This is why I have been a Linux user since 2018! And it will run perfectly well on the 5-year old laptop - my computers are older than that. For beginners, I recommend Linux Mint.
The middle class people out shopping is how the companies in the stock market make a profit. Their former money is now in our brokerage accounts. There are many financial educators telling them to save and invest, and a number of people do wise up. However, most do not.
As a Linux user, I have to be sure I can get the drivers for whatever printers I buy. The Brother laser printer used to be a pain - you had to be a Linux command-line wizard to install the Brother driver. Now it is much easier.
The real question is where is all the money coming from? New cash comes into the stock market every month, so of course prices are going to be much higher whether index investing exists or not.
Income inequality and huge Federal deficits are creating a very unbalanced economy. The top 20% can afford to spend less than they earn, and build up huge wealth without touching it. This holds down the inflation that would otherwise occur - the inflation in the real economy, that is. The inflation in stock prices? Well, everything is great as long as the affluent people don't need money for spending.
This is why I am a dividend investor. Even during the toughest markets, stocks like utilities and oils continue to pay out every quarter. In fact, at the very bottom of the Great Depression, if you owned the Dow Jones index stocks, you could collect a 14% dividend. Nobody had any money to buy stocks, so they stayed way down.
If your portfolio is in an IRA, you can make changes if the current market makes you uncomfortable. You can trade you market-cap-weighted S&P 500 for a equal-weight S&P 500, or something like that. You'll still be invested, and the market could still crash, but it's not as risky.
Yes, in some cases. I know one guy has $500K in a retirement account, and another guy has $125 million in stocks. Those are the two extremes. The guy with $500K has a very sizable pension.
P.S. I wouldn't be saying any of this if I weren't completely anonymous here!
Comments
This is why I have been a Linux user since 2018! And it will run perfectly well on the 5-year old laptop - my computers are older than that. For beginners, I recommend Linux Mint.
Post: Security risk with CoPilot+ PC
Link to comment from December 16, 2025
Yes, going back to articles as the main focus would be an improvement.
Post: My Contact Info
Link to comment from December 11, 2025
The middle class people out shopping is how the companies in the stock market make a profit. Their former money is now in our brokerage accounts. There are many financial educators telling them to save and invest, and a number of people do wise up. However, most do not.
Post: Black Friday blues come February
Link to comment from December 8, 2025
As a Linux user, I have to be sure I can get the drivers for whatever printers I buy. The Brother laser printer used to be a pain - you had to be a Linux command-line wizard to install the Brother driver. Now it is much easier.
Post: Tech Part II: How to buy a printer/scanner, accessories and more
Link to comment from December 8, 2025
The real question is where is all the money coming from? New cash comes into the stock market every month, so of course prices are going to be much higher whether index investing exists or not. Income inequality and huge Federal deficits are creating a very unbalanced economy. The top 20% can afford to spend less than they earn, and build up huge wealth without touching it. This holds down the inflation that would otherwise occur - the inflation in the real economy, that is. The inflation in stock prices? Well, everything is great as long as the affluent people don't need money for spending.
Post: Index Fund Bubble
Link to comment from December 8, 2025
This is why I am a dividend investor. Even during the toughest markets, stocks like utilities and oils continue to pay out every quarter. In fact, at the very bottom of the Great Depression, if you owned the Dow Jones index stocks, you could collect a 14% dividend. Nobody had any money to buy stocks, so they stayed way down.
Post: Would You Raid the Piggy Bank or Mortgage the House?
Link to comment from December 8, 2025
If your portfolio is in an IRA, you can make changes if the current market makes you uncomfortable. You can trade you market-cap-weighted S&P 500 for a equal-weight S&P 500, or something like that. You'll still be invested, and the market could still crash, but it's not as risky.
Post: What’s Really On My Mind
Link to comment from December 3, 2025
It am a Barron's subscriber. This publication is not what it used to be - but neither is the stock market!
Post: What are the financial subscriptions you believe are worth it for yourself and would recommend to others?
Link to comment from December 2, 2025
He buys the cake and supplies the coffee - it's a $60 cake, too. I make the tea for the tea drinkers.
Post: Discussing money matters with friends- a slippery slope
Link to comment from December 1, 2025
Yes, in some cases. I know one guy has $500K in a retirement account, and another guy has $125 million in stocks. Those are the two extremes. The guy with $500K has a very sizable pension. P.S. I wouldn't be saying any of this if I weren't completely anonymous here!
Post: Discussing money matters with friends- a slippery slope
Link to comment from December 1, 2025