Craig's PP-Related Podcasts

[MediumTex]

Craig has now done four podcasts of PP-related topics.  I discussed PP issues with him in the third one.

Has anyone listened to them?

Do you like them?

Is there anything that might make them better?

I thought we might get a discussion going about this effort.

[Lone Wolf]

I'm now caught up on all of them.  I've enjoyed them very much and always look forward to new ones coming out.  (I left a few comments about ep. 3 in the thread specifically about that episode.)

I think that the current pacing has spoiled me.  I have to come to terms with the fact that I am not going to have one of these available for every single morning commute but my inner brat is starting to get used to this rapid publication schedule. 

I like that the first few are re-establishing the basics and bringing the PP into the context of our modern financial situation.  Harry Browne unfortunately did not have the chance to see the Permanent Portfolio skillfully maneuvering its way through the carnage of 2008.  I'd have loved to hear his thoughts on what had happened.

One issue I would enjoy hearing further discussion about is a breakdown of why the Permanent Portfolio weathered 2008 so well.  The long-term bonds are kind of the more obvious hero here, but I'd like to hear more thoughts on what it meant to see long-term bonds carrying the portfolio even while gold managed to pretty well in the face of such powerful deflationary forces.  (I have my own thoughts on this but I'm still making up my mind on What It All Means.)

[hogtied]

I've listened to the first 3 and although Craig has been discussing, what I believe to be the basics of the PP theory, they are beneficial.  I have only been in the PP since May when I retired.  At that point I rolled my entire 401K into the PP.  I'm into the habit of watching the values in each class fluctuate daily; most likely due to my newbiness.  I'm sure I'll get out of that habit as time rolls on.  I've been tempted to market time my PP because I'm concerned that my TLT is going to tank along with the stock portion.  From listening to Craig I'm reminded that I shouldn't. And that I only adjust when it reaches the -/+15 to 35 rebalancing bands.  I think us newbies need this verbal re-inforcement because we have not experienced any long term cycles and watched how our PP's take care of themself.  Thanks Craig, Medium Tex and all forum members for keeping me on track.

[Pres]

I especially liked the first one because it contained a lot of new information and Craig made excellent use of his professional background to explain things.

It was also great hearing you (MediumTex) and your views on things. Audio adds a new dimension to your online persona that we know and appreciate.

I am a bit suprised by the high frequency of the episodes. I suppose Craig must have a lot of ideas queued up. I hope the high frequency won't lead to more filler after a while. I prefer infrequent updates that are high on exciting content than the opposite. That said, it sure is hard to come up with new stuff (I know why I don't blog!) and some repetition of PP core ideas is very welcome to refresh our memories.

[6 Iron]

I have enjoyed the podcasts. I agree with the idea others have supported of focused discussions on specific issues, but the first podcasts should be as these are, more general, and useful as an introduction to the Harry Brown Permanent Portfolio.

These are some topics that I would like to see:

1) A dual show with Paul Boyer and Craig discussing their differences (with pros and cons) with regard to the stock allocation
2) Bullionvault as a means of achieving some geographic diversity for physical gold
3) GTU and its advantages and disadvantages
4) Tax efficiency and the portfolio, possibly interviewing new member moda0306 (if moda is willing)
5) Rebalancing bands (5 vs 10%)

[craigr]

Thanks for the input. We will have returning guests like MediumTex discussing whatever topics he wants. I will also be having on a very special guest in the next couple weeks that will be pretty cool. Other guests will follow as well.

As for schedule. I will probably drop back to once a week because it is time consuming and I may run out of things to say if I go too much more frequently. I am re-hasing some of what Browne said because I think his fundamentals are so important. I'm also hoping that my different perspective helps explore the topics from another direction. Also in the few years since his passing there have been many changes in the investing world (such as the explosion in ETFs and the lack of options for overseas gold storage). I'm going to try to update some of his advice with a modern take on what we have available today.

[quenali]

How about an interview with Rick Ferri ??

[craigr]

How about an interview with Rick Ferri ??

If he wants to come on I'm all for it. We can have a battle of diversification approaches...I like debating opposing views. That's how we learn new things.

[smurff]

I've listened to all four of them, and they are great.  I'm glad you decided to start the program, craigr.  I download them to my iPod to listen to them on my suburban train to and from NYC.  I don't erase them as I do with other podcasts; I've already found that they are good to listen to again and again--as were episodes from Harry Browne's radio program.

In addition to reminding us of the principles of the HB PP, and introducing craigr, MediumTex, and (potentially) the other members of this forum, the podcasts offer a form of on-going support, which I find to be important when doing something others may regard as unpopular.  Sort of like going to a support group, a necessity when investing via  a portfolio that unlearned members of the general investment public believe to be crazy.

One thing  I have noticed (I admit, it's trivial):  The artwork--the photo of the little crawling road that winds through the green forest--does not carry over to the iPod.  (It does show on the Crawling Road page at iTunes' site.)  Since I have so many different podcasts, I use the artwork as a reminder to tell me at a glance whose podcast I'm listening to.  It's really helpful if I have to turn the sound off for an extended period of time--usually due to loud station announcements, singing train conductors, drunk and disorderly passengers, etc.  I can click the iPod back on and see at a glance that I was listening to the Crawling Road program...

[craigr]

I'll check out what is going on with the image. I picked a photo of the Routeburn Track in New Zealand I took for the image. I'm not very artistic though so I may have to get someone to help clean up the logo.

[MadMoneyMachine]

I'll check out what is going on with the image.

To get an image into the file, I first copy the .mp3 file into my iTunes software, then use "Get Info" and "Artwork" and load the image into the file for each show. Then upload to the server.

[craigr]

Thanks Paul!

[smurff]

Is there another podcast to come soon?  I miss them; the most recent one I have is from january.

[craigr]

Yes. I recently moved and it has thrown a lot of things into disarray. They will start again on an as-I-have-time basis.

[smurff]

Okay, thanks for the update.  Have fun reorganizing after your move.

[craigr]

Guess what? I just put out a new podcast:

http://gyroscopicinvesting.com/forum/in ... opic=791.0

This one is on cash and the Permanent Portfolio. Next one will be on gold which will be possibly two parts because there is just so much hyperbole around the subject from all sides.