diff --git "a/reddit_finance_43_250k_112.txt" "b/reddit_finance_43_250k_112.txt" new file mode 100644--- /dev/null +++ "b/reddit_finance_43_250k_112.txt" @@ -0,0 +1,10000 @@ +Curious as to how you all handle this. Thanks. + +**Edit:** Wow. The amount of people making horrible assumptions here is astounding. It seems a lot of you think working 50 hour weeks equates to being an absentee father who doesn't care about this kids? That 50 hour weeks means you don't have full sit-down dinners with quality converstaion every night (we do), game/hangout time every evening (we do), to be coach of their sports teams year-round (I am), and to be highly involved in their education. + +A lot of you also misread that my wife is begging me to work less. She's not; with both of us coming from modest means, she is thrilled that this job is going to gaurantee us financial security for the rest of our lives, and on top of that she is highly content with our tight family life and relationships with our children. She's merely saying don't try to create an equivilance between my career success and material benefits to the kids. + +To those who gave thoughtful advice, much thanks. To those who responded "lol enjoy your kids growing up to hate you", thank you for proving money can't buy class. +I want to talk about something that has been bugging me lately. + +This guy has spawned a horde of cultists. There is no other way of defining it: a group of people who rally up behind an idea that has not been proven by the person who suggests it. + +I personally enjoy his videos and personality, but everything he does I take with a grain of salt. He hasn't given us any way to prove he is not a con: no history of verified results, no name, no face, not anything we can refer to. + +And yet, people are absolutely crazy for him. I see it here especially: as soon as you mention a tool or an indicator VP has deemed useless, you get barraged by people who tell you how wrong you are based on the argument VP makes on his videos. + +I experienced this first hand when I mentioned that I use SR: I got three DMs essentially telling me how dumb I was for using something out of the "Dirty Dozens". + +And what about the arguments he makes against these tools? I don't know about you, but every Dirty Dozen video he has made has been a variation of the same argument: "This tool is old, wasn't made for the forex market, and thus you should not use it". + +If he truly spent so long backtesting all of these indicators, he could just share the backtesting results of each of the tool he mentions. A simple "Guys, the RSI has given me a 20% winrate over 5 years and thus it's useless" would already be sufficient. But no, no data has been given. + +And for those who say he doesn't sell anything, you're so naive it's almost cute. + +How much money do you think he was just paid for the broker partnership he advertized in his last video? + +Please, go back and watch his video on Support and Resistance, where he clearly says the following: + +"**Brokers often suggest you use support and resistance because they want you to fail. They want you to fail because they take the opposite side of your trade.**" + +Now go to the video about ECN vs DD brokers, where he says: + +"**Brokers don't want you to fail. Brokers want to you to stay in the game for as long as possible to make money, and for that they need you to succeed. They take the opposite side of your trades because of regulations, it's not personal.**" + +Do you think it's a coincidence that such a contradiction happened right before the video in which he gives his affiliate links to join the two brokers he advertized? + +It's mind boggling how many of you fall to his feet. +I’m a 44 year old single male UHNWI. Like most people, I’ve had several successful and unsuccessful romantic relationships with women, and none of them resulted in children. I’m at a crossroads, because I don’t want to miss out on the experience of raising children. And while I don’t have a biological clock, there’s also no immediate female partner as of now who would be both romantically compatible as well as ready, willing and able to have children with me. Certainly I can still develop this, but the timing of it is uncertain and unpredictable. I'm also more cautious now because it has been problematic for me in the past to enter into a marriage and later dissolve it if it doesn’t work out, given my financial status. I also want to avoid custody battles if things don't work out with the romantic partner. + +Lately I’ve looked into the obvious other choice: adoption. This is a good option but carries with it some complications, one of which is that adoption agencies don’t consider me to be the most ideal candidate (vs a married couple, for example). + +I’ve heard that some single men in my situation have opted for a surrogate along with an egg donor. There are agencies that handle both. This method seems to address all the issues that adoption has. + +My goal is not to be a single dad forever, so I’d probably be dating as a single dad initially, hopefully leading to a long term relationship or marriage (the woman might even have kids of her own). This is one complexity, but it seems addressable. Of course I’m also concerned that growing up with a single parent (and no mother) could negatively impact the psychology of the child. + +Has anyone tried this? Or am I just dreaming? Is this a realistic and reasonable idea? + +UPDATE: Already, some good points in the comment. For example, how would I provide real breast milk to the baby? Sure, you can buy donor breast milk, but it's not as good as the milk from the real mother. And it would be psychologically confusing for the baby to breast feed from a woman, but not bond with that woman. This alone seems like a setup for trust issues later in life. Maybe adoption is better, when the kid is already 5 or 6. But then, the child might have trauma from that early separation as well. (Although in that case, it's unavoidable since a kid who is up for adoption can't go back to not being adopted) + +UPDATE2: Thanks for all the helpful advice. One person said not to get twins. That is exactly what I had in mind, if I did this (or two kids rather, not necessarily twins). Because two children won't be twice the amount of work as one, and it makes sense to have more than one child if going through with this. + +UPDATE3: What about the impact of dating once I have young children through this method? I know plenty of single moms and dads date, but once people find out how I got these kids and why, I might look like a weirdo. +As mentioned in some of my previous posts, the majority of my money invested in my ISA each month is in ETFs. + +However, I am happy to put a small amount into individual companies each month. I have taken numerous approaches to finding possible investment opportunities from literally going through every company in certain sectors on Trading212, to looking through the randomness that Motley Fool/OPTO/Seeking Alpha pumps into my inbox, to reading articles on FT and Marketwatch. I have a mate who literally watches TikTok videos for investment suggestions and then just jumps on that with no more DD (perhaps it is my age but I find myself distrustful of recommendations via TikTok, though saying that my mate seems to have done okay so far using the that as his sole way of finding new opportunities). + +What other ways of finding the next possible investment opportunities do people use? + +EDIT: Can't change my title but I wasn't necessarily suggesting just looking for one single 'thing' each time you look, just opportunities in general. Sometime you find one interesting thread worth looking into more, sometimes loads and sometimes none at all. +[Livestream C-SPAN](https://www.c-span.org/event/?508545/robinhood-ceo-reddit-cofounder-testify-gamestop-stock) + +[Livestream YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfEuNHVPc_k&ab_channel=FinancialServicesCommittee) +[evening standard](https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/woman-30-on-a-40k-salary-who-lives-at-home-claims-her-parents-still-have-to-bail-her-out-each-month-a3987981.html%3famp) + +Carelessness with money or genuine dilemma? Thoughts? +Before we get started make sure you check back tomorrow for another story time! + +After yesterday’s $Bingus [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/CryptoMoonShots/comments/mnjg5r/the_genesis_of_bingus_charity_token/?utm_source=share&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_medium=ios_app&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_name=iossmf) we saw a huge uptake in price, market cap, and community members. At the time of this post the current market cap is $5.5M. We can’t thank you all enough! We got 450+ upvotes and such a heartwarming response from everyone here at r/CryptoMoonShots, it’s clear we have a lot of fellow animal lovers here! The best news of all is that people have recognised the determination of this project, and the price has remained steady, showing that people share our long-term goals. We will grow together and reach higher highs. + +There’s no need for us to make a hard sell or a major promotion today. Instead we want to reflect on all the progress we’ve made. Please send your thanks and love to the devs and the core team who have been working 24/7 for $Bingus. And don’t forget to thank yourself and the Moonshots community for supporting us. + +All this amazing progress means the charity pot has grown a substantial amount. The devs are making sure our third donation will be sent out soon, to be followed shortly by many more. There’s plans to have community input on the charities that will receive the donations. + +As we have not been listed anywhere yet this means we will still make huge gains from the attention that will get us. You’re really not too late to join us and to become part of real change. We’re only on day 8 and the best is yet to come! + +Unlike another coin you may be familiar with we’ve done our due diligence in regards to copyright etc. The $Bingus token and project is applying for trademarks so there will be no worries about any legal issues, as well as there being no existing trademarks on Bingus. + +So once again thank you to *everyone*. Be sure to check out yesterday’s [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/CryptoMoonShots/comments/mnjg5r/the_genesis_of_bingus_charity_token/?utm_source=share&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_medium=ios_app&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_name=iossmf). + +A quick word on the tokenomics, taken from yesterday’s post: + +There’s a 3% fee on pancakeswap. 1/3 goes to the charity pot, 1/3 to holders, and 1/3 gets burned. This helps out critters, raises the price, and gives back to all you lovely holders! It’s **win-win-win!** + +**Here’s some links and resources:** + +If you want to buy Bingus tokens you can trade on pancakeswap by clicking [here](https://exchange.pancakeswap.finance/#/swap?outputCurrency=BNB&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;inputCurrency=0xdA20C8a5c3B1AB48e31ba6e43f0F2830E50218D8). + +Charts are available [here](https://charts.bogged.finance/?token=0xdA20C8a5c3B1AB48e31ba6e43f0F2830E50218D8). + +You can also place a Buy Limit Order [here](http://bogged.finance/trade) + +The shiny new website [bingus.finance](https://bingus.finance/) + +Our [Telegram](https://t.me/bingustoken2official) (we just reached 1k members) + +Our [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/qKdZdd558F) + +r/abingus for all your memes and Reddit fun + +A Bingus giveaway is live on Twitter [@BingusToken](https://twitter.com/bingustoken/status/1380542296219811846?s=28) + +We also have a community competition to design our logo. You can find out more details on our social media! + +[Charity Donation 1](https://imgur.com/a/Evvmvah) **Forgotten Animals Rescue** + +[Charity Donation 2](https://imgur.com/GjMOBt5) **Wright-Way Animal Rescue** + + +**THANK YOU ALL** +================= +Hello everyone. I've been semi-involved in crypto since BTC was sub $10, however I was quite young then and never managed to keep much (sadly). I told parents to invest at $80. Then $100. Then again during the subsequent crashes. Argh! + +Anyways, I'm finishing up my second year of college at a very good (top 10) public university in the US, however have received an offer to transfer to my dream school (a top 10 school overall in the US) for the final two years of my undergraduate education. + +The catch? My state school is under $25,000 for everything per year, and the other institution is near $70,000. + +I do have a sizable college fund left from some passed relatives, and I could theoretically afford the $70,000, however it will all but deplete the fund. I have very little interest in graduate school, and I do believe transferring will serve to better my after school prospects, I might have a better plan. + +I would like to invest $50,000-$100,000 into the crypto market, and stay at my state university. My education will still be great, albeit slightly less fun/prestigious. I am willing to lose it, moon or nothing. I'm not even being facetious when I say YOLO. + +I'm thinking of doing the following (if investing a full $100K) + +- $30,000 BTC +- $20,000 LTC +- $20,000 ETH +- $10,000 XMR +- $10,000 divided between FCT, NEO, GAS, perhaps GNT. +- $10,000 various altcoins (gambling for all intents and purposes) + +I would store most everything on paper/hardware wallets and HODL. + + +Am I stupid? Is this a smart split? Anything I'm missing? All feedback is appreciated, and I hope I look back fondly on this post in 2 years. + + + + + +Hi, + +I'm looking to hear some ideas and to expose myself to as many bargains as possible with the recent dips. + +Any bargains that you are personnally looking to add or that you are adding that are under 2 billion market cap? + +I generally feel the biggest arbitrage opportunities are found in the lower market caps. + +For myself - I'm adding Zumiez - lots of money on their balance sheet, growth year over year, no debts and huge cashflow and 52 week low. At the current valuation, I personnally feel it's a safe bet. + +Looking to hear you guys and if we can help each others finding securities that we like.. why not. + +Cheers +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +*** + +Thread guidelines: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/) apply here so please be familiar with them. + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Find the latest Altcoin Discussion thread in [this search listing](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/search?q=author%3Aautomoderator+title%3Aaltcoin&include_over_18=on&sort=new&t=all). + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! +Hey all. I'm new to real estate investment, just bought a condo at the top of the year and about to get a renter in it. All in, I'll be netting about $300/month profit from the renter/mortgage margin. I want to start looking into buying another property, with a similar intent of getting renters, positive margin on mortgage, and so on. + +How do lenders qualify rental payment as income/how does it offset the mortgage? Is the idea to pay off the entire mortgage before it can count towards earned income for higher loans? I'm sure I know some people who successfully "scale" their property count while getting higher and higher buying power with lenders. Do I need to register a business for that earned income? + +Lastly, if you have any suggestions for groups that meet up (virtually) to chat about real estate investing, I would love to attend. + +UPDATE: Thank you all for your feedback! I'm carefully reading through everything and I appreciate the different perspectives :) +Forgive me if this seems plainly obvious to you all. + +I kinda understand the point of buying shares if the companies pays dividends per share. + +but if they don't (like Amazon), what exactly are we trading when we buy stock in a company? We don't actually "own" a part of the company. Your money does not go to the company when you buy a share (unless it's an IPO). + +It just seems like unless it pays dividends, we're just betting on a company's performance rather than the company itself. Sort of like a side market. +Now before you skip the text below and immediately go on a tantrum, realize I have a diverse portfolio and understand very well why people go for other projects than Ripple. + +However.. + +The sheer stupidity on here sometimes is mind blowing. + +There’s a ton of people on the crypto subs who completely fail to realize that with 99% of the current projects, you’re betting your money on a company’s potential based on their ‘white paper and team’. That’s it. Calling most of them a company would be a huge overstatement too. + +Not investing in XRP because “companies won’t use the token” is so naive that it causes me physical pain to read. + +Again, you’re betting on potential. + +How could you possibly think a group of random teenagers with no social or business skills and experience creating yet another ERC20 token that has no use has more potential than XRP? A US based company with an amazing team and investors and partners that go far beyond most blockchain companies will probably ever work with? + +Like I’ve said, I understand why you’d rather bet on Ethereum, Bitcoin even and a few others here and there. + +But honestly stop acting like a damn parrot. The only reason you’re constantly repeating the “ThEy WoNt UsE XRP!!!” argument is because you’ve seen someone else say it and you want to come across as knowledgeable. + +Chances are you’ve read that, accepted it as the absolute truth and left it there without doing even a shred of further research. Yet fall for the constant shilling of random coins every single day, driving you insane. + +The whole crypto space is in its infancy stage but Ripple is laying a solid ground for an amazing future. They’re among a handful of others, tops. If you’re in 10-15+ coins you’re going to go home disappointed, because the hits most of your “investments” took will shatter any profit you’ve made from the minority of your portfolio. + +If you actually care about arguments for investing in XRP and genuinely want to make money with your investments instead of your gambling based on short term satisfaction, read articles like the ones below: + +https://xrphodor.wordpress.com/2017/11/01/who-do-you-trust-with-your-money/ + +https://xrphodor.wordpress.com/2017/11/07/xrp-the-digital-asset-for-banks/ +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +Find the latest Daily Altcoin Discussion thread by selecting the top result on this [search page](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/search?q=Daily+Altcoin+Discussion&include_over_18=on&restrict_sr=on&t=all&sort=new). + +*** + +The thread guidelines are as follows: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All sub rules apply here so please review our **[rules page](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/)** to become familiar with them. The rules page is also linked in the announcement bar above. +- If the top page becomes overloaded with memes, all but the top two voted may be removed. If we need to remove a bunch of memes from the top page, post memes in this thread first and upvote the best so the mods know which ones to keep + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +Had a light bulb moment after chatting with a friend about spending money for no good reasons! + +Most of the time when ppl (like myself) buy stuff, it’s really to satisfy the feeling of searching , seeing something you like, and being able to purchase it. + +What if we convert that “something” to things that can be more sustainable and useful AND someday can grow your wealth? + +In my case, S&P 500 ETF! Or it could be any investment vehicle that have more stable growth. + +Hope you like this idea! +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +Find the latest Daily Altcoin Discussion thread by selecting the top result on this [search page](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/search?q=Daily+Altcoin+Discussion&include_over_18=on&restrict_sr=on&t=all&sort=new). + +*** + +The thread guidelines are as follows: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All sub rules apply here so please review our **[rules page](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/)** to become familiar with them. The rules page is also linked in the announcement bar above. +- If the top page becomes overloaded with memes, all but the top two voted may be removed. If we need to remove a bunch of memes from the top page, post memes in this thread first and upvote the best so the mods know which ones to keep + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +I personally think this paint looks awful but I don't know if the appraiser will care. + +Here is the link to the photos of my house. +https://imgur.com/a/9pDa4Gz + +My goal is to get as much money as possible from the refinance. I want at least 20% equity and I'm still trying to get a feel for how this works. + +The paint is in very good condition except for the basement stairs which are hidden (third picture). +I am the front runner that hacked $11.5 Billion worth of synthetic Eth from the Synthetix platform, seen [here](https://etherscan.io/tx/0x93819f6bbea390d7709fa033f5733d16418674e99c43b9ed23adb4110d657f0c), covered by dozens (hundreds?) of news sites such as [Coin Telegraph](https://cointelegraph.com/search?query=synthetix) + +I didn't intend to break the system so I gave it all back in return for a $40k bounty and to keep my pre-oracle-bug $50k synths balance + +Kayne (CEO) said he'd like me to keep running the bot so they could tune the platform to be resistant to my attacks. + +Turns out he just wanted to backstab me once I hit $100k synths balance by increasing the fee to 99% when one of my [transactions](https://etherscan.io/tx/0x3efea6b1355ae7848dcc4c530e2b9fca534601babc165076b017a9e339fc96a6) was in the mempool (notice the extremely high XDR balance. That's fees) + +Taken aback by the breaking of our agreement, I made a defense to his fee attack and started attacking just for the sake of attacking with intent to damage the system as revenge. I got up to $100k again + +Kayne and the team decided they didn't want to pretend they had a decentralized system any more and deleted my balance. They reduced the price of the synth I was currently holding and [forced](https://etherscan.io/tx/0x5d4f992a507d851bcdc7dcd35bf4d3545ddd9e20981fe12b3a708c40cde43740) me to [trade](https://etherscan.io/tx/0x0137d0ee34a8d688b583cc74f31ada35a5be5b15ff16b9c84dfe0a9fa1671b97) my synth for sUSD. They can do this to anyone + +My point here is not to be all "boo hoo I'm a victim". I'm not a white knight, but I'm also not the bad guy. A bad guy would have dumped the $11.5B on markets once Kayne agreed to re-enable trades on the platform after we came to our deal. My point is in exposing them because synth team is trying to [bribe](https://blog.synthetix.io/win-1000-snx-by-voting-for-susd-in-compounds-vote/) their way in to being on Compound. + +Don't let centralized systems infect DeFi. + +Original post [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethereum/comments/d4edxm/the_synthetix_dapp_deleted_my_balance/) +I have been enamored by JEPI. ~9% dividend with low volatility! what's the secret sauce? Well, on the surface, it appears that the ETF is selling call options. I research things a lot before I get serious about them so I started digging more into this and it appears that JEPI is actually not selling call options directly (later in the post, you will see that JEPI is in fact not even selling call options, but purchasing high-risk ELNs). When I used to do options selling, I never found got the income that JEPI is giving out so I was even more curious. + +The first mystery I wanted to solve was to find more about what the heck is that SPX_1 etc in the top holdings. This is easy- just go to https://am.jpmorgan.com/us/en/asset-management/adv/products/jpmorgan-equity-premium-income-etf-etf-shares-46641q332#/documents and download "Equity Linked Notes Estimated Equivalent Unit Delta – Gamma" file and you will see "SPX is in reference to the S&P 500 Index." in the footnote. + +And that's where things get interesting. JEPI doesn't invest directly in the index itself but in stocks, so how come there are covered calls related to S&P index? moreover, I was confused that if JEPI is selling call options on the stocks in holds, why would they appear in assets- I would expect them to be listed in debt or something like that. It is not an "asset" per se. + +To find more about that, I downloaded the "Third Quarter Holding" document from the "Regulatory Documents" section of the website. You can see that ~85% of the ETF assets are in stocks and about ~15% are ELNs. + +Although the JEPI prospectus states that the JEPI generates income from call options, the reality is that it is generating income from ELNs. One may argue ELNs are like call options but I think they are quite different from a risk profile perspective. ELNs are not regulated/secured through "Chicago Board Options Exchange" (unlike regular call options). You can see the 3Q ELNs here https://i.imgur.com/gWxNxLf.png. Also, note that the originators of these ELNs are not necessarily based out of the US (you can see UK, France, Swiss-based etc ) + +(it all makes sense now why SPX_1 etc are listed in top holdings- JEPI is purchasing these ELNs and these ELNs are like assets) + +Simply put, there is no secret sauce: +JEPI = (any regular low volatility ETF) + ELN. + +What JEPI is not: low volatility stocks + covered call options + +So far, JEPI managers have done a phenomenal job of managing risk. and I hope they continue to do so. I just wanted to share my research with the community in the hopes that people investing in it are aware of the ELN risks. + + +EDIT: ELN interest rates are not clear from the data but given the high-interest rate, the risk is much higher. + + +EDIT-2/TL;DR/ELI5: +The perception of JEPI generating incoming from option call selling is wrong. It appears from data that the income is being generated by extremely risky ELNs. +Just what the title says. MO has a great yield, but it should be a growth stock in the near future and it may have already started the climb a lot of us thought was inevitable. I just started buying it last month and I plan to continue doing so until it hits $60. +As I woke up this morning and sat my lazy ass down with a hot cup of Joe, ready to gaze upon the glory that is the flood of DRS posts... I was met with a rather unsettling sight.The ENTIRE sub has slid and waves upon waves of distraction posts have taken over the spotlight. I scrolled down for a loooong loong time and came across two posts... just two ComputerShare posts! What have they been replaced by? 3 million Michael Burry posts, 12.5 million RH lawsuit posts, about 532k Evergrande posts and 7 billion shitty Drake and Spongebob memes (divided 60-40). Talk about forum sliding inflation! Oh right, and I forgot to mention the truckload of whistleblower hotline posts... + +This is your FUD wave apes!! Their goal is the break the DRS hype with as many distractions as possible!! **You wanna know what RCs tweet was about? It's about putting your money where your mouth is!** It's about keeping the hype going, about pushing through and for each and every lazy or undecided ape to get off their asses and transfer to CS! Retail owns the float you say? Then fucking show it! This is what they're trying to prevent! Without these posts and with enough distraction they want to sidetrack the exodus to ComputerShare. It is up to apes to keep the hype going and upvote that which is truly important. + +Stay frosty apes! We're headed in the right direction, keep pushing! + +Derpy667 out! + + +Edit: Added more motivation. Also, thanks a ton for the awards!! Keep on DRSing apes! +I posted my bank account here yesterday not really expecting anyone to comment, just to vent. Well I'll be honest, I was very suicidal yesterday when I posted that. I had a plan and everything. Luckily, I didn't go through with it and am doing better today. I logged into reddit this morning and burst out crying from all the comments I saw on that post. It made me feel like I wasn't alone in this. Thank you all so much for your kind words of support and advice. +For everyone who is interested in an actual gem! This coin has unlike other shitcoins a working product! Take a minute and have a look on their website, it looks legit. Also the coin is not listed on pancakeswap yet, so you're lucky if you see this before the listing ;) + + +💎**INTRODUCING $GEM TOKEN**💎 +GEM PROTOCOL is a dApps platform that offers free applications for the Binance Smart Chain community. Our core mission is to generate values for the BSC community through dApps and utility projects. + +📌 What's the difference between $GEM vs other thousands of projects? + +99% of the projects promise to create dApps, wallet, NFTs etc but the vast majority never fulfill any of these promises. $GEM already has working dapps even before the token launch. + + +💻 **Working dApps:** + +✅ Portfolio Tracker: + +Portfolio Tracker is very similar to CoinMarketCap's portfolio app but compatible with ANY coin / token from Binance Smart Chain. From Safemoon to any unknown gem in your wallet, you will be able to track price and their values in USD & BNB in real time. + + +✅ Rug Checker: + +Rug Checker is a smart contract scanner. Similar to Rug Screen but 100% free and without restrictions. + + +✅ Our token: + +The $GEM token will be our next release. Along with it we will launch new premium features (MultiWallet, Stop loss, Price notification) in our dApps that can be claimed by holding the $GEM token benefiting all holders. + + +✅ If you want to participate in a project with real utility, dApps already launched and that will follow in the footsteps of other utility tokens like Poocoin and Bogged, join us! + + +The 💎 $GEM pre-sale will be announced very soon. + +Join us to not miss this opportunity! + +💬 Telegram: \[TELEGRAM\] [https://t.me/gemprotocol](https://t.me/gemprotocol) + +🌐 Website: \[WEBSITE\] [https://gemprotocol.io](https://gemprotocol.io/) + +💻 Portfolio Tracker dApp: [https://gemprotocol.io/portfolio-tracker](https://gemprotocol.io/portfolio-tracker) + +💻 Rug checker dApp: [https://gemprotocol.io/rug-checker](https://gemprotocol.io/rug-checker) +There were some comments on some posts stating gmefloor is just a counter. Ye no shit. + +Ken griffin who is one the lowest out of the hedge funds reportedly made 68,000,000 a MONTH *AFTER* taxes + +One shitty broker who are responsible for a 20 year old committing suicide, robinhood, turned off the buy button stealing peoples money, after all the evil shit they did, they get sued only 70,000,000 out of the billions they stole for the january shit. + +These already extremely rich pieces of shit steal the peasents tax money so they can use it for their yacht parking fees whilst alot of us are barely paying to live in place we dont even own, MONTHLY just to survive. + +Ive held for fucking a year and a half, to these shitheads who caused this, i wouldve settled for 1k in jan 2021, now after learning about shit like infinite loss potential, its now not life changing money, but WORLD changing money. + +This isnt a once in a life time opportunity, this IS the ONLY opportunity something like this will EVER happen in HISTORY of mankind. + +There are multiple dd that no one can debunk about the price which shows we should be aiming higher + +Be quiet with the whole "iTs uNrEaliStic, iM sEeiNg hOw hiGh It gOeS" + +With all the fud and the pathetic shills that we went through and the price drops it and the pathetic sellout mods, its "unrealistic" that apes were to hold on, but there have NEVER been a group that is determined resiliant, and who absoloutely dont give a fuck like us, because after ALL that shit and we are STILL GOING TO THIS DAY. + +This is why I have full trust that OG apes who have been here since begining wont be fazed at all by the price drops or <100,000,000 prices + +Edit: this post hits the 600 mark then suddenly gets downvoted?? + +You pathetic shills, just tell your master to accept they lost + +Edit 2: there is another post saying 1 billion is actually the floor. 100,000,000 is THE floor, yes gme counter is just a counter, but it represents how long they made us wait, which was something we held against them. That the longer they made us wait, the greedier we become. World changing money. + +Although there is lots of undebunked dd which supports the 1billion floor, thats his floor( infact there was a highly upvoted post also saying his floor was 1 billion citing a dd which no one could debunk) so good for him. That said + + 100,000,000 is THE floor +He is a pretty tech savvy guy and was way ahead of the game on crypto. He called me just to tell me how impressed he was with his buying experience. + +That's a huge change from the GME that I grew up with. He would have never been able to say that even 6 months ago. + +Basically it was one of the most bullish pieces of news I've received in a long time. + +Edit: GME= GameStop... 👍 +Let me start by saying I'm wishing you all gains and like you I'm in the stock market to make money. Now I've been through atleast 3 stock market crashes. This one just seems alittle off. I don't remember seeing this amount of retail interest ever. Maybe due to commission free trading or what not but all this makes me wonder things. Many new investors are investing thinking that no matter what they buy, it will go up. I want to make money as I stated before and it's cool to think that the stock market only goes in one direction but this "casino" in my mind is officially broken. I can't use any metrics to trade properly anymore. I just hold and wait but I don't feel comfortable at all with the price I'm paying for earnings. This just gets me thinking. What's next? Where do we go from here? +I'm a 30-year-old professor at an R1 university. My wife and I have around $2M net worth, including apartment (no mortgage). I have an undergraduate degree in computer science and I use my coding chops in my research, although I'm not a CS professor. But the tech compensation in this subreddit and on Levels.fyi has been blowing my mind, and I wonder whether I could be doing something more fun and lucrative if I went into tech. + +The other folks in my college CS thesis group are now senior / staff engineers at FAANG companies, making $400-600k. Meanwhile, I pull in $150k as an associate professor--if my career goes well that will probably max out at $350k or so, and if my career goes just OK that will probably max out ar $250k or so. But people are constantly talking about how tech is taking over the world, while a lot of universities are flailing, especially after Covid. As far as I can tell, I'd be equally good as either a software engineer or an academic. + +I'm struggling with whether to make a mid-career switch back to tech, and what the factors are that I should keep in mind. I'm somewhat guilty of the sunk cost fallacy, since I know if I go back to software engineering I'll have to start back at zero. But I have some friends who've made switches to software engineering (with no CS background, e.g. they went from consulting or law), and they seem pretty happy with their lives (although I haven't directly asked for their advice). But I have no idea whether we're in another tech bubble right now, either. + +On intangibles, I enjoy my job as a professor; but I enjoy software engineering too, so in terms of job satisfaction it's basically a wash. There are things about being a professor that are kind of annoying (committees, grading), but probably less than average compared to other jobs. I really liked living in the Bay Area when I interned there during college; downside is that it's waaaaaay more expensive than where I would live as a professor. But there, too, software engineering seems much more flexible geographically than being a professor, where I'm basically at the mercy of the lateral job market now. + +So my questions are: are my views about tech company compensation realistic? Would it be possible for me to make the switch back now? (I got FAANG offers when I was a college senior but don't know how hard it would be at this point.) Is software engineering not as fun and awesome as I make it out to be? Being a professor offers a LOT of job flexibility, and I imagine I'd be giving some of that up if I went into tech.  + +To be clear, my academic job is awesome and I'm grateful to have it. And my wife and I are in good shape financially and I think I'd be happy in either job. But I want to make sure I'm considering all my options and not falling prey to inertia. + +Thanks for reading and for your comments! +Do you have any stories of relationships where there was a difference in attitudes towards finance? + +How about dating someone who earned significantly more or less? + +How did those relationships end up? + +Here’s one from me: +I’ve generally been the higher income earner in my relationships (I’m 31, f and work in tech), my current relationship has been the best one so far. 4 years together and going strong. Having similar attitudes towards money and being able to contribute relatively equally to the relationship has provided a strong foundation. + +It also doesn’t hurt that they are a similar age, work in the same industry and own an apartment in Sydney. We don’t live together yet, there’s been no rush here. We’d wait until out debts where a bit more cleared up before moving in together. + +It feels good to be on equal ground. I’ve definitely felt like I was bringing people up (socially/life responsibilities) in previous relationships. Where I felt like I was good for them but not the other way round. +I've been working for my company for the past 6 months. It's a publicly traded company in the tech sector. I was living in Atlanta but had to move to New York because the position was hybrid. I had a lot of freedom in my working schedule because all of my team was located in Israel. + +This morning, I was notified that they would be moving the position to Israel and I was being let go. I've been offered 2 weeks of pay along with the lump sum of all the accrued PTOs, but I'm still not sure how to move on. + +Because I didn't live in New York for the past 18 months, it seems like I can't file the unemployment benefit with the state of New York. 2 weeks is awfully a short time to find the next job and I'm quite afraid that with the current job market, it would be hard for me to stay in New York. + +What should I be doing besides applying to as many jobs as I can? + +&#x200B; + +UPDATE 1: I didn't expect this much traction to this unexpected post. I really really appreciate each and every one of you! To update you guys, I am in the middle of filing the unemployment (it was asking if I worked in NY for the past 18 months, not working for the full 18 months haha) but just waiting on my employer to provide the FEIN. Also working on updating my resume and begin applying to start tomorrow. I also have a very clear budget so I think I can hold out for 2 months at most if I stick to it strictly. + +UPDATE 2: For people who were asking, I worked as an FP&A Analyst in a tech company :) +Very little known, but a highly effective way to increase your profit margins and save on taxes + +Most people believe that you have to sell an investment property before you buy the replacement property. But you can sell the investment AFTER buying the replacement(s).....legally and guaranteeing all tax benefits. + +I've done it many times and have been able to do very well using this technique. I encourage all investors to research this option, and consult a competent 1031 exchange specialist to help you. + +Good luck +Thank you all for your contribution - what damn great coordination we had to build and defend something on such a large scale. Truly impressive. + +Shoutout to these community members who were hecticly designing, redesigning and helping develop the tech we used: + +* u/mooziechan +* u/chipptharipp +* u/disproportionatewill +* u/boltflower +* u/Cythrl +* u/half_dane +* u/doom_douche +* u/platinumsparkles + +I'm sure we'll see many a picture circulate once the "final image" is released. Thanks again for all your effort, has been a pleasure working with you all :) +Full disclosure I believe in this coin, they are going to Make A Difference and I want to share with you all so you can be part of this journey as well. Onto the speel! + +❤️ $MAD ❤️ + +📢 Make A Difference Token, More Than Just a Charity Token +$MAD +MAD Token has a Dev team comprised of Harvard and Cambridge educated veterans of the charity space, as well as an experienced trader from one of the most prominent crypto trading firms on Wall Street. This team is united with one goal in mind; to Make a Difference. + +📊 Tokenomics 📊 +❣️ Low market cap - $1.5m at time of posting. Good entry point. +❣️ Fully doxxed team - go see their LinkedIns, I did +❣️ Detailed roadmap and white paper - website is beautiful +❣️ Total transparency (all dev wallets listed on website) +❣️ Smart contract audited by Techrate +❣️ Direct partnerships with multiple charities, and constantly growing - working with binance charity + +8% Fee - 4% to charity wallet, 2% to locked liquidity and 2% distributed to holders. + +💫 Roadmap: +💕 MAD donations to partnered charities +💞 Native decentralized exchange (MADex) +💗 Direct partnerships with some of the world’s biggest and most respected charities + +MAD’s foundation is being built and ran by titans from the charitable, business and financial worlds and is determined and capable of transforming the way that we think of crypto and the positive impact it can bring for the people and world around us. Don’t pass up on what is to be one of the most explosive stories to ever emerge from the crypto space. + +🧾Contract: https://bscscan.com/address/0x4D5eCA1e4FE912904544043feCEB6858DDd3d866#code + + +💣Telegram: @madcharitytoken + +💣Web: https://MADToken.org + +Use 9-11% slippage +Just got me thinking, since the majority of people here still seem to be DCAing into O&G, and consider the EVs and the renewables "a technology of the future, and always will be". + +I get the appeal of oil and gas companies for Canadians. We like slow & steady investments, and oil companies are at their historic lows with high dividend yield. Oil industry also has a big impact on the country (Alberta), its business culture, and the livelihoods of millions of Canadians, so we have a familiarity bias here as well. I get it, I've been itching to buy Suncor for the past few weeks, too. + +But here in the Toronto area, I see more and more Teslas on the road. Hyundai and Volkwagen are introducing their EVs soon, and the Japanese will follow. I feel like the EV hype completely bypassed us here at r/CanadianInvestor due to the reasons cited above, but there are tangible, real-time developments here that spell nothing but trouble for oil. + +I know I am considering EV for my next car. As a pretty young dude, I am starting to be concerned that climate change will bring about drastic, unpleasant changes to the very foundation of our modern civilization by the time I get old, and I think a lot of people are starting to wake up to this possibility. + +On the renewables side, Lazard put out a report showing that solar and wind are now finally only slightly more expensive than gas or coal when it comes to electricity generation. They put this report out on Nov 2019, which is coincidentally when the renewables ETFs like ICLN and TAN started breaking out. + +And there is still the pandemic (I gas my car less than once a month now), a possible Biden presidency, and the Trudeau government that doesn't look like it's going away soon. + +For Canadian oil companies, I am just not seeing the investment thesis here, other than "it's cheap" and "we will still need oil". Well, I thought that for Suncor at $18, but decided to wait until $17, and then to $16... which is where we are at now. And yes, we will still need oil, but it seems like a terrible investment thesis when our need is projected to be drastically cut. + +Just wondering what you guys all think. +My house is seriously infested with termites and I can't do anything about it because I'm poor. Every single post about termites online will say 'call an exterminator asap or you'll regret it' and yes, that's obviously the right advice, but not when you're like me and hiring an exterminator will cost you three months worth of salary. + +I'm really thankful we're not renting. I live in a 55 year old house with my dad, grandma, uncle and aunt. We help each other out but it's still very difficult to make ends meet. I've given up my dream of getting our house renovated or moving or owning my own house because I know it'll never happen. + +It's easy for people to tell you to look for a new job. I've applied for dozens of jobs and it's always 'you didn't go to college', 'you don't have enough experience', 'you don't have the right equipment', etc. + +I'm jealous of the people I know who get minimum wage, who get to go to college, who have parents who have stable jobs. I'm jealous of people who have a bright future ahead of them. + +I'm thinking of ending things if my life doesn't get better by my thirties. I just want things to stop. Now I'm just staring at my disintegrating, termite infested wall, feeling guilty that my dad has to carefully budget our expenses just so we could have pork for dinner for the first time in months. + +I'm sorry if some of what I said didn't make sense, English isn't my native language. I'm sorry for having to post here as well. It's just that I don't have anyone to talk to. + +Edit: I live in the Philippines + +Edit: Hi everyone! I'm so sorry I wasn't able to respond to some of you. I've been busy with work and things have been a bit hectic at home (its flying moth season in the Philippines) so I wasn't able to go online for a couple of days. I want to thank you guys for offering support and advice. I'll be slowly replying! +This is a big life-changing event for me. My mother, grandmother, and I have lived in the same house ever since my parents divorced when I was 15. We’re lower-middle class and my dad passed away when I was 18. I’m currently living away from my home town while in college, 2 years left to go (will probably graduate with around $30k debt). So I’m definitely going to use a chunk of that for school. I’m a graphic design major, so I would like to either design for a company or have an at-home freelance design business. I basically just don’t want to spend all the money on big ideas or nights out shopping and not have anything saved up for emergencies. I’m working on building up my credit score (730-ish) and may end up moving back home for a few years after graduation, since my mother and I inherited his house and 30 acres of land (my mother is also getting around $100k, as well as my grandmother). She plans on using her money to fix up the house since he hadn’t cleaned it or bought anything new in 20 years, and my grandmother will most likely go to some kind of senior housing. If I don’t end up living with my mother, I’ve always wanted to build an energy-efficient tiny house to save money in the long run. + +Should I start investing in stock? Should I invest in creating a business? Should I just keep it in the bank? I’d like to be able to use the money to make money. Any advice is appreciated. +Obligatory: This should not be confused with financial advise. I do not offer finanicial advice or services. I am simply pointing out connections I am making through data and deductive reasoning. + +**TL;dr** Prepare yourself for this next sentence, take a deep breath… How would you feel if I told you investment firms were given LARGE DOLLAR AMOUNTS in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) “forgivable” loans (the money designed to keep businesses afloat during the pandemic) and the data and timing is indicating they used those funds to try to bankrupt businesses, including GME? Errrrmm… Scoots chair around uncomfortably… Because that is what I am about to tell you through these many words (and some pictures). Roughly $1.5 Billion worth of PPP loans went out to the “Industry” of “Investment Advice” through 12/1/2020. + +["Investment Advice" Industry Loan Data](https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program/industries/investment-advice) + +[PPP Loan Forgiveness Requirements](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program/ppp-loan-forgiveness) + +# GME & MEME STOCKS HIT BOTTOM 4/2 & 4/3 of 2020 + +I originally began this journey into the great cesspool of our market system to compare GME monthly close prices to FINRA’s reported margin debt, and while I did find the information I was looking for to show the continued correlation between GME and the current margin debt I slowly began to realize that was no longer the information I was seeking (I will make a margin debt post later this week). Why? Because looking at this information caused me to see that GME hit its bottom, in regard to share price, on April 3rd, 2020 after a 6 day skid beginning on March 27th, 2020 (I’m about to be sinful, avert your eyes if necessary, the movie company hit its bottom on April 2nd, 2020 after a 5 day skid beginning on March 27th, 2020, and Black Berry hit it’s low on 4/3/2020 as well). In case this was a whole market slide I checked out some other tickers and found some other stock prices fell slightly, but most remained relatively flat compared to GME and the meme stocks. + +&#x200B; + +[www.investing.com](https://preview.redd.it/ykjoj85kxnb71.png?width=663&format=png&auto=webp&s=6deda55fbe71e1db20d6e92f4a3196b73222543a) + +[www.investing.com](https://preview.redd.it/1rq9fieoxnb71.png?width=332&format=png&auto=webp&s=8854f8c479ec52bc46f6fbd7bec27db0e9c8ab25) + +# CARES ACT + +So, why is March 27th, 2020, of any importance? Because on that day, “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (2020)… provided fast and direct economic assistance for American workers, families, small businesses, and industries” was signed into law. [CARES ACT](https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/about-the-cares-act) + +So now you are saying to yourself, yeah, but Hedge Funds were ineligible from receiving the funding even though they applied for it in mass amounts so why should I care? Because it appears that many firms investing in the market were QUITE ELIGIBLE as the below information is going to point out, and the data is indicating they used those funds or the anticipation of those funds to hammer GME and meme stocks with short selling from 3/27/20 – 4/3/20. + +Let us reiterate, the money designed to keep small businesses afloat during the COVID-19 Winter of Discontent was used by firms investing in the stock market. What is worse, the data is showing that some of these firms were using the funds to short GME & meme stocks. + +# FOX BUSINESS ARTICLE 4/18/2020 + +Now, we’ll take a look to a Fox Business article from 4/18/2020, written by: Charlie Gasparino (He is active on social media, but I’m not sure what he’s up to these days aside from hating retail investors): + +[Stimulus Intended to Help Coronavirus-Ravaged Small Businesses Instead Rewarding Hedge Funds, Brokerages](https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/stimulus-intended-to-help-coronavirus-ravaged-small-businesses-instead-rewarding-hedge-funds-brokerages) + +*“The bank was receiving applications (for PPP Loans) not just from those barely solvent mom-and-pop businesses like* [*restaurants*](https://www.foxbusiness.com/category/food-drinks)*, salons and family-run* [*factories*](https://www.foxbusiness.com/category/industries) *shuttered amid the nationwide pandemic shutdown that the legislation was supposed to help.* + +*Flowing into his system were applications from businesses no one would consider small, or even barely solvent:* ***Midsized hedge funds***\*,\* ***brokerage businesses,*** *small law firms, all outfits that are making money, much of it through fee income, and many operating remotely almost as if nothing had changed.* + +***How could this be? What the banker discovered was that with less than 500*** [***employees***](https://www.foxbusiness.com/category/jobs)***, financial firms and other high-end businesses are technically qualified for low-interest federally guaranteed loans under the broad parameters of the government's Payroll Protection Program (PPP).*** + +***And many were sending applications to his bank for the cash, as much as $10 million in the form of a forgivable loan, even if these weren't the types of small businesses Washington was looking to aid.*** + +***Even worse, the hedge funds and brokerage businesses were in effect taking money that should be earmarked for businesses that can barely survive in a time of social distancing and quarantines.*** + +***These companies have been forced to lay off workers just to make rent, while many banks were prioritizing loans on a first-come, first-served basis and giving priority to their best customers. That means*** [***hedge funds***](https://www.foxbusiness.com/category/hedge-funds) ***and financial firms with deep pockets and significant banking relationships could be getting the money ahead of the local coffee shop...*** + +***“What's going to happen is a class divide we haven't seen in years," the banker told FOX Business. "Remember Occupy Wall Street?" he asked, referring to the sometimes violent protest movement after the 2008 financial collapse and bank bailouts. "These protests will be bigger and more violent because the economic problems are worse and the disparity of the money is favoring Wall Street even more.””*** + +Fuck me… I do not think my words are needed in summarizing this article. In case the article is now mysteriously updated I have taken screenshots of the entire article and will post them if necessary. Check the article out for additional details. + +Here is a MarketWatch Article from 4/15/2020 reiterating some main points: ["It’s a complete abomination" says Wall Street money manager about hedge funds applying for bailouts from small-business recovery funds](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-a-complete-abomination-says-wall-street-money-manager-about-hedge-funds-applying-for-bailouts-from-small-business-recovery-funds-2020-04-14) + +# DD on 13F Filings + +Armed with this information I decided to dig into the latest 2021 13F filings through [www.whalewisdom.com](http://www.whalewisdom.com/) and PPP loan recipients from [http://ppprecipients.com/](http://ppprecipients.com/) and found some interesting information. I did not review every company with holdings in GME, this is just a sample of firms with GME positions and some of those that received funding through the CARES Act (PPP Funds): + +**2021-Q2 13F/13D/G Filings** + +**COMPANY 1** + +1. Company: Advisornet Financial +2. Shares: 10,000 (put) +3. Loan amount: $1 - $2 Million (approved on 4/4/2020) + +**COMPANY 2** + +1. Company: Creative Planning +2. Shares: 13,700 (put) +3. Loan Amount: $350k - $1 Million (approved on 4/13/2020) + +**Company 3** + +1. Company: Larson Financial Holdings +2. Shares: 100 (put) +3. Loan Amount: $2M - $5 Million (approved on 4/7/2020) + +All of these loans were approved in early April, 2020, meaning they were filed even earlier, before the PPP was signed into law on 4/24/2020, and look at how close those dates are to the implementation of the CARES Act and the GME tumble from 3/27/2020 – 4/3/2020. LOOK HOW CLOSE. AND all these companies have open PUT positions in GME as of the last filing. Betting GME share price will go down. How did they receive funding when other small businesses were exempt and ended up going bankrupt? They directly or indirectly used the money designed to keep the economy and struggling businesses afloat to open put positions in GME? WTF? + +Now, things feel interesting. So, I decided to go even further down this slime covered cavern and look at 13F filings from 2020-Q2 (when GME hit its lowest close price) to see if any funds with actual shares in GME had received any loans and was unsurprised, but genuinely angry. I went “A” - “B” alphabetically through the list and found 3 companies who had shares in GME in 2020-Q2 that still have positions today (I skimmed through and saw plenty more later in the alphabet, I just have a hard time counting letters that high due to my intellectual inconsistencies): + +**2020-Q2 13/F** + +**Company 1** + +Advisors Asset Management, Inc + +1. 2020 Q2 Shares: 134,632 +2. Loan Amount: $5M - $10 Million (approved on 4/5/2020) +3. Current Shares: 33,789 (latest 13/F filing) + +**Company 2** + +Arkadios Wealth Advisors (Arkadios Capital) + +1. 2020 Q2 Shares: (Sold all shares - 2) +2. Loan Amount: $150k - $350k (approved on 4/9/2020) +3. Current Shares: 2210 + +**Company 3:** + +Bridgeway Capital Management + +1. 2020 Q2 Shares: 76,900 +2. Loan Amount: $350k - $1 Million (approved on 4/11/2020) +3. Current Shares: 40,600 + +My speculation is that several firms applied for the PPP funds on or near 3/27/2020, knew the funds were coming, and used those anticipated funds to aggressively short GME and other meme stocks due to the absolute tumble that GME/Meme stocks took from 3/26/2020 – 4/3/2020 as stated above. + +I’m unsure how to conclude this post aside from: Buy/HODL. The day is coming. + +Tanks fo’ reedin’. + +Edit: Thanks to u/Evorus_Krayde for getting me to u/Doggoonewild post: [Citadel Alum Charged with $2.4M PPP Loan Scam](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/mw3jd3/citadel_alum_charged_with_24m_ppp_loan_scam/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) +I worked really hard to get my savings to $20k and now my car is kind of dying. There goes half of what I saved if I want to get anything half decent. I feel like this cycle is doomed to repeat itself too. How do you deal with this money trap? +There are a TON of accounts created within the last 48 hours posting about AMC and Nokia. They are literally trying to create new social trends to divert funds away from GME. + +I'm completely guessing here. But the lack of age in the NOK and AMC posts is a FACT. I just reported several as spam. + +Disclosure: I am long GME. Fuck the funds. Not financial advice, this post is a statement of fact about the account age of recent NOK and AMC spam in this sub. + +Edit: tons of comments here so if you're seeing this here is the advice I have. This is not financial advice, it's standard Reddit advice. + +**When evaluating a post, go to that users profile page. Their actual profile page, click on their name you dolt don't just hover over it. Ok you made it. How many posts do they have, how many comments? How long have they been a redditor?** + +**If less than a weej, it's a bot. If posting about the same single thing in a spammy parlance, it's a bot. 3-6 months? Maybe a bot. hard to say. 6+ months? Not a bot, probably just a retard.** +I'm in SoCal and woke up to 6 notifications for houses I marked as favorites that had price reductions. $8-$30k in reductions. Also seeing a lot more new listings that are actually coming in priced well. I expect this to continue through the winter as no one is usually moving during that time. + +Where are you and what are you seeing? +A former colleague of mine came down with Stage IV Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma a couple of months back. I organized a fundraiser so employees could do a payroll deduction for a monetary donation, and the company would lump it all into one big check. This check is going to come from the company. I'm concerned that the company I work at will have to pay taxes on this or the former employee will. + +I've heard something about setting up a charity bank account in his name that he can draw from, but I have no idea what the best way to approach this would be. + +Any advice? + +Edit: Thank you all for the huge response! After speaking more with our finance department, it sounds like if they cut a check to the former employee, the company would have to give him a 1099 and it would be counted as income. Instead of cutting him a check, i'm going to work with him and his wife to set up a Gofundme account. I was able to speak to our CEO and he said he's alright with us not being able to deduct the donation from our taxes. Thank you all for the kind words and advice, I don't have much experience with this sort of thing. I just wanted to help a friend out and thankfully, so did many others at my work. +NFLX -37%, TSLA -22.50%, AMZN -16%, FB -13%, GOOG -9%, MSFT -10%, AAPL -5%, ... Considering big market cap of these stocks, it is a huge drop worth billions. And this cash is gone, sold to maintain their overleveraged position against GME and other overshorted stocks. Margin is in danger, hedgies r fukt and their collateral will soon look like the smallest wee wee in the Milky Way. +[\[Part 2\]](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/nt8qzj/rip_uleavemeanon_where_are_the_shares_part_2/) + +[\[Part 3\]](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/nt8t9n/rip_uleavemeanon_where_are_the_shares_part_3/) + +&#x200B; + +Hi all, + +There were a lot of apes in the daily discussion thread wondering why the DD by /u/leavemeanon was gone. Turns out they've deleted their account for some reason, along with their posts. I did a bit of digging and managed to recover their posts (shoutout to [https://camas.github.io/reddit-search](https://camas.github.io/reddit-search)), which I'll be shamelessly reposting as there seems to be some demand: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/mowgrrt7bj371.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=16afc396f13b3039dbba77ceea549b894f78c1b9 + +So, without further ado: + +&#x200B; + +\----- + +&#x200B; + +This post is the first of (at least) 3. I’ve been writing it for a few days now, so it’s pretty long. Some parts are a little repetitive, but this stuff is complicated (for a reason) and I really want people to understand how it works. Clarity is important to me because 1) I want to know when I’m wrong, and 2) obscurity and complexity are pretty much the only things supporting the House of Cards. + +Oh and I hate to ask but - even if you just read the TLDR (or can’t read all) but think the post is at least worth looking at, please upvote. I’ve seen the power of the bots and all the words are scary to begin with. Save the award money for more GME 🚀🚀 + +// + +## TLDR: + +APs, like Citadel, use ETFs to provide liquidity. When there are lots of buyers (GME in January), it’s their job to make sure those buyers have sellers to reduce volatility. Yes, stopping squeezes is a large part of their job. They do this by buying ETF shares and selling the GME inside. **BUT** the SEC has made a series of exemptions for APs that allows them to sell ETF shares up to 6 days before depositing the securities needed for creation. It’s selling before buying, and not locating shares to borrow. That’s naked shorting, up to 50,000 shares at a time. And the securities needed for deposit within 6 days, the ones naked shorted? They go unreported as part of *bona fide* market making. That’s where (some of) the shares are. In this post, I go looking for them. + +// + +## ELIA: + +ETFs trade on the market like stocks, but they actually represent some proportion of underlying securities. Authorized Participants (APs are big banks and Citadel) trade ETFs in groups of 50,000 shares called “creation baskets” - and these creation baskets can be exchanged with the underlying securities in the ETFs proportions. (lol it’s actually *any* proportion, but more on that later) + +**For an AP: 50,000 shares of ETF = “creation basket” = 50,000 shares of underlying securities.** + +They’re interchangeable, for a small fee. + +This process allows APs to profit from arbitrage: the process of creating or redeeming creation baskets to profit from differences in an ETF’s market price and the Net-Asset-Value (NAV) of the securities underlying it. A presentation given at Wharton (linked below) showed that APs can make higher and more “predictable” returns by exploiting an exemption that allows them to **sell ETF shares that they do not own up to 6 days before purchasing the securities needed to create them.** + +This is effectively short selling via ETF, **and** they are legally exempt from locating a valid share to borrow. So it’s naked short selling via ETF. + +Also, the shares deposited (short, naked, or otherwise) for ETF creation are not recorded on the APs books, so any short interest involved in arbitrage will not show up in FINRA numbers. Per the [Securities Act of 1933](https://sec.report/Form/Securities-Act-of-1933.pdf). + +*However*, as the presentation explains, evidence of this activity would include creation of ETF shares without redemption, particularly in ETFs that are more liquid than their underlying securities. *cough, GME, cough* + +This would result in consistently increased ownership in the ETF, so evidence of this process can be found in ETF ownership anomalies. + +I discuss this data and more, which ultimately suggest, in my opinion, overwhelming evidence of heinous levels of naked short selling across multiple securities, systemically linked through these ETFs and hidden by *bona fide* market making arbitrage provisions. Due to liquidity, or lack thereof, and GME’s 60+ ETFs, it was the perfect target for this activity. This is why GME is the black hole. + +*Whoopsie* + +I argue that Citadel and friends tried bankrupting GME with this system by hiding naked shorts and FTDs across these ETFs, hoping to dilute share price all the way to bankruptcy. I discuss mechanism behind this, HFT’s role, how BoA, GS, and JP got involved, how RC pretty much handed Citadel’s balls over to BlackRock, and what all the footprints left behind might reveal about the scope of this whole thing. + +Spoiler, they’re fucked^(fucked) + +// + +## Preface + +(( **I’m skeptical by nature. Like any tool, skepticism isn’t inherently good or bad - it’s just useful. In some cases more than others.** )) + +As a disclaimer, not only am I **not** a financial advisor. 6 months ago I had virtually **no** financial background whatsoever. The entirety of my relevant knowledge has come from months of independent research and personal interviews. I believe it’s fair to say I have a proficiency for puzzles and a nose for bullshit - and the dynamic between the two has served me well in the past. + +I attempt to discuss an *incredibly* complex system here, the depth of which I’m certainly ignorant to. I decided the “Great Wall of Text” approach just was too much. Plus, I’ve been so close to putting things together for such a long time, I’m eager to have it reviewed. So I’d like present the story as soon as possible it to encourage more apes to dig deeper into this stuff. + +I’m sure many of you have years of experience beyond me, but I’ve gone to great lengths in trying to understand the mechanics and regulations at a granular level - as well as their context in the events we’ve hodled through - so I hope you’ll at least give me a chance. I *really* hope you can correct me where I’m mistaken. I’ll try to answer all questions I can in the comments. I just like to figure stuff out. + +It took months of notes and connecting dots to put this together, and I’ll eventually discuss mechanics and examples of arbitrage, creation/redemption, liquidity provisions, ex-clearing, synthetic options positions, gamma-delta hedging, disclosure laws, exemptions, Repos, RRPs, APs/MMs/BDs, FTDs, ETFs, ETNs, and all the regulations supposedly governing this whole fiasco. I try to stick to the official facts and documents, and I hope you glance at the sources I linked. + +I’ll try keeping it to 3 chapters, though. This post will be the first - on ETF Arbitrage and it’s importance to GME. + +# Introduction + +The true beginning of this story has been diligently and beautifully covered in the last few weeks by u/autobitt, u/dlauer, Dr. T, Wes Christian, and more. It starts with greedy and malicious short sellers making fortunes at the expense of companies, their employees, and their shareholders. This problem has existed for decades but was able to scale around 1990 - with the emergence of High Frequency Trading (HFT), Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Options trading. Together, they allowed shares sold short and FTDs to essentially be scattered in various places, as [this 2019 video](https://youtu.be/ncq35zrFCAg) and [this 2013 SEC risk alert](https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2013-151) explain. + +I urge you, at some point, to look closely at both of those. Based on everything we’ve seen, I believe they are very pertinent and I’ll be leaning heavily on them to explain my reasoning. + +ETFs and options trading allow short positions in many individual securities to aggregate, roll forward, and be dispersed (and hidden) in index funds and derivatives. This is, effectively, refurbishing FTDs to manipulate the supply and drive price down. The potential consequences of this scheme was [forewarned in 2006 by Patrick Byrne](https://youtu.be/nLnw2_q5iMk) when his company, Overstock, was victimized by this process. Byrne worked with Wes Christian in 2006 to bring attention to the issue, but traction was soon lost in 2008 when a… *more immediate disaster*… popped up. + +In the 2000’s, High-Frequency-Trading (HFT) began dominating the markets. Citadel, possibly the world’s largest HFT trading firm, AND FRIENDS got involved when realized that “predictable” returns can be made through ETF arbitrage. + +Index funds like ETFs hold securities in certain proportions to track some index. To an Authorized Participant (AP) like Citadel, ETF shares are traded in baskets of 50,000, and they’re exchangeable with securities in the proportions of the ETFs holdings. This is called creation (buying shares and creating ETF) and redemption (redeeming ETF for shares inside). + +If there are differences in an ETFs trading price and it’s Net-Asset-Value (NAV), even for a fraction of a second, this is a profitable opportunity for an AP. If NAV > ETF price, then the 50,000 underlying securities are worth more individually than as an ETF. APs can buy ETF, redeem ETF shares for its underlying shares, then sell for a profit. If NAV < ETF price, APs can create ETF shares by depositing the underlying securities into the ETF fund, which provides the AP with ETF shares to sell for profit. + +**APs are also allowed to sell ETF shares up to 6 days before creating them**, as explained in the linked video. This is effectively a short position, and \*because **there is no supply limit for ETFs** (and ETF creation/redemption has less regulation than in short selling equities) **this can theoretically be repeated and hidden in perpetuity.