Apex Money Posts

I (Jim) like to collect articles that I find interesting so that I can share it with you. Sometimes they are about money, or at least money adjacent, and sometimes they’re not.

Sometimes I like them because they’re interesting or funny. Sometimes I find them useful.

Every so often, I have a collection of articles that I enjoy but don’t fit any kind of theme. So I use a random Friday to dump a bunch of them on you to enjoy. Or skip.

Think of it as our version of the Big Block of Cheese Day. 🙂

Netflix’s Purge Problem [M.G. Siegler on 500ish] – “In the olden days of TV, you knew your show was coming back each year. We can’t and don’t know that these days. Sometimes it’s two years. Sometimes it’s three years. Sometimes it’s never. How about never? Is never good for you?” It hurts when you fall in love with a show and it just gets cancelled.

Listerine Royalties: The Origin Story and Valuation of a Uniquely Enduring Asset [Invariant] – “It guarantees that irrespective of other conditions, as long as Listerine is sold, the royalties will be paid. Full stop. You might have also noticed the word “defendants’”—plural possessive. If you check the court documents, you will see a number of defendants, i.e., royalty holders.” I remember seeing someone trying to sell a sliver of these royalties on Royalty Exchange – fun to hear the whole story.

Speaking of things that taste really strong … I don’t like White Claw. Seems like many Americans agree!

Hard Seltzer Has Gone Flat [The Atlantic] – “Hard seltzer might be flatlining for obvious reasons. Crowds have returned to bars and restaurants, where the drink isn’t very popular. Inflation might have tightened seltzer budgets. Maybe the market grew so quickly that it has already reached something of a natural ceiling. But also, here’s the thing: Hard seltzer just isn’t very good.” I enjoy seeing how fads start and stop, boozy seltzer will probably never go to zero but it had a quick rise and fall.

David E. Weekly sued a text spammer and won $1,200! Read the details.

(and a good reminder to get on the National Do Not Call Registry!)

The Other Side Of Investing [Banker on Fire] – “Stop being so damn focused on achieving early retirement. It’s okay to give yourself a bit more runway. You are MUCH better off spending 30 (or more) years doing something you enjoy than grinding through 15 unhappy years, retiring at 40 – and wondering where the hell the good years went.” This quote comes later in the post but the payoff pitch happens in the intro, which I didn’t want to spoil. You know the message already, let the introductory store cement it home.

The fundamental problem for every investment adviser [Klement on Investing] – “…I sometimes asked a room full of clients to raise their hands if they think equities are riskier than real estate. Then I asked them to raise their hands if they thought real estate or equity investments had a higher return. Apart from the real estate crash of 2007 to 2009, the majority of people said that equities were riskier than real estate, but real estate was more profitable than equities. But if you think about it, it will mean that by investing in real estate, you can systematically get higher returns for lower risk. Why bother with equities then?”

What about all the FUN debt gave you? [Budgets Are Sexy] – “This is going to sound weird or stupid, but isn’t *going into* debt so much fun???! Like, don’t we enjoy spending money on stuff we love – even if it’s only in the moment? As finance nerds we tend to focus on how terrible debt is and how much we hate it etc etc, but I think we forget just exciting it can be to buy stuff too :)” Good point!

Why So Many Children of Immigrants Rise to the Top [New York Times] – “Immigrants are good at doing something difficult: leaving behind relatives, friends and the familiarity of home in search of prosperity. The economists found that native-born Americans who do what immigrants do — move toward opportunity — have children who are just as upwardly mobile as the children of immigrants.”

Most of us want financial freedom but are not sure where and how to start. We searched high and low for these articles to kick start your success to financial freedom.

Here’s what we wanted to share with you this week.

How Much Money Should I Save Every Month? [Go From Broke] — “Most of us know we should be saving more money, but for a lot of us, that’s easier said than done. Whether you’re looking to buy a house, save for retirement, or just have some extra cash on hand in case of an emergency, you need to be proactive about your savings.” (Submitted by Tarsha.)

