Brett Howser

Comments:

• You should be proud of yourself for not acquiescing to the demands of society or family or whoever to have kids if it wasn’t something you wanted to do. Having optionality is the key (just ask NassimTaleb). You only get one go-round in this life and it is extremely important to live it the way that gives you meaning so that when you’re on your deathbed you’ll feel like you played your hand the best you could. so, as the Aussies say, good on ya!

  Post: Kristine Wonders: Does Not Having Children Change How You Plan For Retirement?

  Link to comment from August 17, 2024

• Taleb’s book did have elements of snark, but it also contained a ton of wisdom. For finances and for life. Especially his idea of a barbell approach to investing. 80-90% safe bets, and 10-20% bets that are riskier and might have a tail. Because a portfolio with any stocks that had tail events is a lousy portfolio.

  Post: The Risks We Miss

  Link to comment from July 13, 2024

• Great list! And if you need to boil it down to one rule, I vote for #1. It’ll keep a lot if us alive.

  Post: Falcone’s Rules

  Link to comment from July 6, 2024

• You misquoted Tyson. The actual quote is “Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth.”

  Post: More Than Money

  Link to comment from January 3, 2024

• The only thing we can be certain of is that the world is a very uncertain, unpredictable place. Don’t get fooled by randomness into believing your certainties are facts.

  Post: Don’t Trust Your Gut

  Link to comment from December 27, 2023

• youre going to make an annuities salesman very happy Jonathan. I hope there’s some Newtonian physics involved and you’re equally happy.

  Post: Retirement Roulette

  Link to comment from November 25, 2023

• If you’re happy with the risks you took, and didn’t take, then I’m happy for you. Survive & flourish.

  Post: Retirement Roulette

  Link to comment from November 25, 2023

• Have you read Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of Money? Or read anything by Nassim Taleb? Both would tell ya that money and risk go hand in hand. Sometimes we take too much risk. And often we don’t take enough.

  Post: Retirement Roulette

  Link to comment from November 25, 2023

• 1. If the t-bill pays 5%, it stays at 5% of the amount paid until the capital is retuned. The risk is if rates go higher, bit lower. And with an annuity your capital is no longer yours. It belongs to the policy issuers. Surely you know that?
  2. a pension is not your own capital. I’m surprised you’re confused by that.

  Post: Retirement Roulette

  Link to comment from November 25, 2023

• because your capital is no longer yours with an annuity. That’s okay for IBM paying pensions, but not for your own savings.

  Post: Retirement Roulette

  Link to comment from November 25, 2023