** + +And they don’t even need a locate. This is essentially legal naked shorting renamed *providing liquidity*. + +So, for example, if the AP has reason the believe the NAV will decrease within 6 days, they can redeem ETF shares and delay creation, hoping to profit from the decreased NAV. The video calls this “directional short selling” - basically a euphemism for legal naked short selling. + +In most cases, this process is effective in reducing volatility by moving the “noise trading” into various ETFs. GME, clearly, is not most cases. I don’t think the system considered what happens when there are more shares owed than should be owned. + +But does this really even happen? Or to a significant degree? From the Wharton presentation: + +“ *Directional short selling is the strongest indicator of both short interest percentage and FTDs in ETFs.* “ + +This was likely practiced in a number of stocks. Or entire ETFs, such as XRT, which the presentation shows as having 77 million 13F (institutional) owners in 2017, despite only 11 million shares outstanding… + +**I argue that GameStop was the crux of Wall Street’s arrogance. I argue that existing data indicates naked short selling attempts to send GME into a death spiral by rolling** ***at least*** **double the number of outstanding shares in derivative short positions and FTDs, effectively diluting share price by inflating supply.** + +This would’ve been high-risk/high-reward with GME, because it’s 70 million shares outstanding is so small compared to other targeted companies. Blockbuster had 220 million. AMC has 450 million. + +With such limited supply, these “refurbished” (rehypothecated, rolling) FTDs can be more effective in driving price down. However, if the “bankruptcy death spiral” fails, covering **years worth** of these positions gets *very* violent. + +*Why?* Well the supply is comparatively low to begin with, and the creation/redemption process *during the death spiral* actually syphons real shares from GMEs float (I’ll explain how that works below). So the arbitrage process has moved a portion of the (already small) float into ETFs, and each share covered simultaneously increases demand and reduces supply. At some point, GME’s liquidity becomes bone dry because so many of it’s actual shares were converted into ETF shares. + +Demand for GME keeps rising, but supply is already zero. Demand drives the price up, lack of liquidity drives the price up, APs scramble to find ETF shares, further increasing demand and decreasing ETF supply. However, this time, providing the GME to cover shorts **adds no extra supply**, so the price for anything containing GME goes vertical. The whole process starts feeding on itself in reverse, and I argue that this has already begun. + +# Chapter 1: ETF ARBITRAGE + +## The Game + +[Blackrock’s explanation](https://youtu.be/iX7fOx5G40A) + +I’m the context of ETFs, arbitrage is simply profiting from the price difference of a security and an ETF containing that security. ETF shares trade on the market at market price, like an equity stock, but an ETF share actually represents an aggregate total of many stocks in a set proportion. The aggregate value of these equities in that proportion is called the Net-Asset-Value (NAV). + +ETF shares don’t always trade at their NAV. When this happens, there is a potential for profit because 50,000 shares of the ETF == 50,000 shares of the underlying securities in price, but Authorized Participants (APs) can exchange them nonetheless for a small fee. APs are usually big Banks and Market Makers (MMs): JP, Goldman, BoA, oh and Citadel. + +This “exchange” is done through a process called creation and redemption. APs, *exclusively*, are allowed to do this, and APs are usually big Banks and Market Makers (MMs): JP, Goldman, BoA, oh and Citadel. For example: + +Blackrock’s ETFs (iShares) are generally rebalanced 4 times per year: at the end of February, May, August, and November. So if GameStop goes to $350 in January after being balanced around $16 in November, the list I mentioned above (and more) can buy IWM, IJR, IWN, IJT, and all the other ETFs that GME is a portion of, break them open into their individual shares (this is done in 50,000 share baskets called Creation Units) and sell the GME inside. Because the ETFs proportioned GME at a $16 dollar price, the ETFs trading price didn’t go up as much it would if GME were proportioned in real time. NAV =/= ETF trading price, so while GME is rising, 50,000 ETF shares are cheaper than the 50,000 shares they’re redeemed for, because of the GME inside. + +*Why* are they allowed to do this?? According to the SEC, the answer is… [Liquidity](https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro/nscc/2020/34-89088.pdf) Oh, and somehow also [efficiency and transparency](https://www.sec.gov/investment/exchange-traded-funds-small-entity-compliance-guide). + +// + +Let’s take a step back for a second. So some portion of GME’s 70 million shares are purchased by ETF funds, like BlackRock’s iShares, in order to issue the first ETF shares. Then, APs come in and either 1) put some of those GME shares back or 2) take more out, based on the NAV of the ETF. Now, and this this important, **because APs PROFIT from volatility through arbitrage, they have an incentive to favor creation over redemption.** + +If, as an AP, you buy the shares from the market (or just naked short them), and have them trade as ETF instead, you decrease supply of the security. This increases volatility, which creates more opportunity for arbitrage - i.e. more opportunity for profit. AND if you have more shares for creation/redemption, you have better control over the prices of both the ETF and it’s securities. + +[Did I mention that Citadel is the world’s largest HFT firm](https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/10-biggest-hft-firms-in-the-world-586528/?singlepage=1)? + +Anyway, there is a very strong incentive to take shares from securities and have them trade as ETF instead. And I’d argue that at some point, the “providing liquidity” excuse becomes void, because the AP was the one who diminished the liquidity in the first place. + +// + +Well what happens when an 7% of an ETF contains shares of a company you intend to bankrupt? + +[This 2019 Presentation at Wharton](https://youtu.be/ncq35zrFCAg), as linked above, briefly talks about XRT. I’ve linked it a few times now, *please* watch or save that video. + +The presenter notes that the example is extreme, and I’d say it’s borderline heinous. The SPDR fund had issued \~11 million shares of XRT in 2017, but the 13F filings added up to *77 million shares*. There had been 66 million shares created, but not redeemed. AP’s have the **exclusive** ability to create shares, and in 2017 the settlement period was 2 days instead of 6… + +The presentation also discusses an AP’s exemption allowing them to sell ETF shares up to **6 days** before depositing the required securities into the ETF fund to create the basket. The presenter discusses certain cases where ETFs are more liquid than their underlying securities, like GME, and the ETF shares seem to be continually created without ever being redeemed. This led to XRT. + +So of those 77 million XRT shares, say 6 % were GME (not sure exactly what it was at the time but it’s 6.75% now). That represents **4.62 million** shares of GME trading in XRT baskets. That represents almost 10% of GME’s reported float, from this one ETF alone. + +And *where* are these shares reported, exactly? I’ll let BlackRock tell you: + +\*\* “any securities accepted for deposit and any securities used to satisfy redemption requests will be sold in transactions that would be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).” \*\* + +As I’m sure you guessed, they’re off the books. + +// + +**To recap:** + +When institutional investors and retail investors place bids for ETF shares, APs (banks and citadel) can sell ETF shares that they don’t have to “provide liquidity”. Then, within 6 days, the AP must deposit the sold securities into the ETF Fund. + +BUT! + +APs can (and have been known to) profit from expected decreases in the NAV of the ETF by waiting up to 6 days to deliver the shares. Until settled, this is a naked short position, and it’s not reported in the short interest. Oh and one more thing, + +[GME is in over 60 ETFs.](https://fintel.io/soe/us/gme) Go to “Top ETF” under “Ownership”. 68 listed ETFs right now. An AP can short XRT today, and settle by shorting IWM next week, then GAMR, then XRT again, then IJR…. you get the picture. + +// + +And it keeps getting worse. + +How exactly do you think this creation/redemption process is carried out in, say, Citadel? Is there a creation/redemption department with a few dozen people monitoring all these ETFs, the underlying securities, the NAV, and the incoming orders - looking for price discrepancies? A few hundred people? Just Ken-bo? Is Kenny G the Michael Jordan of arbitrage? + +Nope. Citadel is all about HFT. It’s algos. + +From [Investopedia](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/active-trading/092114/strategies-and-secrets-high-frequency-trading-hft-firms.asp) in 2020 - + +“Another way these \[HFT\] firms make money is by looking for price discrepancies between securities on different exchanges or asset classes. This strategy is called statistical arbitrage, wherein a proprietary trader is on the lookout for temporary inconsistencies in prices across different exchanges. With the help of ultra fast transactions, they capitalize on these minor fluctuations which many don’t even get to notice.” + +So, to be clear, Citadel, [the world’s largest HFT firm](https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/10-biggest-hft-firms-in-the-world-586528/?singlepage=1) by \~20x the AUM of second place - the very same firm that [clears over 50% of RH’s trades](https://cdn.robinhood.com/assets/robinhood/legal/RHS%20SEC%20Rule%20606a%20and%20607%20Disclosure%20Report%20Q2%202020.pdf) and gets almost as much total trading volume as the entire NYSE, does the vast majority of that volume with lines of code, stuffed into thousands of black boxes in some fortress in the middle of nowhere… They buy *yachts* with this creation/redemption system. Do you think these lines of code secure a locate when they short shares to “provide liquidity”? + +(( Side note on another gem from that link: + +“HFT firms also make money by indulging in momentum ignition. The firm might aim to cause a spike in the price of a stock by using a series of trades with the motive of attracting other algorithm traders to also trade that stock. The instigator of the whole process knows that after the somewhat “artificially created” rapid price movement, the price reverts to normal and thus the trader profits by taking a position early on and eventually trading out before it fizzles out.” + +So yeah, no wonder we’ve had dozens of days with insane swings that ended up within 2 percent of open. Those RH orders pile up on Ken’s computers and he can basically execute them however and whenever he’d like. I digress. )) + +// + +## GameStop + +Back to GME in January. Ryan Cohen stepped in and at one point, GME did almost 200 million volume in a day. As buy orders come in, market makers like Citadel had to add liquidity from somewhere. After all, GME’s 70m shares outstanding pales in comparison to most other stocks in XRT, and just in general. AMC has 450m. NOK has 4.7 billion. + +So in a perfect world, these HFT algos buy ETF shares from the market, redeem them (often from BlackRock, who owns iShares, or StateStreet who distributes SPDR ETFs), and sell the GME. Remember - the number of ETF shares outstanding can fluctuate, but not GME (without shorts or moves from GameStop), so this would reduce the total number of shares of the ETF and *restore* the shares of GME that the process had originally depleted. + +So unless I’m mistaken here, keeping in mind Citadel itself clears almost the same volume as the entire NYSE - to provide liquidity and decrease volatility as buying pressure go up (aka delay the MOASS), should be buying ETF shares to put the GME back. So ETF ownership should **decrease** as they’re bought up and broken apart. If the ETF ownership stays the same, the extra liquidity is more likely to be short positions, naked or otherwise (to be covered the next day or who knows when). + +Well, somehow, from January 15-March 31, ETF institutional ownership **went up**. + +// + +## Here they are + +I did some math. + +I used FINRA numbers and the official ETF issuer’s websites (SEC requires them to provide this) to find 1) total shares outstanding today in May (from issuer), 2) institutional ownership from Jan and March (FINRA), 3) the percent GME (issued), and 4) who bought shares (and who did **NOT** buy shares). + +I looked at about 30 of GME biggest ETFs are picked out the ETFs with the most shares floating around. These account for the majority of total volume. Here are some of the standouts, as of, May 31: + +**IWM** \- (0.44% GME) - **300m shares outstanding and 345m institutional ownership.** + +345m IWM shares represents 1.5m GME shares. + +**IJR** \- (1.15% GME) - **629.7m shares outstanding and 444m institutional ownership.** + +1.15% of 629.7m shares is 7.24 million shares of GME. + +**FNDX** \- (1.01% GME) - **128.55m shares outstanding and 100.4m institutional ownership.** + +Another 1.3 million GME. + +*last but not least* + +[Wedbush back at it again with](https://www.stocklaw.com/securities-fraud-blog/2019/june/wedbushs-latest-penalty-is-an-8-1-million-sec-fi/) **GAMR** \- (1.42% GME) - **70.77m shares outstanding and 190,000 institutional ownership.** + +Another million. + +Honorable mention goes to XRT, with 15 million institutional owners holding a total 1 million GameStop shares, though XRT has only 9m shares outstanding. + +**Adding up just the ETFs I looked at, there are over 20 million claimed owners GME via ETF** + +That 20m number doesn’t even include retail ownership in ETF, short interest, “family offices” (like Archegos) that don’t have to report their positions to the SEC, any shares from ivestco ETFs (they have many shares outstanding but no reported GME weight despite owning GME, per fintel), or any trades settled in ex-clearing. + +It also excludes short positions extended by options and other derivative instruments, which I’ll talk about in the next post. + +This is just the tip of the Glacier. + +Even the at 20 million at face value means that, as of May, there is a **float sized chunk** of GME trading as ETF shares. + +I’d estimate, just through the ways around regulation that an ape can find on the internet, the number is *at least* twice that. Byrne mentioned that it could be closer to 5x the reported numbers. + +When Ryan Cohen simultaneously mapped GameStop’s future and gobbled up 9 million shares, I think shorts piled into ETFs, particularly BlackRock’s iShares. They got a glimpse. In light of this, I think it’s *very* telling that they hodled. Hodled Citadel, by the balls, that is. + +Oh, and somehow, almost every ETF I looked at miraculously **increased** in shares outstanding and institutional ownership 2020-2021, even from Jan to March. Despite the fact that the NAV was consistently higher during those periods… + +Among the buyers were Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs… + +So who were the sellers? +I've noticed how disinterested I've been in my crypto holdings for the last couple of weeks because of how the market has been behaving. I feel confident in the coins I own and intend to just hold them, and will check my overall account balance 1x / day..see it's -$300 and close it and move on. But I used to check this sub and my crypto stuff multiple times a day..and the passion has just left me because everything seems 'meh' right now. + +I can't be the only one. +Things like roads, municipal water lines, and power transmission lines, which tend to be socialized because it simply isn't feasible for multiple providers to compete in the same space. + +I am familiar with the word "rivalrous", but that refers to one customer's consumption preventing another customer's consumption. Is there a word for goods where one provider supplying the service prevents other providers from supplying the service? +I’m not a crazy amazing chef or anything but I know my way around the kitchen and pack lunches every day (partly to save money, partly to eat better, partly to save time on lunch breaks). Coworkers have noticed my yummy lunches and now a few of them are purchasing lunches from me every week. It does take a little extra time in terms of meal prep but it sure helps bring down the grocery bill. + +I know this might not be possible for everyone but if you’re already packing lunches for yourself it may be an option for you too! + +Edit/clarification: a couple people have mentioned that it might attract legal and/or workplace trouble, but I’m not too worried because due to time constraints on my end it will never grow to anything bigger than a handful of people. As far as the company handbook goes I’m in the clear, but thanks for the concern! +Syllabus is here: [https://s3.amazonaws.com/iridium-content/documents/en-US/AI+for+Trading+Learning+Nanodegree+Program+Syllabus.pdf](https://s3.amazonaws.com/iridium-content/documents/en-US/AI+for+Trading+Learning+Nanodegree+Program+Syllabus.pdf) + +Do you think it's bullshit? + +Course link: + +[https://www.udacity.com/course/ai-for-trading--nd880?bsft\_eid=9137f5c1-596a-8921-a784-87b55780581d&utm\_campaign=acq\_100\_2018-08-02\_nd880\_launch\_na&utm\_source=blueshift&utm\_medium=email&utm\_content=acq\_100\_2018-08-02\_nd880\_launch-a\_na&bsft\_clkid=4bba396b-31a5-4a54-bfb1-0b38e26df22d&bsft\_uid=17524a7a-2421-41d7-a3f4-d227cf8ecb90&bsft\_mid=a157a02b-6036-4c21-b6b7-1b562d2201ec#nd-pricing](https://www.udacity.com/course/ai-for-trading--nd880?bsft_eid=9137f5c1-596a-8921-a784-87b55780581d&utm_campaign=acq_100_2018-08-02_nd880_launch_na&utm_source=blueshift&utm_medium=email&utm_content=acq_100_2018-08-02_nd880_launch-a_na&bsft_clkid=4bba396b-31a5-4a54-bfb1-0b38e26df22d&bsft_uid=17524a7a-2421-41d7-a3f4-d227cf8ecb90&bsft_mid=a157a02b-6036-4c21-b6b7-1b562d2201ec#nd-pricing) +I going to go Fuck myself baby!!! + +My job's contract is ending this year, so I decided to retire in my mid 40's on Jan 2021. I have 2.8mil net worth, of which 2.5 mill is in investments. I plan to control my AGI to be 50k per year, but my family lives off of less than 40k normally. I'll be using a Roth conversion ladder to live off my IRA and taxable investments. + +I'm being offered a severance package of 100k all paid in 2021. Unfortunately, the company doesn't allow me to make any 401k contributions with the severance. I plan on putting 12k into deductible IRAs to lower my AGI, so with a family of 5 that leaves me owing 2.2k in Fed and 4.8k in State taxes. Since I don't need that whole 100k, is there any other strategy to lower that AGI that I may be missing? + +Would you finance wizards have any advice on dealing with the package? Also any advice on dealing with HR on this would be appreciated. + +Here's my investment values the last 10 years for those interested. I did not start tracking it well till recently: + +2010 - $486k + +2011 - $608k + +2012 - $750k - $102k gains. + +2013 - $1.021m - $205k gains. + +2014 - $1.209m - $145k gains. + +2015 - $1.312m - $42k gains. + +2016 - $1.567m - $191k gains. + +2017 - $1.885m - $297k gains. + +2018 - $1.862m - $90k loss. + +2019 - $2.392m - $506k gains. + +2020 - $2.430m + +I made many mistakes this pandemic. Leave your money alone and let it ride lol. I have about 20% in cash but I plan to keep it that way. + +Healthcare is another concern. I plan on going with the cheapest bronze plan for $9 a month and roll the dice that no one gets sick year 1. Year 2 we’ll be covered better. + +I hope you all go Fuck yourselves and thanks. +Good Morning, Afternoon & Evening Apes! + +First of all - Thank you to all those kind people that commented and messaged me after my post about some of the inner workings of the media world. I had so many very interesting people reach out - it really is fascinating how many people from all walks of life are here among us. + +If you missed it - [you can read it here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/ojhgph/a_journalists_view_on_gme/) + +Second - before I get into the main body about this post I wanted to address some of the people that said I was a fraud, fake etc. + +As requested - I provided undeniable proof to u/broccaaa + +This included 10 years worth of press passes, journalist entry visas for multiple countries in Asia, North America, Europe & The Middle East, along with pictures of my awards with the u/Broccaaa user name next to them. I totally understand the desire for proof - and I delivered that to an admin of the page. + +For those who were trying to deconstruct my post and looked for grammatical mistakes and "syntax" issues with how I construct a sentence - You're right! I am a horrible writer. Many of you seem to have it in your head that you MUST be able to write perfectly to be a journalist - this is simply not true. Even the ones that are "writers" many time are not the best at putting pen to paper... it takes a team for stories to come out. Editors, Sub Editors, Writers, Management, Lawyers. When you see a story on the TV or in a newspaper, dozens, sometimes hundreds of people could have been involved in what you are watching. Everyone is a cog in the system to make the machine work. So yeah - I'm not the best writer. Many of you are also assuming English is my first language as well... so I will leave it at that. + +And to the one guy that said there was no way I could be a journalist because I swore in my post - Holy Fuck. Your mind would explode if you worked a day in a news organisation. + +**A QUICK HISTORY LESSON - THE BIRTH OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE NEWSROOM** + +We live in an AMAZING time. Every thing that is ever muttered on television or written online is saved forever. + +It use to be the case not that long ago that once a news segment went to air - that was it. It would never, ever be seen again. That interview with that "xyz politician" was on TV just once. There was no ability for the average citizen to fact check someone about what they said, or a promise they made - because the evidence of anything that was said was locked away in the TV Archives department. Same goes with newspapers & magazines - most people would keep a newspaper for a day or two, and after that it was gone. + +Now - with the power of both people and the internet, everything lives forever - for better or for worse. + +Many people within news organisations still don't really live in this reality - that everything that is said lives forever. + +Quick story time - when Facebook, YouTube, Twitter started coming out in 2004 onwards - I was a very early user. I went to upper management at a few of the companies I worked for and told them we needed to have a Facebook page for share news stories, or needed a YouTube page to share interviews & stories. + +These companies love control over their product. They love to control the content and when it comes out, and how it was distributed. The idea that something could be pushed out live to the whole world and never be deleted was a very scary, and foreign concept for some of these people. I was told multiple times when I went into these meetings trying to get these organisations onto social media "People can just go to our website, they can find what we publish there" There was a famous case a few years ago where something happened on a large TV Network and it was all over YouTube - behind the scenes one of the older executives demanded and was screaming that the footage must be taken down from "the internet" - with no comprehension that this is impossible. In their mind - if you wanted it deleted, it would just be deleted. + +**THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE CNBC INTERVIEWS PART 1 - GME HEARING** + +Okay, now we have that out of the way - I wanted to tell you my thoughts on these mysterious interviews... there is WAY more going on here then meets the eye. + +Let me go through the process of a video and how it ends up on YouTube, Social Media etc. + +All major media organisations now have specialists that work purely on social media. They are teams of people that develop content that will get traction on social media, with the goal being to click through to the website to read the story / watch the video etc. Or if it's a pre recorded interview, you might tease out a few juicy parts from the interview on social to get people talking - with the idea being to promote a story or interview that will be on in the morning. + +Now - let's say I was a senior person on shift at CNBC social desk on 3/17/2021 when the hearing into GameStop was happening on Capitol Hill. + +This is a such an easy upload for me - first of all because there this is a public hearing, there is no copyright issues to deal with. + +Second of all it's just one big video. Hours and hours of hearing - I would probably edit out the bathroom / lunch breaks, but as for the content - just let it run! This is not a highlight reel of the hearing, or a summary piece. It's like a press conference that a the White House would give, I simply tell the video editors to cut the top to where it starts, and the end when it finished. Done - I can go to the vending machine and get a soda. + +**This is where it gets really fucking weird.** + +As many of you know - there was VERY important details cut from this hearing.[Here is a side by side view](https://www.reddit.com/r/GME/comments/m7vbli/video_proof_cnbc_edited_the_hearing_to_protect/) + +[And here is a bit about what was cut out](https://bettermarkets.com/newsroom/cnbc-posts-edited-video-house-financial-services-gamestop-hearing-deleting-dennis-kelleher) + +There is ZERO logical reason if I was uploading an entire press conference, or congressional hearing to cut out just one little bit. + +If I was doing a highlight reel, I would get the timecodes of the best parts of the hearing - and I would hand them to a video editor. + +So for example I would send an email to a video editor; + +*Hey Bob the Video Editor,* + +*Hope your day is going great.* + +*Can you cut a social video for me? It's a highlight reel of todays congressional hearing on GameStop.It's a big clip and I want the entire hearing, but could you cut out the following for me? Here are the bits that I want to be left out of the final version for social.* + +* *04:20:69 - 04:45:00 - In words "I am" - Out Words "Not a cat"* +* *04:50:00 - 04:53:24 - In words "I Like" - Out Words "the stock"* + +*Let me Know when it's ready, we want to push it onto YouTube as quickly as possible. Thank you!* + +This is just an example, but you get the picture. I would give detailed timecode's & in and out timecode's for where my video editors could find the footage. + +**SOMEONE, WITHIN CNBC, GAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA JOURNALIST, OR A VIDEO EDITOR SPECIFIC TIMECODE'S TO EDIT OUT. THIS WAS NOT A HIGHLIGHT REEL. THERE WAS NO TIME LIMIT THAT THEY WERE AIMING FOR - THEY CUT THIS OUT FOR A SPECIFIC REASON.** + +**THIS IS A HUGE FUCKING DEAL.** I don't know how high it went, or who within CNBC would have called down to the senior that was on duty that day - but someone within that organisation said "we cant have xyz in the full video" Did someone from outside the organisation call someone within the management team of CNBC and ask for XYZ to not be included? We will probably never know - but this smells of something much bigger. + +As mentioned in my previous post - these organisations are run top down fear style leadership. I highly doubt anyone would have pushed back or questioned this request - boss man said to not include xyz, so I wont include xyz. I get to keep my decent salary, and after work I am going to go try that new expensive restaurant around the corner. Case Closed - Day over. + +The ONLY reason I can think was maybe Standards and Practices had an issue with something? A quick rundown on Standards & Practices within a news organisation - they are there as lawyers / protectors / gate keepers of the company for what can be published and what can not. They are there to try and make sure that the company is not in trouble legally for anything. + +[There is a funny video of Conan with his Standards guy - it's not journalism but you get the point.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIcvnU9t7S0) + +Was there something that was said that freaked out CNBC legal department? I don't know... it was a public hearing so there really shouldn't be a legal issue. The fact that they specifically cut out a certain portion means something happened behind the scenes. **A meeting was had, an email was sent, a phone call was placed. Something happened.** + +**THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE CNBC INTERVIEWS PART 2 - GARY GENSLER** + +Alright now we have that out of the way - I want to talk about the interview with Gary Gensler, and what happened with the editing (again) of the social clips they published. + +Financial news is clearly a very niche area, there really isn't that many news outlets that focus purely on the stock market, bonds, etc. You have CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business News etc. So when it comes to financial interviews, getting an exclusive with someone isn't as a big of a deal as it is with Network or Cable (because you have a lot more competition with those guys) + +That being said you can tell by watching their social channels, and also watching the promotions they put up the day before for what they see as exciting, and what will drive viewers. The day before the Gary Gensler interview they started promoting it hard, both on air and also on their social media. + +If I was an executive producer at CNBC, and I had an exclusive that was a high profile person, the big man everyone is talking about online, Gary Gensler, I would do the following. After the interview, I would clip up the best grabs / sound from him - so these could be little 30-40 second clips of the big talking points he made. Each clip could be their own tweet - which in-turn could be retweeted / shared by the anchors / stars on CNBC. My hope is of course for these to go viral / get good traction. More eyes on the network and more publicity. + +I would then take the entire interview, clip it from the top to the bottom, and publish that entire exchange on Facebook & YouTube. The longer these clips, the better the engagement. If you get longer engagement with a video, its better for my report at the end of the month. + +Once again - this is where it gets weird. + +Something happened with that raw interview tape - **again**. Somewhere in the chain of command, someone told someone that from time code xx:xx:xx to time code xx:xx:xx needed to be edited out of the clip that would be shared on social. Why the FUCK would you edit out the one thing everyone is talking about? You simply wouldn't. Someone, somewhere, got a phone call, and was told to edit xyz out, and of course they did. Was this a phone call from outside the network, leaning on a friend within the network? Was there pressure from someone else? We will never know. What I do know is that these are deliberate actions, with multiple people behind the chain of command and decision making. + +**Now - here is where things get wild.** + +Why do people go on CNBC / TV at all. People don't go on TV for no reason or to say "Hi Mom, I'm on TV". There is always a reason. You are either promoting yourself / your own personal brand as an expert, the company you represent, a new announcement, an exciting new venture.... you don't just go on CNBC for the fun of it. There is a reason you get asked to go on, and there is a reason why you say yes. + +TV is also a powerful tool, you can bring up things and say things that may not have come up organically in a tweet, or a press release. Because it's a conversation, you can steer the interview into places you want to talk about, and announce things, or allude to things that you probably couldn't just tweet out directly. + +CNBC is watching all of this shit carefully, they know the man of the hour is Gary. And Gary know's this is a perfect way to boost his profile within the new job, but also kind of say to retail investors "hey, I am hearing this, I see you, I got this" + +So what does he do. He steers the conversation into protecting retail investors, he specifically mentions "We must guard against fraud and manipulation from big actors, hedgefund and elsewhere" + +AND THEN THE GUY TWEETS THE 1:18 CLIP THAT WAS DELETED FROM CNBC. + +**THIS WAS WHAT HE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, CNBC TRIED TO NATURALLY KILL OFF THE CONVERSATION, SO HE SAID FUCK YOU, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN LOUDER, VIA TWITTER - HERES THE CLIP OF WHAT I SAID.