HousingPANIC - The Housing Bubble Blog with an Attitude Problem, 2005 - 2008: Gold, CD's, savings accounts, stocks, bonds, real estate, US$, foreign currencies, art, baseball cards

June 14, 2007

Gold, CD's, savings accounts, stocks, bonds, real estate, US$, foreign currencies, art, baseball cards - where is your money parked today?

What's your investment mix today?

Feeling good about your lifeboat?

Post as Anon if you want

74 comments:

Anonymous said...: Cash, going long index ETF in the next two weeks. Watching gold drop to much lower prices before going long precious metals again.; June 14, 2007 8:43 AM
Anonymous said...: %70 stocks with most international and most of that in europe

20% money market waiting for the dip

10% bonds; June 14, 2007 9:08 AM
Anonymous said...: Cash will be king. Deflation is the word.

All assets (including gold), will decrease in price.; June 14, 2007 9:27 AM
Anonymous said...: currently...

50% long on Emerging Markets (EEM)
40% short on REITs (SRS)
10% Money Markets; June 14, 2007 10:08 AM
Anonymous said...: All assets (including gold), will decrease in price.

I'll believe that gold will go down when they start pumping it on late night infomercials...just like they are doing with the stock market on NBC right now....and RE in the past.

Nobody seems to talk about gold on TV.

I wonder why.; June 14, 2007 10:39 AM
Anonymous said...: %100 Beer Money.

This is to ensure that I'm at least getting laid while the dollar crashes.; June 14, 2007 10:55 AM
Anonymous said...: I am much less skeptical than many of you. I think r/e will rebound sooner than later. I'm a renter and I hope I'm wrong. However I don't see these 50% off fire sales coming, at least not where I live.

I used to be one of the folks you mock. In debt like crazy, spending every penny I made etc. So I'm a little late to the savings game, but I'm only 34, make good money and luckily got my act together in time. 4 years ago I had $20K in credit card debt and $10K in a 401k. Today I have no debt and:

$56K in non-retirement online high yield money market market account.

$85K in 401(k) of which 85% is money market, 15% s&p500 index fund. Had it all in s&p500 fund until mid may and did very well last 2 years

$25K in IRA with a mixture of s&p500 index fund, dow index fund and nasdaq index fund. One day I'm convinced the market will crash. Then I see a 2% jump in the dow and think, shit, maybe not. That's why I'm not going to 100% cash just yet.

I know this may not be considered an investment by some: fullly restored 1968 Porsche 911 and 1969 Camaro. Combined values between about $70K and $75K. I bought them both for nothing and paid $20K in parts plus maybe $2K in labor for things I couldn't do on my own. Of all the things I own, these two are the ones I think will appreciate the most in the near term. Doesn't really matter since unless I'm desperate for money they will not be sold.; June 14, 2007 12:08 PM
Anonymous said...: Mostly the same old retirement account. I guess that'll go down with everything else, then years and years from now, it will recover, shortly before the Vogons build a hyperspace bypass through planet Earth and then it won't matter.

"Resistance is useless!"; June 14, 2007 12:21 PM
Anonymous said...: %80 liquid: Cash,cd's,MMF. %20 gold,silver,mining shares; June 14, 2007 12:22 PM
Anonymous said...: 60/40 but fully diversified. Small and value tilt on stocks. TIPs on short term bonds.

The housing market is obviously out of whack and I'm staying clear.

From everything I've read it doesn't make sense to take extreme positions (conservative or aggresive) in investments.; June 14, 2007 1:17 PM
Anonymous said...: 15% income producing natural resources (NRP, GMXRP, tax advantaged MLP's and qual dividend equities w/~8% yield)

10% Japan indices (cutting back to 5%)

5% latin american wireless cos

10% Emerging markets funds

10% Index funds

28% Cash

10% Futures trading

And one of my favorites, with ~100% 10 month gain:

2% CHB, a modular homebuilder/ trailer home manufacturer bought last summer- the idea here (other than a short term trade in an oversold situation) was a substitution play of FB's into trailers, or if they ever cracked down on illegals, the efficiency of building in a controlled factory environment, usually in whitebread rural areas would generate significant cost advantages over "stick building". Also, unlike regular homebuilders, there is no depreciating land on there balance sheet, just factories.; June 14, 2007 1:30 PM
Anonymous said...: Mostly evenly split amongst US (large, mid, small cap), developed world, and emerging markets. 30+ years before retirement.

