In Plus Episode 336 for the week of March 27, 2021, we discuss some new site additions for Plus members. We also explore an analogy to explain under what circumstances the money supply and purchasing power increase and under what circumstances they don't. We use the analogy to explain what is happening currently and under what circumstances it could lead to higher inflation. Finally, we review why Hoisington Investment Management Company believes inflation will stay low and interest … [Read more...]
336: Own What Is Real
There has never been this much money in the world. Now is the time to own real property. Topics covered include: How to buy something with Bitcoin How cryptocurrencies are similar and different from fiat currencies What is legal tender Why there has never been this much money in the world Why central banks can control interest rates but not inflation What real property should investors own Show Notes The Power of Gold: The History of an Obsession by Peter … [Read more...]
334 Plus: A New Inflation ETF, Inverse ETFs, and Excess CAPE Yields
In Plus Episode 334 for the week of March 13, 2021, we analyze the Horizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETF (INFL) and how it seeks to protect against inflation including holding royalty trusts. We look at how inverse ETFs work and under what circumstances might they be used. Finally, we analyze earnings yields relative to bond yields including the Excess CAPE Yield, and what conclusions can we draw when stock earnings yields are higher than bond yields and vice versa. 334 … [Read more...]
326: The New Math of Retirement Spending and Investing
How should individuals invest and spend in retirement with interest rates so low, stock valuations high, and inflation uncertain. Why retirement managed payout funds and income replacement funds failed. Topics covered include: How managed payout and income replacement funds compare to immediate annuitiesWhy Vanguard and Fidelity changed the objective of their retiree focused income replacement and managed payout fundsHow fixed annuities workHow retirees should combine annuities with … [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 Yap The fiat currency of ancient China Why money requires trust, accounting, and tokens Why too much money can lead to inflation and too little to deflation Why the best money is useless other than as money Show Notes The island of stone money : Uap of the Carolines by William Henry … [Read more...]
312: What the Federal Reserve’s New Policies Mean For Your Finances
The Federal Reserve just updated its policy tools. What impact could that have on inflation, interest rates and your investments. Topics covered include: Why is the Federal Reserve more transparent in its communication than it used to be.What are the Federal Reserve's Congressionally mandated goals.What are four economic developments that has caused lower inflation and motivated the Fed to adjust its strategy for achieving its goals.Why inflation could be higher than the Fed's 2% … [Read more...]
309: Investments to Fight Financial Repression
What are some investments that can generate a cash yield greater than inflation in an era when central bank policies keep government bond yields lower than the inflation rate. Topics covered include: How low are interest rates around the worldWhat have inflation rates been and what causes inflation and deflationWhat is financial impressionWhy are central banks keeping short-term interest rates so lowWhat determines interest ratesHow I-bonds workWhy active bond mutual funds can be … [Read more...]
287: What Causes Hyperinflation and How To Prepare For It
What factors lead to hyperinflation, why it is so devastating, how hyperinflation can be overcome, and what can individuals do to be prepared for hyperinflation. Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-00238 / Pahl, Georg / CC-BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and captioned. Topics covered include: What causes inflation and how do central banks manage it.How the causes of hyperinflation differ from more normal levels of inflation.What is the biggest challenge of living in a country with hyperinflation.How … [Read more...]
272: Is Inflation Measured Wrong?
Why some analysts believe the Consumer Price Index formula understates inflation while others believe the CPI formula overstates inflation. What really matters to us individually when it comes to inflation. In this podcast episode you’ll learn: What is inflation and what causes it.How is the Consumer Price Index calculated and how has the CPI formula changed over time.What are examples of different CPI measures?Why do some analysts believe U.S. inflation is higher than … [Read more...]
242 Plus: Alternative Inflation Measures, Stock Buybacks and Retirement Spending
In Plus episode 242 for the week of March 2, 2019 we look at how U.S. inflation rates are calculated differently now than in 1990 and 1980, resulting in lower reported inflation. We review the impact of stock buybacks on earnings per share growth and how that can impact stock returns. We explore how corporate debt balances can serve as a constraint to elevated stock buyback levels. Finally, we explore why we need flexibility in terms of our retirement spending given changing investment … [Read more...]