** + +He then makes the case that CNBC is no different to Reddit, that the conversations that are had on CNBC at their round table shows about stock fundamentals are no different to what is discussed on Reddit, YouTube etc. This was a POWERFUL message - for a year now CNBC has been shitting on the Reddit bet page because they said it was possibly illegal - and Gary says Fuck you, It's the same as what you do - and btw, we must guard against fraud and manipulation from big actors & hedgefunds. It was a message for three groups + +* CNBC & Media - This is no different to you discussing stocks. Don't throw rocks in glasshouses +* SHF / Big Banks / Wall St- I know what you have done, and I am coming for you. +* Retail Investors - I know about your concerns, I see them on Twitter and other social channels, and I am working on them. + +Between the words he used, the tweet, and the posting of footage that was censored by CNBC - it was a masterclass in how to go into bat against a big media company & social media. + +&#x200B; + +**OPEN SOURCE INVESTIGATIONS / OSINT** + +We live in a powerful time in history - so much data is available for you and your wife's boyfriend to go through from your living room with just a laptop. Billions of data points across any topic you can imagine. In the last 5 years, most major news outlets both print & broadcast have opened in house "Open Source Investigation Units". It came clear that with the technology available, and with the right training you could easily start building a story in the same way an intelligence analyst might with an agency. Some of the big boys have even paid for private satellite imagery from time to time to work out what was going in countries like Syria (Yeah thats a thing now - you can pay for a set of eyes in space to take some pictures for you) + +For those who don't know - Open Source Investigations is pretty much what every brilliant ape has done in this group for the last 6 months. They take information from publicly available sources, connect the dots and try and build a story from it. + +We have seen people work out not only intense financial details about certain groups by putting puzzles pieces together, but we have seen people use pictures and imagery data to work here where a photo was taken etc. + +The king kong of publicly available OSINT work is Bellingcat. Their most famous work involved being able to track down individual members of a Russian assassination squad using public records, photos, and even the background from pictures listed on a Russian equivalent to Google Reviews. + +There are some fantastic resources available and guides. If there are + +[https://www.bellingcat.com/category/resources/](https://www.bellingcat.com/category/resources/) + +[https://www.bellingcat.com/category/resources/how-tos/](https://www.bellingcat.com/category/resources/how-tos/) + +&#x200B; + +There are a bunch of resources available here: + +[https://gijn.org/online-research-tools/](https://gijn.org/online-research-tools/) + +[https://www.andyblackassociates.co.uk/resources-andy-black-associates/osint-toolkit/](https://www.andyblackassociates.co.uk/resources-andy-black-associates/osint-toolkit/) + +&#x200B; + +Search for OSINT toolkit, OSINT resources, Open Source Investigations. Find the tools that you like to use, and start building your own toolkit with the tools available at our disposal. + +**WHY AM I SHARING THE IDEA BEHING OSINT?** + +Because there are dozens of people that are already doing it without realising it. I think the geniuses in this group should be supported with additional ideas and resources. I would HIGHLY encourage you to read this article - [https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2020/12/14/navalny-fsb-methodology/](https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2020/12/14/navalny-fsb-methodology/) + +It was the methodology behind tracking down the FSB hit squad they were tracking using open source information. It really helps you get in the mindset of an open source journalist, and how they use tools and methods to track down information. My favourite quote from this article is *"Tugging on one thread will unravel an entire tapestry of cross-referenced data"* GME is an entire tapestry is slowly being unravelled. The more people search, the more people will find. + +Also a side note - when searching, use multiple search engines. It is clear that Google in the last 5 years has started putting individual results for individual people, it might be worth checking out searches in Duck Duck Go and using incognito mode while searching around for information. + +**TAKE NOTICE OF THE LANGUAGE & SOCIAL CUES** + +Pay attention to the words people use on TV, and the meaning behind them. + +Language is used to draw an audience in - to make a connection with Bruce & Jane sitting in their living room in Smalltown America. + +I'll give you an example. If I am writing a story about rising costs of healthcare for the average family, how do I get a news anchor that is making huge money to connect with the family watching who may be on a single income and just on the line between lower and middle class. + +I change the language in the story. So instead of saying "You may have noticed your healthcare costs rising" - I would change it to "We have all noticed our healthcare costs rising" + +See what I did there - I made this about me as well, we and our connects me sitting there at the news desk to you sitting in your living room. We have BOTH noticed the healthcare cost rising. Now I am on a VERY decent salary, with fucking AMAZING healthcare - have I noticed a rise in the prices? Fuck No. But I want YOU to think that I am just a guy like you... so I connect with you through the TV as an everyman. + +Another example is that clown Jim Cramer. + +&#x200B; + +[Sleeves rolled up, a messy man cave. \\"I'm just like you - I am just like your drinking buddy, here to help you make a few bucks\\" ](https://preview.redd.it/kcellqws61g71.jpg?width=1910&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a2d02093442caf6d87f1b758988574a8d824351f) + +Notice how in the morning shows he is in a suit and tie, and looks professional? But on his show in the evening - his personal image / brand changes. He is on the mad money set - it looks like a man cave, chaotic, a little messy. He rolls his sleeves up, like he has a had a hard day at work. Maybe you just got home from work and you have rolled up your sleeves like him. You see some sport memorabilia. You're a guy in your 50's like him, and you see yourself in him. + +He always does the same routine at the start - I'm your friend, I am your buddy, I am here to make you a few bucks. Between his gentle reassuring words that he is your friend, his comedic routines with that stupid soundboard and the subtle imagery on the set design, and his wardrobe - it makes you feel like you can trust him, like he is an old drinking buddy. A friend. + +We all know from The Coin Stock, The Chinese Taxi Stock and other disasters what this "friend" leads you to... but it doesn't matter. People will keep trusting him. + +People DO trust this guy, you just have to see some of his fans on twitter and what they say in response to his stock picks + +This is also why I think he has started throwing around the words "communists" and "Marxists" when describing Reddit forums. What is a word that gets people fired up in America - the word communist. What if you could start building a frame work that people who are trading Gamestop are communists that hate rich people - its an easy story to sell, and you don't need proof. It's a very clickable headline - and it would be easy to get those in power such as congresspeople who clearly don't understand what is happening to go along with it. If he starts using those words more, and more, they catch on. Then you have a problem on your hands - we are all individual investors, how do you fight back? + +**STAY ON TASK - BUT CAST OUR NET FAR AND WIDE** + +I totally get the desire for this sub to stay on task with GME, and to only discuss things directly related to GME... but I wanted to share my thoughts on this mentality and why we should all have a little open minds when discussing information we find. + +As we go down the rabbit hole, we find more and more things connected to this entire saga. Many of them aren't directly connected to GME, but these little puzzle pieces are leading us to the bigger picture - just how fucked the capital markets are. There is no price discovery, there is no free and fair market. It's rigged. + +We are in a unique position to have thousands of people, many experts in their fields of finance, data analysis & historical analysis to be putting together this puzzle. The wider we cast out net, the more threads we find to unravel this mess. If we shut down ANY conversation that dares mentions political issues, housing issues, other stocks that share the same behaviours as GME - we are doing ourselves a disservice. + +Obviously the integrity of this sub is paramount, and things like forum sliding and distraction should be at the forefront of everyones mind - but in saying that, a little leeway with thinking outside the box could go a long way with exposing even more evidence of corruption in the system, and how it relates to GME. + +When you are doing an investigation, you look at EVERYTHING. You discuss with your colleagues all sorts of theories, and past cases that share the same patterns. You bounce ideas of each other that may have nothing to do with the case on hand, but in doing so it really gets the investigative juices flowing in your brain to use your critical thinking. + +This is just a personal thought, but I have seen a few times where decent conversations were deleted, or screamed into silence with chants of SHILL SHILL SHILL for bringing up a point that was a little outside the conventional thinking, but could be an interesting point. + +&#x200B; + +**CONCLUSION** + +I have been keeping a very close eye on financial networks, and taking notes daily on things I notice. I would like to continue posting here. I had some wonderful kind hearted messages and comments last time I posted, and its truly an honour to be on this journey with you all. I will keep making posts as I feel comfortable. + +Take Care everyone! Love to you all. xxx + +*And a little direct message to RC. If you're out there - and you want someone to come in house to help navigate and work logistics of the shit show that will be the international media camped in your parking lot when this rocket takes off - let me know. I'd quit my job and come to Grapevine in a second to help navigate what will probably the biggest news story on the planet.* +I see on reddit a some comments about how owning timeshares “can be a good deal” and thought it was prudent to point out this is just not true in any evidence I could find. They are a really predatory and deceptive business whether resale or points based and especially when bought from the developer. Let’s go through the options if you **own** a timeshare: + +* You buy from a developer/direct - + +They immediately decrease in value if bought from the developer, sometimes to literal worthlessness or even negative value. Every. Single. Timeshare. Decreases. I don’t care if it’s Disney Vacation Club or whatever the salesperson told you. You buy it from the developer and you just wasted tens of thousands of dollars. Check Ebay if you don’t believe me or literally any of the resale sites. You just lost thousands of dollars. Find a single one that has increased in value vs inflation, post the link and I’ll buy the first person gold. Even DVC which is considered the most valuable timeshare currency sells for under initial purchase value when accounting for inflation. + +* You buy/gifted from a reseller/family member - + +Let’s say you get it for literally zero dollars on ebay. Pretty sweet right, free vacation? Wrong. Maintenance fees will be very expensive. At least 500-800$ yearly. So you are paying 500-800 a year, to hopefully go on vacation to the same place at the same time (if the word “points” just jumped into your brain, go to the next paragraph). This may be a discount of 0%-50%. So this is the one thing I will conceded this may provide you with a *small* discount. So a small discount to have a liability and complete lack of flexibility in a vacation is a terrible financial tradeoff. People that post that “the same room/condo would be 5k that week!” are always quoting the developers “stated rate” which is not market at all and basically made up. Give me an exact example if you think I’m wrong along with screen shot of your maintenance fees and again, gold to the first person. + +* “But 16semesters, I get points! I have plenty of flexibility” + +Points are garbage. Garbage. They oftentimes include an additional fee to use a different resort. No matter what the salesperson told you, there *are* byzantine rules on dates, switching out, etc. They are restrictive and expire after *at most* 3 years. They sell for fractions of their “value” on resale sites. Why would points be selling for so little on the resale market if they are such good deals? Wouldn't it be prudent to just buy the points at a significant discount and use those instead? Let me know your company your timeshare is through and I can promise I'll find points well below "retail". + +A lot of people also get second hand information on these things from family members that may be inaccurate or outdated so I’d caution passing off “well my aunt only pays X” unless you’ve seen some proof. It’s okay if you’ve been scam by a timeshare or someone in your family has. I’ve been scammed on other scams before, it doesn’t make you stupid. I write this post on the personal finance subreddit so that people can be informed moving forward. If anyone has disagreements or something I missed let me know. +Not sure where else to ask this, I’m currently a 17 year old attending high school. I have been working at a fast food restaurant for 2 years. January this year, the store manager unexpectedly left and I was increased to 5 shifts a week and 30-38 hours and very unofficially took on the role of store manager. + + +At the beginning of March, I requested that my pay be increased (currently on the award wage $14.60/hr) and was told by my boss “already bumped to level 3, we reassess in a month” His idea of having already giving me a pay rise is extremely frustrating as me being paid as a “level 3” by definition means being responsible for the store and 3+ employees at a time, therefore it’s something I’m legally entitled to. + +Currently, I feel very unappreciated for the work I’m putting in for the businesses success. I am very frequently achieving sales, labour and food goals. I’m unhappy with my job majorly due to the pay for the roles and responsibilities I fulfil on a weekly basis. + +A few days ago, I spoke to the owner of an exciting fast food franchise soon to be opening in my area. After discussing my previous experience and competency, I was immediately offered training in a few weeks time and also a start date if I wish to accept. + +I know that my store will go to shit for a while if I were to leave and the owner will need to spend far more of his time there, which he’s already adamant on not wanting to. + +I am not immature in expecting unreasonable pay for my age like, $30/hr, not even $25/hr. But operating a business doing $20k gross sales weekly and also seeing the healthy net weekly profit. + +I have plateaued and my job is fairly easy for me I just know I deserve more compensation. + +My question is, would putting in a two weeks resignation letter in an attempt to try and be counter offered more $ to stay a smart idea? + +Edit: Thanks so much guys for sharing with me your thoughts, knowledge and experiences. I’ve had a phone call discussion with my boss about my recent lack in motivation at work due to my low pay. I gave him a stern ultimatum to downgrade my position and responsibilities if he were to continue paying me at this rate, or give me a considerable increase in pay to continue this role. We are having an in person meeting in two days “regarding the pay rise” +I’m new to fatFIRE and one of the things I most value is hiring top tier experts. + +When I was FIRE but not fat, I’d Google or Yelp for “best dentist” in my city or read specialist forums to find the best tailor I could actually afford. Or spend weeks researching supplements/exercise equipment/etc to find the best products. I can continue doing all of that, but it’s incredibly time consuming and I’d rather hire experts to do it for me. + +But the best people don’t need to advertise because they have word of mouth. Also, several services I’m looking for can be full remote. When you’re open to potentially hiring anyone in the world, or at least anyone in the USA, how do you do that search? + +Some of the services I’m most interested in: + +- High end interior designer: this one might need to be local or willing to do a few weeks in my city. +- Personal stylist: 2-4 in person visits yearly in a major city. +- Nutrionist / dietician: this one can live literally anywhere and be full remote for consultations. +- MD specializing in longevity: review comprehensive blood work yearly and work with my other specialists as needed. Potentially also in charge of my parents’ health because they’re getting older. +- Personal trainer: more for personalized program design and home gym design rather than actual in-person training sessions. +- Plastic surgeon: no specific needs, basically want to ask “what could we do?” +- Dental surgeon: I need my wisdoms out and it’s a bad case. I found someone very good in my area, but I’ll go anywhere for someone even better. + +Basically, I want to throw money at the things I find important. If a good exercise bike is $1k and the best exercise bike is $10k, that’s worth the premium for even a 5% improvement. I don’t want to spend the time finding that bike, I want to hire experts who are at the bleeding edge of their fields and outsource those parts of my life to them at the “no compromises” level - the ones who know the best new toys, read the journals, and follow the latest research. + +I realize this is a pretty high standard, but this is what I want out of my fatFIRE life. I just have no idea how to even begin finding these people and hope that others here have some advice! +We've all heard the 1% rule. But almost every major city I see doesn't get 1%. Often nowhere close to that. I've calculated some areas as cash flowing maybe .5% if that. But there's obviously tons of people buying the properties to rent them out. Surely they're not just bad investors and have a different goal? + +What is their thinking, and why isn't that mentioned more as a strategy? I often hear from some on Reddit that 1% is pretty much the *minimum* they'd do. I suspect appreciation is the answer, but that's just my guess. +A 200 billion market cap on a company which has never turned a proper profit. Full of debt and in a cut throat industry where margins are slim and competition is fierce. Tesla is being priced like it will take over the world, that 1/2 cars in the world will be a Tesla. Have people forgotten that Ford, GM, Audi and BMW are all making electric cars now? Have people forgotten the self driving technology being developed by Waymo? Have people forgotten the bottomless pit companies like Microsoft have to dominate in AI and self driving? + +There is virtually zero moat with what Tesla does, once the germans ramp up full self driving electric cars, where will Tesla go? + +As valuations rise, a company has to deliver more and more to justify its price. Eventually it gets to a point where it can't. I want to stress that most great companies were profitable at IPO, Google was profitable, so was Facebook. Companies which don't make money but live on a fairy tale story always end in tears. + +For sure there is a future for Tesla, as electric cars become mainstream, but being priced to take over the car industry is a joke and will not happen. There are many people who drive an Audi and will not drive anything else. Software wise I don't see Tesla having any major lead over Big Tech, Microsoft and Audi can very much work together on a self driving electric car. + +I know Tesla is a cult and has loyal fans, but you can't compare it to Apple. Apple produce a great product (the iphone) with a massive moat (the apple ecosystem) around it, Tesla doesn't have a moat. + +Please explain to me why this valuation is not a bubble? It looks like dot com 2.0 all over again. +The government has borrowed a record number of £270bn from fighting the pandemic this last year. (BBC) + +This without a doubt will affect UK firms as well as stock returns. +- Lower national income and savings +- Large tax hikes leading to spending cuts +- decreased ability to respond to problems + +Is this the end of the bulls in the uk? Not long till other countries will have to catch up on their debt acquired during the pandemic and follow suit. +I have finally gained enough karma to post in this sub so here's my first post. + +I am an Emergency Department doctor heavily invested into GME after lurking this sub daily and reading all the DD over the last 18 months. If GME allows me to be financially independent, I promise to continue working for free, in places all over the world without free healthcare where they desperately need the support. I will buy equipment and supplies with my new found wealth and deliver it straight to the source, cutting out the middleman. My aim has always been to use my life to help those in need, and that will not change by suddenly being financially independent. It will just allow me to continue doing what I love doing, for free, to those who need it even more. I am posting here as a reminder to myself when the inevitable happens and for all of you to hold me to account if I don't post updates showing this. + +P.S. Please don't see this as an attempt at karma farming - I barely use Reddit except for reading Superstonk. Gaining enough karma to post in this sub was my only goal and I've finally achieved that, I care little for how many upvotes this gets. I wish you all the best with your new found wealth, and if this post inspires even a few people to follow suit in their fields, it can help change the world for the better a little more 💛 + +&#x200B; + +EDIT: Thank you so much for all the kind comments, I can't believe how much this blew up. It just goes to show what a great community we are and how great a bunch of people you all are. I'm also so proud of everyone for their ideas as to how they can help the underprivileged in their own fields and I really hope it's helped people think hard about what they could actually achieve post-MOASS. + +Also, it absolutely is a case of "WHEN" and not "if" - my bad, I did say later on in the post "when the inevitable happens" though! + +Finally, so many people have expressed an interest in helping out with this venture, whether it be other healthcare professionals or people who just like the idea. I'll definitely be creating a group post-MOASS and adding you all to it so we can figure out how to make our money go further. I would want to help in the USA and abroad, and I think lobbying would be the another great way to help change systemic issues. All this can be figured out when we know who's involved and what we're working with! + +I love each and every one of you and am so proud of you all. +I coded a crypto trading algorithm that places trades on Binance based on Reddit post sentiment on relevant cryptocurrency subreddits. + +&#x200B; + +Despite my rational mind telling me it's not the best decision to just let this run on a live account, I decided to bite the bulltet and let the script run for a week with the following configuration: + +* The bot scans the top 10 posts in hot on /r/cryptocurrency, /r/crypto_currency, /r/cryptocurrencies and /r/worldnews.  +* It looks for keywords in the posts title and description, containing any of the top 40 coins by marketcap +* It then analyses the sentiment of all posts that mention any of the top 40 cryptos +* If the compound sentiment is positive, the algo will buy that coin. + +With that logic in mind, here is last week’s performance broken down – all generated by the Reddit hivemind. + +I am now hodling 11 coins in my portfolio, all because they were talked about positively at the time on Reddit: BTC, ETH, ALGO, XLM, ADA, SOL, LINK, DOGE, MATIC, XTZ, LTC. + +Below I used matplotlib below to plot the daily gains/losses for all the coins: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/n0la9hlc67971.png?width=3341&format=png&auto=webp&s=f0424f87241031717f1af43f44bfb3f74f2fa56a + +Don’t want to jump any any conclusions just yet, but damn, this looks a lot better than I expected. I was fully prepared to incur some serious loss, but that’s not the case it seems. I trust the Reddit hivemind, for now, anyway. Yes there’s DOGE and LTC in there, but that can be avoided in the future by specifically excluding certain coins from being picked up. + +It’s going to be easier to visualise the overall performance using a scatter plot, like the one below: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/gpfhmgrd67971.png?width=3328&format=png&auto=webp&s=fbda4f82c893158f75f724e8728140f69e3382e6 + +You can see here, that on the last day, we only have 1 coin in minus, all the rest are above 0. + +Or better yet let’s just look at the raw data. + +BTC: +3.8% | ETH: 6.5% | ALGO: -0.2% | XLM: -2% | ADA: +8.8% | SOL: +1.77% | LINK: +4.8% | DOGE: +1.5% | MATIC: +8.6% | XTZ: +5.3% | LTC: 6.1% + +All that brings our Reddit crypto trading bot to an overall profit of **4.1% this week**, which again – considering that me, as well as the Reddit community had multiple concerns that this strategy might actually work, I am well surprised. + +I will let the bot run for another week, and then crunch the numbers once again. + +If you’re feeling brave, [give it a shot yourself](https://github.com/CyberPunkMetalHead/reddit-cryptocurrency-trading) \- the repo is open if you want to implement your own version. :) +Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that ***** Jartek and a terrorist who’s responsible for the ******** of thousands of innocent members. + +It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. + +Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The Subreddit and its people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice. + +We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our community. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that April day. + +Thank you and Welcome Back. + +P.S. All Bans have been cleared from the sub. All of them. +Many on this sub recommend Zerodha/Upstox/Samco for trading because of the flat fee structure & for most people, it works. + +However, full service brokers like Motial Oswal, Kotak Securities, HDFC Securities etc also play a large role. And if you are **smart,** you can end up using them to the fullest at a minimal addition in your broking costs. + +**The Traditional Brokers/Full Service Brokers** + +Full Service Brokers (FSB) are the plain HDFC/Edelweiss types that charge a percentage fee on the value of the transaction. They have lots of toys ( and people) to work and churn out reports and so on. Of course, they have their own fundamental and technical analysts and give out "calls" too. + +Here is the fun part, FSB's are not caring much for the retail part of the business. **They are all competing for a very very large institutional and HNI pool.** + +Say you are ABC mutual fund with some 10,000 Crores in AUM. You have to buy 400 Crore worth of HDFC Bank. Now there is enough volume for HDFC Bank, sadly it is difficult for Zerodha to execute it. + +One there are maximum order limits per order. Second of course is that if you punch in an order of 4 Crore in one go, you may end up pulling the cost of purchase by a few percentage points if you use a market order and you may never get a fill say in case of a limit order with hidden quantities. Do this over a hundred times and you end up inflating your costs to a large extent. + +So what you do is call your friendly neighbourhood FSB and the broker in turns call other brokers. They talk and come to know that your friend Ram at Reliance is selling 80 Crore worth of HDFC Bank, Laxman at SBI is interested in selling some 70 Crore worth of HDFC Bank, someone at Credit Suisse is up to sell you 100 Crore too. These guys too **might want to sell at a decent price.** So now you have 250 Crore worth of HDFC Bank and all of this in bulk/block deals. On the next day, your FSB finds a Akbar of ABCAP & Anthony at Axis Mutual Fund who also wish to unload 50 Crores of HDFC Bank each. So there you are with Rs.350 Crore of HDFC Bank, all of them at near market rates. Now FSB also finds a HNI who has some 40 Crore of HDFC Bank. Voila! Only 10 Crore worth of HDFC Bank left to purchase! And that can be comparatively easily done. + +&#x200B; + +Now say you quit the Mutual Fund AMC business, tired of the pressure and end up managing only your own funds. You are worth 100 Crore. One fine day, you wish to allocate 4% of your portfolio to ChotaMota Midcap Ltd (CMML). Sadly, the average volume for CMML is around 1 Crore. Now what? Buy thru Zerodha? I recommend against it. You call up FSB again. He arranges block deals again, though makes a few thousand in the process. + +&#x200B; + +FSB also helps you lend shares, making you a small income, he also gets you leverage against shares so that you can trade in derivatives and so on. + +&#x200B; + +FSB also invites you to some good parties, sends you some nicely formatted PDF files, that if not anything else are fun to read. He also gives you chit chat on everyone. And he also gets you invites to Con Calls, management meets, PMS fund manager talks and everything else. + +&#x200B; + +**For anyone north of some 50 Crore, a few lakh in brokerage is not a bother.** + +&#x200B; + +**The Discount Broker Side** + +&#x200B; + +For people who trade highly liquid counters like say NIFTY, Bank NIFTY and so on, these guys are a god send. No fees for delivery, a simple P&L + Back office and everything else. And you can do it by mobile app. But for large volumes, you may face issues... + +&#x200B; + +**The Smart Bit** *(Edit 2)* + +You can negotiate with 1 full service broker, say HDFC or Edelweiss or Motilal Oswal. They can knock down rates to around .05% on delivery, which for a Rs.1 Lakh trade comes to Rs.50. For those paying 20, it maybe a lot, but you do get top grade software, a RM who can get you reports and attend your calls. The flip side is he/she will try and sell you stuff. You need to avoid it. But if you have a good RM and have a good relation with them, they serve small accounts well, by research reports, leverage, late payment and gossip. + +&#x200B; + +Inspired by another thread on this [subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/IndiaInvestments/comments/c1wdnn/best_private_banking_option/ergqqd1). + +&#x200B; + +*P.S: All examples here are for illustration.* + +&#x200B; + +Edit: + +Bulk Deal: A **bulk deal** is a trade where total quantity of shares bought or sold is more than 0.5% of the number of shares of a listed company. + +Block Deal: It is a transaction of a minimum quantity of 500,000 shares or a minimum value of Rs 5 crore between two parties, wherein they agree to buy or sell shares at an agreed price among themselves. + +Here is an example of Shriram Transport Finance: [https://www.motilaloswal.com/markets/stock-market-live/recent-bulk-deals.aspx](https://www.motilaloswal.com/markets/stock-market-live/recent-bulk-deals.aspx) (Head to Page 4 & 5). + +&#x200B; + +Edit 3: + +Someone asked me if I am associated with FSBs and advised me to disclose it. I have friends across the broking industry. I know people from both FSB's and discount brokers at pretty senior management levels. Some friends and some acquaintances. + +Am I a broker? **NO**. + +Do I care if you choose a DB over a FSB? Or do I care if you choose HDFC Sec over Edel? Or Samco over Zerodha? **NO**. + +&#x200B; + +I am writing this simply because I notice misconceptions about broking over the sub and also I have time to spare.. +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +*** + +Thread guidelines: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/) apply here so please be familiar with them. + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +Hey everyone I was just wondering what everyone thought the best long term ETFs to hold are! I’m in my early 20s and was planning on investing in some ETFs and holding them for the long haul. I currently have 2 shares of SPYG and 2 FTEC and was just curious as to what everyone is thinking! Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks! +We need to win this. The cost of living is destroying families. Rent in my city was 2800 a month for a sh*thole. Rate hikes over the past year have been of the order of 500-700 increase and there is no end in sight. So now that janky dump of a rental is going for 3300+. People are still scooping them up because they have NO option. 50-60% debt to income on your f*cking housing alone. Not even talking $9 a gallon for milk and other insane grocery hikes. $5 a gallon for gas. We are so f’d. Politicians will never do a thing. Not one is on our side. They are only loyal to their donors who want us to just die. + +DRS and DSP your shares. When those c*cksuckers have to hit the lending pools it’s gonna hurt them really badly when they can’t locate enough shares especially when ETF creation is limited or even unavailable to them. +Buy far dated, high delta options. Light a god damn fire under their asses and force them to buy your damn shares on the open market by exercising. Generate as many FTDs as possible so that CNS is overloaded. We need to destroy their margin. + +Blood is in the water. 