73 Reds

Kind of surprising that no one (i.e., at the AGM) has asked them about the specific details of the TRS, including when payments are, or must be made.

Does any BRK shareholder but me wish that BRK would initiate its own TRS?

That's a pretty comprehensive summary. One comment re. Geico: Combined ratio "deterioration" from a 7X CR to an 8X CR is hardly unexpected. As Greg stated, any CR that begins with an "8" is a good thing.

Dependency takes on many shapes and forms. Cultural dependency is a very good thing with family members taking care of one another for life. That is very different than nonproductive kids who are products of handouts, participation trophies and laziness. If all you know is entitlement you are basically worthless and a drag on society.

You missed the point. They made poor choices and the results speak for themselves.

Yes, as valuation ( as opposed to price) rises, the TRS becomes more risky. But by having available cash for buybacks, the company can absorb a lot of selling and minimize the downside. That, of course assumes that buybacks make sense and there isn't a legitimate reason for the price drop, in which event TRS exposure would likely be called in or eliminated altogether by management, which has a front-row seat to any such issues prior to the market in general.

As another poster alluded to previously, doesn't some of the risk depend on when, and how often payments must be made? If the stock price drops precipitously and Fairfax has available cash for buybacks, wouldn't that stem the tide of the TRS while also providing a good investment opportunity?

Only at people like you who whine like the little dancing girls in your post. Do you ever NOT think about Trump or do you save all your nonsense just for this thread?

LOL, the only people who complain on this site sit on your side of the aisle.

Are you serious? Did you bother to listen to Greg Abel just now? No excuses, just put your head down and move forward. Our youth can pursue anything they choose. In some ways I agree with Cubs that we have somewhat of a lost generation due to participation trophies and the like. And most of that is the fault of parents and yes, left-wing politics. If people can't see the fallacy of such thinking now, they'll never learn. The educational system is also to blame and likewise, those who don't understand why are destined to continue to fail. But there are, and always have been alternative forms of education that can lead to success. And if you have not already been brainwashed, you can probably get a decent education just about anywhere if you chose the right curriculum. Its all about choices, not inequality.

Blake, as a former young person and now as an older person, you don't know what you're talking about, probably because you lack perspective and experience. The fact is, young people today have FAR MORE opportunities for success than anyone from my generation. There has always been inequality in this Country and that will not change because there are many factors that contribute to inequality that cannot be adequately addressed by government with the stroke of a pen. However, a focus on education, family, success and morality largely negates the negative effects of inequality for most people. It is easy to make excuses; people who do rarely succeed. Those who accept reality and decide to go to work and make something of themselves don't worry about "inequality".

Congrats on your wedding and marriage. Regarding the way people view the World, shared morals and values are far more important than politics. Which is why many spouses with opposing political views have great marriages and wonderful families. It is folks that allow politics to interfere with their lives who seem to be the most volatile, unstable and yes, unhappy people.

Long term trends always elude short term thinking.

LOL, consider the source. Nothing goes straight up but there's no place I'd rather be doing RE business than in Florida.

So, the prices of MKL tanked and Fairfax tanked after earnings. Is Berkshire going to make a trifecta? Monday could be a lot of fun if you have cash ready to deploy. Haven't bought anything yet but locked and loaded.

Mazal Tov but you're a little late to the civil war party. Many here in this Country recognized that was a potential threat long before Trump. Systemically, he is precisely the right guy for the job at the right time. Otherwise, we'd be heading down a path where a civil war and multi-state succession would have become a real possibility. It still is, politics being so divisive and large population centers believing that socialism and government are the answers to everything. Maybe in Canada but not here.

OK I get it. He only breaks laws when it suits your narrative. Tough to argue with inconsistent thought. And you have no idea what he is capable of; if you did, you wouldn't be on here multiple times each day complaining about everything Trump! You'd recognize him for who he is and move on.

Why not? You and your bretheren seem to believe he can get away with anything. Strange time to be changing your tune, no?

Are they running?

Got me. How do I change my monikor? Is Trump '28 available?

Cubs, this thread holds no logic as it relates to Trump. THEY can't figure him out but HE'S the dumb one. Can only laugh......

Very true. As much as we all here would like to consider ourselves investing geniuses, the real genius for the masses was Jack Bogle. Can't go wrong in the long run by DCA'ing into SPY or equivalent. Anyone who shoo-shoos this approach should check their own long term results against purely passive, set-it-and-forget-it investing. With a long enough investment horizon there is never a bad time or price point to begin.

+1

Totally agree about Ivy League but primarily because of ideologies there I don't agree with. When you look at education as an investment in your children, the cost becomes secondary. Of course its up to them to use the education wisely

Having been through all this, one of my priorities was to provide my children with opportunities that I didn't have. Naive? Maybe, but they turned out well. The problem with trying to come up with a specific number is that everyone's priorities and lifestyle choices are different. I never had a paying "job" that paid me even six figures a year. Yet by the time my kids were in school, I needed $100k (2x/year!) just to pay tuitions, an equal amount or more for taxes and a good chunk for charitable gifting that became important to me. All before the first dime that was needed for "necessities". Again, its all about priorities. The numbers discussed in this thread for FU money or just to be comfortable would not have lasted us even a school year and we've always lived a very modest lifestyle, focusing more on travel and experiences rather than material items. Investments comprise most of my material items and always will because as I was able to afford something pricey or extravagant, I stopped wanting it.