sorry for the rant, its just that I work in the Industry and some things get under my skin. Flame suit on :)

Bp
 

I only base my investing decisions on solid facts - historical performance of the STOCK -- not the company etc. Take the "I like this brand and not that brand" out of it and just look and compare the STOCK... in that light, BP sucks... irregardless of their latest debacle.

Hey Mike?! Did you get that new house/mansion you wanted??

Greg..

I pulled out of the offer...My Wife is not happy..

It is a short sale and when I went to see it, all I saw was dollar signs.. It is in bad shape...The realtor is using old photos to show it, of when it was in excellent shape.

It needs so much work, I just could not see putting an unknown amount of money into it.. I mean like 100K or more..I could have , but at my age, and with my Health, do I really want to ?.

The pictures they show on line are of it in perfect shape.. It is in distress..And I am not up for that much check writing..Something inside me said it was not a money maker, but a money taker..

And once you buy it, you are in for the whole ride...No thanks...

So, no happy Wife or happy Life right now, but I have to go with my gut feeling when it comes to money..My Wife runs on emotion, and I run on not going broke..

So it is a little tense around my house, but I know I did the right thing..Who am I out to impress ? Her family ? No way...I am protecting my wealth and not flaunting it...

My friend knows the property, and says it is a gross display of wealth, when it is in great shape. But it needs so much work, I cannot imagine what it would take to redo it to my standards...100K ? 150K ?

And to be honest, it seems like a house for someone with several million dollars or more in Net worth...Not a guy like me..

I put up the avatar for the last time. It does not look like this anymore..Imagine a property like that in total distress..50K gallon pool need re plastering, all the large palm trees dying. The interior needs work everywhere. exterior painting, the indoor fire sprinklers have leaks, All the landscaping is dead..The avatar picture is not what it looks like now....I gotta pass on this one...My gut tells me to, even if I crushed my Wife's dreams.

Mike..:cheers:

Good for you Mike... scenario sounds familiar to my recent one of walking away from a headache inducing large house. :thumbsup:

Thanks...The Wife is not happy, but the property was Gigantic, and even in great shape, it was too much property and house. In Bad shape, it was a nightmare. Sure a great party house, but I would be too stressed out.

She said it was a great Investment...I don't think it was...More of a Money Pit..

Plus we would have had to cash out some Investments to fix it up...That sounds foolish to do..Plus I would be taking on more debt.. Sounds like a double negative..

So, I will let things settle..She shed some tears, but better than me losing the grip I have on my Financial Life.. :cheers: :thumbsup:

Good choices Mike --- too many people get caught up in the "I have to prove I can do it" and don't have the guts to back out of something when they see it's not right -- so kudos to you!

And you're right about the double negative! That's another thing people don't look at often enough!

I have three or four people I know that were living really large -- like they had unlimited money -- 12 million dollar house <gone now> -- another one that the dickheads wife thought she was rich and spent 7 million building a house they never could even move in before it was gone... another guy is now RENTING because he thought he was rich and living large... Once the capital is pissed away - these people just aren't that smart. They got lucky once and that was that...

Another guy - David Bingham (you can Google him) http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/s....html?page=all blew thru 200 million... they repo'd the 85 foot yacht - the Bentley - his kids 10 million dollar house and his mother in laws car! He THOUGHT he was brilliant so he bet the farm, and more, making mezzanine loans in the fast lane of big real estate... charging exorbitant fees and borrowing from the banks at low rates to lend even more... ALL GONE.... POOF!

Greg.

First, thanks for asking about the house. You remembered and thought to ask about it, that means a lot.:thumbsup:

Second, yes I had to look my Wife in the eyes and make her cry..You know how tough that was, but I have to follow my Brain, and my Guts.

Had I caved into her desires, I know it would be the worst move of my Life..
I would have made her happy but I know it would have bankrupt us, or at least made us very uncomfortable Financially.. For what ? To show her family that we are big Players ? She wanted me to have a resort/Home that had everything.Watersports/Lake, Large Pool, Putting Greens, ect...

But if I thought it was Financially sound, I would have done it.. I am not rich. I am financially healthy, not wealthy..Not wealthy at all..

And I talk about having Investments, and only a Home loan . But this move would be the double negative...Pulling Invested money and taking on an additional 250K of mortgage... No thanks..

Thanks for chiming in, I knew i did the right thing, but hearing it from you and others ,just makes me know I am thinking straight..

The Wife is getting over it slowly, and it will all work itself out..Had I not pulled the offer, i would be one of the fools you mentioned..On a smaller scale, but a fool is a fool.Whether it is one million, or two hundred million...Broke is broke...And i don't plan to go that route.

Someone told me once that if you don't know better, then it is a mistake. But if you knew better and still did it, you are truly a fool..:lateral: :cheers:

EDIT: I read the Bingham piece.. I always told my Wife about Hard Money and Leveraging..That I would NEVER leverage our money to try to triple it.. The banks will always lend it, and someone will always need to borrow it, but that is NOT how to Invest, in my book...Too much can go wrong, and Poof....It is all gone...I am more a Simple man, and steady as she goes...Investing and no greedy speculation..

I kind of have to ask what area you're looking in? One of my best friends neighbors' has their house for sale, 1400sqft on 8 acres with a barn, and its in the only county that is completely smog exempt in ca (new and old cars) all for $150,000. http://www.trulia.com/property/30805...urson-CA-95225

Ive been looking up in that area, I get paid more to work there and I could buy 2 houses for what I pay for rent here in so-cal, there are a couple dozen nice homes in the $60,000-75,000 in that area too.