3 days of 100% utilization is telling. The scales are tipping and I want to see these bastards on TV crying to chumps like Sorkin and these other c*nts about how they lost it all and how mean retail is. I want Kenny’s plane just so I can send it to a chop shop out of spite. +I keep reading comments and quotes in news stories from people complaining how high prices are due to inflation and how inflation has to come down and Joe Biden has to battle inflation. Except the inflation rates we look at are year over year or month over month. Prices can stay exactly the same as they are now next year and the inflation rate would be zero. + +It’s completely unrealistic to expect deflation in anything except gas, energy, and maybe, maybe home prices. But the way people are talking, they expect prices to go to 2020 levels again. They won’t. Ever. + +So push your boss for a raise. The Fed isn’t going to help you afford your bills. + +Feel free to tell me I’m wrong, that prices will go down in any significant way for everyday goods and services beyond always fluctuating gas and energy prices (which were likely to fall regardless of what the fed did). +Currently have my portfolio set up roughly like this: + +XEQT 50% +VFV 10% +TEC 10% +TD 5% +ENB 5% +BAM.A 5% +CNR 5% +T 5% +BTC 2.5% +ETH 2.5% + +I’m in my mid 30s and looking for long term growth since it’s money I probably won’t need for the foreseeable future. + Why are the majority of people here and on other forums calling Trading 212 shady, a scum etc..and urging people to avoid them and switch to a "legit" broker like Interactive brokers or Degiro? Has there been anything suspicious about T212? I like the platform and it has all the ETFs I want to buy and hold long term, but the reputation does not seem to be so good. Are we safe on this platform and is it a good place to hold your entire retirement funds which could be worth millions in some cases? Personally I get affected by this sentement and although I really like the app, the interface, the zero commisions, and pretty much everything(except from the fact that it doesnt support in specie transfers yet), Im thinking of switching to something else like Interactive brokers which I really do not like the interface, just to be "safe". What's your opinion? +Has anyone used myCAMS ? I came across it in the midst of a sign up for something else. + + +What a horrendously designed portal with possibly the worst sign up process this side of the SBI Bank website. + + +Holy \*\*\*\*\*\* + +&#x200B; + +Some of the finance related websites in India are open and welcome targets for hackers. Infact I'm convinced that most of our financial data has been leaked to everyone from Somalia to Azerbaijan. + +What are some of your favorite offenders in the banking/investment webdesign space? + + +Edit: I agree about SBI Cards’ website but have any of you tried using the SBI Bank Portal with a password manager? +I'm on vacation with my dad and brothers. We ate at a McDonald's for breakfast on the way to the beach this morning. We used the self service kiosk. It took like 60 seconds for the purchase to go through, which seemed weird. + +Got to the beach, and stopped at a Subway for lunch. Card declined. + +We called the bank, and apparently the McDonald's has tried to charge my dad's card hundreds of times for the same purchase. We're at the beach now, and totally stranded because we have no money. We called the McDonald's to try and get them to restart their self service kiosk, but of course, nobody there had any idea what the fuck we were talking about. + +So we're stuck 3 hours away from home with no idea what to do. + +Edit: the issue has been resolved and the card is working!! Thanks for all your advice! + +Edit 2: I know, we should have had more than a single debit card. My dad's 56 and probably not going to change his ways because some guy on Reddit told him to. That being said, I'll definitely take note of your advice for my own personal finances once I'm a bit older. +Senior lawmakers and members of the Trump administration early Wednesday came to an agreement on a massive stimulus measure to try to keep Americans whole as the economy shuts down due to the coronavirus. + +“Ladies and gentlemen, we are done. We have a deal,” White House aide Eric Ueland announced at the Capitol just after midnight. + +White House officials said the measure will cost about $2 trillion. + +Negotiators worked all day, with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and incoming White House chief of staff Mark Meadows shuttling between meetings with Republicans and then Democrats. + +The package includes direct deposits for all Americans, $367 billion for loans to small businesses and an unprecedented program that will allocate $500 billion to the Treasury Department. Some of that money will be used to guarantee a Federal Reserve loan program for small and medium-size businesses. Larrry Kudlow, director of the White House’s National Economic Council, said the funds could be leveraged into $4 trillion of lending through the Fed. + +Most adults would receive direct payments of $1,200, while children would see $500 checks. Hospitals would receive some $150 billion under the deal and small businesses would get $367 billion in aid. + +https://www.marketwatch.com/story/senate-talks-continue-on-massive-coronavirus-stimulus-as-final-agreement-proves-elusive-2020-03-24?mod=home-page +It was a car loan, originally $10,000, that hasn't been paid in years. We were able to pretty much completely ignore it without any negative repercussions thanks to the Service Member Civil Relief Act, a protection my husband is about to lose in less than a month. So, we had to finally deal with it. + +Saved up $5,500 *beyond* our emergency fund. But just for the hell of it wanted to see if we could negotiate it. Which I read was possible, but difficult. I low-balled and my husband literally laughed at me when I said "We have about $2,500." he hit back with $2,750!! It was that easy. It was a 5 minute phone call. I was originally going to start my negotiation at $3-3.5k. Glad I didn't! They just wanted *HALF*! + +That extra $2,750 we get to keep is worth much more than the damage a "settled" will have on his credit, which is actually somehow quite good. Shout out to SCRA. I'm so happy right now. This happened Friday and I just got the offer in writing. Will be making the payment today! + +Edit: Well apparently I have pissed some people off for celebrating the fact that I settled when it *seems* I *could* have paid the whole thing. + +I'm in this sub because I'm poor and I am trying to fix it. I'm celebrating that we will be able to afford rent, food, and basic necessities all of us have probably experienced going without, while we transition from two incomes to one. This was an agreement between us and the lender. We wouldn't have done this if we could afford to pay it **and still survive.** Hopefully that clears everything up. + +Edit 2: Man yall are an interesting bunch. Thank you for the all the support from majority of you kind redditors! There is tons of information that I didn't know and I'm so glad I posted, I hope this helps someone else! +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +*** + +Thread guidelines: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/) apply here so please be familiar with them. + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +Hey, + +I consider myself a value investor for about two years now and have been investing since 2017. Thats not a huge track record, but I am quite happy with the returns I've made so far. + +I started building a BABA position last year in November at around USD 220 and obviously got hammered. I averaged down throughout the year so I currently sit at a loss of around -40%. It does not look pretty in my portfolio, but I knew that this was possible, so no regrets there. + +One thing I sure have learned from this story is, that I was way to eager/nervous averaging down - if it drops, it drops and in the future I will take my sweet time, because this time I bought in November 20, December, February, March, Mai and August. + +Despite knowing that I won't be able to time an entry I still can't help but wonder what would happen if I cut my losses around 8% when opening a new position. Then, of course, the question is when to get back into BABA. Now? A month ago? Half a year from now? While I'm suspicious at best about technical analysis, seeing the gap between the 50-day and 200-day MA suggests that this might drag on for a while. + +I absolutely know and understand, that value investing is not about getting in and out of positions. I would like to know how you act in situations like these and whether there is a well researched approach on cutting losses in the context of value investing - because I could find none. + +Cheers! +Has anyone been following Pabrai's shameless cloning or free lunch portfolio? Basically buying what other top value investors are buying, what are your thoughts on this type of strategy? +For anyone buying properties post Covid, property value has risen high enough such that rent hasn't yet caught up. Is the 1% rule still valid? I'm looking to buy a townhome to live in for a couple years and then rent out but it's a $320k townhome and the current rent in the area is about $1800-$2000 per month. That's no where close to the 1% rule. I'd need it to get to $2200 to just break even after adding in taxes, maintenance, 7% vacancy rate, and HOA. +Please everyone, state your opinion on this. Mine is quite clear, I think it's these types of social media accounts that will talk bullshit once moass starts, and even if they don't, superstonk is not the place for blatantly stupid claims and random ALL CAPS OVERDRAMATICAL STATEMENTS. + +This isn't DD, this isn't research, it's just random bullshit. We can read the charts ourselves and don't need random tweets telling us VIX is up, or evergrande is negotiating again, trashing the superstonk feed. It just takes up the place of valuable DD that isn't seen enough. + +Anyway, that's me, tell me what you guys think. Upvote if you agree. +https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-28/boeing-s-737-max-software-outsourced-to-9-an-hour-engineers + +> Longtime Boeing engineers say the effort was complicated by a push to outsource work to lower-paid contractors. + +> The Max software -- plagued by issues that could keep the planes grounded months longer after U.S. regulators this week revealed a new flaw -- was developed at a time Boeing was laying off experienced engineers and pressing suppliers to cut costs. + +> Increasingly, the iconic American planemaker and its subcontractors have relied on temporary workers making as little as $9 an hour to develop and test software, often from countries lacking a deep background in aerospace -- notably India. + +> Boeing said the company did not rely on engineers from HCL and Cyient for the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, which has been linked to the Lion Air crash last October and the Ethiopian Airlines disaster in March. The Chicago-based planemaker also said it didn’t rely on either firm for another software issue disclosed after the crashes: a cockpit warning light that wasn’t working for most buyers. + +> Engineers who worked on the Max, which Boeing began developing eight years ago to match a rival Airbus SE plane, have complained of pressure from managers to limit changes that might introduce extra time or cost. + +> “Boeing was doing all kinds of things, everything you can imagine, to reduce cost, including moving work from Puget Sound, because we’d become very expensive here,” said Rick Ludtke, a former Boeing flight controls engineer laid off in 2017. “All that’s very understandable if you think of it from a business perspective. Slowly over time it appears that’s eroded the ability for Puget Sound designers to design.” + +> Rabin, the former software engineer, recalled one manager saying at an all-hands meeting that **Boeing didn’t need senior engineers because its products were mature.** “I was shocked that in a room full of a couple hundred mostly senior engineers we were being told that we weren’t needed,” said Rabin, who was laid off in 2015. + +> Starting with the 787 Dreamliner, launched in 2004, it sought to increase profits by instead providing high-level specifications and then asking suppliers to design more parts themselves. The thinking was “they’re the experts, you see, and they will take care of all of this stuff for us,” said Frank McCormick, a former Boeing flight-controls software engineer who later worked as a consultant to regulators and manufacturers. “This was just nonsense.” + +> Boeing has also expanded a design center in Moscow. **At a meeting with a chief 787 engineer in 2008, one staffer complained about sending drawings back to a team in Russia 18 times before they understood that the smoke detectors needed to be connected to the electrical system**, said Cynthia Cole, a former Boeing engineer who headed the engineers’ union from 2006 to 2010. + +> U.S.-based avionics companies in particular moved aggressively, shifting more than 30% of their software engineering offshore versus 10% for European-based firms in recent years, said Hilderman, an avionics safety consultant with three decades of experience whose recent clients include most of the major Boeing suppliers. + +> With a strong dollar, a big part of the attraction was price. Engineers in India made around $5 an hour; it’s now $9 or $10, compared with $35 to $40 for those in the U.S. on an H1B visa, he said. But he’d tell clients the cheaper hourly wage equated to more like $80 because of the need for supervision, and he said his firm won back some business to fix mistakes. +I know there has been a slight pullback in prices, but the issue isn’t the prices, it’s the interest rates scaring people away. Over the last 5 years, rich people have pumped all of their money into real estate and caused a huge jump in prices, does anyone think that real estate will ever come back to a more realistic number? Lot of people will never own a home due to the large prices now +Bill for statewide rent control was passed by Senate and now going to assembly for approval. + +State wide rent control is soon to be hitting multi unit and LLC and corporate held properties come January 2020. +Your markets are run by bots. Now your /r/Asx_bets daily threads are too. + +Read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) people[.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +[Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX\_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. You have been warned.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) + +Automoderator may provide "Guidance" for Lazy and zero effort posting. + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related.](https://discord.gg/wsNDGTf5QH) +If you are curious about the "GameStop-frenzy" and want to read more? Head over to the [DD section](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/njwv6n/the_gme_masters_guide_a_dd_campaign_for_apes/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) to learn what this sub is all about. + +Did you come here by accident in search of a mayonnaise recipe? [Here's a good one](https://www.inspiredtaste.net/25943/homemade-mayonnaise-recipe/). + +P.S. Did you know that GameStop cleared its debt 2 years in advance, recruited a bunch of people from Amazon & Chewy to transform its business to e-commerce and sold approx 8.5M new shares to the market of a value of $1.6B? Now you know GameStop ain't going bankrupt after all! +* **Shares of Madison Square Garden fell after the New York Knicks turned in a disappointing first day of NBA free agency.** +* **Top available free agents like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving wound up signing with the crosstown Brooklyn Nets, drawing the ire of fans and investors alike.** +* [https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/madison-square-garden-stock-price-reaction-to-knicks-free-agency-2019-7-1028322357](https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/madison-square-garden-stock-price-reaction-to-knicks-free-agency-2019-7-1028322357?dlbk&te=1&nl=dealbook&emc=edit_dk_20190702?campaign_id=4&instance_id=10624&segment_id=14845&user_id=df76e39b4b5a7f02b0ac32206323e186&regi_id=78539319_dk_20190702) +IMO this is the biggest news out of any of the Coinbase announcements from today. + +https://blog.gdax.com/announcing-coinbase-pro-6773bc3bf99c + +> Our vision is to give customers the ability to participate in services like **staking and protocol** voting that are distinct to crypto. As the decentralized ecosystem advances, we expect there will be many more opportunities for customers to interact with digital assets in new and unique ways. + +"Hey Jim, would you like to earn an additional 5% yearly on your ETH? All you have to do is click this here button. Oh, and don't worry, all digital assets on Coinbase are insured". + +Seriously, what hodler would not stake if this was the case? You're throwing away free money. + +When you combine this with Casper's 80% lower inflation and all the Coinbase normies wouldn't be able to panic sell, we'd literally go to the moon. +Just a thought but what the heck. Elon hates Hedgies. Elon knows that Hedgies are using crypto currency to stave off margins calls and generate money in an unregulated environment. How do you crash crypto? Elon makes an announcement that he is no longer supporting it under the guise of environmental issues. Hedgies alternative liquidity (crypto) is falling plus the market value is falling Hedgies can no longer sustain revenue and guess what happens next? MARGIN CALL. ELON WINS +GME Soars!!!! +Someone please explain me this. What type of agreements they do with Equity Firms? + +How can a company will benefit if a firm buys their stock from Secondary market or did they buy during IPO in CCD's case ? +I have just looked at my renewal for my energy tariff form my supplier. If I go onto their best tariff it will increase to £5300 a year !! + +Obviously I will wait for the price cap and April. I was vaguely aware of energy prices but hadn't understood how much they are going to rise by! + +We have a current spend of £2.3k a year. I have done all the home insulation stuff. We have a large family. + +Everyone can wear jumpers for the rest of the winter!. +Alright boys. This is going to be my final gains post. I cracked the 7-figure mark, and then some. I started with $35k in my ROTH IRA in late February/early March. I took out $50k, so current balance is after this amount. + +Total balance: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/aza8wfympn951.png?width=620&format=png&auto=webp&s=9bf62f41c7548042e7155fc7988cb55b63e74f69 + +YTD graph, it's been an insane wild ride. The top balance on graph is balance from yesterday, this graph only updates overnight: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/4ujrx8gtpn951.png?width=503&format=png&auto=webp&s=9e7dfbddc461ba03ad0dce267a78002a797407b0 + +Unlike my previous post, I'm going to post every single one of my trades I've ever made. There was a total of about 350 trades I made. + +Here are all my winning trades: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/fu0a7hn4qn951.png?width=1169&format=png&auto=webp&s=0a2fcc6bb5b52e10ba50301aa0374feb8d0fe863 + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/dzsx6d2aqn951.png?width=1165&format=png&auto=webp&s=06a5639feb386ebd2ca83bfaed92b6b70d197803 + +And here are all my losers: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/50o2gaufqn951.png?width=1159&format=png&auto=webp&s=d08b45c387251b1ad9d89fb13ba9ed733cb98503 + +Paid over $14k in commissions to Fidelity: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/6jsl4utqqn951.png?width=472&format=png&auto=webp&s=1238eed7f211baf66e79fbb8a3a9d8c8f1ec6d38 + +I will update this post if anything else comes to my mind. But to put it succinctly. There is a process I follow. I outlined pretty much everything I do in the series of edits and comments I made in my original gains post here: + +[https://www.reddit.com/r/wallstreetbets/comments/h83cfp/35k\_590k\_in\_3\_months/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x](https://www.reddit.com/r/wallstreetbets/comments/h83cfp/35k_590k_in_3_months/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x) + +If you have any questions in addition though, ask away, I will try to get to everybody. And yes, it fucking feels amazing. + +Also, gaymods... can I please get a flair change to "$35k to $1.25M"? + +I'm copying and pasting the tips I had in my other post into this since many of you retarded fucks can't even seem to click a link. The following are the general rules I follow in my trades. They have served me well. Luck has a lot to do with it. Probably 60% or more, but learning to click the damn sell and buy button when you don't feel like it (due to greed or fear) is the second biggest component. + +EDIT: + +Let me try to answer some of the common questions. + +I started with $35k in my ROTH. That was money I saved up from previous job. + +Hold 50% cash reserve at all times as a minimum. YOLOs on FDs are not how you build wealth using options. + +Go into OTM positions but only about 10-15%, and a reasonable chance that you personal feel the company can get to the strike before expiration + +Learn the greeks. Check current IV levels of the company. Try not to get into trades where the IV is at the top tippy top of a 12 month period. + +Learn to not beat yourself up over your trades/mistakes/woulda-shoulda-coulda's. <- This right here was the biggest lesson I learned. Staying focused and not killing myself over my huge mistakes. That sense of dread and horror after seeing your account run up to $550k and then plummeting below $100k in a matter of a week or so, I know is horrific, but learn to focus on what you still have left and climb back up. + +LET YOUR WINNERS RIDE. If you are cashing out on a hugely green position, consider taking out only a chunk or better yet, put a trailing stop loss around 20%. I put t-stops once a position goes green about 50%. I don't put trailing stops on currently red positions. I exit my losers by hand usually. I think psychologically I prefer to kill the red deals myself because I'd feel even more horrific and blame the system of the broker if I had a losing position exit out on a trailing stop. + +Do not put more than 25% of your account into a single position. We celebrate YOLOs and retardism around here yes, but that doesn't mean you need follow the ultra-retards. + +Don't hold 20 different positions. I see so many people holding fucking LUV/AAL/UAL/DAL positions at the same fucking time. No, just pick one and focus on it. Doesn't fucking matter which one, currently besides maybe LUV, the airlines move in lockstep. + +LEARN TO CUT YOUR LOSSES. Even at -90%. That 10% through the magic of options trading can easily be used to make the 90% again. Try to climb back out of a hole with 0% left though. + +I'll edit more in if I think of anything else, but overall, try to stay disciplined. Learning to control (I admit still very ineffectively but enough to usually put a rein on a runaway destructive thought process) my emotions was key. Losses don't kill options traders, calculating your alternate universe net worth on your woulda-coulda-shouldas do. + +EDIT 2: + +I will say this. My undergraduate degree was in Economics, and I'm finishing up my MBA in Finance right now. + +My education I think did give me a great deal of edge, over the average person just plunging into options. That doesn't mean you can't educate yourself. First and foremost go fucking watch some videos on options and their greeks. Implications of volatility on price as well is a basic knowledge you should have. + +EDIT 3: + +I usually buy contracts 1-2 months out. My plan is to sell around the half way point. Leaving a lot of theta meat on the bone so that they are still more valuable. + +10-15% OTM. I never buy ITM. That 10-15% level has worked for me. I go for a strike price that I personally feel the stock can hit within the expiration. Almost all my winning trades have been ITM by the time I sold I believe. + +EDIT 4: + +If you look at my history, I followed the trends down, and then the trends up. If there's one "strategy" to what I do, you can say I ride trends. Knowing the trend was more instinctive. When China, the second biggest fucking economy in the world, was willing to take an extreme measure of forced quarantine of almost 500 million of its citizens, I understood just how fucking serious the virus was. Was that getting priced in the US stock market though? The potentially similar lockdowns in the US? No. Market was fucking hitting ATH at the same time. I shorted the shit out of everything about a week after (including DIS, $80p I bought when it was at $130) market hit ATH I think. My instinct was right, I went up to $550k\~ or so from this. + +But then I made the mistake of holding when the trend had reversed. The market was no longer responding to the bad news. More death count than any other source of death in the country per day? Green. Record setting unemployment? Green. I went from $550k down to $91k. Bought ballsdeep calls from here and rode the wave back up. + +Learning to get a sense of the current trend is the hardest part I think. And who is your best friend? The trend. Who gives you your giant pile of tendies? The trend. Who buys your wife a new iMac pro? The trend. Never try to "outsmart" the market. You're going to lose you fucking shirt. + +EDIT 6: + +Almost forgot one of the biggest lessons I learned. I never ever close a position within the first \~1 hour of market opening. I usually close them in the last hour instead. Contract pricing is usually way out of wack across the board you are going to have massive amounts of slippage, mispricing, and just retarded level of lag and shit, even on the big boy brokers like Fidelity. (The only exclusion here would be for SPY...I don't go into SPY anymore, but if I did, I will sell at market open. The liquidity and the price movement is already built in when market opens for SPY. Any other tickers like AMZN, this rule applies) + +EDIT 7: + +I will add one more thing that led to my biggest gain trades. When a stock currently is at ATH, I mean actual ATH not high of 52 weeks, then there's a massive momentum going for the stock and chances are it will keep that momentum for a while. Using this logic, I went into AMZN calls. Many people asked me why I got in when it had already run up from $1.9k to like $2.1k or something, it's because I used that logic. (Be aware of buying into meme stocks ATH though, I'd be ready to cut my losses the next day if I got into a meme stock and it didn't continue going up/down) + +EDIT 8: + +Let me make one point clear. You are nothing. You are a nobody. Nobody gives a fuck about your gut feeling, or TA voodoo, or this, and that, and the market doesn't owe you shit. You are a dumbass. You are a dumbass. Repeat after me, you are a dumbass. The sooner you get this fact through your thick skull and learn to respect the trends of the market, the better it will be for your trades. Learn humility, stop fucking bragging about your 1 or even 10 wins, and more importantly, don't delude yourself into thinking you figured out the secret after your few trades. You haven't. Learn to be humble, and always fucking respect the market trends. It may feel like it, but this is not a fucking game, unless you want it to be and think the #'s you see on the neo screen are not real. You are trying to make serious $, not be proven right or how smart you are. I'll repeat, take ego out of it. Or not. But for me to get to this level over about 350 trades, these tips I outlined above worked remarkably well. + +EDIT 9: + +Many people seem to miss my points from the above giant ass retarded fucking post. So let me write another paragraph you can ignore. Hopping on the same trend is not enough. People pull out too soon, or worse they insist on going the wrong fucking direction. Even with my gains, I pulled out early on so so sooo many trades, with lost gains to the tune of approximately $3\~ mil by my rough estimate. Letting my winners run and not pulling out too quickly let me get some big wins. This was not something easy for me to do, I was always tempted to pull the plug early on my positions but I held most and relied on tight trailing stop losses. +This is just consolidation for a move higher. + +Edit: FFS of course I have no idea what I’m talking about, anyone that pretends to actually know what’s gonna happen is either somesortofidiot or trying to scam you. Stop DMing me. +Oh right. It affects their money and power…that’s why. + +There are so many bigger problems than regulation on Crypto right now. Crypto can be used as an asset, blockchain etc. - If the governments really want to make the world a better place, they will adopt crypto/blockchain technology in some way (not legal tender but other ways) and/or focus their energies on other important stuff. +Oh right. It affects their money and power…that’s why. + +There are so many bigger problems than regulation on Crypto right now. Crypto can be used as an asset, blockchain etc. - If the governments really want to make the world a better place, they will adopt crypto/blockchain technology in some way (not legal tender but other ways) and/or focus their energies on other important stuff. +This is probably said a lot here but I really came to understand it this week. Still kind of new but have a good understanding of options now. Pretty much was up 65% on my positions up to Thursday. I could’ve easily closed out here for a good week (+$400), but I wanted to see the options expire and gain the last $200. Friday comes, Bullard opens his trap, market tanks and my puts start going ITM. Lost all my gains for the week. + +So obsessed with getting the last $200 dollars I forgot that I gained $400. I won’t feel like I missed out going forward if I gain 60% - 70%. +Janet Yellen, the Secretary of the Treasury, claims that Crypto would be mainly used by criminals. + +But how does reality actually look like? + +Crypto transactions connected to crime have hit an all time low last year, just 0,34% of all transactions are somehow connected to "crime" (this includes your local guy ordering weed) + + + +What about the U.S. Dollar and other FIAT? + +The United Nations estimates that up to $4,000,000,000,000 annualy is connected to crime, which is up to 4% of global GDP. + + + +Why is no politician talking about that? + +[(source for claims)](https://www.forbes.com/sites/haileylennon/2021/01/19/the-false-narrative-of-bitcoins-role-in-illicit-activity/) +X-Art - the first Erotic 18+ NFTs marketplace and escrow that allows you to create and trade NFT tokens with the possibility of materializing them in the real world.The first bridge between NFT and physical products. + +Our business model was born in response to a real market need. There is currently no bridge between the world of virtual Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) and real-world goods. We set out to create a platform that would become the missing piece of the entire NFT ecosystem and accelerate further expansion of this great trend. +With our revolutionary solution we intend to break into the mainstream and create unique, personalized adult ,authenticated using the blockchain technology. XArt guarantees that all NFT Tokens created on our platform are physically backed and can be claimed at any time. + +NFT tokenization of Physical 18+ Goods + +XART Tokens Use Cases + +* Commission discount on each purchase and sale on our platform in return for holding XArt tokens +* 50% of the profits from the platform are paid to XART holders as BNB rewards +* 25% of the profits from the platform are spent on the buyback & burn of XArt tokens +* XART token holders receive more profits in our affiliate program +* XArt tokens can be staked for special NFT rewards +* Discounts on products and services when paying with XArt tokens +* Access to exclusive collection for owners of at least 10,000 XArt tokens +* Option to highlight and promote auctions will be available only to XArt token holders + +The main aspect distinguishing us from other NFT platforms is the real-world authentication of collectibles via the blockchain. + +To be able to do this, we are using printed QR codes - one with a link to a blockchain explorer showing a token corresponding with the given item, and the other with TXID of token burn, which we allow you to sign with your name or nickname. This procedure results in an indisputable proof of the authenticity of the item and its owner. + +Anyone will be able to create their own unique 18+ NFTs and list their NFTs products created in our generator, or deposited via escrow. We guarantee the highest quality of products created with our Generator and that all items listed on our platform are backed by physical goods. + + +Purchase on Pancake Swap: [https://exchange.pancakeswap.finance/#/swap?outputCurrency=0x5b0d4403424c574d26b22a9eb25492a4c5712120](https://exchange.pancakeswap.finance/#/swap?outputCurrency=0x5b0d4403424c574d26b22a9eb25492a4c5712120) + +Telegram: [https://t.me/XArtOfficial](https://t.me/XArtOfficial) + +Contract Address: 0x5b0d4403424c574d26b22a9eb25492a4c5712120 +It's div yield is currently around 1,79% when I bought it it was over 3%. + +I read that this price is too high for their performance. And I could realize a huge profit? + +What should I do? +When I purchase I willing to hold it forever but when I should sell stock? + +How do you deal with stock which became less good then they were? + +Thanks! +I have finally gained enough karma to post in this sub so here's my first post. + +I am an Emergency Department doctor heavily invested into GME after lurking this sub daily and reading all the DD over the last 18 months. If GME allows me to be financially independent, I promise to continue working for free, in places all over the world without free healthcare where they desperately need the support. I will buy equipment and supplies with my new found wealth and deliver it straight to the source, cutting out the middleman. My aim has always been to use my life to help those in need, and that will not change by suddenly being financially independent. It will just allow me to continue doing what I love doing, for free, to those who need it even more. I am posting here as a reminder to myself when the inevitable happens and for all of you to hold me to account if I don't post updates showing this. + +P.S. Please don't see this as an attempt at karma farming - I barely use Reddit except for reading Superstonk. Gaining enough karma to post in this sub was my only goal and I've finally achieved that, I care little for how many upvotes this gets. I wish you all the best with your new found wealth, and if this post inspires even a few people to follow suit in their fields, it can help change the world for the better a little more 💛 + +&#x200B; + +EDIT: Thank you so much for all the kind comments, I can't believe how much this blew up. It just goes to show what a great community we are and how great a bunch of people you all are. I'm also so proud of everyone for their ideas as to how they can help the underprivileged in their own fields and I really hope it's helped people think hard about what they could actually achieve post-MOASS. + +Also, it absolutely is a case of "WHEN" and not "if" - my bad, I did say later on in the post "when the inevitable happens" though! + +Finally, so many people have expressed an interest in helping out with this venture, whether it be other healthcare professionals or people who just like the idea. I'll definitely be creating a group post-MOASS and adding you all to it so we can figure out how to make our money go further. I would want to help in the USA and abroad, and I think lobbying would be the another great way to help change systemic issues. All this can be figured out when we know who's involved and what we're working with! + +I love each and every one of you and am so proud of you all. +I have finally gained enough karma to post in this sub so here's my first post. + +I am an Emergency Department doctor heavily invested into GME after lurking this sub daily and reading all the DD over the last 18 months. If GME allows me to be financially independent, I promise to continue working for free, in places all over the world without free healthcare where they desperately need the support. I will buy equipment and supplies with my new found wealth and deliver it straight to the source, cutting out the middleman. My aim has always been to use my life to help those in need, and that will not change by suddenly being financially independent. It will just allow me to continue doing what I love doing, for free, to those who need it even more. I am posting here as a reminder to myself when the inevitable happens and for all of you to hold me to account if I don't post updates showing this. + +P.S. Please don't see this as an attempt at karma farming - I barely use Reddit except for reading Superstonk. Gaining enough karma to post in this sub was my only goal and I've finally achieved that, I care little