LOL . . . green text isn't even needed. :D

Let me try...

Hey, Ian, there are people on TV who will send you an envelope to send away all that unwanted gold . . .

Can you PM me the phone number?

That haul actually is a sad tale. My late brother was obsessed with gold for 15 years. He was eagerly awaiting the collapse of the Western economic community & he was convinced that gold was heading to $10K + an ounce. These are his remnants. I lost money on his silver bars but the gold should end up + 50% over about 4 years.

Ian

You mean currencies and other assets drop 50% over about 4 years and gold stands still?

True. In Canuckistan, we have to convert CDN to USD to buy metal. When it is cashed, it has to come back to CDN or stay in USD until some opportune time to exchange. If I took the time to do all of the math from time of his purchase, it would probably work out to 5% . . .

Ian

At least you money is worth something. Our kiwi dollar is like trying to buy something with Monopoly money :(

Hello Midas! At a quick glance, it appears you have approx. $50K there which I assume is probably more than 10% of your liquid assets. If I were in your position, I'd consider reducing my holdings to 7-8% and hanging on to that indefinitely as a diversification hedge. Your brother's tale is a sad one (you've posted a bit over the years). I just don't understand folks who are obsessed with stuff like gold...now Porsches and spoons and the like (stuff you can use and enjoy) are another matter entirely :).

It's my intent to dollar cost in (over time) with gold/silver until I attain a higher % ratio (even at current prices). If you're interested in reducing your positioin over time, shoot me a pm and maybe we can work something out.

Keith

I have heard the same %s mentioned. I am about 5oz overweight. ;) If I decide anytime soon, I will let you know. The problem with real metal, is that there has to be a solid paper trail or they threaten you with an assay - and the cost involved. I had to fight with the bank (main branch of CIBC) over several months to get the ownership changed. They - of course - wanted me to sell & rebuy. :eek: Yeah, as if that was going to happen.

It was a comical scene when I sold the silver. I had to cart it from the bowels of the bank up to the metal exchange on the main floor. Me pushing a cart with the silver bricks piled on top with the safety deposit box manager & a security guard in tow. I wished THOSE bricks had been AU . . .

Ian

I don't go with an index, but I've stayed in the market. My market investments are up about 8% over the last 5 years. That's not great, but what can you get with anything else?
Gold is the last thing I would get into at this point. Anything that's being pushed as hard as gold is now can't be good.

this is probably a good time to buy for those with a lot of cash

if you missed the big low, here is another chance

It could also be a great way to lose a lot of paper wealth.

I originally believed some parts of housing had reached a bottom, but my conviction is now being questioned. If housing continues the slide, I think the economy and market will go sideways or lower.

As far as the market is concerned, I got out in fall 05 and still haven't gotten back. For a while, high yield savings made things nice, but that's gone, and preservation of wealth is the game. Investing in one's well-being and safety may yield the greatest returns over the next decade.

Look at stocks vs. bonds - been about 40-50 years since stocks were this cheap.

the alt. is cash (or for the crazier people out there, gold or bullets... maybe gold bullets)

it appears unlikely that businesses can continue to grow much w/o hiring; and many of them have been growing -- they have done about all the cost-cutting they can, further growth requires more workers

Perhaps, bonds are overpriced, giving stocks a generous basis for comparison.

Another alt. is trimming debt and living a more sustainable lifestyle hinged not upon extraneous consumption.

i The premise that business wishes or desires to grow may or may not be correct.

Not saying you are wrong, but I do believe we should begin to question the definition of "normal." What worked in the past may not be the way into the future. It is crucial for those aspiring for financial independence to decouple from the mainstream, to think, and to act independently. I sure as heck don't have the answers, but I am trying.

Communist.

"been about 40-50 years since stocks were this cheap."
"true in March 2009, but I'm not so sure right now."


- this is based on an analysis I got 2-3 days ago via Email; I used a range since I didn't go back to check on the exact dates.