Will *not* be recommending the following any time soon.

gold / silver 10%
shot guns and ammunition 20%
canned food and water 40%
liquor 10%
cigarettes 10%
porn 10%; June 14, 2007 1:55 PM
The Thinker said...: My retirement accounts are 100% S&P 500 low expense ratio index funds, and they always have been. I own no precious metals. As many of you know I have been a long time bull in the stock market. When Keith was pushing for gold six months ago, I was saying S&P 500. Obviously my pick has done a little better.

However, as for my non-retirement funds, I cannot decide what to do with them. I do not want to put them into the stock market because I do not believe in making "momentum plays." I also think this is the absolute wrong time to buy a house. I am thinking cash for now.

I do not like the euro and foreign markets, I think the euro has gained too much ground on the dollar, more than it deserves. I would expect the dollar to strengthen against the euro and Pound in the coming months.; June 14, 2007 2:06 PM
Anonymous said...: I sold everything and bought gold, it is under my bed!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHA! some crash!!!!

DOPES!; June 14, 2007 2:13 PM
Roccman said...: Gold

Food

Guns

Land

Ammo

Notice how they are all 4 letter words?; June 14, 2007 2:15 PM
Anonymous said...: I'm all-in shortin' the future of the HP troll.; June 14, 2007 2:16 PM
Anonymous said...: "Cash will be king" is dumb & blind. This time around the government, controller of the printing press and the unpublished M3, has massive obligations to foreign central banks. The dollar has been devalued by at least a third in the past 6 years and will continue to be so.; June 14, 2007 2:20 PM
Anonymous said...: 98% equities (about half in international funds), 2% cash. Considering converting about 2/3 of it to cash and putting it into a rollover IRA, to buy back stocks when they are a value. However, they keep going up as more "investors" come online in asia. I'm 24.; June 14, 2007 2:21 PM
Anonymous said...: emigrantdirect and ing.com: all cash at 5.05%...; June 14, 2007 2:36 PM
Anonymous said...: sold all our gold stocks 2 months ago, staying cash until stocks become a good value again. House DP in mm & CD's.; June 14, 2007 2:42 PM
Anonymous said...: The derivative market bailout will hopelessly devalue the dollar into extinction. "Get your precious metals! Get your precious metals!"; June 14, 2007 2:46 PM
Anonymous said...: Noticing more and more gold buying/jewelry/coin internet sites.

brokengold.com

It's happening.; June 14, 2007 2:48 PM
Anonymous said...: all indexed mutual funds

60% US total stock market
10% Euro Stock
4% Pacific stock
2% emerging market stock
24% US total bond market

About 67% equity in my house based on last month's median for my town, but a house is a place to live, not an investment; June 14, 2007 3:30 PM
Smart Grid blogger said...: Video: LUXURY Home/McMansion Foreclosures ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!

Watch http://www.paperdinero.com/BNN.aspx?id=222

New Today! Luxury Foreclosures

Sad CNBC segment chronicles a poor bastard in Maryland who got caught up in the mania in 2005. He bought a waterfront property in the hopes of subdividing it, creating a luxury “dream” home for himself and another to sell for profit. Unfortunately, he is stuck with a luxury vacation home no one wants and his unfinished dream home and ready for auction.

Originally aired on: 6/13/2007 on CNBC

Running Time: 2 minutes 30 seconds; June 14, 2007 3:48 PM
Anonymous said...: Fed Temporary Bank Reserves, Daily Securities Lending & National Debt

The Desk has entered the market announcing: 1-day RP
The Desk has entered the market announcing: 14-day RP Thu 06/14/07 $10.250 billion
$6.000 billion

$16.25 billion. The best up market money can buy.; June 14, 2007 3:52 PM
Anonymous said...: Anonymous said...
All assets (including gold), will decrease in price.

I'll believe that gold will go down when they start pumping it on late night infomercials...just like they are doing with the stock market on NBC right now....and RE in the past.