Selling and Surviving. [Best Interest] — “If you’re young enough to invest your money and pull a Rip Van Winkle, go ahead into 100% stocks. Some people are fine with a multi-decade hibernation of avoiding their account statements. But most people don’t live in that world.” (Submitted by J. Money.)

When Are Roth Accounts Better then Tax Deferred? [Can I Retire Yet?] — “In reality, there is no one size fits all advice that works for everyone. So, it is worthwhile to explore circumstances when Roth options are superior to tax-deferred retirement accounts to round out previous articles on this blog that emphasize the value of tax-deferral.” (Submitted by Harlan.)

One of the things we discovered during the pandemic was how much stuff we have. Being at home for that long really highlighted that our stuff takes up too much of our space.

This also meant discovering our local Buy Nothing groups on Facebook and giving away much of this stuff to folks who need it. Or at least could better use it.

Which is why our first piece, by Kara of BravelyGo, struck a chord. It introduces us to a framework on the front side of stuff – when you buy it.

(also, the first food shopping example of lentils was spot on… that little half bag has been in our cabinet for years)

The Buyerarchy of Needs [BravelyGo] – “Much like values based spending, the buyerarchy of needs asks that you get in touch with your personal needs, desires, and lifestyle choices. It asks: do you really need a new top, or can you ask to borrow one from your sister? Borrowing saves you money, time, and is better for the planet- let’s do that! Initially created with clothing shopping in mind, the buyerarchy of needs can be slightly adjusted and applied to any area of spending.”

At 88, Poker Legend Doyle Brunson Is Still Bluffing. Or Is He? [Texas Monthly] – “In poker lore, the best stories tend to begin with jackpot wins, steady nerves, or the occasional threat of murder. Doyle Brunson has all those tall tales—and we’ll get to them in due time. He has won millions while bluffing, stared down killers in parking lots, and pried his chips—quite literally—from the hands of death.”

“The Simple Solution to Traffic“… I wish more people watched this.

Jim here again! It probably comes as little shock to you that I’m a fan of video games. I’m a child of the 80s and had a Nintendo but never any of the other systems until I got to college, when I could buy my own Playstation.

I love the idea that you should treat life like a video game in that you should think about how you “level up” different aspects of your life.

How to win at life (this will get you ahead of 99% of people):

— Cathryn (@cathrynlavery) July 20, 2022

Wealth Is a Strong Predictor of Whether an Individual Pursues a Creative Profession [Smithsonian Magazine] – “Those from households with an annual income of $1 million are 10 times more likely to become artists than those from families with a $100,000 income” This probably comes as no shock to anyone reading it!

Last one for today is a bit more tactical – comes from Jonathan at My Money Blog and how state (and local) income taxes impact your decision of Treasury Bond or CD:

Treasury Bond vs. Bank CD Rates: Adjusting For State and Local Income Taxes [My Money Blog] – “An important consideration is that Treasury bonds are exempt from state and local taxes. This can make the Treasury bond significantly more attractive to some folks, even if the initial rate is the same. This assumes you are investing in a taxable account (not tax-sheltered). US Savings bonds are also exempt from state and local taxes.”

See you tomorrow!

Welcome to another day of Apex Money! Today, I’ve got three stories for you about mastering a productive mindset.

How to tackle a mountain of tasks. [Zen Habits] — “You can’t tackle everything at once. You just have to get started. What I’ve learned is that once you get started, and start having fun with it, you’ll see some progress, and then there’s a snowball effect where you keep getting encouraged by your progress. So you just have to get the ball rolling.”

A simple, pragmatic guide to getting things done. [Erlend Hamberg] — “What GTD gives you—when understood and implemented properly—is a foolproof system for keeping track of what you need to do, should do, or should consider to do. When your system and your trust in your system is in place, your subconsciousness will stop keeping track of all the things you need to do and stop constantly reminding you. This reduces stress and frees up precious brain time to more productive thinking.”