for how many upvotes this gets. I wish you all the best with your new found wealth, and if this post inspires even a few people to follow suit in their fields, it can help change the world for the better a little more 💛 + +&#x200B; + +EDIT: Thank you so much for all the kind comments, I can't believe how much this blew up. It just goes to show what a great community we are and how great a bunch of people you all are. I'm also so proud of everyone for their ideas as to how they can help the underprivileged in their own fields and I really hope it's helped people think hard about what they could actually achieve post-MOASS. + +Also, it absolutely is a case of "WHEN" and not "if" - my bad, I did say later on in the post "when the inevitable happens" though! + +Finally, so many people have expressed an interest in helping out with this venture, whether it be other healthcare professionals or people who just like the idea. I'll definitely be creating a group post-MOASS and adding you all to it so we can figure out how to make our money go further. I would want to help in the USA and abroad, and I think lobbying would be the another great way to help change systemic issues. All this can be figured out when we know who's involved and what we're working with! + +I love each and every one of you and am so proud of you all. +We've all seen the posts of various office buildings with their lights on at odd hours of the night these last 2 days. Now what is the significance of these you might ask? I'm hoping to share some of my thoughts in an effort to connect (more significant) dots for some more wrinkley-brained apes than me. + +I've worked in the NYC Finance scene for well over a decade and can provide insights on how that scene (and buildings) generally operate. + +If needed I can provide proof to the mods, but its not like anything I'm sharing here is earth-shattering intel; just logical things laid out for consumption. Happy to provide any additional thoughts and clarifications as needed over private message or in the comments. + +1. **Thoughts on the "Random" Work Hours**: I live in NYC and can tell you that office lights on at night are nothing new. The strange part is that most modern offices have occupancy sensors tied to timers and motion detectors that turn off the lights.... so if nobody is there, they should be generally turned off in an effort to go-green. While working nights and weekends isn't anything new in banking, working those nights and weekends *in the middle of a pandemic is,* as most people work from home which brings me to my next point. +2. **COVID Pandemic Work from Home Implications:** We're in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, most employees have been working from home for well over a year now. Some banks like JPMorgan have started getting groups of specific employees back in the office to ensure productivity - think Sales and Trading employees vs. Marketing folk. [Sample source](https://www.businessinsider.com/jpmorgan-traders-to-return-to-office-september-nyc-2020-9). These people tend to be in the office during trading hours, i.e. Monday-Friday when markets are open and clients and counter-parties are taking their calls. +3. **Location of Lights in the Buildings:** While I know this might sound like a stretch I think its important enough to mention, having worked in various NYC high-rises that are home to financial companies, the top floors are reserved for C-suite executives, boardrooms (like the one we saw in Margin Call), or general conference spaces that host a lot of meeting rooms. + 1. This shows me personally these aren't just lowly interns fucking around out of boredom on a weekend night, these are the "senior" folk. + 2. Communal meeting spaces would be off-limits to most people given social distancing requirements; unless of course these are the CxO level people who can pull rank. +4. **Relevance of Google Maps Data:** While the lights on themselves wouldn't be suspicious (just horrible for the environment), combining these data points with the fact that Google Maps shows high levels of "busy-ness" shows these trends are outside the norm. + 1. I posted this separately, but here's the [status of Google Maps as of 7PM EST on Sunday (April 18th)](https://imgur.com/a/i2mpROf) for Citadel in Chicago, JPMorgan in NYC, and Bank of America in NYC. + 2. I can tell you most people are not wanting to be in the office on a Sunday night away from their families unless absolutely necessary. + 3. Also, if this was a regular meeting for general operations, it could be done over Zoom vs. having people in-person which it has been how these companies operated over the last few months. +5. **Several Buildings Showcasing Similar Activity Across the Globe:** And I will end on my final point - I honestly have lost count how many various cities from Chicago, to London, to Frankfurt, to Amsterdam have been mentioned on this forum. Having all these offices "light up" during the same weekend, around the same time are not a coincidence. + 1. Counter Theory: Unless of course these are the cleaning crews coordinating internationally to mess with us. This is not likely as most people aren't back in the offices, and cleaning crews don't usually work on weekends, just Monday-Friday when most people are there (why pay for a cleaning crew for empty office space when most people are working at home?). + +**TL;DR: Seems like a shit-storm is brewing and everyone is getting their ducks in a row. Weekend work and nights aren't anything new in the finance and banking world, doing so in the middle of a pandemic when most people are working from home is.** + +**I'll leave you with this: One example of a similar thing happened over the weekend in 2008 when JPMorgan acquired Bear Stearns. This happened over the course of a weekend between March 15-16th in 2008 and the story is well worth a read (**[**source**](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bear-stearns-sold-to-j-p-morgan-chase)**).** + +\---------------------------------------------------- + +EDIT #1: There have been several great comments below that I thought would be worth while to mention here as a continuation of the original post. + +u/alanism and a few others pointed out the reason these meetings might have been done in person is some conversations need to be done live where there is no chance of it being leaked or recorded. In a "Zoom" video conferencing world, you can't control who is recording you on the other end with their iPhone below the view of the camera. + +u/arikah mentioned that most crypto tanked hard, all at the same time, just prior to the discovery of these office buildings being busy. I believe where was a post showing Citadel's offices already being "lit up" prior to the decline happening but I can't find it right now. All these meeting could be related to the SEC rumored to be bringing allegations against some Financial Institutions for money laundering. + +u/beach_2_beach pulled out a great quote that summarized my final statement around JPMorgan taking over Bear Stearns over a weekend in March 2008. I still recommend you follow the link above and read the full story as its a great read! + +>***On Sunday evening, March 16, Bear’s board of directors agreed to sell the firm to J.P. Morgan Chase for $2 per share—a 93 percent discount from Bear’s closing stock price on Friday. (Subsequent negotiations pushed the final price up to $10 per share.) The Fed lent J.P. Morgan Chase up to $30 billion to make the purchase.*** +I found [this article from 2017 about Citadel hiring an ex-SEC director](https://www.wsj.com/articles/citadel-securities-hires-ex-sec-director-luparello-as-general-counsel-1491323109). + +I found it because I saw a fellow ape say "if the SEC knew about this shit and did nothing, then the market is fooked." + +And I thought, "hmm, how do I explain to this ape that of course they know. How? For instance, a ton of them work on Wall Street. Oh! I know. I'll search to see if anyone from the SEC works at Citadel." And guess what, apes? The ex fucking SEC director works for Citadel as their "general counselor." + +Oh, wow, Stephen. What kind of counselor are you? Are you the kind of counselor that talks to Ken about [the trauma of not getting his favorite ice cream in 2008 after he lost $8 billion fucking all of us over](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2009/11/hedge-funder_ken_griffin_has_t.html)? Or do your cuddle him and whisper in his 🌈🐻 ear "That'll do, Kenneth. That'll do" while giving him workplace appropriate bums pats because of that one time [RC nuked his crime empire with a tweet of the very ice cream he'd previously been denied by his own irresponsible fuckery](https://www.ft.com/content/6c613f92-cf35-4b2e-b2b0-2ac0a6afb1fb). Or did you try to [help him stop his eyes getting so damned freaky when he cheats at UNO on Citadel official YouTube](https://youtu.be/5_f2AEiHY8w)? You were there when Citadel released that video, and you were counseling them, Stephen. I'd like to know. + +Just wow. An ex-SEC Director helping design and direct market fraud after do nothing to stop it when stopping it is what we paid him and trusted him to do. And here's the kind of bullshit media FUD that trains us to avoid asking questions or recognize the game; from the article about Stephen's hiring at Citadel: + +>One of the country’s most prominent stock-market regulators has finally switched sides, opting to join Citadel Securities, one of the largest trading firms in the country. +Stephen Luparello will join Citadel Securities as its general counsel in May... + +Why is this FUD, you ask? He didn't switch sides! Obviously! He let Citadel fuck us so hard they gave him a 🌈🐻 parachute for his help to do it some more! Language designed to give us the impression that he actually regulated the market in a way that was opposed to the interests of Wall Street and, therefore, aligned with our interests. Smh. + +Here's what I'm getting at: + +We, as a people, let Stephen Luparello be fucking terrible at his job. That let's these hedge fund assholes fuck the whole world. And it is actually our responsibility as citizens because these are government employees who represent us to the world. And we can force the firing of these motherfuckers. In fact, [here's the SEC payscale that shows an approximation of how much we paid Stephen to help people like Ken Griffen fuck us over](https://www.sec.gov/ohr/sec-compensation). And, again, how good was Stephen at helping Ken Griffin fuck us??? So good at helping Ken fuck us that Ken asked Stephen, with eyes as intense as 1000 suns and 3000 times creepier, "can I hire you to help me do this even better as my company's General Counselor?" + +And shorting the bond market? Well... [Citadel hired Ben Bernanke, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, in 2015](https://www.citadel.com/news/dr-ben-bernanke-serve-senior-advisor-citadel/) to be their Senior Advisor. Here's an article literally titled ["Ben Bernanke Bends the Bond Market to His Iron Will"](https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-MB-39960). And now they might have shorted the bond market more than 100%... + +What a scam. + +A lot of you probably already know this wrinkle to the corruption saga, and I'm made of tinfoil and expect this shit, but something about this caught me off guard tonight. I don't know why this particular piece of information made me stop and think, *no. This shit is no longer acceptable.* + +Regardless, you have a job to do Gary Gensler. We can all see hedgies [fucking with meme stocks other than GameStop to scare retail from riding the GameStop MOASS rocket as high as it should go when we start to moon with an orchestrated pump and dump](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/interactive-brokers-founder-says-problem-with-amc-entertainment-memes-peoplewill-lose-a-very-substantial-amount-of-money-11622836260). So ether do your fucking job, give us 5 exaggerated blinks in a row at your next press conference if you're worried big money will kill you if you do your job, or gtfo. We caught hedgies fair and square. Through all the FUD, all the learning, and time that has passed getting to this point, remember that apes. We caught a bunch of motherfuckers in a bad yolo meant to destroy something we care about. + +Rockets 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🌙 +Don't mean to be a dick, these questions belong in r/financialindependence and r/personalfinance. If you're just starting out, this is exactly where your questions belong. You're not too cool to ask for advice in there. + +If you have no idea what you're doing with your life at a young age, that's totally fine. In fact, this is a great time to figure it out. + +r/fatfire is a forum for discussion of people planning to retire with a fat stack of money - discussion about progress, logistics, tax planning, etc. Don't meant to sound like im trying to keep poor people out, but if you aren't already on your way to fat fire, your derailing the discussions + +Please use r/financialindependence. Thank you. Sorry for the rant +Basically, I want to start preparing for future things like a wedding and a home and I'm not sure when or where to start with that. My main goals right now are proposing to my long-term gf next year (so i'll need a ring) a wedding in 4+ years, the honeymoon after that, AND I have a personal goal of starting our marriage with a nice little starter house that we can hopefully move out of and rent when our future children reach school age. + +From my very basic understanding I feel like I should open a money market savings account, use that to buy the ring, and then use it to save for the next three things. She would also be saving up after our engagement. I also believe we could each get a little help from both our parents. + +So I was wondering, am i missing anything? Is there a better answer to my problems? Am i worrying too much considering I'm not even engaged yet? Thank you for reading:) +I was putting in close orders for my spreads expiring today as one was getting a little close. I didn't want to run into any trouble during after hours. + +I set the close limit to .1 but decided that was too narrow as liquidity dries up. I cancelled that and put in a .2 limit or so I thought. Alright, good to go. I walked away from my computer knowing that my trading week was over. + +I came back and noticed it had filled already. Man, that is odd. It was bouncing around \~3 when I put in the order. How could it fill so quick? Well, it filled for 2.78 instead of .2. I thought I put in the order for .2 but apparently I didn't. I must have been going too fast and just hit submit at the current price. + +It's only $250 at the end of the day but it's disappointing that I can still make such simple mistakes. +I gave notice 5 weeks ago, and today they fed me cake and kicked me out. The farewell party was more fun and less awkward than I had feared. + +I'm about as stereotypical as it gets on this sub. 37M engineer, 15 year career doing R&D for a giant corporation. Wife worked for the first couple years, then was a SAHM for our 4 kids. I went to school on a scholarship but my parents gave me the money they had saved for my college anyway, so between that and the second income for a few years we had a huge headstart. We're both frugal by nature and have had a SR over 50% for my entire career. I've been borderline FI for quite a while, part-time for the last 3.5 years, since my youngest was born, but now I finally consider myself RE. + +It was easier to tell people I'm going into teaching, so that's what I told people. I enjoy subbing and volunteering in the schools and I might even get a certificate, but for now I'm taking the summer off to camp, go backpacking, and catch up on the HoneyDo list. + +Wife still works one day a week and I do expect to have a little side income, but ignoring that the WR is a bit under 4%. We give a lot to charity, so I have some flexibility if the long-awaited crash actually materializes. + +I turned in my badge less than an hour ago, so I'm still waiting for it to feel real. Maybe Monday morning it will finally kick in psychologically. + +Anyway, it's a happy day. Thanks for letting me share:) + +ETA: Lots of people asking about health insurance. That was the biggest concern. I'm in upstate NY, my kids will cost $27/mo total for CHP, and my wife and I will pay $800-$700=~$100/mo after Obamacare credits. Next year when I don't have 5 months of salary we'll qualify for an even cheaper plan. + +ETA2: This is reaching outside the regulars of the sub. Google "the shockingly simple math of early retirement" and click the Mr money mustache link, and "the ultimate guide to safe withdrawal rates" and click the early retirement now link. Those two make a good primer for why what I'm doing might not be crazy. + +ETA3: It turns out about 5 years ago I outlined my own plan for getting at retirement dollars before age 60, so for those who are wondering how that's possible, check out: https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/1ot49l/tips_on_saving_for_a_frugal_early_retirement/. + +ETA4: Several people have requested some numbers. I typed it all out, but I can't bring myself to post it, not sure why. Self-conscious, or feeling a need to justify/explain stuff, or something. Here's the best I can do (and even this is making me uncomfortable for some reason): + +|Year|Age|Assets|Comment| +|---|---|---|---| +|2003|22|~$100k|Got married! Started working in 2004, wife was already working in 2003| +|2008|27|~$250k|By dumb luck we liquidated stocks to pay off our first mortgage, dodging some GFC, but still, that year was tough. I got ulcers. Stayed 80/20 for as much of the recovery as I could, but eventually (2011ish?) went to 60/40| +|2013|32|$620k|Started reading MMM around this time, and planning for FIRE. Went 65/35 around 2015ish| +|2018|37|>$1000k|Hitting $1M was a major milestone, and when I really started researching health insurance outside work (which was my wife's main concern since 2013)| + +We decided to do it this year in February, and I gave notice in April. I'll keep things brief here, but if you want more details, [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/financialindependence/comments/7oq4le/anyone_with_kids_and_a_wife_fire/dscjx82/) is a good place to start, I guess. +As title states, I am signing my closing tomorrow for my refinance! + +I just turned 28. I bought my house March of 2019 (turned 27 at that time). Even though my credit scores were 780, I got 4.75% int rate.. which was slap in the face because I always paid more each month for any loans I had. + +Prior to getting a mortgage, I was able to pay off my 25k student loans in 1 year (worked 7 days a week with 2 jobs). Paid off my Mazda 2016 isport year and half. + +Due to this pandemic, I was one of the lucky people in this economy that was able to keep my job and will have my job since our company just made more money due to pandemic. (I work for private equity in NYC). + +I have plenty of savings and cash to put more money in the stock market and also decided to look into refinance and glad I did. I went from 4.75% to 3.25%! It’s going to save me $400 a month! (Closing cost ~$4500) Planning to still pay my mortgage off in 4 - 5 years though. +Would love to see some good discourse on this topic. It does not escape my attention that this sub has north of 300,000 members now, many of whom are obsessed with reaching fatFIRE. Most of us have not and will not ever fatFIRE. I think it could be helpful to remind ourselves that reaching fatFIRE takes an incredible amount of good fortune. Would love to hear some stories / perspectives. + +Tangentially, achieving a high degree of wealth will not bring happiness in and of itself. Love your significant other, cherish your kids, be good to yourself. Life is short. Would love to also hear how some of you keep proper perspective on the things that matter most in life. + +Edit: I’m enjoying reading through the disparate takes on this subject. I did not believe it necessary to include a “hard work, strategic planning, and grit are highly important” caveat in my initial post because I believe these principles are widely understood on this sub and talked about ad nauseam, but perhaps I should have. + +Also, as someone who really enjoys and keeps up with this sub, I am cognizant of the fact that many here are quite young and looking for inspiration. I’m a little further along in life, and I feel it’s important to periodically encourage those who are pre-career or early in career to not invert life’s priorities. Wealth is great, but I don’t believe it should be pursued in such a way that important relationships are neglected, personal passions are allowed to die off, and long-term physical and mental health are jeopardized. I have found that these areas impact happiness and life satisfaction far more than zeroes in a bank account. +I knew for a while that a certain crypto would pump and have tried finding money to invest but I am currently paying off money from an unforseen event. +So today I watch the charts and it's pumping... + +No money to put in and tears to my eyes.. + +Some people are very fortunate and have thousands to throw in and we all know that most of those people will make it big in this game.. sucks knowing you may never be that person.. + +I guess it's hard not feeling jealous. So I guess I'm writing this to preach solidarity with people like me who feel like shit watching coins you wanted to invest in pump before your eyes and there's nothing you can do about it. + +I hope we stumble on a bag full of money that fell out of a plane tomorrow! +Hi all, + +My wife is applying for a separation and we will need to meet with someone to discuss division of assets and childcare. We have two children ages 5 and 8. I am on a good income ($130,000pa) and my wife is on under $30,000pa. We have always shared everything, but still find ourselves living week to week. We have a home with a mortgage, the deposit of which drained our finances. I never foresaw this being an issue, as I never imagined this situation. + +At this stage we are living in the same home and continuing care of our children. We share a bank account with about $6,000 in savings. A $300,000 debt from our home and limited investments. I drive a banger of a car to and from work, and my wife drives our Kluger, valued at about $25,000. + +Any tips on managing the separation? Neither of us want to leave our family home. +I make $65,000/year and have no debt or children. But I can't justify a $500/month payment. Putting half my salary into savings will still take like 50 years to have a house. My old car has a lot of problems so I don't want to buy used. That means at least $20k... How are people affording this? + +I see tons of new cars on the road but most Americans can't afford a $1000 emergency. Are those people in massive debt and will never retire or own a home? Am I doing something wrong? I live in LA and don't have AC in my car but if the engine keeps up it'll last a while. +I havent had a fully custom PC built in about a decade and while my old one was still functioning, decided back in May to splurge and get a PC and ended up down a rabbit hole and now I just took delivery of a monstrosity. + + +Not really sure what else to get for myself and thought y'all could help me come up with some ideas for myself and my S/O. + +So, FatFire what all are you getting yourselves for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza and etc. +Been psuedo-unemployed all of January (I work a part-time job but hours have been cut because no patients in the hospital). My bank was in the red half the month and I had to beg a friend for money to afford gas to go to interviews. + +Yesterday, received news that I got a part time job of 30 hours, guaranteed, to work as the office manager of a local company. They're paying me $20/hr. I have never been so relieved. Getting my dignity back is the most precious gift of all. +Your markets are run by bots. Now your /r/Asx_bets daily threads are too. + +Read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) people[.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +[Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX\_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. You have been warned.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) + +Automoderator may provide "Guidance" for Lazy and zero effort posting. + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related.](https://discord.gg/ywAGqfUAQE) +OG poster u/PlayFree_Bird + +&#x200B; + +Alright, I hate to say it, but there is some less-than-ideal information circulating out there, particularly about the famed "gamma squeeze" we hear so much about these days. I'll get to that. Let's go through the questions you simpletons want to know, as explained by a mouth-breathing fool who has managed to convince you he knows what he's talking about: + +# Did we win today? Is it endgame? + +Kind of. Be patient. + +# In what ways did we win? + +First, there was the obvious victory of bouncing back 65% today after the worst market manipulation I've ever witnessed. We kept the upward momentum going. + +Secondly, every day you finish higher is another day the shorts are underwater. If you are perpetually going up, the walls are closing in on them. + +Finally, a lot of put options expired worthless today while a number of call options expired in-the-money. It's always good to make put holders lose money because you drain the bank accounts of people betting against you. + +# Yes! Call options! We finished above $320 and get a gamma squeeze to infinity now, right? + +No. That's not how this works. Too many people don't quite understand what a gamma squeeze is. + +A gamma squeeze happens when call option sellers (or "writers") have to hedge their naked calls by buying stocks. They do this because the risk of selling naked calls is theoretically infinite if they don't. It's called delta hedging. You don't need to know all the fancy math ("delta" and "gamma" are those greek symbols for nerds), just understand this: as it becomes more probable that the call option you sold will cost you money, you hedge more. + +This is a continuous PROCESS, not a discreet moment in time. The market makers and hedge funds and institutions selling you calls don't wake up on Friday morning and think, "Shit! I think I'm going to lose everything if these stocks keep going up! I have to BUY NOW!!!" That would be stupid. They are hedging all the way up. I guarantee you that most of the calls that were exercised at $320 today were already covered. They already went out and bought those shares and most of the upwards pressure that places on the market is priced in already. + +# So, no gamma squeeze? + +Probably not significantly. They're not going to be madly rushing out on Monday to buy shit they already own for the most part. + +# Why are people talking about a gamma squeeze at $320, then? + +We did have a gamma squeeze at $320. On Wednesday, two days ago. The price exceeded $320 (then the highest strike price on the books) and promptly surged to $371 before coming back down to around $320. That's what a gamma squeeze is: a frenzied rush by call sellers to cover calls. + +It typically happens BEFORE expiration, not after. It's rare for market makers to get so caught with their pants down that they have to get squeezed for the previous week's calls on a Monday. I don't know where this idea of a gamma squeeze now at $320 is coming from. + +# This hurts my feelings. So, what's so great about the $320 threshold, anyway? Did it matter at all? + +It's still a good thing. There may have been a few lingering naked calls to cover. And, like I said, it's always good to make put-holders lose money because stick it to the 🌈🐻, that's why. + +$320 was a significant level because there were quite a few open call options at that strike. You can see the entire option chain here: [https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/gme/option-chain](https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/gme/option-chain) + +Go through and count up all the January 29th options that were in-the-money at today's close. I think maybe 90,000 or something? Screw it, I didn't count. Somebody who can figure out how to use a calculator can add those up. Multiply that number by 100 (because option contracts are sold in groups of 100) and that's how many shares need to change hands thanks to contracts expiring ITM. + +It may be that with so many shares needing to change hands and so little liquidity in this market, some weird things could happen. + +# What weird things? + +Well, if nothing else, a lot of shares will need to be tied up as the process of settling calls plays out. + +You have to remember that when somebody says they own shares, they don't necessarily *own* own the shares right at that moment. + +When you press "buy" on your phone and it says your order was filled, that doesn't mean that the process happens instantaneously. For all intents and purposes as far as you are concerned, sure, the process looks instant. However, there's a lot of messy stuff that happens on the back-end of the system between the brokers and the clearing houses. The clearing houses are where the daily tab gets settled: who owes whom and what they owe and at what price, etc. + +Monday could be interesting as this tab for millions of stocks (in a market with only 50-something million shares actively circulating) gets settled. It might not be crazy, but it could. We'll see. + +Michael Burry (Christian Bale, for all you noobs) seems to think that all the naked short-selling above the float will result in a shit-storm when people actually go to get their shares back: [https://twitter.com/michaeljburry/status/1355221824661983233](https://twitter.com/michaeljburry/status/1355221824661983233) + +Liquidity crunch + lots of shares being moved around + nobody knows where they all are currently = potential nightmare for Wall Street. + +# I just want my infinite short squeeze and my tendies, so how do we get the MOASS? + +Something needs to be the catalyst. Something needs to get the short sellers really underwater, so much so that they are drowning. That's why there's been so much hype about gamma squeezes; the gamma and short squeezes are two separate things, but the gamma squeezing has been really good to us lately. It has triggered some crazy upwards price movements. I still think one was about to happen yesterday morning that would have triggered the squeeze-pocalypse, the Mother of All Short Squeezes. The bastards at the brokerages (acting with and for the clearing houses), took your tendies. It's criminal what played out. + +I actually think a gamma squeeze was possible today, as well, as the price shot up to $378 around noon. If it had gotten to $400, it stood a very good chance of running up to $500, which would have caused a run up to $650 and beyond. Then Robinhood said, "Oh, actually, you plebs cannot buy 5 shares anymore, only 2 now." The price came back down again. + +Oddly enough, the S&P500 sold off over a full percentage point (that's a lot of money) right after GME hit that $378 peak. Do you think this doesn't freak the finance world out? They know a gamma squeeze is like the fuse on a firework. It consumes itself until it ignites the rocket. + +# How will Wall Street defend themselves? + +They will try to keep snipping the fuse. That's what all these restrictions on brokerages are about. They are trying to defuse the situation slowly because having it all get sorted out quickly and frantically is no good for them. + +We need enough upwards price momentum that those option chains keep going up and up and feeding on themselves. They need to become a self-sustaining chain reaction, fed by hedging pressure. And you need to put pressure on your elected representatives to tell them that Wall Street cannot be allowed to just shut down the game when they are losing. I hate to tell you this, but the squeeze has so far been stopped purely by the losers declaring that it will not happen at any cost. It's bullshit. Eat the rich. But there it is. + +# Do you feel you've used the word "squeeze" too much by now? + +Yes. I've been writing and looking at the word "squeeze" so much that it is starting to lose its meaning. Squeeze. Squeeze. Squeeeeeeze. + +&#x200B; + +EDIT: + +TL;DR Shares most likely already bought so no gamma squeeze, doesn't matter anyway 🙌💎🚀 🙌💎🚀 🙌💎🚀 + +EDIT 2: + +STOP THANKING ME FOR THIS POST, RETARDS! Literally the first sentence is me giving credit to the original poster, THANK HIM. +When I was younger, I never took school seriously. I always skipped class to drink, smoke and hang out with boys. I stopped going to school when I was in the 11th grade altogether. I was smart, but school just bore me. My parents eventually kicked me out when I turned 18 and life has been super hard since then. I got pregnant at 19 by an abusive ex. I have been working odd jobs to take care of me and my son and like I said, life has been super hard. I get no help because ex is in prison. My parents cut me off at 18 due to obvious reasons and I never spoke with them since. They want nothing to do with me. I wished I stayed in school. I see everybody my age having a career, traveling and living a good nice and I get jealous +Seriously, this isn’t that difficult. Remove the mods. Vote on the new mods. Or you can have the sub vote on the mods. Maybe even allow pinkcatsonacid back as a mod. + +Make this sub private for this weekend and let’s figure this shit out. Don’t ruin this sub based on ego and stupidity. We have half a million people here, professionals for the industry, all the great AMAs, don’t ruin this sub. MSM will eat this shit up as well. Be smart! + +This is a simple solution to save this subreddit. Or else Superstonk is done. + +If nothing is done, I’ll be going to the jungle +**(Written last week, posted today)** +Well today is the day. As I write this it is noon on a Wednesday, I am sitting at the brewery next door to our townhouse with my laptop, an IPA, and our dog at my feet. &nbsp; + +**Quick summary:** +Me (42M) and my wife (37F) are FIRE as of today. I was Active Duty US military until last night at midnight, when I retired after 20 years of service. &nbsp; + +**Numbers summary** (rounded for ease of illustration, all income is take home/after taxes): &nbsp; + +Assets +$1M in index funds and IRAs (current market value, was higher a few months ago) +$600K rental property owned outright, generates $1K/mo after taxes, management fees, condo fees (bought in 2009) +$600K “forever” town house we live in, $300K owed (bought in 2016) +$50K cars owned outright (both bought in 2016) +$100K in cash/savings accounts (will probably invest a good portion sometime soon but for now it’s a nice cushion while we settle into FIRE) +No debt other than townhouse mortgage (2.25% interest rate) &nbsp; + +Predictable and guaranteed income: +$7K/month from military retirement and disability, adjusts automatically for inflation and cost of living +$1K/month from rental property +Edit: We get $2200/mo rent, property manager takes $300/mo, condo fees are $600/mo, we save $300/mo for property tax, so the useable income for us is $1000. Once we get a new tenant we'll raise the rent to $2800 but we're not going to raise it on the current one. &nbsp; + +Predictable but not long-term income: +$5K/month from wife’s continued employment (defense work/civilian) &nbsp; + +Somewhat predictable but not long-term income: +$40K surge from wife’s deployments (typically once per year for a few months) &nbsp; + +Health care: +Tricare for retired military - $300 annually for me and the wife, plus co-pays per visit of $20-$100 depending on severity; catastrophic cap of $3500 &nbsp; + +**FIRE Plan Summary:** +The $8K/month in predictable/guaranteed income covers all of our expenses to include day-to-day living, continued investment into IRAs and index funds, health care, and the remaining mortgage payments on the town house. Vacations, new cars, other larger expenses will come from wife’s continued income and income surges, at least for another ~5 years. We absolutely will not spend all of this excess and it’ll just be redirected into savings or investments at the end of each year. Once the wife decides to stop working, we’ll likely be able to just withdraw 2-4 years worth of vacation/car/large expenses from our index funds as needed and stay well within the safe withdrawal rate. Eventually we think we’ll sell the townhouse and move into the rental condo full-time - that could be in 5 years or 20 years. &nbsp; + +**Why did I RE?