Gyroscopic Investing

foglifter wrote: I'm in computer security too. I wonder if one's occupation is an influential factor in understanding and embracing Harry Browne's investing ideas.  ;D

I write software as well, much of it security-focused.  That sure is a lot of us.  Kind of freaky, bordering on freaky-deaky.

Here's the big rule in writing software for secure systems that I've had drilled into my head time and again: if it's not obviously correct, it's obviously broken.  It's interesting how closely this rule mirrors Browne's "if you can't understand an investment in five minutes, forget it" rule.

I like my software systems simple, elegant, logical, robust, and tested to their limits.  I guess I like my investment systems the same way.

MeDebtFree wrote:

smurff wrote:

MadMoneyMachine wrote: Hmmmmm, now that you mention it, I was CISSP certified several years ago...

Wierd.

And I was a design engineer when I first started working...

Let the relative strength of technical professionals who think highly of HB/PP continue....

I have BEE and MSCS degrees and have been an electrical/software design engineer for (perhaps too) many years.

Does the 'birds of a feather...' saying come to mind?  ;D

Wow, I'm glad to be in a great company of like-minded people!

craigr wrote:

Snowman9000 wrote: Pretty neat.  And now I know what crawlingroad means! 

Yes. I'm not that original. But someone recently figured out it was an anagram of my name so you don't win the prize.

hah. That was me, and thank you for the gold star via email. 

By the way, I'd like to add my vote to the collection of praise for your podcast. I agree that you bring something new to the table: while you modestly insist that you "don't do justice to" Harry Browne's original rules, your high-tech start-up background helps you (and us) take a fresh look at the permanent portfolio and the philosophy behind it.

Honestly, if I only knew about your survivalist classes -- not that there's anything wrong with them; they're cool -- I'd be less inclined to buy bullion coins. But, there's a parallel to Harry's past, his pre-PP investment career. When I see that someone who worked with computers and security & who sold a business to Cisco is willing to dive into a 25% gold allocation, that looks like someone with a genuinely open mind.

I haven't taken the plunge yet, other than a paltry sum invested in PRPFX. But, I'll be converting some of my holdings to TLT/VUSTX, coins and cash in 2011. Looking forward to it!

dualstow wrote: Honestly, if I only knew about your survivalist classes -- not that there's anything wrong with them; they're cool -- I'd be less inclined to buy bullion coins. But, there's a parallel to Harry's past, his pre-PP investment career.

You know I didn't even want to post about the classes because of that reason of what people would think. I just took it because I do spend a lot of time in the woods and also volunteer for the Forest Service from time to time. That puts me in the backcountry at times. And by backcountry I don't mean a city park. I mean places many miles away from a trailhead with no cellphone service and no people around if things go wrong. The national forest near me is larger than some countries (and almost some states)!

So my goal for the survival classes really was more to expand my bushcraft skills because I actually make use of them. This particular class really had nothing to do with doomsday scenarios. It really was about staying alive if lost in the woods and getting rescued. I could have packed in some gold, but it would have put my pack weight up too high and I'd rather have had food and water.

When I see that someone who worked with computers and security & who sold a business to Cisco is willing to dive into a 25% gold allocation, that looks like someone with a genuinely open mind.

I'll just say this. I was not an easy convert, especially on the gold allocation. It took a lot of research of financial markets and history for me to make the jump. I am not a gold bug and I clearly recognize the risks of gold. But I also see the positives. As my wife would say about people talking about gold being "dead weight":

The ropes and gear a rock climber carries are dead weight as well. But the one time you need it you'll be glad about all those years you had to lug it around unused.

I haven't taken the plunge yet, other than a paltry sum invested in PRPFX. But, I'll be converting some of my holdings to TLT/VUSTX, coins and cash in 2011. Looking forward to it!

After I did my conversion I slept a lot better. I wish I had found the strategy when I started investing in 1994. I followed a lot of advice early on that was not very good (but sounded good) and it really hurt my savings.

Really enjoyed the first podcast - keep em coming!

P.S I'm also an electrical engineer / software developer and have worked through a couple of start-ups where lightning has struck....

craigr wrote: I missed Harry Browne and John Chandler’s old radio show so much that I decided to do my own. It’s big shoes to fill but I’ll try my best. Look to the future as I’ll have on special guests and co-hosts that I’m sure you’ll enjoy. This show I introduce myself and discuss my investing background. I also review Harry Browne’s 16 Golden Rules of Financial Safety.

Here is the feed URL so you can subscribe in iTunes:

https://web.archive.org/web/20160324133 ... dcasts.xml

Here is the direct link to the first show:

Crawling Road Money Show – Episode 1

Thanks Craig.  I enjoyed listening.

Lone Wolf wrote: I also very much enjoyed the familiar intro music.  I think you should add some commercials advertising your new book for "only $9.75" that I can "read on your computer screen or print it out and read it in your easy chair."   :)

hilarious.