In defense of mindfulness. [Slate] — “Even a very basic engagement with mindfulness can be good for your wellbeing. Researchers have found that a ‘microdose’ of practice (say, 10 minutes a day, or even five) can have beneficial effects, such as decreased stress and anxiety and increased happiness and connection. Other research has revealed that mindfulness correlates highly with the ability to savor the positive, feel gratitude, and experience satisfaction.”

Our final article today isn’t about fiscal fitness. It’s about physical fitness. And it’s a good one. From The New York Times (so, possible paywall), here’s a story that summarizes new research on longevity:

You won’t live longer by diet or exercise alone. [The New York Times] — “Most people know that working out and eating well are critical components of overall health. But a sweeping study published this week in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that hitting the gym won’t counteract the consequences of consuming fat-laden foods, and mainlining kale can’t cancel out sedentary habits.”

One of my big pet peeves is folks who argue “diets don’t work”. Diets do work — but they have to be done right. And once you achieve the results you’re after, you can’t just let go. Lasting physical fitness is a result of ongoing choices.

Okay, that’s it for today. I’ll be back tomorrow for one final installment this week.

We hope everyone is keeping cool and enjoying this summer heat. We had to take a little break from our summer fun and share these great articles with you. Enjoy!

Here’s what we wanted to share with you this week.

Why More Money Won’t Lead to Financial Independence. [Darius Foroux] — “I used to have goals like, “I’d like to earn a million bucks in a year!” But as I started to study Stoicism and Mindfulness, I learned to practice non-attachment to outcomes. I gave up on those types of goals. Let me tell you why.” More money, More Problems. (Submitted by J. Money.)

5 Main Causes of Overspending. [Smart Money Chicks] — “If you’re an over spender, you’re not alone. According to NerdWallet, over 64% of Americans have credit card debt or have had credit card debt in the past. Why do some people constantly find themselves overspending while some are naturally born savers? The actual causes of overspending highlight that these problems run deeper than we think. Let’s pinpoint the 5 main reasons for overspending and actionable ways to stop these habits from taking over your bank account.”  Which one are you? (Submitted by Tarsha.)

When I Asked for More Than My $43,000 Salary, They Accused Me of Loving Too Lavish a Lifestyle. [Too Ambitious] — “Meet Emma, a project coordinator from Atlanta, Georgia who, after a year working at her company, taking on more and more responsibilities, asked for more than the $43,000 she was offered.” This seems fair, but what happened next is all too common. (Submitted by Harlan.)

Today is Tuesday, friends, and this is Apex Money — your source for interesting stories about money (and more) from all corners of the web. Let’s see what we have for you today.

The reality of caring for aging parents. [The Retirement Manifesto] — “It’s a biological fact: each of us has two parents. If you’re married, you have four. As many in our generation are learning, the odds are pretty good that at least one of them will need some help in their later years. And yet, it’s a reality that most of us overlook…Many I’ve talked to have expressed how difficult it is. Until you go through it yourself, it’s impossible to grasp how consuming the process really is.”

Did you just lose all of your money in the stock market? [Bitches Get Riches] — “As long as you keep your money invested, it is not lost. It is only lost (or increased!) when you remove your money from the stock market. Sell your investments when their value is lower than when you purchased them and you will lose money in the stock market. Do nothing when the value is lower than when you bought them and… nothing happens. You’re pretty much fine.”

Harnessing the power of regret. [No Sidebar] — “A regret audit can help you work through past regrets and choose differently to minimize future regrets, but a regret-free life isn’t the goal. Rather than avoiding regret, we can recognize that regret makes us human and can instruct us on how to live a more intentional life aligned with our values.”

Even socialists misunderstand indexing. [The Big Picture] — “Of all the endless Wall Street things to be legitimately angry about – excess fees, leverage, conflicts of interest, risk-taking, bailouts (and everything else to dislike about finance) – this has to be the single worst hot take by any politician on either side of the aisle…It shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what’s been going on in the world of investments, and how the indexing revolution has altered the basic premise of who wins and loses on Wall Street.” Thank you. I’ve seen this bizarre take a lot lately and it bugs me.