To each according to his credit limit...

So when Wayne saw that the SP 500 was breaking below 1040 his feet got cold and his balls shriveled up...and he CRIED I WANT OUT...

OK...The mistake in judgement was not analyzing the market and seeing that it has been trading sideways since May...or to put it another way the Stock Market has been in a TRADING RANGE...SP 500 ...1050 to 1125 apx...

So if you WANT OUT..exactly where is the best place in the TRADING RANGE to jump ship...1040 or 1125....

Awhile back I came to the conclusion that the UNCERTAINITY IN WASHINGTON translates to FEAR...This BECAME ESPECIALLY TRUE AFTER THE OBAMA SPEECH ON THE GULF...he proved that his way of centralized governmental controls efficacy just ain't so, and his leadership is just about NO LEADERSHIP. TO the Markets this translates to FEAR AND LOATHING...so people get real SKITTISH which is reflected in lower stock prices...

Some bright boy should do the research and track the market before and after the Obama speech.

Going FORWARD..Corporate Earnings have been continually strong....stock prices have not risen...PE RATIOS are at for modern times very low...This portends UPWARD MOVEMENT...one may view it as a coiled spring becoming compressed.

Second Corporations are SITTING ON 2T USD IN CASH..and are just waiting to deploy that money when they can see a clear cut direction that they like...WHICH FOR THE MOST PART MEANS A REPUDIATION OF THE OBAMA PELOSI CABAL IN DC...SO the election is going to be a pivot point.

Three a Market Meltdown...we bin there and done that...as with everything pendulums tend to over swing in times of crisis...LOOK at what was happening at the market low...it was Gotterdammerung time...and unless we return to that scenario we have seen the lows.

Four We are entering into a BOND BUBBLE....Stocks have declined 9% and Bonds have risen 9% in the past 2 years...FEAR is what is driving the price of Bonds and the corresponding interest rates. Investors from all over the world have bin buying US T BILLS as an ON THE BEACH STRATEDGY....The Fed is pumping liquidity into this system...SOONER OR LATER people are going to realize that they ain't makin no money on the risk that they are takin in those Bonds...and an exodus will occur... and the money has to go someplace...this past week the 10 year went from 2.73% to just over 3% and the stock market has done what? The move this week was due to some mediocre good news...that the economy wasn't going into the tank

Was listening to one of the big money managers at Credit Suisse...a Mr Zinneman..he has started allocating his portfolio into the stock market and is taking money out of the Bond Market as he believes that there is going to be a MELTUP in the Stock Market.. This is the first guy I tend to agree with...

Also when pessimism is at the highest is usually when markets turn...and there are a lot of naysayers about the stock market...On this subject I have not been one of them and my money is where my mouth is...

I have been watching the Stock and Bond Markets EVERYDAY for OVER 20 years...I have been invested in the Stock and Bond Markets for OVER 20 years...after awhile you just get to know what the stock market wants to do...it is kind of like being married..you become familar with the other persons habits.

Tabs is correct. Corp. earnings are at an all time high as is the amount of cash Companies have on hand. Dividends paid are going up. Now is the time to buy, not sell. Same for real estate, we've bottomed out and prices will climb.

There has been little home building in several years. When the market turns, the excess inventory will be depleated. Home prices are artifically low due to foreclosures and short sales...........

Now is the time to buy if you can leave your money there for awhile. Don't expect quick gains, but if you wait, you'll buy in at a higher price.....

Me, I'm sitting on 3 homes that are paid for....The lease on one nets me about 4% as opposed to selling and having that cash in hand. Not sure I can safely earn 4% elsewhere, and will gain when the market rebounds.....

I am trying to convince Mrs Notfarnow that we should park our $$ in a longhood 911 or Ferrari 308, and a sprinkling of Alfa Spiders. I think my wisdom will be apparent in 5 yrs, she remains unconvinced.