** +Twenty years of war and conflict was hard, and I’m tired. I am leaving substantial opportunities on the table - I was on track to continue getting promoted and reach higher levels of responsibility and income but I simply don’t want to do it anymore. In the last few years I talked to friends of mine who had retired from the military and the one common sentiment was “you’ll never regret retiring too early.” This made an impact on me as I saw several senior leaders and mentors of mine essentially trapped in their careers, unable to make a graceful exit for a variety of reasons. I’m only 42, in great health, and we’ve built a life we love so I want to be here to experience it all. &nbsp; + +**What am I going to do?** +I’m not sure yet. Recreational Employment may be something down the road but for now I’ve got plenty to do. I found that it was fun to think about my daily schedule over the last few years, and here’s what I’ve settled on for a basic Monday-Friday: + +5:00 - Wake up, clean up, let the dog out, make espresso for me and the wife +6:00 - Wife leaves for the gym, I take the dog out to run in the woods +7:00 - Both of us are back, wife soon leaves for work, I do a morning strength session in the garage gym (squat or deadlift) +7:30 - House cleaning chores, more espresso +8:00 - Productive time - I’ve been working on music production as I’m a classically trained pianist getting back into it; the content here may evolve but it will remain what I consider productive/learning/creating +11:00 - Run errands/groceries/mail/etc +11:30 - Mobility and conditioning workout in the garage/in the sun +12:30 - Lunch/clean up +1:30 - House projects or fuck off time (usually gaming online with my friends) +3:30 - Reading and music or more productive time if I feel like it +5:00 - Walk the dog downtown +5:30 - Start to prepare dinner or happy hour with the wife +7:00 - Reading and music inside or rooftop patio drinks with the wife, or we each do our own thing +9:00 - In bed for a solid 8 hours +*Wednesday is an off day for workouts so any additional chores or house projects are done during workout time that day &nbsp; + +One of the most formative books for me was Stephen King’s “On Writing.” In it he, the most prolific and successful writer in American history, said that he writes for at most three hours a day. I read it initially in 2002 and that thought has stayed with me; in fact that’s the reason I have always planned to allocate three hours a day for productive work once I retired. &nbsp; + +**Build the Life you Want, then Save for It** +Many of us have heard this and for a long time I didn’t understand it even though I was actively doing it. I think the easiest way to explain my take on it is to start at the end. Today I find myself stepping into a life that seems almost too good to be true. My work experiences in the military have been enough to fill a lifetime. We’ve already traveled the world. We have massive equity in our dream house. We live downtown in a city we love - lots of inexpensive ways to stay entertained. My wife loves her job and all the friends she’s made here. We have great neighbors. We’re both in great health. And of course, all this is now fully funded with passive income. This is the life we wanted, and we’ve now saved for it. However, it was really, really fucking hard getting here. Going back 72 months from June of 2021 my wife and I had spent 58 of those 72 months on separate continents. Only through a combination of good decisions, moderation, luck, heartbreak, sacrifice, and hard work is this possible. And to be clear, we are only just now fully living this dream - it’s been a challenging last two decades. None of this came together until the last 12-18 months when things started happening as we had planned. &nbsp; + +If you’re still reading and don’t think I’m a complete asshole for writing about how good life is, thanks, and I’ll explain what it took to get here. I’ll put these thoughts in no particular order. &nbsp; + +**Focus on monthly cash flow, not total numbers.** This may be more applicable for some than others. For us it’s the basis of our FIRE plan. The goal is to keep our expenses, including continued investments, below the $8K/month income we generate. Since we’re fortunate to have my military pension it wouldn’t matter if we had $2M net worth like we do, or less than $100K. If we can keep the monthly cash flow sustainable we’ll be FIRE forever. &nbsp; + +**Good enough decisions.** You can analyze the numbers forever to get a correct answer, but it doesn’t mean it’s right. Part of the reason we have our rental property completely paid off is that for several years we dumped all the extra income we had into the mortgage on it. Of course it would have made more sense to put all that money into the market and make 8% instead of paying down our 3% loan, but that decision was good enough for us and in fact worked out well - now we’re completely without a mortgage payment for that property the same year that I RE. Sure it would be nice to have more in the market, but with our passive income we won’t have to make any withdrawals for several years. In the end we lost money on that mortgage payoff but it was good enough to get us where we wanted. + +**Patience is the most likely way to reach FIRE.** A few years into my military career I decided I’d figure out how to FIRE at 42, before FIRE was even a term. Knowing that I (and later we) would reach that goal kept me out of panic or opportunistic decisions like selling a bunch of stock during the downturn in the late 2000’s or buying speculative investments in the last few years. We had a plan, we were patient, and here we are. I cringe when friends of ours ask us if we’re planning to sell off any investments since the market is down. Be patient and play the long game. &nbsp; + +**Who you marry matters.** I was on the path to FIRE before I met my wife - we met 5 years into my military career. She had just completed grad school and an internship and was interested in learning how to budget and invest. She was open to ideas like buying reasonable cars, not eating out every night, etc. We had open discussions about finances. She had and still has tremendous earning potential. She’s been willing to make sacrifices financially, professionally, and personally to keep the FIRE plan on track. For the last few years, she’s made more money that I have. Would this have been possible with someone else? Maybe. For those of you not yet married but planning to someday, keep in mind that if you want to FIRE, who you marry matters. Your partner will ultimately contribute to or sabotage your plans - make sure you understand which one it is. &nbsp; + +**Combine finances.** I don’t understand how married couples don’t combine finances. It seems to me that if you don’t you’re simply prolonging a serious financial blow-up that should have been discussed much earlier. In some cases I can see how it makes sense - people coming off a divorce for instance. For us, it’s always made it easy to just say “we make X amount per month, we spend X amount per month, we have X amount invested, we’ll be FI when we reach X amount on X date.” A caveat to this is that spending and expenses don’t have to be 50/50. I like to work out, be outdoors, drink scotch, smoke cigars, and read. All that costs us about $200 a month. My wife rides horses, which costs us about $1200 a month. So the way we see it, we spend $1400 a month on recreation. I knew she was in the horse community well before we got married so we discussed it and figured it out. If we had separate finances and she had to figure out how to come up with $1200 in addition to funding retirement accounts, index funds, paying half a mortgage, and paying off her car, where would we be? I know where we wouldn’t be - happy and FIRE like we are now. &nbsp; + +**Only buy a house if you’d live in it for a long time.** We’ve lived in a lot of places during my career and had the opportunity to buy a house at every location. However, we decided that we’d only buy a house if we could see ourselves living in it in the long run. This led us to the great situation we’re in - we already own our “endgame” retirement condo, and we’ve got our forever house in the meantime. We’ve never had to stress over the right time to sell an investment property, or debate on spending money on upgrades on a house we don’t plan to ever live in after we move away. We also lucked out with both of our properties, bought in low markets in favorable locations where prices have essentially doubled. &nbsp; + +**Moderation and minimalism help a lot.** We developed a habit of moderation and minimalism when we first moved in together in the condo we now own as a rental property. We had 1,000 square feet so we held off buying a bunch of stuff we didn’t need. It turns out we still don’t need a lot of that. We haven’t had a TV set up in our living room in more than a decade. Only in the last few years did we spend real money on nice furniture once we knew we’d stay here for a long while. &nbsp; + +**Prioritize your health.** This contributes to FIRE in so many ways - reduces health care costs, reduces food bills, helps get you through challenging times, doesn’t cost much money. Intermittent fasting saves time and money; daily exercise is a way of life. We’ve got a simple plan - most days, eat mostly vegetables and most days, do something physically challenging. It’s worked great for us. &nbsp; + +**Do you like the thing, or just the idea of the thing?** This helped us make a lot of good decisions or postpone decisions until we knew for sure. Yes, we’d love to be closer to our families who are near the west coast. It seems like it would be a great idea to move back there since we can. But we’d have to give up much of what I listed above about where we live now. So it seems like we love the idea of moving back but we don’t think we’d love the implementation, at least not right now. This can apply to much smaller decisions too. It would be awesome to get a new Bronco or Jeep and keep the doors off all summer. It would be great to take to the beach. But in reality, I only drive for about 10 minutes a day now and that’s to take the dog out to the woods. Is it worth $50K for 10 minutes of enjoyment? The idea is good but in reality it’s not practical. Should we buy two kayaks and two paddleboards at a cost of a few thousand dollars since we’re short drives to lakes and beaches? That sounds like a great idea, but after multiple days at the beach and the lake we found we probably just need the one paddleboard we already have. &nbsp; + +**Absolutely, positively, one hundred percent of the time, keep your children and spouse away from the horse community.** Do you want a Porsche payment that lasts for 20 years and at the end of it you’re left not with a vintage 911 Turbo, but with a corpse that could be recycled to make glue? Keep your kids and your wife as far away from horses as you can. &nbsp; + +**One Unexpected Challenge** +We have already encountered a completely unexpected challenge - my wife was initially in shock that I actually wanted to RE. Even though we’ve discussed this for years, known the exact date it would happen, and talked at length almost weekly about how nice it would be, she had a hard time with it for a few weeks. Essentially she was incredulous that after 20 years of being a high-performing, 24/7 on-call, passionate military leader who did nothing but get the hard jobs done, I’m now ready to just live out the boring daily schedule I listed above. She also struggled initially with what she calls a gender role reversal - I’m packing her lunch in the morning, cleaning the house, doing grocery shopping, and cooking dinner most nights. It took her a couple weeks to adjust and everything is fine now - she can see how happy I am and is totally supportive of whatever I want to do but the initial adjustment took some time. &nbsp; + +Finally I would like to emphasize that although we worked hard to get here we realize how fortunate we are. We wish nothing but the best for everyone on their own FIRE journey. &nbsp; + +If there’s any sort of interest in this post I’ll plan to make updates every six months or so, those seem to be well received on the sub. &nbsp; + +Thanks for reading. I’ll hang around for a few days to answer any questions in the comments. + +Edit: To answer questions I'm getting a lot - yes, we could do more with $600K if we sold the rental condo. But it's our dream retirement condo. We don't want to sell it now to make money we don't need to buy it again at a higher price when we're ready to move...which could be in just a few years. +**(Written last week, posted today)** +Well today is the day. As I write this it is noon on a Wednesday, I am sitting at the brewery next door to our townhouse with my laptop, an IPA, and our dog at my feet. &nbsp; + +**Quick summary:** +Me (42M) and my wife (37F) are FIRE as of today. I was Active Duty US military until last night at midnight, when I retired after 20 years of service. &nbsp; + +**Numbers summary** (rounded for ease of illustration, all income is take home/after taxes): &nbsp; + +Assets +$1M in index funds and IRAs (current market value, was higher a few months ago) +$600K rental property owned outright, generates $1K/mo after taxes, management fees, condo fees (bought in 2009) +$600K “forever” town house we live in, $300K owed (bought in 2016) +$50K cars owned outright (both bought in 2016) +$100K in cash/savings accounts (will probably invest a good portion sometime soon but for now it’s a nice cushion while we settle into FIRE) +No debt other than townhouse mortgage (2.25% interest rate) &nbsp; + +Predictable and guaranteed income: +$7K/month from military retirement and disability, adjusts automatically for inflation and cost of living +$1K/month from rental property +Edit: We get $2200/mo rent, property manager takes $300/mo, condo fees are $600/mo, we save $300/mo for property tax, so the useable income for us is $1000. Once we get a new tenant we'll raise the rent to $2800 but we're not going to raise it on the current one. &nbsp; + +Predictable but not long-term income: +$5K/month from wife’s continued employment (defense work/civilian) &nbsp; + +Somewhat predictable but not long-term income: +$40K surge from wife’s deployments (typically once per year for a few months) &nbsp; + +Health care: +Tricare for retired military - $300 annually for me and the wife, plus co-pays per visit of $20-$100 depending on severity; catastrophic cap of $3500 &nbsp; + +**FIRE Plan Summary:** +The $8K/month in predictable/guaranteed income covers all of our expenses to include day-to-day living, continued investment into IRAs and index funds, health care, and the remaining mortgage payments on the town house. Vacations, new cars, other larger expenses will come from wife’s continued income and income surges, at least for another ~5 years. We absolutely will not spend all of this excess and it’ll just be redirected into savings or investments at the end of each year. Once the wife decides to stop working, we’ll likely be able to just withdraw 2-4 years worth of vacation/car/large expenses from our index funds as needed and stay well within the safe withdrawal rate. Eventually we think we’ll sell the townhouse and move into the rental condo full-time - that could be in 5 years or 20 years. &nbsp; + +**Why did I RE?** +Twenty years of war and conflict was hard, and I’m tired. I am leaving substantial opportunities on the table - I was on track to continue getting promoted and reach higher levels of responsibility and income but I simply don’t want to do it anymore. In the last few years I talked to friends of mine who had retired from the military and the one common sentiment was “you’ll never regret retiring too early.” This made an impact on me as I saw several senior leaders and mentors of mine essentially trapped in their careers, unable to make a graceful exit for a variety of reasons. I’m only 42, in great health, and we’ve built a life we love so I want to be here to experience it all. &nbsp; + +**What am I going to do?** +I’m not sure yet. Recreational Employment may be something down the road but for now I’ve got plenty to do. I found that it was fun to think about my daily schedule over the last few years, and here’s what I’ve settled on for a basic Monday-Friday: + +5:00 - Wake up, clean up, let the dog out, make espresso for me and the wife +6:00 - Wife leaves for the gym, I take the dog out to run in the woods +7:00 - Both of us are back, wife soon leaves for work, I do a morning strength session in the garage gym (squat or deadlift) +7:30 - House cleaning chores, more espresso +8:00 - Productive time - I’ve been working on music production as I’m a classically trained pianist getting back into it; the content here may evolve but it will remain what I consider productive/learning/creating +11:00 - Run errands/groceries/mail/etc +11:30 - Mobility and conditioning workout in the garage/in the sun +12:30 - Lunch/clean up +1:30 - House projects or fuck off time (usually gaming online with my friends) +3:30 - Reading and music or more productive time if I feel like it +5:00 - Walk the dog downtown +5:30 - Start to prepare dinner or happy hour with the wife +7:00 - Reading and music inside or rooftop patio drinks with the wife, or we each do our own thing +9:00 - In bed for a solid 8 hours +*Wednesday is an off day for workouts so any additional chores or house projects are done during workout time that day &nbsp; + +One of the most formative books for me was Stephen King’s “On Writing.” In it he, the most prolific and successful writer in American history, said that he writes for at most three hours a day. I read it initially in 2002 and that thought has stayed with me; in fact that’s the reason I have always planned to allocate three hours a day for productive work once I retired. &nbsp; + +**Build the Life you Want, then Save for It** +Many of us have heard this and for a long time I didn’t understand it even though I was actively doing it. I think the easiest way to explain my take on it is to start at the end. Today I find myself stepping into a life that seems almost too good to be true. My work experiences in the military have been enough to fill a lifetime. We’ve already traveled the world. We have massive equity in our dream house. We live downtown in a city we love - lots of inexpensive ways to stay entertained. My wife loves her job and all the friends she’s made here. We have great neighbors. We’re both in great health. And of course, all this is now fully funded with passive income. This is the life we wanted, and we’ve now saved for it. However, it was really, really fucking hard getting here. Going back 72 months from June of 2021 my wife and I had spent 58 of those 72 months on separate continents. Only through a combination of good decisions, moderation, luck, heartbreak, sacrifice, and hard work is this possible. And to be clear, we are only just now fully living this dream - it’s been a challenging last two decades. None of this came together until the last 12-18 months when things started happening as we had planned. &nbsp; + +If you’re still reading and don’t think I’m a complete asshole for writing about how good life is, thanks, and I’ll explain what it took to get here. I’ll put these thoughts in no particular order. &nbsp; + +**Focus on monthly cash flow, not total numbers.** This may be more applicable for some than others. For us it’s the basis of our FIRE plan. The goal is to keep our expenses, including continued investments, below the $8K/month income we generate. Since we’re fortunate to have my military pension it wouldn’t matter if we had $2M net worth like we do, or less than $100K. If we can keep the monthly cash flow sustainable we’ll be FIRE forever. &nbsp; + +**Good enough decisions.** You can analyze the numbers forever to get a correct answer, but it doesn’t mean it’s right. Part of the reason we have our rental property completely paid off is that for several years we dumped all the extra income we had into the mortgage on it. Of course it would have made more sense to put all that money into the market and make 8% instead of paying down our 3% loan, but that decision was good enough for us and in fact worked out well - now we’re completely without a mortgage payment for that property the same year that I RE. Sure it would be nice to have more in the market, but with our passive income we won’t have to make any withdrawals for several years. In the end we lost money on that mortgage payoff but it was good enough to get us where we wanted. + +**Patience is the most likely way to reach FIRE.** A few years into my military career I decided I’d figure out how to FIRE at 42, before FIRE was even a term. Knowing that I (and later we) would reach that goal kept me out of panic or opportunistic decisions like selling a bunch of stock during the downturn in the late 2000’s or buying speculative investments in the last few years. We had a plan, we were patient, and here we are. I cringe when friends of ours ask us if we’re planning to sell off any investments since the market is down. Be patient and play the long game. &nbsp; + +**Who you marry matters.** I was on the path to FIRE before I met my wife - we met 5 years into my military career. She had just completed grad school and an internship and was interested in learning how to budget and invest. She was open to ideas like buying reasonable cars, not eating out every night, etc. We had open discussions about finances. She had and still has tremendous earning potential. She’s been willing to make sacrifices financially, professionally, and personally to keep the FIRE plan on track. For the last few years, she’s made more money that I have. Would this have been possible with someone else? Maybe. For those of you not yet married but planning to someday, keep in mind that if you want to FIRE, who you marry matters. Your partner will ultimately contribute to or sabotage your plans - make sure you understand which one it is. &nbsp; + +**Combine finances.** I don’t understand how married couples don’t combine finances. It seems to me that if you don’t you’re simply prolonging a serious financial blow-up that should have been discussed much earlier. In some cases I can see how it makes sense - people coming off a divorce for instance. For us, it’s always made it easy to just say “we make X amount per month, we spend X amount per month, we have X amount invested, we’ll be FI when we reach X amount on X date.” A caveat to this is that spending and expenses don’t have to be 50/50. I like to work out, be outdoors, drink scotch, smoke cigars, and read. All that costs us about $200 a month. My wife rides horses, which costs us about $1200 a month. So the way we see it, we spend $1400 a month on recreation. I knew she was in the horse community well before we got married so we discussed it and figured it out. If we had separate finances and she had to figure out how to come up with $1200 in addition to funding retirement accounts, index funds, paying half a mortgage, and paying off her car, where would we be? I know where we wouldn’t be - happy and FIRE like we are now. &nbsp; + +**Only buy a house if you’d live in it for a long time.** We’ve lived in a lot of places during my career and had the opportunity to buy a house at every location. However, we decided that we’d only buy a house if we could see ourselves living in it in the long run. This led us to the great situation we’re in - we already own our “endgame” retirement condo, and we’ve got our forever house in the meantime. We’ve never had to stress over the right time to sell an investment property, or debate on spending money on upgrades on a house we don’t plan to ever live in after we move away. We also lucked out with both of our properties, bought in low markets in favorable locations where prices have essentially doubled. &nbsp; + +**Moderation and minimalism help a lot.** We developed a habit of moderation and minimalism when we first moved in together in the condo we now own as a rental property. We had 1,000 square feet so we held off buying a bunch of stuff we didn’t need. It turns out we still don’t need a lot of that. We haven’t had a TV set up in our living room in more than a decade. Only in the last few years did we spend real money on nice furniture once we knew we’d stay here for a long while. &nbsp; + +**Prioritize your health.** This contributes to FIRE in so many ways - reduces health care costs, reduces food bills, helps get you through challenging times, doesn’t cost much money. Intermittent fasting saves time and money; daily exercise is a way of life. We’ve got a simple plan - most days, eat mostly vegetables and most days, do something physically challenging. It’s worked great for us. &nbsp; + +**Do you like the thing, or just the idea of the thing?** This helped us make a lot of good decisions or postpone decisions until we knew for sure. Yes, we’d love to be closer to our families who are near the west coast. It seems like it would be a great idea to move back there since we can. But we’d have to give up much of what I listed above about where we live now. So it seems like we love the idea of moving back but we don’t think we’d love the implementation, at least not right now. This can apply to much smaller decisions too. It would be awesome to get a new Bronco or Jeep and keep the doors off all summer. It would be great to take to the beach. But in reality, I only drive for about 10 minutes a day now and that’s to take the dog out to the woods. Is it worth $50K for 10 minutes of enjoyment? The idea is good but in reality it’s not practical. Should we buy two kayaks and two paddleboards at a cost of a few thousand dollars since we’re short drives to lakes and beaches? That sounds like a great idea, but after multiple days at the beach and the lake we found we probably just need the one paddleboard we already have. &nbsp; + +**Absolutely, positively, one hundred percent of the time, keep your children and spouse away from the horse community.** Do you want a Porsche payment that lasts for 20 years and at the end of it you’re left not with a vintage 911 Turbo, but with a corpse that could be recycled to make glue? Keep your kids and your wife as far away from horses as you can. &nbsp; + +**One Unexpected Challenge** +We have already encountered a completely unexpected challenge - my wife was initially in shock that I actually wanted to RE. Even though we’ve discussed this for years, known the exact date it would happen, and talked at length almost weekly about how nice it would be, she had a hard time with it for a few weeks. Essentially she was incredulous that after 20 years of being a high-performing, 24/7 on-call, passionate military leader who did nothing but get the hard jobs done, I’m now ready to just live out the boring daily schedule I listed above. She also struggled initially with what she calls a gender role reversal - I’m packing her lunch in the morning, cleaning the house, doing grocery shopping, and cooking dinner most nights. It took her a couple weeks to adjust and everything is fine now - she can see how happy I am and is totally supportive of whatever I want to do but the initial adjustment took some time. &nbsp; + +Finally I would like to emphasize that although we worked hard to get here we realize how fortunate we are. We wish nothing but the best for everyone on their own FIRE journey. &nbsp; + +If there’s any sort of interest in this post I’ll plan to make updates every six months or so, those seem to be well received on the sub. &nbsp; + +Thanks for reading. I’ll hang around for a few days to answer any questions in the comments. + +Edit: To answer questions I'm getting a lot - yes, we could do more with $600K if we sold the rental condo. But it's our dream retirement condo. We don't want to sell it now to make money we don't need to buy it again at a higher price when we're ready to move...which could be in just a few years. + Here's my current investment portfolio + +Investments: 50% VTI, 30% VXUS, and 20% VUG + +Full portfolio: 60% investments, 30% crypto, 10% cash + +Longterm investing for 20+ years. I'm not that risk-averse and want to maximize gains for the long term. + +I've also seen some portfolios where they only keep 5% cash, but not sure if that already includes their EF or maybe their accounts are already so big that just 5% is a huge amount. Any thoughts? +Few days ago I read the article on his proposal for rent price increase limitations. Now this... + +[Link](https://theweek.com/speedreads/865930/bernie-sanders-proposes-25-percent-house-flipping-tax-new-housing-plan) + +What do you think will happen if this would gets pushed through? +**Analyst Note** | by Abhinav Davuluri Updated Aug 23, 2022 + +On Aug. 23, Intel announced a new co-investment program with Brookfield Asset Management to help fund Intel’s manufacturing expansion in Arizona and thus accelerate the firm’s IDM 2.0 strategy. Specifically, Intel will fund 51% and Brookfield will fund 49% of the $30 billion investment. Management has been stressing it expects to offset part of the hefty capital expenditure outlays required for its internal and foundry manufacturing aspirations via smart capital offsets, or government subsidies, private investment programs, and foundry customer prepayments. + +We are maintaining our $50 fair value estimate for narrow-moat Intel. While we view shares as undervalued for long-term, patient investors, we acknowledge that the next several quarters will be tumultuous for the firm. We remain positive on Intel’s IDM 2.0 strategy and expect the recently passed Chips Act and the agreement with Brookfield to boost the firm’s returns on invested capital over time. + +Intel’s capital intensity has risen sharply this year, as we expect capital expenditures to be about $23 billion, or 35% of total revenue. Although we model capital intensity to be in the 30% range going forward as Intel embarks upon its investment phase, management targeted a long-term net capital intensity of 25% as smart capital offsets ease Intel’s financial burden. + +We appreciate that the return Intel will pay to Brookfield will be below Intel’s cost of equity (about 8.5%) but above its cost of debt (about 4.4%). In the coming years, the deal's structure will provide a $15 billion cumulative benefit to Intel’s adjusted free cash flow as the fabs are built and ramped, with cash inflows and outflows better aligned, which should in turn allow the firm to maintain its dividend. Once the fabs are built and generate cash flows, Intel will then offer a relatively stable return to Brookfield, which should enable Intel to capture more of any potential upside as well as break even earlier than if it funded the fab on its own. + +**Business Strategy and Outlook** | by Abhinav Davuluri Updated Jul 29, 2022 + +Intel is the leader in the integrated design and manufacturing of microprocessors found in PCs and servers. With the rise in interconnectivity of devices, Intel strives to provide the most powerful and energy-efficient silicon solution to any product "smart and connected." The data centers used to facilitate the information stored, analyzed, and accessed by various front-end devices are mostly run with Intel server chips. + +Intel historically differentiated itself first and foremost via the execution of Moore's law, which predicts transistor density on integrated circuits will double about every two years, meaning subsequent chips have substantial power, cost, and size improvements. This scaling advantage was perpetuated through higher-than-peer-average R&D and capital expenditure budget that allows it to control the entire design and manufacturing process in an industry where the majority of competition focuses on only one phase. However, the firm had issues with its 10-nanometer process in recent years, and subsequently announced its 7-nm (Intel 4) process will be delayed until 2023, thus opening the door for competitors such as AMD to gain share. + +As cloud computing continues to garner significant investment, Intel's data center group has been an indirect beneficiary. Mobile devices are the preferred device to perform computing tasks and access data via cloud infrastructures that require large-scale server build-outs. This development has provided strong tailwinds for Intel's lucrative server processor business. We believe Intel will experience continued growth in the data center, though we note competition from AMD and customers designing their own ARM-based silicon are potent risks. + +The proliferation of mobile devices has come at the expense of the mature PC market, Intel's historical stronghold, with ARM and its cohorts joining AMD as chief rivals. The rise of artificial intelligence has also unleashed a new competitor in Nvidia for specialized chips to accelerate AI-related workloads. Consequently, Intel is now pursuing an array of non-CPU endeavors, including a discrete GPU for AI and other data center workloads. Intel will also offer its own foundry services. + +**Economic Moat** | by Abhinav Davuluri Updated Jul 29, 2022 + +We are lowering our moat rating for Intel to narrow from wide, as we are no longer certain that the firm can generate excess returns on capital over the next few years. We still believe Intel possesses cost advantages realized in the design and manufacturing of its cutting-edge microprocessors