Tax-Efficient Investing: Understanding Tax Types and Investment Accounts (CFA Level 3)
Understanding the concept of pre-tax and post-tax investment income is an imperative part of the investing and financial planning roadmap. Different assets (ie. stocks, bonds, REITs) have different types of income that will be taxed in different ways from annual taxes, to deferred taxes, to wealth taxes. The difference in after-tax income adds up to […]
Handy Andy’s Lessons – How to Save Money WITH Credit Cards
Welcome back to the second of the most anticipated series of all time, HANDY ANDY’S LESSONS! In the first episode of Handy Andy’s Lessons, we talked about starting a dividend portfolio, but now we’re here with a personal finance subject – how to save money WITH credit cards! Click to jump to a section: I know […]
How Buffett’s Purchase of National Indemnity Propelled Berkshire Hathaway
Studying Warren Buffett’s past investments remains a great way to learn. Over the years, Buffett’s investments have changed, but not a ton. He still looks for great companies at a fair price, and one of his best investments that goes under the radar is his purchase of National Indemnity. National Indemnity, an insurance provider, is […]
What are Quality Stocks? Do They Outperform? What are the Pitfalls?
Updated – 11/3/23 Quality stocks are a popular type of stock market factor. Quality stocks are generally defined as businesses with above average growth and lower risk (of bankruptcy). Based on these definitions, it would sound that quality stocks are always the best ones to own. But that is not always true. As with everything […]
Using a Checklist to Find Five-Tool Companies
“The trick in investing is just to sit there and watch pitch after pitch go by and wait for the right one in your sweet spot.” –Warren Buffett Warren Buffett is a big baseball fan, as am I, and he uses baseball analogies throughout his writings. He likens baseball to investing in the manner that […]
Meta is Now a Value Investment at 10.4x P/E after its 67% Decline!
With the S&P down 16% from 52-week highs, the correction in the market is starting to get me excited about stock valuations again and putting fresh savings to work in my investment portfolio. Technology companies have taken a particularly hard hit with the Nasdaq down 30% over the past year. Meta is one such company […]
Microsoft’s Valuation is Looking Attractive after its 32% Decline
With the S&P down 19.0% from 52-week highs, the correction in the market is starting to get me excited about stock valuations again and putting fresh savings to work in my investment portfolio. Technology companies have taken a particularly hard hit with the Nasdaq down 31.5% over the past year. Microsoft has a strong economic […]
Should You Be Investing in Defensive Stocks?
“But investing isn’t about beating others at their game. It’s about controlling yourself at your own game.” -Benjamin Graham The majority of investors want to see their money increase in value. Growth is an important objective, but it’s not the only one. A prudent investment plan also protects a portfolio from economic downturns. Defense-oriented equities […]
9 Industries That Thrive During a Recession
Today’s economy operates differently from past recessions. The Great Depression, for example, hit at a time when the primary means of transportation were trains and steamships. Today, in contrast, we have planes and cars as the primary means of transportation. While recessions tend to shake things up for a while until things get back on […]
What is a Quality Company and Why Should I Pay Up?
“It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.” -Warren Buffett Many investors use the above Warren Buffett quotation to describe his investment approach. Buffett now emphasizes investing in high-quality firms and has since stopped purchasing inexpensive, unloved enterprises. He emphasizes his willingness to […]