Nobody seems to talk about gold on TV.

I wonder why.

I can give you an answer. They have already confiscated gold once. Your question, should you choose to accept it, is what makes you think they won't do it again?; June 14, 2007 3:55 PM
Anonymous said...: This may be off topic but...the best hedge against the future is learning to appreciate life and have some adventures RIGHT NOW. Do this while being frugal, while starting your own income producing thing on the side, and you have the good life that cannot be taken away.; June 14, 2007 3:57 PM
Anonymous said...: Anonymous said...
I am much less skeptical than many of you. I think r/e will rebound sooner than later. I'm a renter and I hope I'm wrong. However I don't see these 50% off fire sales coming, at least not where I live.

You aren't looking hard enough. If it's not in your neck of the woods yet, just wait cause it's coming. The 30 yr. just hit 5.74 according to the MBA which is a huge move up in a weeks time.; June 14, 2007 3:57 PM
Anonymous said...: Well, don't really have any money as I have 60K in student loans, 12K owed on a new used car, and 8K in CC debt. Currently renting and paying way to much in DC.

Other than that about 30K in 401Ks and 18K in cash. Of those, I shifted the principles to the safest funds that were offered and am currently investing all new monies in aggressive funds. So far , when compared with my old allocations, I am breaking even but I sleep a bit better.

Currently, I am working on paying off the CC and saving cash. Yeah, I could pay off the CC, but I think that I should keep the cash on hand. Do not want to "invest" at this time as I have the debt and everything is bubbles anyway.; June 14, 2007 3:59 PM
Anonymous said...: Gold
Silver
Mining Stocks
Property; June 14, 2007 4:10 PM
Anonymous said...: 50% Large cap
10% Small cap
20% International
11% Fixed income
5% Cash
5% Gold, silver, and gold miners
-1% short CFC; June 14, 2007 4:13 PM
Anonymous said...: 20% gold coins
8% bear funds
10% real estate
8% base metal royalty companies
10% nickel mining companies
3% oil companies
5% cobalt mining companies
38% gold and silver mining companies

debt is less than 3% of assets; June 14, 2007 4:44 PM
Anonymous said...: Silver - bullion and through oanda.com; June 14, 2007 4:47 PM
Anonymous said...: I agree with "concerned," that "Cash will be king" and "all assets (including gold), will decrease in price."

I see asset deflation, commodity inflation ... and spare me that gold is a real commodity.

85% - money market (5% yield)
15% - 401k mutual funds

Thinking about putting a good chuck into oil co's ...; June 14, 2007 4:52 PM
Anonymous said...: Income streams from a home-based business help out a great deal. The business is one a I can easily run well into old age.

Working hard at day job, trying to maintain as much job security as possible, maxing out 401k, invested in stable interest/dividend bearing funds.

Holding mostly cash, earning it faster than I spend it, thus SAVING it.

Still have a little money in gold, but cashed out gold & silver in Feb 2007 for a 25% gain.; June 14, 2007 5:13 PM
Anonymous said...: "all assets (including gold), will decrease in price."

______

Given the enormous number of dollars than have been created out of thin air, and the limited supply of physical gold, I believe this is one of the stupidest popular positions we are hearing in the world of economics today.

Just because some gurus are saying this doesn't make it true. It could be a little saying designed to separate the fools from their true wealth.

Think about it. Think FOR YOURSELF.

Or..........be a sheeple and have your wealth confiscated from you.; June 14, 2007 5:18 PM
Anonymous said...: We have unprecedented involvement/interference in all markets by central banks on a global scale. There is no way to predict what will happen when the next crisis emerges because we have never seen this set of conditions before.

Money supplies are simply keystrokes in a database now, and laws are in place that allow even governments in "free" countries to confiscate or severely restrict the flow of assets. The only asset we can count on having is specialized knowledge, our wits, and perhaps a few coins that will fit in a backpack. Everything else is at their mercy -- until the guns come out.; June 14, 2007 5:19 PM
Anonymous said...: 50% in Barry Bonds rookie cards- as soon as this steroid nonsense blows over I see a 5000% return!

