UK

I am not sure about this tax or is it a real risk at all. I tried to find information on it myself and consulted with local tax specialists from big 4 and their answer is cool "do not worry, this only exist on paper, nobody ever pays it". It is also not broker related. But as it stands today it quite crazy and with very low exemption for non us persons.

I like/share Dimons view: war is a unknown worry, everything else is like weather forecasts:)

What is slight margin for you? 10 or 30? For me this bearish vs bullish positioning is somewhere betweeh 30 per cent cash and 30 per cent margin. I very rarely went to the margin side in the last years, because was constantly worried of zero rates, valuations and general too good mood in the market:). In hindsight it was mistake not to do this in the end of 2018 and start of 2020.

I still use only IB (IE), but from time to time am thinking about this question myself. I do not really worry about this in case of IB too much, but it seems the main benefit with Schwab would also be much higher SIPC insurance vs EU based broker. Is this part of your consideration? However, margin rates (if one would use some leverage) is unthinkably higher with Schwab vs IB? On the separate issue, what is your opinion on this U.S. Estate Tax for Foreign Investors? It is not Schwab related and theoretically should apply for any US investment for non US person and as far as I understand this tax is not practicaly implemented. However with US based broker you would be much closer to IRS, than with EU based?

Does anyone has any opinion on SFOR (S4 Capital)? https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2021/08/19/why-sorrell-s-s4-capital-just-so-damn-attractive-right-now https://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2022/jul/21/s4-capitals-share-slump-means-sir-martin-sorrell-has-a-crisis-on-his-hands

https://www.theverge.com/23560328/openai-gpt-4-rumor-release-date-sam-altman-interview

Some countries are already pre anouncing their new support for Ukraine, seems after tomorrows meeting they will receive a lot of new stuff.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-18/chatgpt-will-be-the-calculator-for-writing-top-economist-says?srnd=premium

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-19/china-creates-strong-nation-ride-app-as-data-regime-tightens?srnd=premium

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-18/summers-now-more-optimistic-on-us-outlook-than-three-months-ago?leadSource=uverify wall

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-01-18/wagner-group-founder-prigozhin-is-putin-s-model-entrepreneur?srnd=premium

https://www.investing.com/news/world-news/wagner-chief-prigozhin-attacks-putin-administration-over-failure-to-block-youtube-2982772 He said there were two reasons why it had not been banned in Russia, which has clamped down on foreign media since invading Ukraine in February: that it was supposedly indispensable for ordinary citizens and, primarily, the opposition of President Vladimir Putin's administration. Moat:)

It seems you a right. Though it is only a benchmark, in his case it would be much better to use just to SNP in EUR including dividends or some ETF (SXR8 or VUA1), available as real alternative for investor. At least this is how I understand a benchmark:). It is interesting that I have never spoted this issue with benchmarks myself, despite of following RV and his results for quite some time, maybe because it seems totaly out of character for him.

or: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BonziBuddy

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-17/china-s-population-starts-shrinking-first-drop-since-1960s?srnd=premium-europe The population drop-off came much faster than previously expected, and could act as a brake on economic growth by slowing demand for goods such as new houses. Due to the decline, the Chinese economy may struggle to overtake the US in size and the nation could lose its status as the world’s most populous country to India this year. As recently as 2019, the United Nations was forecasting that China’s population would peak in 2031 and then decline, but last year the UN had revised that estimate to see a peak at the start of 2022. The labor force is already shrinking, long-term demand for houses will fall likely further, and the government may also struggle to pay for its underfunded national pension system.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-17/microsoft-azure-to-add-chatgpt-to-cloud-services?srnd=premium-europe

https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-energy-clout-is-waning-weakening-its-global-influence-11673863787

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-16/didi-wins-approval-to-restore-ride-hailing-apps-to-stores-as-crackdown-eases?srnd=premium-europe&leadSource=uverify wall

Those same sources are saying, that Russia is preparing at least 500-600 K additional mobilization for this spring offences. Even yet there is >400 K prisoners left (they also stared to use them for war production, if not for meat grinder). Still no martial law officially, but they are starting to seriously subjugate economy and oligarchs for war effort (those not on board could loose their influence, or live, or both). Also they increased social spending for low income people (common prosperity anyone?) substantially. This is the same disillusioned group they are targeting to voluntary join war, by offering quite generous money for service or for family, if participant dies (https://youtu.be/Jn6jOlpMg1Y). Most importantly it seems there is still quite high support fir war in general public, they are not happy about the war progress and direction, but even more not prepared or willing to accept defeat. Such current situation is not very favorable or even sustainable for Ukraine, math is not on their side. So now it is almost sure, that more serious equipment, like heavy tanks, is coming from the west soon. This probably will be seen as an escalation by Russia.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-war-long-west-ready-11673571215?mod=hp_lead_pos9