Fill your brain with some goodness and read some of these recommended articles on debt, investing, health, time management, and other interesting tidbits to give you a leg up in life.
Simplify your life. Find your truth. Work towards your goals.
Financial Planning
- 37% of Gen-Xer’s don’t believe that they will have the finances to retire. That’s understated because another chunk of them haven’t run the math to make them aware that they won’t be able to mathematically – Retirement crisis: 37% of Gen X say they won’t be able to afford to retire – https://usat.ly/2ErOvtN
- If you really want to destroy and wipe out some hard-earned wealth, get sick or subject yourself to some good old-fashioned chronic diseases – Why the US spends so much more than other nations on health care. Studies point to one simple reason for why Americans pay more for health care than residents of other similar countries. Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/02/why-the-us-spends-so-much-more-than-other-nations-on-health-care.html
Debt
- Credit card debt now setting record levels. All is good in the economy. Nothing to see here, move along… – Credit card debt hits new record, raising warning sign – https://usat.ly/2CS1fg3
Investments/Valuations
- A good independent analysis of current market valuations as of December 31, 2017. Note that per their modeling the equity markets (via the S&P 500) is about 106% over-valued – https://realinvestmentadvice.com/sp-500-monthly-valuation-analysis-review-12-31-17/
- A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) sounds off on risk and the coming bear market. The masses are acting delusional (again) and will be the ones most surprised at their upcoming losses along with most likely to blame everybody but themselves. Their behaviors – “If you make money in the markets, it’s because YOU are smart. If you lose money in the markets, it’s somebody else’s fault and they should be punished.” Good luck with that over the next few years. Enjoy your upcoming losses. You deserve them!!! https://seekingalpha.com/article/4136482-risk-blind-great-bear-market-coming
- A good perspective on the frothy market as of late from a seasoned veteran of the investment industry – https://realinvestmentadvice.com/its-always-20-20-in-the-rear-view-mirror/
- Billionaire investor Sam Zell sees irrational exuberance in the markets. Says prices are based on emotions and not fundamentals. Sits on cash as the risk isn’t worth the future losses – https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/16/sam-zell-sees-irrational-exuberance-in-stocks-im-mostly-in-cash.html
- Nobel-winning economist Robert Shiller describes how, “Markets could suddenly turn and they don’t even need a trigger” when bubble conditions are present like today – https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/23/markets-could-suddenly-turn-and-they-dont-even-need-a-trigger-nobel-winning-economist-shiller-says.html
- Billionaire money manager Howard Marks tells clients that the easy money to be made in the markets is behind us and to be cautious and defensive due to over-valued conditions – https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/24/billionaire-howard-marks-says-easy-money-has-been-made-in-the-market-dont-chase-it.html
Macro
- It’s very tough to predict when we finally hit the second half of this market cycle in both the economy and publicly traded financial markets. What is easier to predict, are the devastating losses that ordinary investors will incur because they are too ignorant to understand the under-workings of global central bankers and the role of debt in this recover. Remember, there are no free lunches in economics – http://www.alt-market.com/articles/3346-party-while-you-can-central-bank-ready-to-pop-the-everything-bubble
- This is a very technical article on the VIX, and the underlying components of options (gamma, beta, vega, etc.). The information in this article may sound like a lot of gibberish, but it will explain why the upcoming correction has the potential to quickly spread like a wildfire and get out of control in the global equity markets but especially in U.S. equity markets – https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-01-11/has-only-happened-twice-history-goldman-asks-should-we-worry
- A good article on the “virtuous cycle” in economics. What if all of the policies that governments and central bankers have implemented to help things turn out to be as destructive as they appear to be? – https://realinvestmentadvice.com/the-death-of-a-virtuous-cycle/
- Barclays CEO warns, “It’s starting to feel a little bit like 2006”. I’d say more like summer of 2007 but what’s 18 months in the scope of things? Either way, we appear to be heading towards another shock to the financial system with debt levels that have gone bananas around the globe. I think we forget everything that was written in “This Time Is Different” which covered 8 centuries of debt folly pretty accurately from a historical perspective. – https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/25/its-starting-to-feel-a-little-bit-like-2006-barclays-ceo-warns.html
- Billionaire real estate investor Jeff Greene warns, “I see ‘irrational complacency’ in Davos, and asset ‘bubbles everywhere’.” – https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/26/jeff-greene-sees-irrational-complacency-and-lots-of-asset-bubbles.html
Health
- Further proof that the health of our population continues to decline. The military is now struggling to find young recruits that are fit enough to serve. Yeah, let’s cancel gym and physical education classes in our schools – brilliant!!! – Physically fit recruits for Army are hard to find. Especially in these states – https://usat.ly/2EuDhF5
- This one is outstanding research coming out of big data and fitness trackers. Sleep variability is real – Fitbit tracked 6 billion nights of sleep—and found one simple change can help you snooze better. Fitbit tracked data from their users sleep experiences and found that going to bed at the same time every night improves the quality of your sleep – Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/04/fitbit-data-a-consistent-bedtime-routine-creates-better-quality-sleep.html
- I guess everybody has different definitions of “excellent health. But if you are just a tad under obese, are taking strong statins for cholesterol, never exercise, eat tons of fast food and soda’s, physically look like a slob, I wouldn’t define you as “excellent health” and certainly not a role model for success – Trump’s Physical Revealed Serious Heart Concerns, Outside Experts Say – https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/17/us/politics/trump-physical-heart-health-cholesterol.html
- Train your brain to meet your weight loss goals – https://www.usatoday.com/story/sponsor-story/bright-line-eating/2017/12/23/how-train-your-brain-meet-your-weight-loss-goals-2018/108870636/