argonaut

Pretty funny :)...I wondered why your initials did not match his figured I was missing something. And for those who wonder how I am taking the course...you can download the complete course pretty close to how he teaches it (e.g. session is up within a few hours of the actual class) through iTunes...I confess I'm behind the class schedule.

Thanks for the update Aswath. I am going through your valuation class online and enjoying it! Cheers, Marc

Thanks Paul. I sent you a pm. Marc

I'm looking forward to both :)

Very interesting, Parsad! Thanks for sharing...as I read through I can't help but wonder if this will be a very similar talk for the Ivey Conference I plan on attending in Toronto :) Just based upon the Toronto title of course: Topic - The Ideal Team Size of an Investment Operation

@alpha23 I use Morningstar too, online through Seattle's library though I just noticed that I don't think they cover foreign traded stocks through Seattle's online subscription...have you found any similar restrictions?

For news in particular: Several areas depending on where I am...including: - Fidelity Active Trade Pro (I'm not a trader but the software has lots of news/customizable list features) - Google alerts - Secfilings - Skygrid (ipad)

Great! Thanks for sharing!

For what's it's worth...my notes from reading Tap Dancing to Work a few year's ago on market valuation: ... total value of US stocks to GNP: Buffet said 70-80% according to Fortune article from 2009 is a good range to buy stocks at) 75% or less - market is Undervalued- begins to be a place to buy...over 90% begins to be overvalued and not a good time to buy..begins to be time to sell... P286 There is a graphic too showing that most of last century the market was 70-90%..

I will add my .02 regarding McClendon's profit participation. While large was not that unusual in type...I was in the homebuilding industry in FL decades ago when banks and homebuilders were booming and there were all sorts of profit participation clauses with banks, investors, developers etc each sharing small kickers. This was before stock options really took off as a compensation form.

GNCMA today (thanks Packer!), aig leaps last week (thanks Uccmal!)

I've been very pleased with Fidelity over Schwab. Fidelitys' pro platform with streaming news, quotes,options etc is great...even though I buy and hold...it's still nice to have the streaming features up and running to see the latest info come in... And their representatives have been great to work with...when some of the FNMA preferred shares were not easy to access online I simply called them; they placed the orders and charged me the online commissions...international will look for the best place to rade as others have pointed out... yes, they require a certain amount of paperwork (fine print :)) to start up different accounts with whatever you need/wish (options/international etc)...but I imagine most brokers require similar amounts of paperwork...

Added to CHK position

Surplus or "Float"....I have not looked recently but though that was the "float"...or are they the same thing?

Has anyone looked into some Australian re insurance stocks? I see discussions on Munich and Lancashire...after reading this article I wonder about the other side of the world :)

I think Google Hangout has a limit of 10 for video? I think our GoToMeeting will do at least 25 if that would be of assistance? I'm pretty sure we can get a temporary expansion to 100 if needed as well.

Thank you both! As an attendee, it was big fun and I enjoyed the opportunity to meet all of you in person. Cheers, Marc

I found the 529 investment choices (at least through Fidelity) quite limiting and mostly indexes as someone wrote above. Eric, are you seeing more choices and or self-directed through Vanguard?

I'm up for the coffee and then up to your office, with perhaps bringing food up with us from the yard house or equivalent ? Don't mind having a transcript available but video of attendees I'm not fond of. Just my .02 I 2nd GVC... Thanks for putting all of this together!

I would be interested in hearing more on the FNMA preferreds as one topic option...I can probably think of a few others too...

Works for me. We could meetup to chat over dinner too. Just an idea.

I am very interested and would be happy to host at my conference room - up 8-9 folks, if more we would need a different location. Cheers, Marc

WEB is very discreet in listing the 1B positions...yes, he added DTV...with a disclaimer about some investments not shown because of pension funds.... So DVA which I believe is over the 1B mark (and others too?) are not shown..keeping them more out of the limelight... There are quite a few pension funds that are used by web and Ted/Todd for the purchases... I still ponder if we are seeing a slow run at DVA...thoughts?