Investment Talk -- where is your money? - Page 7

Jon006 · #91 10-01-2015, 09:10 PM

You know what, I'm surprised I didn't think if this earlier. Frank, why are you still investing at all? I figure at some point in life one decides it's time to take advantage of those funds for stuff like boats and daytime fishing trips in July.

Frank Daignault · #92 10-02-2015, 06:25 AM

We invest to build a stronger estate for our grown children. Why should we settle for one percent in CDs when we can earn four percent in safe investments. Sure, at the moment a small portion of our worth is at risk but, long term, the market has treated us well.

I don't want a XXXXXXX boat, Bro. I want a good rifle for hunting and each of us has five. We had an exotic bucket list hunt for wild boar that cost a thousand apiece plus tips. We dress like fashion plates from the LL Bean catalog when hunting or fishing; we drive a 40 K SUV and fish with enough fly rods to equip all the ding-dongs at Fiction who can fly fish -- a small group anyway. Off season, to fight the boredom of closed or seasonally expired hunting and fishing, we play 10 dollar blackjack, commonly upping it to $25 and staying at the five star hotel at the casino. But no, Jon Spencer wants Mister Smarty to enjoy life by smoking Cuban cigars at a Panama whorehouse. Some people are never happy. Don't worry, Jon, its going to take a week for the undertaker to take the smile off my face.

Jon006 · #93 10-02-2015, 08:30 AM

Exactly, I want you to have all those things. You need to relax after years of teaching Natalie how to swim!

HookI · #94 10-02-2015, 08:40 AM

If you plan on being buried w/ a loved one...best investment is a Cemetery plot ....30 years ago it was $ 535.00 today about 6k give or take ...best real estate you can buy the value never goes down.

Merlin · #95 10-02-2015, 10:26 AM

Thanks Frank, I am watching CMS which it looks good with a 3.36% yield and serving 6 millon customers and in the top 500 Fortune. I have to get rid of some slush money. Hopefully being a Friday and things happening on the dark side with the economy I can catch it on the low of the day.

Chris Garrity · #96 10-02-2015, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HookI

If you plan on being buried w/ a loved one...best investment is a Cemetery plot ....30 years ago it was $ 535.00 today about 6k give or take ...best real estate you can buy the value never goes down.

Don't get me started about the funeral racket. Don't get me started! They're all skunks! There's nothing else that people spend so much money on that there's no shopping -- it's the equivalent of walking into a car dealer and letting the sales guy pick, and price, your new heap. Read Jessica Mitford's very great The American Way of Death Revisited if you want to learn enough about the funeral racket to make your skin crawl.

When I make my exit from this mortal coil, I will be cremated, and it will cost less than a thousand bucks. And that will be it -- no burial, no plot, no nuthin'. Then there will be a party at the racetrack. That's all, and that's enough. The funeral directors, those jackals, won't get spit.

After I typed this, I realized I should probably check to see if any of the regulars here is a funeral director. I sure hope not.

Frank Daignault · #97 10-02-2015, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlin

Thanks Frank, I am watching CMS which it looks good with a 3.36% yield and serving 6 millon customers and in the top 500 Fortune. I have to get rid of some slush money. Hopefully being a Friday and things happening on the dark side with the economy I can catch it on the low of the day.

The reason why CMS is paying that low is that it went up in value so dramatically. Eventually, they will be forced to raise the dividend because they don't want, or can't have a paltry dividend and remain competitive. I would buy more but we have so much in those two -- DTE and CMS -- that we would be violating our dictum of diversity.

Merlin · #98 10-02-2015, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Garrity

Don't get me started about the funeral racket. Don't get me started! They're all skunks! There's nothing else that people spend so much money on that there's no shopping -- it's the equivalent of walking into a car dealer and letting the sales guy pick, and price, your new heap. Read Jessica Mitford's very great The American Way of Death Revisited if you want to learn enough about the funeral racket to make your skin crawl.

When I make my exit from this mortal coil, I will be cremated, and it will cost less than a thousand bucks. And that will be it -- no burial, no plot, no nuthin'. Then there will be a party at the racetrack. That's all, and that's enough. The funeral directors, those jackals, won't get spit.

After I typed this, I realized I should probably check to see if any of the regulars here is a funeral director. I sure hope not.

I could not agree more. Talk about a money pit. I got an education on these people last Jan and still chasing the director for grave stone engraving. This is for my mother, me I am up in smoke and to be cast in someones garden. I bet those ashes will grow some great tomatoes.

Merlin · #99 10-02-2015, 01:22 PM

I hear you, there are better ones out there namely Entergy Corp sym: ETR return of 5.16% or Southern Co sym: SO at 4.90%.

HookI · #**100** 10-03-2015, 09:03 AM

Chris your feelings are understandable , but with investments your only return is gain , so if the public really new about companies & how the ruthless path they take to make gains they would not have gains . Business is business nice guys finish last .

Frank Daignault · #**101** 10-03-2015, 04:51 PM

All these posts are correct. I never said I knew what I was doing and appreciate that nobody is critical of my choices. Every good investment move I have ever made was pure luck. And each one that failed was more luck -- bad luck. If I had one all-abiding dictum it is to diversify.

Merlin · #**102** 10-04-2015, 11:13 AM

There are other things people invest in and some do very well as well as being a hobby. Classic cars come to mind but there is a maintenance factor as well as storage. Take a 69 Camaro purchased back then for less then $5,000 now might sell for $60,000 especially if it is an SS rag top. Other things that come to mind are guns. If you bought any of Colt's snakes (Kind Cobra, Anaconda, Python) five years ago you have just tripled your money. Other antiques continue to climb in value, art, 1st addition books, old fishing lures, some furniture but as said before you have to due your homework and know your stuff.

Frank Daignault · #**103** 10-04-2015, 04:13 PM

I think there is pleasure in collecting as well. But for me I don't know anything about collectibles so I would always be at a disadvantage. There is always a buyer for Ford stock and a person does not have to know anything.

Guns are an interesting option because while they are appreciating a person can use them. I have three Citori O/U s and I carry them all in the woods. BTW, go to big trap shoots and examine the $10,000 Perotzzis stacked in a rack outside the bar after the shoot, totally unattended.

Merlin · #**104** 10-04-2015, 06:26 PM

I had a Browning Superimposed in 20 gauge the grandfather of your Citori's. Sweet gun but because I over extended myself money wise I was afraid to even get a scratch on it. I traded it, and now it holds a place on the I should have list.

A Perotzzis you mention should come with a guard or maybe two. I have spent less for houses years ago.

I can tell you are not rubbing elbows with the people who live in the bleachers on game day.

Frank Daignault · #**105** 10-04-2015, 07:50 PM

"I can tell you are not rubbing elbows with the people who live in the bleachers on game day."

Rich, I'm flattered but I mis-represented my self. While the big shoots are still our crowd, when we shot registered back in the day, hers was an 1100 and mine was a Mossberg 500 -- a long time ago. We do practice non-event every weekend and only see the high priced guns when the high-rollers are practicing. BTW, we are decent trap shooters but just don't do registered any more. (Should I apoligise for shooting the shotgun of the grape pickers when I am a person who happens to drink the wine?) Not meant as an admonishment or defence but just clarifying our status in the world we live as accurately as I can.