50% in Florida real estate. I just picked up two more townhouses in Fort Meyers. Can you say "instant equity"?

signed,
RE King; June 14, 2007 5:40 PM
Anonymous said...: Mortgage, cars loans.. all paid off.

100% cash positions or money market on 401K CMA IRAS ROTH. (1.3M)

Personal holdings are cash, CD or Money market. (200k) and gold (72oz)

Been in these positions since March, now with the stock market continuing to go up, I am wondering how much I could have gained?

I feel safe, but stupid.; June 14, 2007 5:50 PM
Anonymous said...: 20% puts, with a few calls,just in case of short term mega rally,
50% cash,
30% gold + silver. The hard stuff.

Bought house in 1999, mortgage payment is 650 + insurance +taxes=1K, and appraised at 260 and dropping at zillow.com. Gotta live somewhere when that bush built scheitt sandwich commeth!

Bring it on!; June 14, 2007 5:58 PM
GT said...: baseball cards!
i gots me 7 mark mcgwire rookies i'm pretty sure are at the bottom of their value. buy now!; June 14, 2007 6:09 PM
Anonymous said...: Here's what I've got

10% Gold (GLD, IAU)
5% Silver (SLV)
5% Prescious Metals Funds (VGPMX)
5% Natural Resource Funds (RSNRX)
5% Global Energy stocks (IXJ)
10% International stocks (Europe and Pacific Rim, nothing in emerging markets)
20% Euros (FXE) considering upping allocation to 25%.
10% Bear Market Funds (BEARX)
30% Cash

Considering allocating 5% each into Yen (FXY) and Swiss Francs (FXF)to further reduce dollar concentration.; June 14, 2007 6:11 PM
Anonymous said...: The scary thing is a downturn may drastically lower everything for the rist time in recent history do to such leveraging. But you can't have nothing in stocks or bonds. I became too conservative the last 3 or so years and have lost out. I have my box of gold and silver and would like more. MM at over 5 percent is good and safe. You gotta be diversified, cheesy cliche but true. A crash may never come and I keep hearing "this year" will be bad. Housing is suffering but hasn't derailed the economy that much at all. It's the unknown that changes things, not what's beaten to death in conversations and articles.; June 14, 2007 6:14 PM
Anonymous said...: Business -have one and opening second in August. The best way to grow money, in my estimation. Took $45,000 out of 401K and turned it into $300,000 per year.

Real Estate - rental house, a loser that I hope to sell to the tenant ( I have an assumable mortgage which may help sell it); June 14, 2007 6:18 PM
Anonymous said...: 5% cd's, always have always will. No stocks ever, if it isn't cash i don't do it. Consequently, while I hear of all those stock market wins, I'm the guy with the money in the bank.
Did I miss some? You bet! Do I care? no not really. I watch mt dad chase his tail everyday with the stockmarket. I just make sure the interest was credited to the correct account once a month.

Also; I may be off base here, but I've never found a way to make a 401k work for me. I plan on being in a higher tax bracket when I retire because I'll be mkaing more from those cd's, and also because the tax rate will historically be higfher anyway. I can afford to pay my taxes now so I am.
I'm just about to venture into treasuries because of the state tax exemption. It'll pay me about 7ish if I've figured correctly. I'm in the top tax bracket for federal, and my State taxes are 37% of my federal tax. Am I wrong?; June 14, 2007 6:21 PM
Anonymous said...: >> Or..........be a sheeple and have your wealth confiscated from you.

When "the" time comes, EVERYTHING will be confiscated from you, and those holding gold will be executed on the spot. This from an insider in the Bushie admin. Hint - this is all going to go down sooner than you know...

Would someone here please tell me when - in modern times, during a catastrophe - has gold been the common-man's medium of exchange? Yeah, that's right - NEVER. The most recent catastrophe, right here on US soil, was Katrina. Funny, I don't recall seeing, hearing, or reading about people using gold to purchase survival stuffs, such as food and water. Actually, food and water WERE the mediums of exchange Gold? Worthless. So, one day when our cities get nuked, who's going to take your gold in exchange for food & water? Stop kidding yourself - we're all screwed in every imaginable and unimaginable way. As for your gold, if someone wants it before the gubment takes it, they'll just take it from you after shooting you in the head while you're taking a shit in your backyard (no water, power, sewage, etc.); June 14, 2007 6:47 PM
Anonymous said...: Given the enormous number of dollars than have been created out of thin air, and the limited supply of physical gold, I believe this is one of the stupidest popular positions we are hearing in the world of economics today.

