Jack Hannam

Comments:

• I agree.

  Post: Ranking Colleges

  Link to comment from October 4, 2024

• Thanks for this lucid post. Please, don't shut up!

  Post: In defense of billionaires

  Link to comment from September 30, 2024

• While I can see some value in looking at the various college ranking services, I suspect the most important determinant for success depends on the student. Much has been written about boosting the student's chances for admission to the "best" schools; good high schools, tutoring, SAT/ACT preparation courses, enhanced resumes with various extracurricular activities, etc. Yet, I wonder about the student's personality traits and whether he or she finds a place where they feel like they "fit in" and will more likely apply themselves. I think any well motivated student attending a good college, even if it isn't in the same league as Harvard, who works hard will do just fine. And more importantly, those traits will make a bigger difference in their post-college work career than the name of the college on their diploma.

  Post: Ranking Colleges

  Link to comment from September 30, 2024

• Thanks for the review of Benz's book; I plan to read it this week. I read many articles recommending or at least implying that our cash allocation ought to be determined by interest rates. And, when those rates decline, to move out of cash and into some other category, typically riskier, in order to increase yield. This ignores the principal reason I and many others hold cash in the first place. As a retiree, I can tap my cash for distributions when stocks decline, and rebalance when stocks are "on sale". Indeed, over long terms, cash is inefficient, but the peace of mind it produces justifies its role, along with short term treasury bills and notes, both ordinary and TIPS.

  Post: Retiring Smarter

  Link to comment from September 29, 2024

• I would be frustrated too, if I were in your shoes. Thank you for devoting so much of your time and energy to keeping this site going.

  Post: Anybody Listening? by Jonathan Clements

  Link to comment from September 27, 2024

• My younger brother, who had a co-morbid condition, died from COVID-19 in 2020. This undoubtedly influenced my decision to get the shot when it first became available, as Kahneman and Tversky might have predicted. I retired from the practice of medicine 2 years before the pandemic. I too am influenced by my own personal experiences, even though I realize a scientist must think objectively. Many of my physician colleagues were, and remain skeptical of the vaccines for COVID-19. Many critics of the vaccines look at different metrics when discussing their worth, like disease prevention. I look at the complication rate (very low) and the mortality data. In the April 2023 issue of J. Gen. Intern. Med., Baker and others reported on in-hospital mortality data of over 80,000 patients hospitalized between January 2021 and January 2022 for COVID-19. Having had a single vaccination lowered the rate of death by 40%. Three vaccinations lowered the death rate by 50%. The degree of protection was even greater for those over age 70 and who were obese. So, while the benefits may be much lower for healthy, young non-obese people, they are undeniable for elderly folks.

  Post: Jabs Anyone?

  Link to comment from September 24, 2024

• Good point. On the topic of choosing winners and losers, I wonder whether some causes go unnoticed while others are well known. In the narrow case of neurological diseases for example, the American Brain Foundation distributes funds to researchers working on high profile problems such as Alzheimers, but also to those working on various rare and obscure disorders most of us have never heard of. I suspect similar entities supporting numerous causes exist to efficiently distribute gifts they receive.

  Post: In defense of billionaires

  Link to comment from September 24, 2024

• I have had similar thoughts when a celebrity lectures us on topics outside their area of expertise. I respect wealthy people who try to use their wealth for the common good rather than self promotion or influencing political races.

  Post: In defense of billionaires

  Link to comment from September 24, 2024

• I don't personally know any billionaires but I imagine they form a diverse group. Some likely acquired their wealth through admirable traits and behaviors, while others perhaps less so. And some simply inherited it. The media generally focuses more on how wealth is distributed than on how it was created. I agree with Jonathan and others that their opinions on how our government should operate are no more important than anyone else's.

  Post: In defense of billionaires

  Link to comment from September 24, 2024

• I think most of us would agree the time to "fix" the problem is now. I particularly like your proposal to annually adjust the taxes to keep the program financially sound.

  Post: Quinn asks himself, Is delaying Social Security to age 70 the right decision?

  Link to comment from September 23, 2024