I think a method to use to keep people working longer is for the federal government to offer a $2000 tax credit against federal income taxes for anyone working full time past their 65th year. Some states with low unemployment rates could offer a similar tax credit against state income taxes.
More important than the dividend is the corporation's payout percentage. When reviewing a stock I always check the payout ratio. Personally, I prefer companies that have less than a 50% payout ratio. I don't understand how some companies cannot cover the shareholder dividend payment from free cash flow and do not suspend or cut the dividend.
I live in a 55+ development and find a good number of my fellow neighbors are driving fancy high priced vehicles, such as the Bentley, Porsches, and Mercedes What some of them do is rent the vehicle for a few years to enjoy the car. After they get the Bentley out of their system the leasee will move onto another fancy automobile.
Well, I'll be damned! It turns out to be one hell of a great country in which to live, after all. As a baby boomer, I think there is always opportunity in this great nation. Regardless of our occasional economic dislocations this is the best economic machine that mankind has been able to develop, so far. I am still in disbelief that our unemployment rate is below 4% for so long.
I am sincerely sorry to hear about the many times you were fired, let go, or laid off.
I was fired once. That was once too many. When I was 12 years old I was hired to work in the evening at a local delicatessen.
The owner of the store wanted me to restock the beverage freezer two hours before the store closed and to restock some shelves with canned goods. The job required me to go downstairs into the basement where the soda and beer were stored. I recall when turning on the basement light I would observe a scattering of many cockroaches running on the floor. The owner had a bad leg and could not go up and down stairs well. Hence, he hired a young boy to do the job. My pay was $1 per hour. I worked from 6-8pm. Legally, I was not supposed to work after dark. Boy, was I happy to make two bucks a night, too. After two weeks on the job I finished for the evening. The owner handed me the $2 dollars for the night and announced that his regular stock boy was returning from vacation and he would no longer be needing me. In other words, the owner had no intention of permanently hiring me I was only hired for the two weeks. I stood there stunned with a perplexed look on my face. I was in disbelief. To this day, I can still sense the feeling that came over my mood and body. I had been f___ed. I am a meek, mild, and sensitive type of person and can not forget that experience.
However, from that day onward I swore to myself I would never allow another man to have control over my paycheck or income. I swore that I would guide my career and money to never let this happen to me again (remember I was 12 years old).
From that point on I have never been broke, without an income, and never been fired, laid-off, or left a job other than voluntarily. I am now contently retired.
What an experience that was for me.
During the covid crisis my wife and I decided it was time to replace two of our three vehicles. First, we purchased an Acura RDX at dealer’s list price. Second, my wife had her heart set on a new Subaru Crosstrek in gray color. Due to the shortage of vehicles in the middle of the Covid crises it took about six months of surfing the internet to find the exact Crosstrek from a dealership within driving range. My wife had her heart set on the Subaru Crosstrek, especially in gray, her favorite color. Visiting the dealer, we found the exact car. I knew when I saw the car in the back lot that I was going to make this purchase. The mark-up this time was $3,000 over the dealer’s invoice. In my mind, I knew I was going to pay the piper as this could be that last car we buy. I hope not, but it could be. Returning to the salesperson’s desk I questioned the $3,000 mark-up. Naturally, he had to check with the sales manager to see if there could be an adjustment on the mark-up. The salesperson stated that if we could fully pay for the car that day they would shave $500 off the $3,000 mark-up. The deal was completed .
Today, we are both loving our beautiful Subaru, Crosstrek. In fact, I like driving it more than the more expensive Acura, RDX.
Go ahead and enjoy yourself!! So, you die leaving a few dollars less in the kitty.
In 1971 I enlisted for the draft as my lottery number was low and my local draft board advised that I was to be called within months. So, I decided to speed-up the process. After Army basic training I was assigned for Military Police duty (95B). After MP training i was shipped to W Germany. I only spent 21 months in the service since I was released early to attend college (early out and GI Bill). Those 21 months proved to be a rewarding experience. Going into the Army changed the entire direction of my life for the better. I am forever grateful for the opportunity my government gave to me to serve my country and improve the rest of my life as well.
Mike, you stated, "It’s yet another instance that underscores the value of ignoring the experts. . . ." It's a wonder why we bother to call them "experts." Maybe we should label them fortune tellers?
Mike, thank you for this review of these stock market valuation metrics. I have noted and saved your article on my computer so that I may occasionally review the valuations mentioned. I enjoy studying the stock market movements and tend to watch the Buffet indicator using the market's GDP ratio. Do you have any thoughts on using the Buffet Indicator as a guide for stock valuations? Thank you.
Cody
Comments
I think a method to use to keep people working longer is for the federal government to offer a $2000 tax credit against federal income taxes for anyone working full time past their 65th year. Some states with low unemployment rates could offer a similar tax credit against state income taxes.
Post: Worried? Concerned? Confident? About the future of Social Security and Medicare
Link to comment from March 25, 2025
Realize that if you ar born in the United States that you have already won the lottery. The rest is up to you!
