Chock full of nuts for us retirement squirrels. .jpmorgan.retirement-insights/guide-to-retirement-us ..read more

The New York Times is reporting that scammers have used QR codes to steal personal information: Scammers have used QR codes to steal personal information by imitating legitimate companies or sending deceptive emails and text messages, the Federal Trade Commission said. QR codes, the square bar codes that can be scanned and read by smartphones, are seemingly used everywhere: to board flights, enter concerts and look at restaurant menus. But scammers trying to steal personal information have also been using QR codes to direct people to harmful websites that can harvest their data, wrote Alvar ..read more

https://messaging-custom-newsletters.nytimes.com/dynamic/render?campaign_id=116&emc=edit_pk_20231114&first_send=0&instance_id=107722&nl=paul-krugman&paid_regi=1&productCode=PK&regi_id=22268089&segment_id=150044&te=1&uri=nyt://newsletter/d56e99b4-00fb-5ccf-b9f7-952a0778146f&user_id=83d45440ead1d14c2a89a1e7221337d1 Someone smarter than most of us just posited that polling more and more is used for venting, and only venting. ah, shorter and perhaps more accessible url https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/14/opin ..read more

I periodically have issues with brokerage CDs paying CD interest payments on time. When that occurs, I contact my brokerage, Schwab, to determine what is causing the delays. Eventually, they agree to start a formal inquiry/investigation, which almost always gather information from the DTC regarding settlement details. DTC: "DTCC's subsidiary, The Depository Trust Company (DTC), established in 1973, was created to reduce costs and provide clearing and settlement efficiencies by immobilizing securities and making "book-entry" changes to ownership of the securities. DTC brings efficiency to the ..read more

Wacky weed, Mary Jane and related leads the pack (MJ etf). One may presume this seems appropriate during these turbulent times; whether rolling one's own, baking some brownies or having a gummie. I set the chart for the 5 day return, for the best to the worst % returns from last week. Remain curious. Catch ..read more

Anyone else have this experience? The CD is with one of the largest banks in the world. I have escalated my concern to SCHWAB including someone who represented himself to be a manager in the Fixed Income department. No response and no interest. LOL I have been told by multiple parties at Schwab that multiple too big to fail banks are not making their interest payments in a timely manner of late. Schwab seems helpless and says all they can do is contact the DTCC, who apparently does nothing. My 26 year relation with Charles Schwab will soon be ending ..read more

“It’s a deeply out-of-consensus view certain to rankle the Wall Street establishment. A group of academics set out to test time-honored investing advice that says a diversified portfolio of bonds and stocks is the best way to save for the future.” Huh? I’m surprised it took a new study to reach this conclusion. However, I think the report is at least thought provoking. Also mentioned is the importance of investors “sticking with” an all stock portfolio during tough times. Otherwise, the report’s findings likely wouldn’t hold water. The question is: ”What would you do? Why?” https://www.fa-m ..read more

Prospectus Supplement, Dec 1, effective Dec 6 Monthly Fact Sheet Max average maturity - Was 0.75 years, now 1 year max (as of 11/30/23 actual avg maturity is 0.53 years) Max security maturity - Was 2 years (3 years for floating rate securities), now 4 years Max pct invested in lower quality IG securities - Was 5%, now unlimited (possibly subject to the 20% restriction for investing outside of its "normal" investment) Judging from the 10/31/23 composition of the portfolio (28% A rated, 6% BBB rated), it looks like "lower quality IG securities" means BBB, while A-rated securities are consider ..read more

So many interesting nuggets at this story, which is not behind a paywall. My favorite: From 2012 to 2022, investment in private U.S. startups ballooned eightfold to $344 billion. The flood of money was driven by low interest rates and successes in social media and mobile apps, propelling venture capital from a cottage financial industry that operated largely on one road in a Silicon Valley town to a formidable global asset class akin to hedge funds or private equity. During that period, venture capital investing became trendy — even 7-Eleven and “Sesame Street” launched venture funds — and ..read more

AAII Sentiment Survey, 12/6/23 BULLISH remained the top sentiment (47.3%; high) & neutral became the bottom sentiment (25.3%, below average); bearish became the middle sentiment (27.4%, below average); Bull-Bear Spread was +19.9% (above average). Investor concerns: Budget; inflation; economy; the Fed; dollar; crypto regulations; market volatility (VIX, VXN, MOVE); Russia-Ukraine (93+ weeks); Israel-Hamas (8+ weeks); geopolitical. For the Survey week (Th-Wed), stocks were mixed (cyclicals up, growth down), bonds up, oil down sharply, gold down, dollar up. The FED & fed fund traders hav ..read more