ericd1

I think you've nailed it. After 50 years of equities I find myself anchored. Thanks!

But this is a value forum - shouldn't he be valuation timing it? Shifting away from any equities relative to their expected return? Are your equities indexed or in individual stocks, Eric? If the former, I'd make the switch today (believing the market overvalued and so the expected return not enough greater than bonds to justify the risk). If the latter, you might shift away first those with the least expected return. There's a mix of indexed and individual positions. 80% IRA which I can rollover, 20% taxable (will pay CG tax) There's lots of ideas and strategies on accumulating retirement funds and suggestions for retirement allocations,, but I'm not finding much on how to reset portfolio for retirement and withdrawl strategies. %

Agree - Has to be fixed plan to accomplish.

Looks interesting, however, a little complex for me. Thanks

The great minds on this board probably have some ideas I haven't considered... How would you approach moving from 100% equities to a 75/25 equity/bond allocation over the next year/years?

I thought long and hard about Apple when it slid, but didn't pull the trigger. Perhaps more than a few of us (me included) missed Fairfax' 2014 move. Could have should have but didn't sell IBM over 210. Still a happy camper!

I've been thinking about the drop in oil prices and here's my two cents... 1-World demand for oil isn't in a rapid decline and longer-term demand is increasing 2-New US production has added enough supply to upset global supply/demand 3-Current oil price decline is due to global over-supply 4-OPEC countries will cut production - Why 'give away' valuable reserves and they need the income 5-The global economy will strengthen from the oil price drop 6-Prices will return to $100/bbl < 3 years 7-Situation has created lots of opportunities up and down the risk scale from majors to Russian equities I have been nibbling on - OIL - iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil TR ETN - Risky for many reasons (ETN unsecured,etc), but a very small position highly correlated to WTI price

BAC & GE leaps

I think with a little online checking you will find there's an error in the math. :)

Eric - I believe the pre-existing exclusion is coming to an end with the new laws. Not sure when but you'll be able to get coverage. And if you don't they will fine you. Wow. I wanted to purchase coverage that extended beyond what my supplemental Medicare would pay, nope not available...like you I don't get it...

Green - no I'm not following Walter, but I took a quick look and it merits some further study. They passed up on refinancing some debt and the stock took a hit. I've been seeing more optimistic reports on coal use including power generation and steel production, but definitely early in the turn. However that's also the time to find some opportunities. Time to start kicking the tires.

Anyone looking at coal mining? KOL eft nearing 2009 lows.

I'd sing Happy Birthday, but it would ruin your day...Have a great birthday!!!

They probably want STEC's patents. There's not much else there there.

I have a subscription to SIPro and use several of their screens along with some of my own to find ideas. The data seems to be pretty good and the there's a ton of criteria you can screen. I find it much better than the online apps (or at least I haven't found a better one). Plus the $200 a year is a whole lot less than Value Line.

Our local papers including one of Lee's seem to be entering the digital age offering local merchants advertising packages with print, Internet and mobile exposure. Is it working? I'm not sure if it is today, but I believe they may eventually figure it out and become the "local search" others, like the yellow pages/book, etc. haven't quite figured out. I don't see newspapers digital subscriptions replacing current hard copy subscription $ volume and unless they can figure out online real estate and auto advertising (the largest advertising contributors) I don't know how they can exit hard copy - reducing costs as you suggest. You and Warren could be right, but it seems like it will take a long time to find out...

Lots of options on equity and who buys or sells their shares. Let's take this to private msg have some ideas for you with controls. :) :) :)

The answer is no, and that's only because he put a higher price tag on A. If you knew for certain there's no high inflationary years ahead, it makes sense to go with B- your annual return is plainly higher Or is it? Considering the cost of capital (8%? 9%?) for a small company, A is the clear choice, ceteris paribus, given the information supplied. Interestingly, A would likely have a lower cost of capital than B, ceteris paribus, because of its superior economics. A Bayesian analysis with weighted probabilities for various stress tests, including inflation, would almost certainly show A to be more anti fragile, assuming that the two companies are comparable, except for the superior economics of A, compared to B. :) Huh???

