The caveat is that I've been regularly and aggressively contributing to the PP.  So my early gains in 2011/2012 were small as a percent of my current total portfolio value.  Losses in 2015 are applied to a much higher portfolio value.  Hopefully that makes sense. Don't you see where that logic is f...

That's kinda what spurred my post to begin with.  From when mediumtex said "A rolling three year period of negative returns would make me open up the hood and take a look."  We are nearing that point. 2014 returned like 12% on the PP.  Where are you getting this 3-year period of negative ...

I watched the first couple episodes.  It's good except for the narration.  I think he's supposed to sound cynical, but it's too much. Really?  My take on it is that he's supposed to sound like a well-intentioned dope. There's one point where he says that the reason the US central gov't began to tak...

Yeah...we've discussed it a few times on this board in the past. http://gyroscopicinvesting.com/forum/permanent-portfolio-discussion/timing-the-permanent-portfolio-(and-ivy-swensen-arnott-bernstein)/msg4432/#msg4432 http://gyroscopicinvesting.com/forum/permanent-portfolio-discussion/meb-faber-perm-p...

mathjak107 wrote: wow , another pagan besides me  ha ha ha 

Lol...I guess I just don't get you pagans. 

The PP's down like 3-4%...is that a big deal? 

I'm really enjoying this show.

It's about Pablo Escobar and the cocaine smuggling industry in the 1980's in Miami.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7elNhHwgBU

But they did go well out of their way to start a massive thread on the BH site. They convinced many Bogleheads to change their investment strategy. They did write a book promoting this strategy. And then for the most part they went away. I think that's because there's just not that much to say abou...

When the PP has underperformed the general stock market by over a hundred percent is when we need to hear from them. Not when things are going well.  I'm not talking about a full time commitment here, just an occasional post or two on a regular basis. I'd actually like to know why they stopped doin...

The 40/40/20 has slightly more volatility than the permanent portfolio but it has also better gains so I am thinking of investing as such. I think this a completely reasonable approach, and probably what I would do if I didn't use the PP.  Just make sure it's something you can commit to.  Not a lot...

Don't waste your breath Math. The diehards here will tell you everything is great. But isn't this the right attitude?  You sort of have to be a "diehard" of whatever investment strategy you choose.  Whether it's 100% stocks,  50/50 BH, the PP or any other strategy, the argument could be m...

as another example of why preparing to fight the last war does not work , treasury's should have soared today  but instead china , was selling loads of them altering the course that should have played out guess ole harry never imagined foreigners would control our treasury markets so when the time ...

MediumTex wrote: We're close to the action, but just outside the "splash zone."  That's where you want to be.

Well put.  I enjoy the volatility and like the analogy that has been made in the past comparing periods of negative PP return to a spring being wound tighter and tighter.

HB Reader mentioned this book in another thread: Speaking of Bitcoins, I highly recommend the book Digital Gold by Nathaniel Popper.  I heard the author interviewed by Russ Roberts on a podcast (EconTalk) today.  Roberts also recently interviewed Benn Steil, who wrote The Battle of Bretton Woods abo...

That's even weirder!  Please let us know what you find out, Adam. Here's what they told me.  I don't really understand it. Thank you for taking the time to contact us about Vanguard Brokerage Services(R). We appreciate your thoughtful question. I attempted to call you to discuss this in detail but ...

Some of you have expressed irritation at well-meaning Uncle Goodasgold, who keeps posting a plethora of articles about thefts from "secure" home hiding places and uninsured safe deposit boxes... You don't have to keep all of your gold in one place.  You can keep some in an ETF, some at ho...

It started the day at $68 and immediately dropped.

I'm not sure what causes something like that.

I emailed Vanguard b/c I'm curious to know.

The real risk with TLT is that they loan out a hefty portion of the bonds they "own" (about 40% the last time I looked) in return for 100% cash collateral (I believe marked to market daily) which they then put in Black Rock's non-treasury backed money market fund.  There are perfect storm...

Pointedstick wrote: What a neat site. I just did one of the puzzles--so much fun!

What language did you use?

Obviously being down 6% affects a near retiree (I am in that category) much more than a young investor, but I think there are many on here who are eyeballing the finish line. Just thought it would be worthwhile to discuss the numbers. This is the reason the PP has a 25% cash allocation; so you don'...

So if I do nothing, GTU keeps my proxies and I keep GTU, right?  Nothing changes?

Can anyone explain to me what happened with this in very simple terms?  I really don't understand. 

I used GTU because I felt that they were very transparent and therefor a little easier to trust than some of the ETFs.  Now I don't know what to think. 

far north steve wrote: Promptly, the 30 year bonds fell over 10%.

Keep in mind too that this is only a 2.5% loss to your portfolio.  Try not to look at the assets in isolation.  Look at the portfolio as a whole.

dragoncar wrote: I find bitching is just a regular part of the PP.  It's really 20% stocks, 20% gold, 20% bonds, 20% cash, and 20% bitching.  Bitching is high right now so you probably need to rebalance out of it.

Good one.

Benko wrote: ...but to point out how useless being called a quack by conventional medical types is.

Very good point.

I think the guy who bumped into Jimmy in the restaurant bathroom (the big, burly guy with the long beard) was one of the guys on the "wanted" posters from the episode's opening scene when the camera panned down to Jimmy's face. I noticed the same thing. I also thought it was funny the way...