Just because some gurus are saying this doesn't make it true. It could be a little saying designed to separate the fools from their true wealth.

Actually, dollars can be extinguished just as easily as dollars can be created.

People have the erroneous notion that once the government makes a dollar, it stays permanently as money, like a physical object.

In reality: even the Federal Reserve (under normal situations) does not actually create the money.

It is the private banks who do, the money is created at the moment they decide to lend.

What the Fed does do is to change the profitability of lending, and the reserve ratios. Those can encourage or discourage lending by direct Fed-system institutions, and thereby create and destroy money, but it is not guaranteed. Ever hear the phrase "pushing on a string" in the early phases of a recovery from a recession? That's when the Fed is lowering the price of money and reserve ratios and yet the banks don't yet feel secure enough to lend and thereby create money.

If banks stop lending significantly and start calling in loans, and start taking losses on loans, yes, then dollars or any other fiat currency will be destroyed.

The Friedmanite monetarist philosophy was to actually try to control this money supply---good in theory, but there is yet another effect. The 'potency' of the money supply in terms of its macroeconomic effects (what matters here) is multiplied by the 'monetary velocity' which is extremely hard to measure. This is why the practice of monetarism in early-mid 1980's failed, and all central banks went to controlling the money price (interest rates), and let the market (private banks) determine the quantity.

It is because the animal spirits and bonuses of the private banks have been so positive that the money supply has exploded: they want to borrow lots of it to invest in lots of assets because doing so has been making them rich.

When that idea stops---their financiers want more collateral and interest---assets will certainly be sold.

In the inevitable deleveraging---everybody going off margin---dollars WILL be destroyed, because it is the reverse process which created the money.

This is why the gold bulls can be wrong. They howl about fiat currency but don't understand the operational implications of what it really means. They think it is like the Treasury printing physical money which does not get destroyed.

That's just not so. Until we get to the helicopter phase. Japan did have its helicopter phase: "quantitative easing" which is apparently distinct from just 'zero interest rate'.; June 14, 2007 6:49 PM
Anonymous said...: If you're in a high-tax state, then low-cost treasuries (buy at auction) are a good investment now.

Amazing, but they're better than almost all bank CD's with state tax deduction.

T-bills are like a money market fund with 0.00 expense ratio and state tax deductability.; June 14, 2007 6:55 PM
Swurvey said...: All cash....e-loan @ 5.25% apy.; June 14, 2007 7:08 PM
Anonymous said...: Anonymous said...
"all assets (including gold), will decrease in price."

______

Given the enormous number of dollars than have been created out of thin air, and the limited supply of physical gold, I believe this is one of the stupidest popular positions we are hearing in the world of economics today.

Just because some gurus are saying this doesn't make it true. It could be a little saying designed to separate the fools from their true wealth.

Think about it. Think FOR YOURSELF.

Or..........be a sheeple and have your wealth confiscated from you.

Gold has been confiscated once already. Who is fooling who when it comes to gold? Oh, one other thing, after the confiscation they jacked up the price of gold creating 30% inflation. Goldbugs never want to talk about the possibliity of confiscation. I wonder why? Head in the sand comes to mind.; June 14, 2007 7:15 PM
Anonymous said...: I will seldom buy stocks or etfs again, for when that golden opportunity comes, you better have an options account and maximize with ultimate leverage just like the hedgies do, but in the privacy of your home.; June 14, 2007 7:19 PM
Anonymous said...: Collectibles!

