Good to hear from you Craig. I began the PP 10 years ago after going through the gut punch of the Great Recession, and realizing I had to do something different. I’ve stuck with it ever since and now around 90% of my investments are in the PP and it is a much less anxious time watching the financial...

What about US savings bonds, for the cash portion? I have some EE and I bonds. Recently thought about dumping the I bonds since T bill rates were creeping up but now think I’ll just hang onto them. EE’s are the best since no matter what the rate at issue is they are guaranteed to double in 20 years,...

Old member here. I throw new contributions to cash just because it easier and what HB recommended. However, in a low interest rate environment, like we’ve had for a decade, I think it would be better to periodically top off each lagging asset with contributions.

MediumTex wrote:
...
Are you saying that we might see regular posters just disappear for months and post nothing?

Seems unlikely.

Yes, unlikely indeed 

Xan wrote:

Pkg Man wrote:Thanks MT and AdamA, I'll try to visit more often

Please do!  It's always nice to see another Southern flag avatar.  :-)

Likewise

AdamA wrote:

MediumTex wrote: PkgMan,

Nice to hear from you.

I'm glad you stopped by.  I wondered if you were gone for good.

Come around more.

+1, but congrats on ignoring your portfolio for the past year!

Thanks MT and AdamA, I'll try to visit more often

Haven't checked in here in a while but thought I'd drop by and say hello. I stopped tracking my portfolio very closely more than a year ago, but as best I can tell YTD the PP is down 5-6%.  While I'm not happy to see that (although I am very happy that I was unsuccessful in getting my folks to inves...

I don't want anyone to out themselves (unless you want to), but I am curious about who uses Facebook. I assume many of you do. I don't.  I get plenty of community and communication through this forum and a couple of others. I just don't feel the urge to project myself electronically through a mediu...

If you compare the HB portfolio to a garden variety stock-bond mix (VTXVX for example) over the last month or so you will see that the HB portfolio has lost only about 1/2% while the blended fund has lost 2.8%.  So I agree with the earlier sentiments that the HB PP has held up quite well considering.

Yes! I am using it to raise money for a downpayment on a home. Yes it's safer. If it loses, it will lose only a little, and it's virtually inflation proof. If it failed it would mean society is probably breaking down anyway and I'd have more pressing concerns than saving money. Depending on the tim...

I'm with Indices on this one.  Far more simple to just hold the index.  While ten stocks may get you the diversification you need and be representative of the market, unless you are trying to beat the market (like Buffet) just buy the index and be done with it.

Jim Rogers says a lot of stupid things. He once said China was the future because it was more business friendly, so he moved there with his daughter. The pollution started affecting his health so he moved away to Singapore where he currently lives. I think a lot of smart people can say an awful lot...

I was in the same situation, we just had a total bond fund.  If your company allows it, set up a 401K brokerage account.

If they do not, then try to put the long term bonds in an IRA.  This will avoid taxation on the interest each year.

If you can't use your 401K for the treasury bonds, then a non-deductible IRA would be a better place to house them than a traditional since the interest wouldn't be taxed each year. 

I'd buy what's on sale. Occasionally some coins are relatively cheaper compared to the normal premium over spot.

I was looking for an way to compare the PP against a conventional stock-bond blend and saw the Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 fund (I have about 11 years until I can retire so I thought this would be close enough). I noticed that this fund is 65% equities That is pretty scary indeed. My company, w...

After observing gold in a deflationary (sorta) recession, I guess I'd have to say that while it's number one factor would be troublesome inflation, negative real interest rates also seem to have a pretty solid effect on golds price.  Remember, gold isn't an industrial commodity (at least not at cur...

I was listening to some of the old HB radio shows and he is very clear that gold only reacts strongly to high inflation.  Obviously we are not there, so does anyone have any thoughts on how to reconcile HB's thoughts on gold and inflation with the run up in price over the last few years?  If LT Trea...

I was looking for an way to compare the PP against a conventional stock-bond blend and saw the Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 fund (I have about 11 years until I can retire so I thought this would be close enough).  I noticed that this fund is 65% equities -- seems way too high for someone with tha...

I agree with some of the previous posts -- the HB PP is, IMHO, safer than any single investment no matter what that investment is.

We don't have to speculate: We had it, with the Rodney King riots and Katrina.  Ref: Korean shop owners/L.A. and "Drunks with Guns" defending their neighborhoods, Katrina.  Lawlessness like the rioters will not spread to suburban neighborhoods in America (especially in Texas!) because the...

Brazilian savings accounts actually have an inflation adjustment that is in addition to the rate.  But I am not well-versed enough to know if it is equal to the rate of inflation or just a partial adjustment.

I am a fan of having some FX, but I don't count it as part of the PP cash piece.

Moda, good point regarding EE bonds.  I haven't considered them in the past since FDIC savings account rates were higher, and I Bonds included inflation protection.  Now that short treasuries yield near zero, and savings account rates are typically no more than 1%, maybe we should take another look...

If you are sitting on a pile of cash I wouldn't let the recent run-up in the price of gold (or long term Treasurys) prevent me from jumping in.  If, on the other hand, you are going to go from stocks to a PP, then I personally would average in over time (others may have different opinions).  For exa...

I can't speak to the speculative aspects of platinum, but I think the last five trading days has demonstrated quite effectively why gold is by far the best precious metal to have in the PP.