Investing 102

[GregWeld]

I would certainly agree with this executive.... While I rarely - and I mean - RARELY - eat at McDonalds... their service, and in fact, I think the cleanliness of their stores has suffered a lot in the last few years.

Most of the time I can't understand a word their staff says... I usually have to do a "HUH?" I think standards of service and cleanliness - dare I say it - foreigners - aren't the same as ours.

Having said that -- the very fact that they RECOGNIZE this as an issue - is fantastic IMHO because you can't fix something you don't see or understand.




http://www.nbcnews.com/business/mcdo...oken-1C9327907



BTW -- I don't eat at MCD not because I don't like their food or think they put out a bad product -- I just don't eat that way -- I don't drink or smoke either but I'm certainly happy spending the dividends from Altria (MO) etc.

[WSSix]

As far as I'm concerned, Chicfila has set the fast food service standard and I've not found another company that can touch them so far. You can walk into a Chicfila that is slammed and get your food faster than you can at most other places that have only a few customers in line. They have a whole group of people working at one time not just a few. They'll bring you your food to your table a lot of the times. They speak up and are beyond courteous. When they have some special that they know will bring people in, they have even more people on staff working at that time. Simply put, they rock at service. I just wish they weren't private because I'd like to invest in them. Same thing with Subway.

[WSSix]

So I'm looking at my savings account and how much I have in it. This is money I am saving to buy a house with eventually among other things. It is not money I need right now or use regularly. I figure it will be easily more than one year and a day before I would buy a house or really do anything with a substantial portion of the funds. I'm only earning 1% on the money right now but it's guaranteed unless the US decides to pull a Cyprus. At the very least, I won't lose any money though. What can I do though to earn more than 1% though? Considering I am risk adverse I'd be happy with 3%. What I don't want, is to lose money obviously.

What I'm considering is to take a large chunk of the money and put it into another brokerage account with Fidelity. My current brokerage account is with Vanguard under my Roth IRA. I mention this because I'm going to have to pay capital gains taxes on the earnings throughout the year with the money at Fidelity but I'm going to be doing that anyway with the money left in the savings account. I figure if I stick with dividend paying stocks, diversify, and stay with solid companies, I should be ok even though this is short term at this point instead of long term like my other stuff. Really, I just want to safely earn more than 1%. Besides, by the time I actually buy a house, I may have replenished my savings and not have to even touch this money I'm considering moving around now.

So how does that sound? Think it's fairly safe? Obviously, we can't know the future but I'm just trying to earn a little bit more than I am now with the money. Are there other options I should consider? From what I've seen, CD rates are crap but I don't know what else is out there. Greg and others, I know you guys have you cash with JNK and other type stocks. Considering this is short term, should I consider those options or is the risk and the vigilance on checking the stock too high? I wouldn't be interested in anything that requires me to watch it by the hour daily.

Thanks everyone

[96z28ss]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

I would certainly agree with this executive.... While I rarely - and I mean - RARELY - eat at McDonalds... their service, and in fact, I think the cleanliness of their stores has suffered a lot in the last few years.

Most of the time I can't understand a word their staff says... I usually have to do a "HUH?" I think standards of service and cleanliness - dare I say it - foreigners - aren't the same as ours.

Having said that -- the very fact that they RECOGNIZE this as an issue - is fantastic IMHO because you can't fix something you don't see or understand.




http://www.nbcnews.com/business/mcdo...oken-1C9327907



BTW -- I don't eat at MCD not because I don't like their food or think they put out a bad product -- I just don't eat that way -- I don't drink or smoke either but I'm certainly happy spending the dividends from Altria (MO) etc.

I have no issues with McDonalds its fine when on the road driving a quick stop to grab breakfast. Too many better places to grab lunch and dinner to east there.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by WSSix

So I'm looking at my savings account and how much I have in it. This is money I am saving to buy a house with eventually among other things. It is not money I need right now or use regularly. I figure it will be easily more than one year and a day before I would buy a house or really do anything with a substantial portion of the funds. I'm only earning 1% on the money right now but it's guaranteed unless the US decides to pull a Cyprus. At the very least, I won't lose any money though. What can I do though to earn more than 1% though? Considering I am risk adverse I'd be happy with 3%. What I don't want, is to lose money obviously.