It was in Redding of all places, near her Family.. A real high end gated community. The house was valued at over one million a few years ago.. I don't really want to move there and Like I said, it is in bad shape. The smaller houses in the neighborhood are really nice, and sell for 350,000 to 500,000, but they are in great shape. I could get this house for less than 300K, but I don't want it. It sits on 3 acres. To replace the landscaping would be 50,000 dollars.

I have a great home now in the bay area, with many custom features that I just had done.Hardwoods, granite, custom stairs.

My Wife just misses her family.
So there is the problem. I can live where I am at, and she wants to move, and move up again...

But it won't be happening , and my Wife is getting used to the idea finally..

She understands about over Leveraging...

I think you made a good decision.

Happy wife, happy life. Only to an extent imo. A good marriage is about compromise, we both give and we both take. 24 years and counting and we are mid 40's.

I think Dirty Harry said it best..."a man has got to know his limitations..."

And if you've got your health, you've got your wealth....thanx for all your input, this is a GREAT thread...

Thanks man. I know that Dirty Harry Line... And I believe I have made the right decision.

As far as my health, well that is another story, but I am working on it..That is another reason for not moving... Bad Health. Better to stay where I am at.

So, too many reasons not to do it.. So I had to say no.

And she is coming around after a few rough days. She knows my job is to protect our wealth first..And my Health/Life...

And yes this thread is great..I thank everyone who posts.I am always learning something.:cheers:

Found this article online and I thought it played pretty well with everything that has been discussed throughout this thread. Just thought I'd share in case anybody wants to read...

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/...d-name-stocks/

Excellent article.

What the underlying message is saying is that you don't need to gamble on the get rich quick stocks everyone talks about... You can get quite rich INVESTING in great companies with long histories of good earnings and dividends. The key difference - you can bet the farm (and loose the farm) trying to be an instant millionaire - or you can grow your money over a long period and get there.

What I've tried to show people is that once you have a proper amount invested in the right stuff -- and it's spinning off income/returns.... THEN you can afford to take a flier once in awhile and maybe hit a double or triple in the fast lane. But you have to build that base first!


I'm going to put a half a million into another apartment complex LLC... These types of investments are illiquid... You have no control over your capital... You can't just make a call and pull your money out. The reason I can do these is because I don't/won't need the money for anything. The group I invest with and have invested with for many years thinks like I do. We go in - buy right - put 45 to 50% down - get fixed financing - and have a pool of capital established to immediately upgrade the properties - thus also increase rental rates. These spin off nice cash flow and depreciation (a nice tax benefit) - and the last one I did returned 117% on capital in 4 years (sold it).

It's the above types of investments why people say the rich get richer. It's true. But you have to have that base of good investments FIRST - because if not - and you put your money into a rental house - or some illiquid investment - you'll stand a chance of losing it because in a year or two or three you'll have an emergency and need the money - and someone will cash you out it, but only at a steep discount... But if you have other liquidity - stocks etc - then you have wiggle room.

So that's why people need to be diversified and liquid until they reach a point where they can branch out and take on other types of investments.

That was a great article. I think i may send it to a few friends that need a little help with this sort of stuff. ;)

And yeah, as for the "get rich quick" stocks.. fuggettaboutit. Atleast, not for me. I've got way to far to go/catch up to risk any big losses. Slow and steady will win the race for me. Hopefully. ;)

On a side note, I've convinced our Owner and Accountant to look into letting us with 401ks to establish a PBA to allow us to invest our 401ks in individual stocks rather than mutual funds. They haven't made any moves yet. But just the fact their "Looking into it" helps.... Hopefully it goes through. (Small company, about 25 employees). I've held off (yet again) restructuring my 401k after hearing that. As i don't want to take any penalties to move it if it does go thru.

Another great point from Mr. Weld..

If I was to use a few words for my strategy, it would be Diversified,Global,Nimble, and Liquid.

Only a 40% LTV Fixed Mortgage on my Home, is not Liquid. Everything else is. I put that much down to dial in a payment I am comfortable with.

I have not reached the point of buying additional properties yet. I would say I am two thirds liquid, in long term Investments.

That is why I did not Buy the other home. It would upset my balance, and put me in a leveraged position that I wasn't comfortable with.

What took decades to put together, could come unraveled in one year.

Slow and steady wins the race..Sure I gamble 15% of my Liquid money on high yield stuff, but the rest is pretty boring stuff.

That is why this thread is called Investing, and not Speculating.:cheers:

SIDE NOTE...The Property I was looking at, was a guy who had many properties and investments..Shopping malls, Car Dealerships, ect....Sadly, not anymore...So a lesson to be learned, from others...

EXACTLY! :rofl:


You have no idea how many calls and emails I get asking about some speculative investment "idea" -- you know -- the old "can't loose" investment of a decade.

I PASS on all of 'em. If I want to gamble I'll go to some indian casino... Oh wait! I don't even do that!

Amen.. I truly think that even Investing is a form of gambling. Sure we study, learn, calculate numbers, but in the end, it is Investing/Gambling.

But leaving it in the bank is madness and a sure drain on your money..

So my only Risk is Investing, mostly boring, and a few high risk assets..

I am a Simple man, and that has made me money over many years. Quietly with no flash..

My buddies are into penny stocks, and timing the market. They got out in 2009, and never really got back in. Funny how they blew through a quarter million with only "stuff" to show for it...But I am the one not working..

Boring Rules !!!:lateral: :cheers: