OT: Stock and Investment Thread
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No I-Bonds? 7.12% now and will increase again in April. Limit is $10k per year, though. If married, $20k.
My wife put in about $12k several years ago. The bonds made dirt for a long time, but I guess now they are paying off. Not sure about adding to the account. Rates vary and the money isn't really accessible.
You have to hold I-Bonds for at least one year to avoid any penalty. Last year and this year, they are solid. As a married couple, you can max out at $20k annually. Nice safe return. Although you can hold them for 30 years, after one year you can redeem them without penalty.
You can also purchase up to another $5k as part of your tax refund/return.
I was thinking about paying off my mortgage until they gave me a 30 yr fixed at 2.5%. Would love to invest it in a risk free investment in the 4s. It’s not free money, they are giving me money at that point.
Yeah, I did a 15-year around 2%. I’m always tempted to pay it off but know it would be a mistake.
It may be a "mistake" on paper, but we paid off our mortgage and it was worth the peace of mind and comfort of not having that bill (or debt). Also a big step for financial independence (i.e., you can retire any time you want).
Sound like Putin is scaling back the war after getting whooped:
Moscow has suggested it will scale back its invasion in Ukraine to focus on "liberating" territory claimed by Russian-backed separatists after meeting fierce resistance in Kyiv. On Friday, the Russian army said the first phase of its military campaign was over and troops will now focus on the country's eastern Donbas region. Sergei Rudskoi, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of Russia's armed forces, said: "The main tasks of the first stage of the operation have been completed. The combat potential of Ukraine's armed forces has been significantly reduced, which allows [us] - I emphasise once again - to focus our main efforts on achieving the main goal - the liberation of Donbas." The announcement comes after significant Russian losses, including 20 battalions.
Moscow has suggested it will scale back its invasion in Ukraine to focus on "liberating" territory claimed by Russian-backed separatists after meeting fierce resistance in Kyiv. On Friday, the Russian army said the first phase of its military campaign was over and troops will now focus on the country's eastern Donbas region. Sergei Rudskoi, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of Russia's armed forces, said: "The main tasks of the first stage of the operation have been completed. The combat potential of Ukraine's armed forces has been significantly reduced, which allows [us] - I emphasise once again - to focus our main efforts on achieving the main goal - the liberation of Donbas." The announcement comes after significant Russian losses, including 20 battalions.
Why do you think it’s a mistake on paper only? Especially for you who thinks the equity market will always go up. If you truly believe that, your mortgage pays you money, not the other way around.
We paid our mortgage off also and do not feel it is a mistake.
It gives you so much financial flexibility and allows the ability to be more aggressive with your stategy
+1
Our current cost of living is so low! Even with spending more on discretionary items than we should, we are literally saving close to 2/3 of our monthly income.
Which is why we can keep buying the dip!
It’s simple math. You can have the same financial flexibility if you invest in the right investment.
I agree with your math, but I took the same route as Tom1944 and T2k. The peace of mind is well worth it to me. I also had excess liquidity that was building up with a return of 50 basis points (didn’t want to over invest in the market as prices were inflated) so it made sense to me to pay off my 3% loan and net 2.5%. Now I can invest the increased monthly savings that I am generating……when it makes sense.
Hopefully the Russians will reduce the fighting so the Ukrainians can go back to their country to rebuild. It was a no win situation for Russia after the first week of fighting.
Russia now stating its main objective has been completed: to secure the pro-Russia eastern border region of Donbas. But how can Ukraine accept this? Not only did they lose sovereign territory to an invader, but the invader also destroyed so much of the country beyond Dongras, with facilities, homes, and lives lost, and many citizens displaced. Sanctions will not be lifted, as reparations will have to be paid. I just don't see this happening. The conclusion will not be soon or quick or neat.
The west will do the heavy financial lifting to rebuilt the rest of the country. This is a very good conclusion. Putin is a crazy man with nukes that was boxed into a corner. Those regions are very pro-Russian and would likely vote for independence if given the chance. Putin needs to save face. His country has been economically destroyed and the world knows his military is crap compared to the west.
But he has tons of nukes, so you need to give up something to get this over with.
The CCP owned vegetable - facing a brutal election and corruption scandal - wants nice, long WWIII
More damage to be included along the way
More damage to be included along the way
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Got to try and keep our domestic politics out of this thread. The context of this war is how it applies to and impacts financial markets. Take that other posturing over to the CE board.
Putin has been too quiet of late and I’m sure he knows that certain buzz words will rattle the US market. Wouldn’t be surprised if he makes some bold statements this week in response to Biden.
Pass on any advice from AG.....who royally missed and f'ed up in the run up to 2008.
I just watched Gaming Wall St on HBOMax - the documentary on GME and WSB. Recognizing that Roaring Kitty aka Keith Gill is now a multi-millionaire, I don’t care what anyone says = his sole motivation was to create a frenzy around a cheap stock that he knew was heavily shorted. I don’t think he actually realized how far it would go, but if you watch his YouTube GME videos he looks and sounds like a total idiot. His piss-poor analysis seemed to ignore that GME was hemorrhaging customers with net operating losses of nearly $800 million in 2018 and with share prices dipping to $3.32 by August 2019. But, I’ll give the guy credit for finding lightening in a bottle. And the recent GME purchases by Cohen and Larry Cheng that caused the stock to sky-rocket two weeks ago were clearly coordinated - Cheng’s fund, Volition Capital, was Chewy’s first major backer and he’s been buddies with Cohen for years. The SEC may be the biggest bunch of buffoons of any regulatory agency.
Yeah, I’m pretty sure he still has a sizable position but I’ve read that he cashed out at least $13M. Probably part of his litigation strategy which was centered on BS that he was simply an investor with conviction so his lawyers probably advised him to hang on to the rest and wait to unload them or even buy more if inclined.
…“He didn’t want to touch his index-fund investments, so instead he got a personal loan with an 11.19% interest rate from a credit union and used it to fund most of his GameStop purchase. He bought shares at $234 each.”
Obviously a lot of people got burned but main stream media only covers how the big bucks were made, not lost. Remember Musk and Palihapitiya flaming it and sucked in all the sheep to pump it up?
Man, people are dumb.
“He didn’t want to touch his index-fund investments, so instead he got a personal loan with an 11.19% interest rate from a credit union and used it to fund most of his GameStop purchase. He bought shares at $234 each.”
It’s worth watching but could have done a better job on the Robinhood/Citadel nonsense. Also, key figures like Keith Gill declined to be interviewed.
Taking investment advice from Keith Gill is like taking dating advice from Kim Kardashian. But both are multi-millionaires LOL.
just another scam. some got rich and some lost money And no one goes to jail. Capitalism at its best.
Just like the scare and short hedgers and d-bags like Ackman. He should have been in jail a long time ago!just another scam. some got rich and some lost money And no one goes to jail. Capitalism at its best.