Stamps, trading cards, records. Believe it or not my stamps have almost doubled in value since i started collecting. Not bad....

and business...starting a business that profits off bubble deflation. mwuhahahahahaha! I am a bottom feeder!; June 14, 2007 7:20 PM
Bill said...: Mostly

Captain Morgan 30%
Smith&Wesson 20%
Porn 40%
Cash 10%

Great portfolio..cant loose with that.; June 14, 2007 7:27 PM
Anonymous said...: 80% silver bullion
20% gold bullion
in an "undisclosed location" in Asia. In my opinion, almost everything else is garbage.; June 14, 2007 8:23 PM
Unknown said...: 1/3rd crack
1/3rd weed
1/3rd poosay!!!

these do well in recessions.; June 14, 2007 8:32 PM
Anonymous said...: Glad to see you borkafatty,
50%money market with credit union.
30% s&p 500.
10% energy stocks.
5% firearm collection, great holder of value during hard times( don't kid yourself that you don't believe in guns, the scarest time is when you need one and don't have one)
I think we will know alot more after this summer sell off or lack of it.; June 14, 2007 9:03 PM
Anonymous said...: No debt. Yea!!!

15% gold
25% equities
45% cash
15% bonds

I am looking to invest some cash in a small business. I believe the world has more natural disasters coming and I am considering investing in a disaster relief business. I'll buy another home when p/e makes sense.; June 14, 2007 9:39 PM
Anonymous said...: Great portfolio..cant loose with that.

June 14, 2007 6:27 PM

-------------------------------

You can't lOse either.
Damn it man loose and lose are not the same thing.; June 14, 2007 9:43 PM
Anonymous said...: That boat makes me think of my favorite show "Deadliest Catch". Investing these days is like throwing a pod in the water to see what you catch.

It may come up empty or it may come up full of "red gold." The key is to diversify and don't put all your pods in one area.; June 14, 2007 10:52 PM
Anonymous said...: I believe we entering the time where it's wise to be heavily invested in brass and lead. After those two, it's a crap shoot.; June 14, 2007 10:59 PM
Anonymous said...: 1+ year of cash in ING account

Investments:
Stocks & Bonds
Domestic Large Cap Equities 12%
Domestic Large Cap Value Equities 22%
Domestic Small Cap Equities 5%
International Developed Equities 24%
International Emerging Equities 10%
Bonds
Domestic Short Term Government 5%
Domestic Intermediate Term Government 22%

401K
100% Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund

Commodity Index ETF
EWC
IXJ
NALFX
GLD; June 14, 2007 11:21 PM
Anonymous said...: I'm in blue chips and financials that pay healthy dividends, and about 20% in bonds. I figure that if things go down, at least my dividends get reinvested, for however long that lasts.

I have about 28-30 years to retirement, so I'm not particularly worried. There will be at least one more series of ups and downs by then.

Most $$$ right now is going towards paying down the mortgage quickly to get rid of all debt before the inevitable rise in interest rates.; June 15, 2007 12:22 AM
Anonymous said...: I'm getting fatter every day so when the depression hits it will take me a lot longer to starve. Ha!; June 15, 2007 1:27 AM
Anonymous said...: Been watching Bristol Meyers Squib over the last 2-3 years from 18 to 38 and now at 38 the brokers put a buy rating on it, so i guess they must have rode it up and now are selling it?????? er!! did i miss something!!; June 15, 2007 2:56 AM
Anonymous said...: I believe what I read on HP and other bubble blogs. I believe that before it's all over, the global real estate crash (not just U.S., not just residential) will bring down the most overvalued asset classes by a lot. I study cycles, and it always has before. I don't see anything fundamentally different this time.

The most overvalued asset classes, in order, are:

1. U.S. REITS
2. Emerging market equities
3. U.S. small-cap equities

They all have trailing P/Es in the low 40s and are facing a few years of weak economics and declining earnings, in my humble opinion. I expect all three to decline in value by about half over the next 2-3 years.