Post: What life lessons would you like to pass on to the next generation?
Link to comment from November 23, 2024
More important than the dividend is the corporation's payout percentage. When reviewing a stock I always check the payout ratio. Personally, I prefer companies that have less than a 50% payout ratio. I don't understand how some companies cannot cover the shareholder dividend payment from free cash flow and do not suspend or cut the dividend.
Post: Don’t Dis Dividends by Jonathan Clements
Link to comment from November 9, 2024
I live in a 55+ development and find a good number of my fellow neighbors are driving fancy high priced vehicles, such as the Bentley, Porsches, and Mercedes What some of them do is rent the vehicle for a few years to enjoy the car. After they get the Bentley out of their system the leasee will move onto another fancy automobile.
Post: Quinn is considering buying a Bentley
Link to comment from September 8, 2024
Well, I'll be damned! It turns out to be one hell of a great country in which to live, after all. As a baby boomer, I think there is always opportunity in this great nation. Regardless of our occasional economic dislocations this is the best economic machine that mankind has been able to develop, so far. I am still in disbelief that our unemployment rate is below 4% for so long.
Post: Youth May Triumph
Link to comment from May 17, 2024
I am sincerely sorry to hear about the many times you were fired, let go, or laid off. I was fired once. That was once too many. When I was 12 years old I was hired to work in the evening at a local delicatessen. The owner of the store wanted me to restock the beverage freezer two hours before the store closed and to restock some shelves with canned goods. The job required me to go downstairs into the basement where the soda and beer were stored. I recall when turning on the basement light I would observe a scattering of many cockroaches running on the floor. The owner had a bad leg and could not go up and down stairs well. Hence, he hired a young boy to do the job. My pay was $1 per hour. I worked from 6-8pm. Legally, I was not supposed to work after dark. Boy, was I happy to make two bucks a night, too. After two weeks on the job I finished for the evening. The owner handed me the $2 dollars for the night and announced that his regular stock boy was returning from vacation and he would no longer be needing me. In other words, the owner had no intention of permanently hiring me I was only hired for the two weeks. I stood there stunned with a perplexed look on my face. I was in disbelief. To this day, I can still sense the feeling that came over my mood and body. I had been f___ed. I am a meek, mild, and sensitive type of person and can not forget that experience. However, from that day onward I swore to myself I would never allow another man to have control over my paycheck or income. I swore that I would guide my career and money to never let this happen to me again (remember I was 12 years old). From that point on I have never been broke, without an income, and never been fired, laid-off, or left a job other than voluntarily. I am now contently retired. What an experience that was for me.
Post: My Unemployed Life
Link to comment from October 22, 2023
During the covid crisis my wife and I decided it was time to replace two of our three vehicles. First, we purchased an Acura RDX at dealer’s list price. Second, my wife had her heart set on a new Subaru Crosstrek in gray color. Due to the shortage of vehicles in the middle of the Covid crises it took about six months of surfing the internet to find the exact Crosstrek from a dealership within driving range. My wife had her heart set on the Subaru Crosstrek, especially in gray, her favorite color. Visiting the dealer, we found the exact car. I knew when I saw the car in the back lot that I was going to make this purchase. The mark-up this time was $3,000 over the dealer’s invoice. In my mind, I knew I was going to pay the piper as this could be that last car we buy. I hope not, but it could be. Returning to the salesperson’s desk I questioned the $3,000 mark-up. Naturally, he had to check with the sales manager to see if there could be an adjustment on the mark-up. The salesperson stated that if we could fully pay for the car that day they would shave $500 off the $3,000 mark-up. The deal was completed . Today, we are both loving our beautiful Subaru, Crosstrek. In fact, I like driving it more than the more expensive Acura, RDX. Go ahead and enjoy yourself!! So, you die leaving a few dollars less in the kitty.
Post: My Car Journey
Link to comment from September 5, 2023
In 1971 I enlisted for the draft as my lottery number was low and my local draft board advised that I was to be called within months. So, I decided to speed-up the process. After Army basic training I was assigned for Military Police duty (95B). After MP training i was shipped to W Germany. I only spent 21 months in the service since I was released early to attend college (early out and GI Bill). Those 21 months proved to be a rewarding experience. Going into the Army changed the entire direction of my life for the better. I am forever grateful for the opportunity my government gave to me to serve my country and improve the rest of my life as well.
Post: Learned in Uniform
Link to comment from August 23, 2023
Mike, you stated, "It’s yet another instance that underscores the value of ignoring the experts. . . ." It's a wonder why we bother to call them "experts." Maybe we should label them fortune tellers?
Post: Egg on Their Faces
Link to comment from February 13, 2023
Mike, thank you for this review of these stock market valuation metrics. I have noted and saved your article on my computer so that I may occasionally review the valuations mentioned. I enjoy studying the stock market movements and tend to watch the Buffet indicator using the market's GDP ratio. Do you have any thoughts on using the Buffet Indicator as a guide for stock valuations? Thank you. Cody
Post: Yardsticks for Stocks
Link to comment from January 2, 2023