Two years ago I wrote about our booming economy and my hopes for a strong future. I listed five key reasons why I thought the economy would continue to grow and reward investors in the process. I mentioned that maintaining those five items would be an important part of continuing our growth cycle. So today…
Achieving any success has always come with a price. My wife, a wonderful piano player, spent her whole life practicing and developing her skills. Our first major purchase together was a beautiful piano, and nothing we have ever owned has gotten more use. I used to lay on the floor listening for hours as she…
Sailing has taught me about being prepared. Every time we leave the safety of the harbor we venture into the unknown. We usually expect a fun pleasant journey, but we are always prepared for the worst, because we know that sometimes the worst will come. Sailors know that expecting the unexpected is the best way…
In 2007 I learned a valuable lesson from a dear friend who was running a successful business. Like most businesses, the growth of his company always preceded the revenue and so it was necessary for my friend to use credit as a funding mechanism. Lines of credit also helped him smooth out cash flow as…
In 1897 the New York Sun responded to young Virginia O’Hanlon’s simple question about Santa Claus. She had heard conflicting opinions on the issue of Santa Claus but her Papa had assured her that she could find the truth by asking the paper because, ‘If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.’ The response to…
The holiday season is a time when I meet with people to discuss their dreams, and their fears, for the coming year. They often ask why I am optimistic when there is so much to be worried about. Am I blind to the world around me or do I know something they don’t know? Author…
I had an interesting visit with a younger investor this week regarding a particular cryptocurrency. Our office does not offer, nor make recommendations on cryptocurrency investments, but I will share this story for educational purposes only. The young man wanted to buy a certain coin that all of his friends were recommending to him. It…
I had the opportunity a few years ago to drive a high-powered race car. At one point in the experience, cones were set up in an obstacle course with sprinklers creating slick conditions at many of the turns. It was a fun but frustrating experience, racing against the clock while trying not to spin out…
A contractor friend was telling me his employees’ wages have almost doubled in the past year. I asked if they were taking advantage of the windfall and setting aside money for a future slow down. He laughed and said that despite record wages, just as many were asking for Holiday advances on their paycheck as…
When I was 11 our family moved from Southern California to Toronto, Canada. My dad was promoted to run the new Canadian division of the defense contracting firm he worked for. There were 10 kids in our family at the time so moving was a huge project. My dad was a highly organized production manager…