fareastwarriors

i have 12 currently. all are held because they in some way help me maximize the number of points/miles i receive from signup bonuses and spend. I have like 6 now. That's down a couple already. Those sign up bonuses are very lucrative. Wow, I guess I don't work as hard taking advantage of the cash back/points. I only have 3 cards. Not counting my debit card for my checking account which has a VISA logo on it, but it isn't a credit card and provides no cash back benefits. I only use it at ATMs to get cash, never to buy anything. Once you are already getting 2% cash back on everything you buy the extra effort to get a few bonus points here or there doesn't seem to me to be worth the extra effort. Amex Preferred Cash give you 6% back on grocery. Sallie Mae Card give you 5% on grocery(including Walmart Super Center), 5% on gas, 5% on books (including Amazon.com)... I have the Sallie Mae card. I guess the disclaimer is 5% cash bank on the first $250 of spending on grocery/gas and then 1% thereafter. I can't remember the book store limit right now. But it is great reward. It's better than Amazon's Visa Card (only 3% cash back for Amazon purchases).

i have 12 currently. all are held because they in some way help me maximize the number of points/miles i receive from signup bonuses and spend. I have like 6 now. That's down a couple already. Those sign up bonuses are very lucrative.

I sold my Lukoil position for moral reasons. I'm soft like that.

This Man's Job: Make Bill Gates Richer Secretive Money Manager Michael Larson Helped Microsoft Co-Founder's Fortune Balloon to $82 Billion http://online.wsj.com/articles/this-mans-job-make-bill-gates-richer-1411093811

http://www.grahamanddoddsville.net/wordpress/Files/SecurityAnalysis/Special%20Situations/kevin_byun_denali_investors_columbia_business_school_2009.pdf

^^This I actually doubt it. They are way too big to build a book of hedge fund investments that has a snowball's chance in hell of adding a smidgeon of value. Once you get that big, it's passive investing all day (like Norway does). I hope you're right. I am California resident and I know many people depending on CalPERS to do the right thing...

I have a feeling they would jump back in a few years after they see some good hedge fund performance....

I am under the impression that if you charge a significant sum on your card out of character with historic spending you'll get a call. I put my wedding on it and got a phone call. You can check online. There's a page where you can enter in a dollar amount and it will tell you immediately if you will be approved or if you should call Amex first. Sort of off topic, but I've always wondered if a lot of value investors were into the mileage/rewards points game. So many places to find free dollar bills lying around. You betcha. It's a great game to catch some savings especially since I spend a lot.

What a gem. Thanks.

William Ackman's Pershing Square Aims to Raise $2 Billion Through IPO Cornerstone Investors Committed to $1.5 Billion http://online.wsj.com/articles/william-ackmans-pershing-square-aims-to-raise-2-billion-through-ipo-1410775551?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection#livefyre-comment

Competition Is for Losers If you want to create and capture lasting value, writes Peter Thiel, look to build a monopoly http://online.wsj.com/articles/peter-thiel-competition-is-for-losers-1410535536?mod=WSJ_hp_RightTopStories

I have to go next year...

Tax Inversion Pioneer Shakes Boardrooms With 17% Returns http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-10/inversion-pioneer-ubben-delivers-17-as-quiet-activist.html

I "conserve" water to save money, not because of the drought. People wastes way too much water from just the people I have observed.

Trader Who Scored $100 Million Payday Bets Shale Is Dud http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-03/trader-who-scored-100-million-payday-bets-shale-is-dud.html

Russia-China Prove Cheap to Investors as Money Flows Rise http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-02/russia-china-prove-cheap-to-investors-as-money-flows-rise.html

Berkshire Sees Green With Geico Gecko Ads Help Make the Auto Insurer a Money Spinner for Warren Buffett, Who Calls the Firm 'My First Business Love' http://online.wsj.com/articles/berkshire-sees-green-with-geico-1408916799?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection

Riskiest Oil Projects Are in Canada http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-15/the-biggest-oil-projects-need-high-prices-to-make-sense#r=nav-fs

Snatching Defeat from Victory at Frannie http://online.wsj.com/articles/heard-on-the-street-snatching-defeat-from-victory-at-frannie-1408294612

There's even an article on CNBC about it. http://www.cnbc.com/id/101914667

Time for Fannie and Freddie Investors To Surrender http://online.wsj.com/articles/heard-on-the-street-time-for-fannie-and-freddie-investors-to-surrender-1407782039?mod=Markets_newsreel_5

Did you ask to get it waived as a courtesy?

Fannie, Freddie Settle Into Post-Crisis Norm Earnings Fall as One-Time Events Fade; Treasury to Get $5.6 Billion Dividend Payment http://online.wsj.com/articles/fannie-freddie-settle-into-post-crisis-norm-1407434053?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection

Buying opportunity in 'punished' Russian stocks http://www.cnbc.com/id/101896354?trknav=homestack:topnews:1

Buffett Waits on Fat Pitch as Cash Hoard Tops $50 Billion http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-04/buffett-waits-on-fat-pitch-as-cash-hoard-tops-50-billion.html