Lastly, here’s a fun video in which a young girl named Emmy interviews comedian Ryan Stiles (from Whose Line Is It Anyway?) about his work. I love this for so many reasons.

That’s it, my friends! Tomorrow you’ll get a an installment from the folks at the Plutus Foundation, then I’ll be back on Thursday to share more great stuff. See you then.

Good morning, Apexians, and welcome to another week of money news. I’m currently away from home and vacationing in beautiful Ouray, Colorado. Unfamiliar with the place? It’s a magical mountain “bowl” in southwest Colorado and one of the most beautiful spots I’ve ever been to.

While I quietly wait for others to rise in the morning, I’ve been reading articles about personal finance. Here are a few recent faves.

Anatomy of a frugal freezer. [Surviving and Thriving] — “Extreme frugality may become a necessity, if it isn’t already. So why not work to get as much out of every food item you buy? (As) the per-plate price of food continues to climb, remember that preventing food waste helps make your groceries more cost-effective. Our freezer is crammed with cost-effective (and sometimes free) items that keep costs down and mealtimes delightful. Have a peek inside.”

Financial simplicity: What is your time worth? [Can I Retire Yet?] — “Money is a stepping stone to more important things. If you’re on track to your financial goals, you may not need to manage your wealth so tightly. But you don’t hear that message from mainstream financial advisors or media. They parade endless schemes, products, and services intended to save you money, make you money, grow your money. Lost in the shuffle is the simple truth that everything has a price. Optimizing your money is a double-edge sword: often, the price is your time, and peace of mind.”

Bartering is alive and well. [Budgets Are Sexy] — “You don’t have to be a professional hairstylist or tattoo artist or anything really to [barter], but do figure out what you’re best at and then start sharing it around and see if you get some hits…You’ll be amazed at what people would pay or trade for, and we usually don’t give ourselves nearly as much credit as we should as we always assume ‘everyone knows this stuff’ which is rarely the case!”

Speaking of Budgets Are Sexy, recently J. money posted a Twitter thread listing his favorite pieces of hate-mail he’s received over the years. This is hilarious. It never occurred to me to do this. If it weren’t so much work, I’d sort through the 100,000+ comments at Get Rich Slowly to do the same.

(I can remember my favorite piece of hate-mail, though. Back in 2008, some reader was angry that I devoted a blog post to urban homesteading, including a bit on raising goats. The reader wrote something to the effect that: “I come here for financial advice. I can’t believe you’re writing about fucking goats.” So funny.)

I’ll see you tomorrow, friends. And I promise I won’t write about fucking goats.

Happy Friday everyone!

As we enter into the weekend, this first pair of articles work great together. The first has some timeless money advice, some of which you’ve heard of and others maybe not. My big takeaway from it is that you should be patient. There are plenty of opportunities and you only need to be right once or twice in your life to do well.

The second article covers the time in between those opportunities – when you do the “boring” but very important work. Enjoy and J.D. will be back next week!

I Just Learned That The Best Advice About Investing Is The Advice That Has Nothing to Do With Money [Making of a Millionaire] – “Life is a long-term game. Accept it as it is and do the best you can, and if you live to old age, you will have your sea of opportunities, you may only have two, but take one of the two, and you will be fine.”

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Boredom [Emily Guy Birken] – “It’s human nature to assume that meaning comes from reaching our goals. We think that getting married or getting the corner office or losing 10 pounds or buying a house or going viral or getting published will make us happy. Because we’ll have achieved our end. We will have written. But getting to those goals doesn’t actually provide any kind of meaning. Meaning has to come from within.”

The Broker Who Saved America [The Reformed Broker] – “You know Hancock and Washington and Franklin and Jefferson. You might even know Greene and Knox, Henry and Hale. And we know you know Hamilton, pretty tough to escape that one these days! But it is very unlikely that you know the name Haym Solomon. This is unfortunate, because he’s the guy who arranged financing to keep the Continental Army alive during its darkest days, finding the money to keep the revolution going when many were ready to throw in the towel.”

Enjoy this fun little game of Yes and No decisions as King of the land!

Enjoy the weekend!