I almost never post here, but I have to jump in here on the Tyler praise bandwagon. I have been a long-time fan and love the mathematical approach to investing that his site promotes. The data is very helpful. I have a blog -- www.bk2fi.com -- and constantly send my readers to Tyler. I follow what I...

On the opposite end of the spectrum.... do any of you purchase coins smaller than 1 oz? I wonder if smaller coins would be more useful in a SHTF scenario as a means of trade.

Thanks all for the clarification. I am also trying to understand whether TLT's constant purchasing of new bonds dampens the direct impact of interest rate increases. Does it affect the 1% rule of thumb x duration calculus or is that calculation assuming the constant purchasing by TLT?

Thanks for the feedback. The 3% yield is good under the circumstances. How does TLT tend to perform during a slow and steady interest rate increase? I would imaging it's better to have TLT on the way up and individual bonds on the way down. Thoughts?

Hello all - long time reader and sporadic poster. I've read the HB book and Craig's update and I'm still feeling strange about buying 30 year bonds in today's climate. Could someone point me to a post that is helpful? Sorry for the ignorance.

I believe the anti-gold sentiment is intentional and calculated in order to maintain faith in fiat currency.  Due to reckless monetary policy since the 1970s, gold is substantially more valuable than its spot price.  How valuable?  If we returned to the gold standard, gold would need to be priced at...

I am reading a book by James Rickards, "The Death of Money:  The Coming Collapse of the International Monetary System".  In his book, Rickards presents an interesting analysis of how we are still on the gold standard in an indirect way.  It's a fascinating way to look at the relationship b...

Technically the Merriman portfolio is all stocks, with the investor to choose how much bond exposure to add based upon risk tolerance.

He does have an article that suggests a smaller portfolio 4 fund and U.S. Only. I use his Vanguard taxable recommendation for my 25% stock allocation.

I use Merriman ultimate for my stock allocation, although I constantly argue with my company's 401k advisor about it.

Thanks for this post.  I started a PP this year and bonds are the most confusing part for me given the status of interest rates and their potential to start the long slow climb you speak of.  Could you help a new member out and explain your strategy in more detail?  Any help from members of this for...

What is your takeaway from all of the variations you present here?

This answer doesn't belong here but debt retirement (mortgages) seems attractive here.

Bloomberg 2/15 - "Governments added 477.2 metric tons to their reserves, the second-biggest increase in 50 years and 17 percent more than a year earlier".

I guess the strange part for me is that the PP is supposed to be a strategy you can stick to so that you don't have to have a 2008/2009 panic and abandon it.  Unfortunely, we are having a mad rush for the exit doors on a couple of down but not terrible years.  I too am calculating my end of year gol...

Unbelievable how a bunch of abundantly blessed investors can be so childish and rude to each other.  This site is such an embarassment for newcomers.

I am continuing to invest new money in the PP.  And I am also in the camp that is attracted to the Golden Butterfly portfolio.  If you look at Tyler's excellent charts it is very hard to oppose a drift from PP to GB, whether intentional or passive. I am blown away at the doom and gloom on this site....

I may mine out at the family contribution level and invest it in Vanguard mutual funds.  I keep all receipts (to the extent my wife remembers) and let the money grow until retirement, when it will be used as a tax fee bucket.

Tyler - thanks so much for your work.  Your charts are extremely helpful and convincing.  Also, you give Mathjak something to do, which is a nice side benefit.  Thanks to everyone for the great discussion.

Agreed!  So great when you see the PP doing its job! 

Thanks so much Jake!  That's so great!  Looking forward to your new book release -- i was one of your contributing editors.

Hope you're enjoying Panama!

Jason

I have been using Personal Capital for some time now and I have to say it is very impressive.  I also use Quicken.  Before that I used Microsoft Money.  At some point I will probably stop using Quicken based upon Personal Capital's great service.

Jason

Food for thought - I use the paul merriman index fund mix (which he calls the ultimate buy and hold portfolio) for my 25% stock portion of the HBPP.  It includes large cap, large cap value, small cap, small cap value and emerging markets, and is roughly 50% US and 50% International.  Here is a link:...

Before the PP, I tended to stay too heavily invested in the market and had limited liquidity.  The cash portion forces me to keep dry powder on the sidelines.

Here, here for my little gold friends!  I read so much negativity on here from Mathjak and others, but I have to say that I have never felt better about investing then I have since I started the HBPP.  I actually invest my stock portion following the Paul Merriman index fund mix.  I love purchasing ...

I am new to gold and I have to say that I love adding it to my portfolio.  My favorite aspects?  Lack of counter party risk, portable wealth, inflation hedge (I do not believe that inflation is over).