I'm short all three. You can't say I don't invest my convictions.; June 15, 2007 3:40 AM
Anonymous said...: Tulips! Get'm while they are still cheap. This is the ground floor oportunity you have been waiting for. Please send $200 ASAE to me. Ok, seriously? rycwx, TP(the good kind cuz I am real sensitive)and buckets of nuts and bolts and duck(quack,quack)tape. Imagine the biz fix'n everybody's big screens and hummers. Cash will not be king(for I am,bow down you losers) it will be even more worthless'r, so just send it to me and I will dispense of it properly. Guns? Don't need them( are you that dumb?). Food? Never eat(still stupid?). Coffee and chaw is all I need for a country boy can survive. Learn to live like a sandhillbilly and thrive. I tell ya, you guys thrive on everybodys pain. Wait till YOU are knocking on the door of my shelter. Leave your panties at the door and the rest of you go away!!!; June 15, 2007 4:56 AM
BFB said...: 13% stocks (large and small cap)
8% bonds (thinking about raising it)
4% CDs (ditto)
50% in a 401(k) spread across domestic and foreign growth funds.
The remaining 25% is completely liquid, mostly in money market accounts with a paltry ~2% APR return. That's the down payment savings.

I want to put more of it to work, but I'm being a pussy. I don't want to lose any. Maybe some more stocks this summer if the market dips.

No precious or industrial metals. I'm interested in hearing good arguments for these.; June 15, 2007 5:06 AM
Anonymous said...: Waiting for the mocking from the crowd, we have about 70% of our assets in real estate, all bought pre-2000, current value about $1.2M, mortgages total about $250k.

Honestly, we're accidental real estate investors; we just never sold houses as work and life took us to other places...so we accumulated them. We plan to live in two of the houses again in the future, so selling makes no real sense...

The other roughy $400k is about 70% stocks, 10% bonds, 10% gold and silver, 10% cash and CDs.

Of the stocks, probably 20% are international,

Not quite enough diversification, I figure the house prices will come down a bit, but since we plan on living in a couple of them, selling didn't seem to make sense...; June 15, 2007 6:26 AM
Anonymous said...: 30 % in home ownership (own my place)
10 % in mutual funds

60 % in ING Direct cash account at 5.3% APY.

And I'm 33 and about to get married.

Does anyone think ING is in danger of bankruptcy? Seems they only do conservative loan but it's worthwhile to ask.; June 15, 2007 6:26 AM
Anonymous said...: Laddered CD's with 5.2 to 5.4%.
I'm just trying to almost keep up with inflation.
Obviously, if the banks will pay over 5% for savings, the real (non-gvmt) inflation rate is higher than that.
The banks will pay less than inflation, so that they can make a profit.; June 15, 2007 6:36 AM
David said...: What is needed here is the playbook from 1973. This was a year of record corporate profits; fear of inflation, but uncertainty whether it was already "the cat" let out of the bag; oil shortages, an unpopular war that people were demanding an "end game" solution, and Middle East political chaos.

This environment favors neither stocks, bonds or commodities in the short term. Equities will waffle along, until the earnings cycle tightens and stock PE's stay the same, but the "E" gets a haircut.

Bonds are going to send out more false signals as some realize future promises on the dollar are foolish; but the Fed will print money and buy Treasuries causing a see-saw swing in the bond markets. Eventually the Fed will try to go to the well one too many times and drop the short-end, but when they alas put the dollar on life-support, they will have to pull a "Volcker" and rescue the dollar.

Commodities go up when stocks are strong and drop on down days. That is a sign that commodity investors are tying commodities to the perceived health of the global economy. After severe declines in both stocks and commodities, commodities will rally separate from the equity markets when base-line demand from the emerging markets on a weak infrastructure of mining and refining, finally make it apparent that commodities are in a secular bull market.

Buy commodities as they fall with equities and meanwhile be in dividend-paying equities that pay in foreign currencies (ADRs), such as:

EON, MC, TMS, NZT and PWE

History doesn't repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme.

Mark Rhymes

http://www.marketrhymes.com; June 15, 2007 7:01 AM
Anonymous said...: porn,

porn stocks,

porn derivatives,

and a fire extinguisher!; June 15, 2007 4:48 PM
Anonymous said...: 40% gold
40% silver
20% cash (emigrant direct)

Diversification for me is:
- bullion in my house
- bullion in my safe deposit box
- offshore allocated gold/silver; June 16, 2007 1:07 PM
Anonymous said...: 80% cash in the uk
10% uk stocks
3% misc non-us stocks
6% us stocks
0.5% us bonds
0.5% misc non-us bonds

looking to take out almost all of the us stuff (all but roth earnings) over next couple of months; June 16, 2007 11:14 PM