What I'm considering is to take a large chunk of the money and put it into another brokerage account with Fidelity. My current brokerage account is with Vanguard under my Roth IRA. I mention this because I'm going to have to pay capital gains taxes on the earnings throughout the year with the money at Fidelity but I'm going to be doing that anyway with the money left in the savings account. I figure if I stick with dividend paying stocks, diversify, and stay with solid companies, I should be ok even though this is short term at this point instead of long term like my other stuff. Really, I just want to safely earn more than 1%. Besides, by the time I actually buy a house, I may have replenished my savings and not have to even touch this money I'm considering moving around now.

So how does that sound? Think it's fairly safe? Obviously, we can't know the future but I'm just trying to earn a little bit more than I am now with the money. Are there other options I should consider? From what I've seen, CD rates are crap but I don't know what else is out there. Greg and others, I know you guys have you cash with JNK and other type stocks. Considering this is short term, should I consider those options or is the risk and the vigilance on checking the stock too high? I wouldn't be interested in anything that requires me to watch it by the hour daily.

Thanks everyone

You can't have your cake and eat it too..... so you can't say "you don't want to loose a dime" ----- and make money on your money. You're either going to be super safe and not risk capital --- or you're going to risk capital and make some income. SHORT TERM -- no way to do both.

Like the old saying goes -- don't invest money you're going to need. The risk of LOSING 10% in order to make 2% more isn't worth it.

If you had a 5 year horizon it would be different - but you don't. So stay put.

[GregWeld]

In the interest of full disclosure ---- I have decided to sell my positions in Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Junk Bond ETF (JNK).

I use these to "park" cash --- and as such have very substantial positions. They both have very nice short term (fully taxed) gains. And while they provide substantial positive cash flow they also come with a high degree of risk.

It "appears" that the FED is readying the market for their inevitable exit from QE (easing) of interest rates... and I want to be AHEAD of that game. When you couple the usual "sell in May and go away" --- and the possible -- note possible -- reduced FED QE this summer.... I want to trade when I want to and lock in a nice gain.

If it doesn't work out --- I'll re-buy these at some point down the road. I've used them for a long time and they've been very good places to park and make a return.

[GregWeld]

Too many posts.... I know... but I like to share with you all when I "think" about something that has bearing on this thread.


The old saying "pigs get fat - hogs get slaughtered" must be thought about as we watch Gold and Silver get absolutely pounded here!


When it (gold) was at $1800 --- all the talk was about it going to $2000! When people start talking about stuff like that --- and predicting it --- that should signal a "top" in the price. That my friends is a sure fired signal to SELL.

Once again it's the old (my truism) --- when the grocery store clerk is telling you about their investment in Gold/Silver..... SELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Apple (AAPL) is another one that comes to mind -- at $600 -- all the talking heads came on TV and pronounced $1000 was the next stop... it promptly (relatively speaking) dropped to $400...


Once EVERYONE is convinced that something is going to go bananas.... Pay attention to that and RUN AWAY with your hair on fire. These types of predictions rarely come true - and more often they signal a top is near. Yeah - something might go up for awhile after everyone is convinced -- but I'd rather get out with a "nice" profit (a pig) -- than I would gamble on getting the "maximum" (a hog) profit.

[Tony_SS]

Still if you look at the 10year chart on Gold its pretty impressive.

I think this is a good buying opportunity for gold and silver. I say that with a bit of hesitation because they are still sold on paper so can still be manipulated. But long term they are solid. And when I say 'buy' I mean take physical delivery.

[Tony_SS]

A sudden drop like this in gold is not normal....


What Happened The Last Time We Saw Gold Drop Like This?
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-0...-saw-gold-drop

[glassman]

Greg, i dont think you need to "full disclosure" us on here do you? I really apprieciate that you do, I really apprieciate your 35 years +/- of investment teaching. I like what you tell us what your gonna do in terms of "macro" investing, i believe everything can trickle down, exponentially of course. But the same applies, does it not?

I know history often repeats itself, "I think it will reach $_____," run baby run....

I finally opened my Schawb acct and funded it. I cant get all the basics down though. How to buy. I am going to attend one of the seminars on the basics, heck, i dont even know how to do paypal. I understand alot of whats said here, but buying things electronically i am still a newb. So hopefully this basic classes will help. I wish it was that easy, maybe it is, and i may be over thinking this. Its probably the "101" i need help with....haha.

thanx all, Mike