In Plus episode 524, we review the risks of purchasing pre-ipo stock on platforms like EquityZen. We also compare owning gold and cryptocurrency offline versus owning an ETF or holding them through a custodian. Finally, David provides an update on a conversation he had with Steve Selengut about closed-end fund investing. … [Read more...]
518: Is It Too Late to Invest in Gold? With Max Belmont – FEG Insight Bridge
Greg Dowling of FEG interviews Max Belmont, a gold specialist and portfolio manager at First Eagle Investments. Greg and Max discuss the historical, philosophical, and practical reasons for owning gold. Topics covered include: Where does gold’s reputation as a safe haven come from, and why it trades differently than other commodities. How gold differs from other asset classes including Bitcoin, which is sometimes referred to as digital gold. How we should think about gold when … [Read more...]
462: Now Should You Buy a Bitcoin ETF?
We explore reasons for buying Bitcoin using one of the new Bitcoin ETFs. We also consider the risks. Topics covered include: Why the SEC finally decided to approve spot Bitcoin ETFs What are the fees and structure of these new Bitcoin ETFs How Bitcoin is similar and different from the fiat money system Where Bitcoin fits in an investment portfolio Show Notes Statement on the Approval of Spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Products by Chair Gary Gensler—SEC Coinbase … [Read more...]
431: The Long-term Bullish Case for Gold
Why you should allocate a small percentage of your assets to gold. Topics covered include: What is money, and how does gold fit with that definition Why central banks bought more gold last year than at any time since 1967 Which central banks own the most gold and which are increasing their gold holdings How fast is the gold supply growing compared to the U.S. dollar money supply How financialization, greater leverage, and contagion risk should motivate us to consider … [Read more...]
Portfolio Trade: Further Reducing Gold Exposure
386 Plus: Outperforming the Market, Financial Condition Indices, and Reducing Gold Exposure
In Plus episode 386, we explore what the phrase "outperform the market" means. We review several financial condition indices produced by Federal Reserve branches to understand what they mean and what they are currently showing. Finally, we review David's recent trade to reduce gold and provide an update on his other recent trades, including why DSU fell more than a Fidelity Floating rate mutual fund. … [Read more...]
324 Plus: Currencies, Bond Convexity, and Support Levels
In Plus episode 324, we discuss a new investor's question on how the currency can impact an investment's return. We explore bond duration and convexity and why the duration for bonds increases as interest rates fall. Finally, we consider support and resistance levels for stocks and whether they have any merit. … [Read more...]
316: Paper, Rocks, or Digits—What Makes the Best Money
What are the elements of a successful monetary system. Source: Bartek.cieslak at Polish Wikipedia. Edited and captioned. Topics covered include: The stone currency of YapThe fiat currency of ancient ChinaWhy money requires trust, accounting, and tokensWhy too much money can lead to inflation and too little to deflationWhy the best money is useless other than as money Show Notes The island of stone money : Uap of the Carolines by William Henry Furness The Gold Standard, … [Read more...]
308: Coins and Cash: Shortages, Hoarding, and Threats
What is the cause of the current U.S. coin shortage and when have there been other shortages. Why is there a push to get rid of both the penny and the hundred dollar bill. Topics covered include: How many coins does the U.S. Mint produce each year and why hasn't it been enough to avert a coin shortage in 2020.How the U.S. coin shortage in the early 1960s differs from today.How much profit does the U.S. Mint make producing coins even though it loses money minting both pennies and … [Read more...]
268 Plus: More on the Indexing Bubble, ETF Flash Crashes and Tax Efficiency
In Plus episode 268 for the week of September 14, 2019 we continue our discussion on a potential indexing bubble and how indexes can push up the price of certain securities. We also look at why it is so difficult to determine what percentage of the stock market is indexed. We review what can cause a flash crash in ETF shares, including for gold ETFs. Finally, we look at the mechanism that allows ETFs to be more tax efficient than index mutual funds. … [Read more...]
