Investments

Stagflation is a rare and challenging economic condition where slow or stagnant growth, high unemployment, and persistent inflation occur simultaneously. Typically, inflation rises when an economy is expanding and demand is strong, while recessions tend to bring lower inflation due to weaker demand. Stagflation defies this pattern, making it particularly difficult to address with traditional […]

One adjustment I’m making to my net worth asset allocation is reducing exposure to closed-end venture capital funds while increasing allocation to open-ended venture capital funds. Closed-end venture capital funds follow a traditional model: you commit capital, fund capital calls, and rely on the general partners to make great investment choices. I invest up to

China’s DeepSeek has shaken up the AI world with the release of an open-source AI model that reportedly outperformed OpenAI’s in several benchmarks. Even more startling is the company’s claim that its AI technology was developed for only $5.6 million. This figure has raised eyebrows, especially as companies like OpenAI and Anthropic have spent hundreds

2025 has gotten off to a rough start with devastating fires and corrections in stocks, bonds, and other risk assets. So, I thought it’d be a good idea to shift focus to some positives—before they fade as well. Take a moment to calculate your excess investment returns to remind yourself of the good times. When

The 2025 Wall Street S&P 500 forecasts are rolling in, and so far, the outlook is all bullish. I haven’t found a single bearish forecast, which is somewhat worrisome. Most firms project the S&P 500 will close 2025 around 6,500—a solid 8.3% gain from the current ~6,000 level. If 2024 ends as expected, with the

After reviewing my analysis on a conversation I had with a financial professional in 2013, I decided to take another close look at my finances. To my surprise, I uncovered a huge gap between my perceived risk tolerance and the reality of my portfolio. Since leaving work in 2012, I’ve generally seen myself as a

Empower is offering free financial consultations until October 31, 2024, for anyone with over $250,000 in investable assets. I wanted to share my experience speaking with them and how I began my investing journey. If you complete two video calls by the deadline, you’ll receive a free $100 Visa gift card. There is no obligation

One of the investing strategies growing in popularity with the wealthy is Direct Indexing. Before my consulting stint at a fintech startup in 2024, I had never really heard of Direct Indexing. If I did, I likely assumed it simply meant directly investing in index funds, which many of us already do. However, Direct Indexing

In a previous post, I discussed the futility of working when your net worth is declining. During a stock market crash or recession, your Return on Effort (ROE) for working drops significantly. Therefore, the only way to increase your ROE is to work less, not more. At some point in your life, you’ll reach an

Starting on July 16, 2024, we had a mini-stock market crash with the S&P 500 declining from 5,667 to 5,186 by August 5, 2024 (-8.5%). The NASDAQ saw a larger drop, falling from a high of 18,647 on July 10, 2024, to 16,200 on August 5, 2024 (-13%). And the bloodletting might not be done

I’m a fan of both stock dividends and rental property income, my two favorite sources of passive / semi-passive income. When younger and less wealthy, rental property income may be preferable. As you age and accumulate wealth, you’ll likely appreciate stock dividend income more for its simplicity. However, stock dividend income’s main drawback is that

The failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump reminds us that more important than political bickering is the value of life. I hope there will be a coming together of both parties to help heal and strengthen the spirit of the American people. One inch to the right and Trump would probably be dead today. After

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Be greedy when others are fearful, and fearful when others are greedy.” But what about being even greedier when others are greedy?! As I sat peacefully in the hot tub recently, I began to recollect all the ways I wasn’t greedy enough since graduating from college in 1999. If only

During a recent liquidity crunch, I kept thinking how nice it would be to have more cash sitting in my bank account. Once I received a $106,000 real estate capital distribution, I felt a tremendous relief. But then I was faced with the somewhat stressful decision of how to reinvest it. My private real estate

One of the most common pushbacks I get from some of my investing and economy-related articles is that the stock market isn’t the economy. To conflate the two could be a mistake. I agree since not everybody owns stocks. Therefore, not everybody will benefit from rising stock prices. As an example, here’s a comment I

If you want to invest in venture capital, I believe it’s more beneficial to invest in a venture capital fund than in individual private companies. By investing in a venture capital fund, you will not only decrease your chances of losing money but also increase your chances of earning a positive return. I’ve been a

Despite my extensive experience of 13 years working in international equities, living abroad for the same duration, and visiting approximately 60 countries, I don’t allocate much of my investments to international stocks. I believe the risk outweighs the potential reward, especially when there are already numerous lucrative investment opportunities available in the United States. If

I recently caught up with Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise in person, about the Innovation Fund’s latest investments in private AI (artificial intelligence) companies. Since launching the open-ended venture capital fund in 2H 2022, the Innovation Fund has made a series of promising AI investments that I was eager to learn more about, but unable

Recently, I received a capital distribution from a private real estate fund, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The experience brought me both joy and relief, prompting me to share it in the hope that it might inspire you to invest more for your future. After purchasing a new home in October