Deep makes a good point - no equity...but I think "it depends". At the taco shop I was leaving town. Graduated with my MBA and was moving to a "real job". So I felt my interests were best served with the managers owning and running the business. It worked for about ten years. Then they stopped sharing the profits, choosing to pay themselves so there weren't any profits. Kinda ungrateful if you ask me, but it is what is it. The comment to me was you already got back many times your investment...I don't think they understand capitalism. But it worked-they had skin in the game and the business is still there 30+ years later and I'm proud to be an owner. I think sharing in the profits is a great way to go...giving equity only if the situation requires it. If you give equity having a mandatory buy-sell agreement should be part of the deal. The agreement provides a way to handle a departing minority owner and helps to value the business if it is required. Sounds like you are off to a good start with your expansion plans. I hope you have good internal controls at the payment desk. I've known several physicians who were robbed blind by the bookkeeper...and none of them pressed charges...I think because they were too embarrassed to admit it!

Question - do you intend to be an active owner/operator or would this be a passive investment? I think that makes a big difference in your options but here are a couple of ideas for both. Active Turn one of your hobbies into a business. Sell online, at conventions, other distribution channels etc. Example, my nephew knows "board games" he buys at yard sales, goodwill stores, etc and sells online. Find an older guy/gal with niche business looking to retire buy out with training period. Become a locksmith and hang out a shingle - work your own hours Learn about precious stones. Go on a hunting collecting vacation and bring 'em home to sell. Open a halloween haunt - I'm looking for partners. (active or passive) Passive Find a business operator that doesn't have startup capital. He runs the business and gets a salary you own the business and take the profits - need good controls to keep from getting ripped off. I've considered a used car lot. Would also save $ on my auto purchases and use, which could add up to quite a bit. Find several other investors and start a larger business than you could on your own. Be the general partner with 51%+ ownership / control. Car wash, heat n air service, etc. Look for unmet demand. Buy four $25k pieces of art you like - buy, hold and enjoy. FYI. All my adult life I have owned sideline businesses. Made $ on all of them, but some were definitely better than others. Now that I'm retired from my day job I have had the opportunity to get involved in many more. I'm currently a financial copywriter, run a costume/magic/tux rental shop, (my wife rents fine linens for weddings) I have the Halloween Express franchise for our city. I am a part owner in a taco shop in a college town. I started it and sold 3/4 to my managers (never should have given up more than 51%). I have a commercial website that could be a huge business (similar public company does $300M) but I have not been able to get traction with it - needs more time and $ than I want to contribute at the current time. Would like to start a Halloween haunt in the area - goes with costume shop, Halloween Express, etc. and could produce great returns. Would need investors to properly scale the business. That's a way to say I'm too old to risk the $ on my own. My suggestion is to throw something on the wall and if it sticks great. If not, try again! As I said some things work out better than others!

50% BRK. Stock and calls 20% BAC. Stock, warrants, calls 15% AIG. Warrants 5% Other (too many ideas) 10% Cash

Here's a new eft with an interesting spin. There more about it on in in an ebook $5 on this website. Faber wrote the Ivy Portfolio and has a ton of interesting links on his site. http://www.mebanefaber.com/ http://etfdailynews.com/2013/05/14/cambria-etf-trust-launches-shareholder-yield-etf-syld/

Eric - If you had a position in Telsa you could have bought everyone on the board a new "S"... :) :) :)

Congrats Eric -- I've toyed with buying a Volt, but 20 miles on charge hardly seems worth it...I'm very happy with my Prius and my wife thinks I'm crazy (I could drive anything I want, but I choose a Prius) LOL...Will want to hear your personal observations about the car after you've had a little time to enjoy it! BTW - The shorts are getting killed -- Up 177% YTD and 57% over the last three trading days!

Many thanks for removing the annoying ads Parsad....I know my donation is going to a worthy cause!