and intangible assets related to its x86 instruction set architecture license and chip design expertise. However, we believe Intel's cost advantage has eroded, as it faced significant product delays associated with its various 10-nanometer process technologies. Intel's x86 rival, AMD, and its foundry partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, or TSMC, have combined to leapfrog Intel in cutting-edge processors. In turn, in recent years, Intel has lost market share, conceded on pricing, and faced a sharp decline in gross margins and returns on invested capital. We believe that it is more likely than not that Intel can close the gap with TSMC/AMD and generate excess returns on capital over the next decade, but this is no longer a certainty, and we concede that Intel's manufacturing inferiority to TSMC/AMD will persist for the next year or two and perhaps longer. + +Intel primarily designs and manufactures central processing units, or CPUs, for PC and data center end markets. We believe Intel’s narrow moat is predominant in these business lines. Intel’s cost advantage is manifested via large scale semiconductor fabrication facilities that cost $20 billion-plus and create significant barriers to entry. Intel’s only competition for leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing is TSMC and Samsung. Semiconductor manufacturing is inherently capital-intensive and thus requires methodical planning and execution to keep the cost per chip at a reasonable level. Intel accomplishes this through investments in the latest process technologies. + +Following along the pathway prescribed by Moore's law, coined by one of Intel's chief founders Gordon Moore, the number of transistors per unit area doubles approximately every two years. As process technologies develop, the cost per unit area increases while the unit area per transistor decreases. Thus, by netting these two trends, Intel is able to decrease the cost per transistor with each successive technology node. Intel has pioneered key innovations such as Fin field-effect, or FinFET, transistors (3D transistors) at its 22-nm process that allowed superior power, performance, and (smaller) area (whereas TSMC and Samsung didn’t implement FinFET until their 16- and 14-nm processes, respectively). + +However, for the economics of the business to be pragmatic, there needs to be strong demand via differentiated products that can be sold at high margins and sufficient volumes. Over the years, Intel has managed to maintain high prices for its leading-edge processors in the PC and data center markets. In turn, the company can reinvest in state-of-the-art fabs and a massive research and development (R&D) budget, in order to innovate on the next generation of best-in-breed processors. Intel remains the vast market leader in x86 PC and server CPUs (80%-plus market share in aggregate, per Mercury Research) and this virtuous cycle has served Intel well over the past few decades. + +In addition, Intel also boasts intangible assets related to its x86 license and chip design and process technology expertise. The x86 ecosystem (in which both Intel and AMD’s core products coexist), is representative in the vast majority of PC and server CPUs. Intel initially developed x86 in 1978 and licensed the architecture to AMD, in order to satisfy conditions from IBM that required a second source of chips. Intel and AMD are the primary licensees of x86 and owners of x86 intellectual property, as they have a cross-licensing agreement that covers the x86 patent portfolio and would be terminated if either firm was acquired or had a change of control. Effectively all computer software written to run on PCs and servers is written specifically for the x86 architecture, which makes it challenging for non-x86 chipmakers (such as those that license ARM architecture, such as Qualcomm, Broadcom, or others) to encroach upon Intel and AMD’s x86 CPU turf. In turn, both Intel and AMD have been able to maintain high pricing on its x86 processors and fend off any ARM-based upstarts. + +In CPUs, we believe that high customer switching costs are pervasive within the x86 ecosystem, as a wide variety of software is written to be optimized on x86 processors from Intel and AMD. These switching costs have likely kept ARM-based processor suppliers at bay over the years. However, we do not attribute switching costs as a moat source to Intel because its PC and server CPU customers can switch somewhat easily between Intel and AMD CPUs. In fact, Intel may benefit from some modest switching costs over AMD in the data center, most notably around the software and support provided to server customers. The life cycle of such devices is also rather short, meaning a design win into a given PC or server model does not guarantee decades of repeat business. + +We believe that Intel still benefits from both a cost advantage and intangible assets around x86, although we acknowledge that the business is under assault from a variety of angles, all of which have led us to reduce our moat rating for Intel to narrow from wide. The biggest concern of ours in recent years has been Intel's manufacturing delays with its 10-nanometer process. The company's ineffectiveness in delivering these processors to market has "broken" the firm's former virtuous cycle and its “tick-tock” strategy, in which the firm advanced it technology node every two years to reduce feature sizes (the tick), while it launched a new architecture for its microprocessors during the years in between (the tock). In turn, TSMC and AMD have taken the technological lead in x86 products. + +Intel has lost about 10 percentage points of PC CPU market share to AMD, from 90% share in 2018 to 80% share in the first half of 2022. In server CPUs, AMD’s share has gone from 2% in 2018 to about 15% in the first half of 2022. We also believe Intel has conceded on price, to prevent this share loss from becoming even worse. Similarly, Intel’s GAAP gross margins have deteriorated from 62% in 2018 to a low of 37% in the second quarter of 2022 (though we expect a rebound to around 50% in the coming quarters). + +We believe that 2022 will be a technological (and, likely, a financial) "bottom" for Intel, as we think TSMC and AMD will remain on the manufacturing forefront. We expect Intel to get back on track with its Intel 4 process node (ramping in 2023) thanks to the insertion of EUV lithography that will greatly simplify its manufacturing process. We also expect Intel to utilize TSMC for some "chiplets," or chip parts, to ensure Intel can meet its milestones for product releases. The next major transistor innovation expected to succeed FinFET is gate all-around, or GAA, that will allow chipmakers to continue traversing Moore’s Law. TSMC and Samsung are expected to deploy GAA in future processes (3-nm and below), and we believe Intel has an opportunity to be more competitive if it can better deploy GAA. + +We don't necessarily believe these moves will allow Intel to leapfrog TSMC/AMD, but they should bring Intel much closer to its rivals (especially when factoring in TSMC’s own delay of its 3-nm process from 2022 to 2023). Even if Intel has further delays and continues to lag TSMC for an even longer period of time than we anticipate, we still foresee Intel having a manufacturing advantage over nearly every other chipmaker. Additionally, we think customers will continue to source products from Intel (either directly or via its foundry efforts), primarily to avoid concentration risk with TSMC. + +Outside of x86 chip manufacturing, Intel and the x86 ecosystem faces the risk of displacement from ARM-based processors. + +ARM-based chips (the primary competition for x86-based chips) have proliferated mobile computing, including nearly every smartphone and tablet, but have had very little success in displacing x86 in PCs and server (until very recently) due to the costs of rewriting software and lack of sufficient performance. We expect ARM-based chips to generate some traction in the coming years. Apple's shift has been most notable, as it has deployed its own ARM-based CPUs, the M1 and M2, within its Mac computers. Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, AMD, and a host of others are focused on ARM-based processors, too. However, we think this transition will be slow. + +One critical area dominated by x86 is gaming, with both PC gaming and premium video game consoles heavily centered on x86-based processors. Usually, x86-based platforms have more powerful CPUs and GPUs with many compute cores and memory, which are important factors when trying to maximize performance (including framerate and graphical fidelity). While the broader PC market has plateaued over the past decade (before a COVID-19-related resurgence in 2020 and 2021), the PC gaming sub-segment remains a robust market that we expect will remain x86-centric as we’re skeptical the majority of high-end PC games will be rewritten for ARM-based computers any time soon. + +In servers, several leading hyperscale cloud customers have been interested in ARM-based CPUs for years, with Amazon notably designing its own ARM-based Graviton processors. However, we believe these ARM-based chips will remain limited to relatively less-intensive workloads, and we do not foresee Amazon or its peers such as Microsoft or Google converting 100% of its data center workloads to ARM-based processors. While switching from x86 to ARM is not impossible and does happen, we believe the bar that needs to be cleared is higher: the chip needs to be faster, more efficient, cheaper, and have the support to port over. Rewriting software to run on a different architecture is a considerable hurdle that we think will stifle ARM inertia in the coming years. + +Outside of x86 PC and server processors, we like Intel's efforts to diversify its business via organic and inorganic efforts, including the pursuit of burgeoning opportunities in the Internet of Things, AI, and automotive. Intel acquired two narrow-moat firms in recent years (Altera for FPGAs and Mobileye for automotive computer vision processors) and AI startups such as Habana Labs, Nervana, and Movidius. Given the relatively smaller contribution to total sales, we don’t view these adjacencies as material to Intel’s narrow moat rating at this juncture. That said, we anticipate Intel’s sales in AI accelerators, 5G basestation SoCs, networking, and other server chips will outpace the firm’s PC and server CPU businesses in the coming years. + +Additionally, Intel plans to offer foundry services to fabless chip designers. Amazon, Qualcomm, and MediaTek have already signed up as partners, and we suspect that Intel will strive to win future business from Apple, as well. We think Intel’s foundry business will require at least a few years to build the credibility required for high-volume orders, but we ultimately expect Intel to emerge as a decent rival to TSMC and Samsung in the foundry industry. + +Regarding the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (approved by the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in July 2022), we expect Intel to enjoy some subsidies (beginning in 2023), as part of the funds from the legislation (about $39 billion) will be available for the construction and expansion of chipmaking facilities. These funds should help Intel fund its increasing capital expenditure plans for its internal and foundry manufacturing efforts, in turn boosting ROICs. However, we do not consider government subsidies as part of our moat rating. + +**Fair Value and Profit Drivers** | by Abhinav Davuluri Updated Aug 11, 2022 + +Our fair value estimate is $50 per share. We expect revenue to be down 16.6% in 2022, primarily due to competitive pressures, a weaker macro environment, and the divestiture of Intel's NAND business to SK Hynix. When excluding NAND, we expect total 2022 sales to be down 11%. Over the next five years, we assume revenue to grow at a 2% CAGR. We see Intel’s PC-derived revenue declining in the mid-single digits on average over the next five years as Intel deals with a more competitive AMD and share loss at Apple. In the data center and AI segment, we think competition from AMD will be the fiercest, as it captures share at cloud customers with superior products over the next year or two. Over the next five years, we think DCAI sales will grow in the low single digits. + +The firm’s auxiliary segments (networking, graphics, foundry, and Mobileye) are key growth drivers, though they remain a relatively smaller portion of total sales. In the near term, we're most constructive on Intel's network and edge, or NEX, business, which includes networking chips sold into data centers, 5G networks, and the intelligent edge. We estimate midteens growth for NEX over the next five years. Intel's foundry and graphics segments are likely to approach $3 billion to $5 billion in annual sales by 2026, respectively, in our view. + +As AMD renewed its competitiveness, Intel's gross margins have declined from the low-60s to the mid-40s recently. We think the biggest headwind has been data center pricing. We expect 2022 to be a near-term trough of 45% and gross margins to remain in the low-50s for a few years. In 2025, management expects gross margins to return to the mid-50s due to improved process technologies (lower costs), better pricing for leading products (better performance), superior business mix and scale, and fiscal discipline. We expect some margin expansion in the coming years, though we expect long-term gross margins to remain around 54%. + +Intel’s historical market leadership benefits from sizable R&D expenses, which is critical to the firm’s ability to maintain its advantage, though the firm has faced manufacturing delays more recently. Going forward, we believe the firm's drive to ramp new process technologies at a faster pace will pressure margins by a few hundred basis points. We think the firm can drive operating leverage with more-focused research and development spending toward data center and AI end markets, leading to operating margins returning to the mid-20s over time. + +**Risk and Uncertainty** | by Abhinav Davuluri Updated Jul 29, 2022 + +Our uncertainty rating for Intel is high, as we incorporate the cyclicality of the chip space and increased competitive pressures and manufacturing challenges faced by the firm. The cyclical industry in which Intel operates could cause its profitability to fluctuate regardless of how successful it is in tailoring its chips to new markets. The threats posed by AMD in x86 CPUs, ARM-based CPUs developed by Intel’s customers, Nvidia’s first-mover advantage in AI, and Intel’s recent manufacturing struggles with its 10-nm process collectively underpin our uncertainty rating. + +Intel’s manufacturing issues delayed the launch of its 10-nm CPUs, while AMD’s partnership with TSMC at the 7-nm process led to AMD capturing market share in both PC and server CPUs. Both TSMC and Samsung reached the 7-nm node (in high volume capacity) in 2018, with TSMC ramping its 5-nm process in 2020. We note that TSMC’s 7-nm process is roughly comparable to Intel’s 10-nm. + +Intel’s 7-nm (Intel 4) process delay until 2023 means its chips on that process will be at least a year behind chips made on a comparable process at TSMC. Management expects Intel to outsource some portion of its chips to TSMC beginning in 2023 to retain product leadership, which we view as prudent course of action. + +Some of Intel’s major customers have begun to utilize more chips from AMD or develop their own ARM-based chips. Amazon has deployed ARM chips in its AWS cloud and Apple has designed its own ARM chips for its PCs. With Nvidia in the process of acquiring ARM, there is heightened risk that more ARM-based CPUs will threaten Intel’s x86 CPU hegemony. + +On the environmental, social, and governance front, we do not foresee any material issues on the horizon. Perhaps the greatest risk is the potential scarcity of experienced chip design talent within the industry. We appreciate the hiring of new CEO Pat Gelsinger in 2021, as he boasts a strong technical background that we think has spurred the return of former top chip designers. + +**Capital Allocation** | by Abhinav Davuluri Updated Mar 02, 2022 + +We assign Intel with Standard capital allocation rating. The rating reflects our assessments of a sound balance sheet, fair investments associated with the firm’s strategy and execution, and attractive and appropriate shareholder distribution policies. + +Intel has a sound balance sheet along with a conservative financing policy. At the end of 2021, the firm held about $38.1 billion in total debt and $28.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and trading assets. We think the firm generates sufficient cash flow and has ample resources to meet its debt obligations, capital expenditure requirements, potential acquisitions, and shareholder returns. + +The firm’s investments have ranged from commendable (Mobileye) to subpar (McAfee) and in between (Altera). We believe the firm must refocus its strategic investments toward its core competencies around design and manufacturing of high-value solutions such as data center CPUs and AI processors. + +Intel's IDM 2.0 strategy calls for the firm to get its manufacturing back on track while outsourcing some products to TSMC and also offering its own foundry services. Capital intensity will rise to about 35% in 2022, with capital expenditures being guided to $27 billion. We think Intel's process roadmap through 2025 looks compelling as it includes annual performance increases, EUV adoption, and a new transistor structure for 2024. That said, we think Intel faces considerable execution risk. + +In January 2021, Intel announced Pat Gelsinger will replace Bob Swan as CEO. Gelsinger has a rich technology background, having served as VMware CEO since 2012 and spending the first 30 years of his career at Intel. At Intel, Gelsinger was the firm’s first chief technology officer and also led 14 different microprocessor programs, including key roles in the Xeon (server) and Core (PC) product families. At VMware, Gelsinger was instrumental in transitioning the firm from a pioneer in data center virtualization into a critical component of cloud infrastructure. When Swan took over the CEO role in 2019, we were skeptical of Swan’s finance-oriented background as he appeared out of place relative to peers such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su, both engineers. As Intel confronts competitive pressures and manufacturing challenges, we think Gelsinger’s technical and engineering expertise will serve the firm well in navigating these uncertainties. + +In January 2022, Intel named David Zinsner its new CFO. Zinsner had been Micron's CFO since 2018 and helped the memory supplier greatly improve its balance sheet while maintaining adequate investments in new memory technologies and capacity. We like the move as both Intel and Micron boast capital intensive businesses that require prudent spending and capital allocation, for which we believe Zinsner has demonstrated a penchant. + +The success of the firm's recent forays into new markets is still up for debate. Intel failed to break into smartphones, which is the stronghold of ARM-based processors, and even paid $1.4 billion to acquire Infineon's wireless connectivity chip business in 2011 to support the endeavor. The firm garnered solid traction at Apple with modem design wins in the iPhone 11. In 2019, it sold its 5G modem business to Apple, which we view as a wise decision given the weaker economics of smartphone components relative to Intel's PC and server CPUs. + +In 2015, Intel acquired Altera for $16.7 billion, mainly to serve large data center customers looking to leverage FPGAs in applications such as AI. While we viewed the rationale for this deal positively, Intel hasn't derived meaningful revenue synergies from the acquisition. In 2017, Intel acquired Mobileye for $15.3 billion, in order to kick-start its prospects in autonomous driving. In December 2021, Intel announced it is looking to publicly list shares in its Mobileye self-driving automotive unit in mid-2022. The relisting could value Mobileye at north of $50 billion according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Intel will maintain majority ownership of Mobileye, which we think is prudent. Although we think Mobileye has rosy growth prospects, we think this capital allocation decision to unlock value via an IPO for the ADAS leader is a wise move for Intel as it will allow them to focus more on its core chip design and manufacturing business. + +In 2020, Intel announced it will sell its NAND business to SK Hynix for $9 billion. We like the deal as the company streamlined its focus on its core competency of CPU design and manufacturing. + +In 2022, Intel announced it will acquire Tower Semiconductor for $5.4 billion. We think acquiring Tower will kickstart Intel's foundry business, as Intel gains a fabless customer base, additional global fab capacity, and IP libraries and customer support capabilities. Tower's mature/specialty capacity also complements Intel's leading-edge logic offerings, while Intel offers Tower the scale to better compete with larger foundry peers. + +#### +The [post on the front page](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/nxu0y3/i_was_not_prepared_for_fox_news_to_drop_the_mic/) linking to a story at Fox Business that rails against big money is an interesting read, and on the very thin surface is getting apes to think "They're finally listening!". To an extent they are, but not in the way that you're hoping. And it's not a political hit piece this time. + +If you look toward the top of the piece and just to the left of the by-line you will see the first clue: "OPINION". It's how MSM more or less disowns the content. + +Why, then, would they allow content that is so incendiary about big money if they are also tightly tangled with it? More money, of course. As we are "the product" in the ubiquitous cliche, they are driving traffic to their site and it's well known that apes are ever hungry for confirmation bias. Clicks are valuable. Impressions are valuable. + +Also consider the end of the article where it discloses *why* she wrote the article: "Carol Roth is a former investment banker, entrepreneur, and author of the forthcoming book "The War on Small Business" (Broadside Books, June 29, 2021)". Ms. Roth appears to be on a promotional tour and a firecracker of an article like this that is released Friday night like how bad news or bad employees are released on a Friday. + +If anyone would like to go down the rabbit hole of why GameStop is in the headline but only AMC is mentioned in the article, be my guest. Outside of that, this is just another greed-driven article written about a greed-driven market. + +The article still raises some eyebrows otherwise, but just understand the motivations behind the why and when. +Just a quick little reminder we should all sear into our ape brains. **They wouldn't have wasted more than a day or two on "meme stocks" if apes being dumb with money didn't have some sort of serious implications.** Now, their narrative has changed from people just throwing money away to people who could break the system. + +They are pitching FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) in its purest form. When a cheater complains that they're still losing, you know you're doing something right. Remember that, especially during the dips. +Obligatory: This should not be confused with financial advise. I do not offer finanicial advice or services. I am simply pointing out connections I am making through data and deductive reasoning. + +**TL;dr** Prepare yourself for this next sentence, take a deep breath… How would you feel if I told you investment firms were given LARGE DOLLAR AMOUNTS in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) “forgivable” loans (the money designed to keep businesses afloat during the pandemic) and the data and timing is indicating they used those funds to try to bankrupt businesses, including GME? Errrrmm… Scoots chair around uncomfortably… Because that is what I am about to tell you through these many words (and some pictures). Roughly $1.5 Billion worth of PPP loans went out to the “Industry” of “Investment Advice” through 12/1/2020. + +["Investment Advice" Industry Loan Data](https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program/industries/investment-advice) + +[PPP Loan Forgiveness Requirements](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program/ppp-loan-forgiveness) + +# GME & MEME STOCKS HIT BOTTOM 4/2 & 4/3 of 2020 + +I originally began this journey into the great cesspool of our market system to compare GME monthly close prices to FINRA’s reported margin debt, and while I did find the information I was looking for to show the continued correlation between GME and the current margin debt I slowly began to realize that was no longer the information I was seeking (I will make a margin debt post later this week). Why? Because looking at this information caused me to see that GME hit its bottom, in regard to share price, on April 3rd, 2020 after a 6 day skid beginning on March 27th, 2020 (I’m about to be sinful, avert your eyes if necessary, the movie company hit its bottom on April 2nd, 2020 after a 5 day skid beginning on March 27th, 2020, and Black Berry hit it’s low on 4/3/2020 as well). In case this was a whole market slide I checked out some other tickers and found some other stock prices fell slightly, but most remained relatively flat compared to GME and the meme stocks. + +&#x200B; + +[www.investing.com](https://preview.redd.it/ykjoj85kxnb71.png?width=663&format=png&auto=webp&s=6deda55fbe71e1db20d6e92f4a3196b73222543a) + +[www.investing.com](https://preview.redd.it/1rq9fieoxnb71.png?width=332&format=png&auto=webp&s=8854f8c479ec52bc46f6fbd7bec27db0e9c8ab25) + +# CARES ACT + +So, why is March 27th, 2020, of any importance? Because on that day, “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (2020)… provided fast and direct economic assistance for American workers, families, small businesses, and industries” was signed into law. [CARES ACT](https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/about-the-cares-act) + +So now you are saying to yourself, yeah, but Hedge Funds were ineligible from receiving the funding even though they applied for it in mass amounts so why should I care? Because it appears that many firms investing in the market were QUITE ELIGIBLE as the below information is going to point out, and the data is indicating they used those funds or the anticipation of those funds to hammer GME and meme stocks with short selling from 3/27/20 – 4/3/20. + +Let us reiterate, the money designed to keep small businesses afloat during the COVID-19 Winter of Discontent was used by firms investing in the stock market. What is worse, the data is showing that some of these firms were using the funds to short GME & meme stocks. + +# FOX BUSINESS ARTICLE 4/18/2020 + +Now, we’ll take a look to a Fox Business article from 4/18/2020, written by: Charlie Gasparino (He is active on social media, but I’m not sure what he’s up to these days aside from hating retail investors): + +[Stimulus Intended to Help Coronavirus-Ravaged Small Businesses Instead Rewarding Hedge Funds, Brokerages](https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/stimulus-intended-to-help-coronavirus-ravaged-small-businesses-instead-rewarding-hedge-funds-brokerages) + +*“The bank was receiving applications (for PPP Loans) not just from those barely solvent mom-and-pop businesses like* [*restaurants*](https://www.foxbusiness.com/category/food-drinks)*, salons and family-run* [*factories*](https://www.foxbusiness.com/category/industries) *shuttered amid the nationwide pandemic shutdown that the legislation was supposed to help.* + +*Flowing into his system were applications from businesses no one would consider small, or even barely solvent:* ***Midsized hedge funds***\*,\* ***brokerage businesses,*** *small law firms, all outfits that are making money, much of it through fee income, and many operating remotely almost as if nothing had changed.* + +***How could this be? What the banker discovered was that with less than 500*** [***employees***](https://www.foxbusiness.com/category/jobs)***, financial firms and other high-end businesses are technically qualified for low-interest federally guaranteed loans under the broad parameters of the government's Payroll Protection Program (PPP).*** + +***And many were sending applications to his bank for the cash, as much as $10 million in the form of a forgivable loan, even if these weren't the types of small businesses Washington was looking to aid.*** + +***Even worse, the hedge funds and brokerage businesses were in effect taking money that should be earmarked for businesses that can barely survive in a time of social distancing and quarantines.*** + +***These companies have been forced to lay off workers just to make rent, while many banks were prioritizing loans on a first-come, first-served basis and giving priority to their best customers. That means*** [***hedge funds***](https://www.foxbusiness.com/category/hedge-funds) ***and financial firms with deep pockets and significant banking relationships could be getting the money ahead of the local coffee shop...*** + +***“What's going to happen is a class divide we haven't seen in years," the banker told FOX Business. "Remember Occupy Wall Street?" he asked, referring to the sometimes violent protest movement after the 2008 financial collapse and bank bailouts. "These protests will be bigger and more violent because the economic problems are worse and the disparity of the money is favoring Wall Street even more.””*** + +Fuck me… I do not think my words are needed in summarizing this article. In case the article is now mysteriously updated I have taken screenshots of the entire article and will post them if necessary. Check the article out for additional details. + +Here is a MarketWatch Article from 4/15/2020 reiterating some main points: ["It’s a complete abomination" says Wall Street money manager about hedge funds applying for bailouts from small-business recovery funds](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-a-complete-abomination-says-wall-street-money-manager-about-hedge-funds-applying-for-bailouts-from-small-business-recovery-funds-2020-04-14) + +# DD on 13F Filings + +Armed with this information I decided to dig into the latest 2021 13F filings through [www.whalewisdom.com](http://www.whalewisdom.com/) and PPP loan recipients from [http://ppprecipients.com/](http://ppprecipients.com/) and found some interesting information. I did not review every company with holdings in GME, this is just a sample of firms with GME positions and some of those that received funding through the CARES Act (PPP Funds): + +**2021-Q2 13F/13D/G Filings** + +**COMPANY 1** + +1. Company: Advisornet Financial +2. Shares: 10,000 (put) +3. Loan amount: $1 - $2 Million (approved on 4/4/2020) + +**COMPANY 2** + +1. Company: Creative Planning +2. Shares: 13,700 (put) +3. Loan Amount: $350k - $1 Million (approved on 4/13/2020) + +**Company 3** + +1. Company: Larson Financial Holdings +2. Shares: 100 (put) +3. Loan Amount: $2M - $5 Million (approved on 4/7/2020) + +All of these loans were approved in early April, 2020, meaning they were filed even earlier, before the PPP was signed into law on 4/24/2020, and look at how close those dates are to the implementation of the CARES Act and the GME tumble from 3/27/2020 – 4/3/2020. LOOK HOW CLOSE. AND all these companies have open PUT positions in GME as of the last filing. Betting GME share price will go down. How did they receive funding when other small businesses were exempt and ended up going bankrupt? They directly or indirectly used the money designed to keep the economy and struggling businesses afloat to open put positions in GME? WTF? + +Now, things feel interesting. So, I decided to go even further down this slime covered cavern and look at 13F filings from 2020-Q2 (when GME hit its lowest close price) to see if any funds with actual shares in GME had received any loans and was unsurprised, but genuinely angry. I went “A” - “B” alphabetically through the list and found 3 companies who had shares in GME in 2020-Q2 that still have positions today (I skimmed through and saw plenty more later in the alphabet, I just have a hard time counting letters that high due to my intellectual inconsistencies): + +**2020-Q2 13/F** + +**Company 1** + +Advisors Asset Management, Inc + +1. 2020 Q2 Shares: 134,632 +2. Loan Amount: $5M - $10 Million (approved on 4/5/2020) +3. Current Shares: 33,789 (latest 13/F filing) + +**Company 2** + +Arkadios Wealth Advisors (Arkadios Capital) + +1. 2020 Q2 Shares: (Sold all shares - 2) +2. Loan Amount: $150k - $350k (approved on 4/9/2020) +3. Current Shares: 2210 + +**Company 3:** + +Bridgeway Capital Management + +1. 2020 Q2 Shares: 76,900 +2. Loan Amount: $350k - $1 Million (approved on 4/11/2020) +3. Current Shares: 40,600 + +My speculation is that several firms applied for the PPP funds on or near 3/27/2020, knew the funds were coming, and used those anticipated funds to aggressively short GME and other meme stocks due to the absolute tumble that GME/Meme stocks took from 3/26/2020 – 4/3/2020 as stated above. + +I’m unsure how to conclude this post aside from: Buy/HODL. The day is coming. + +Tanks fo’ reedin’. + +Edit: Thanks to u/Evorus_Krayde for getting me to u/Doggoonewild post: [Citadel Alum Charged with $2.4M PPP Loan Scam](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/mw3jd3/citadel_alum_charged_with_24m_ppp_loan_scam/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) +Heads up to everyone that someone posted a fake Ledger Manager chrome plugin to the Chrome Web Store.... + +REAL ONE: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ledger-manager/beimhnaefocolcplfimocfiaiefpkgbf?hl=en + +FAKE ONE (Now Removed!) https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ledger-manager/fngpbmgggdeddanjnlclolbophdbkchp?hl=en + +Actually when I perform a search, it ONLY brings up this fake one instead of the real Ledger Manager app, which is perplexing and extremely dangerous. + +https://chrome.google.com/webstore/search/ledger%20 + +While helping a friend get their Ledger set up and adding additional currency capability (LTC) using Ledger Manager, I accidentally added this chrome plug-in instead which was added one week ago. From what I can tell, all it did was send the user to the Ledger Wallet Official website when you click on the plugin icon... But I'm afraid it somehow did some phishing trick. + +Just spreading knowledge about this problem. Best report the app and, if someone can do investigation into the situation, that would be appreciated. + +EDIT: The fake has been removed. Good work everyone! +Hey there, + +&#x200B; + +Sorry if this has been mentioned before, but I have a question about a financial planner group in my state. An old friend of mine got a job as a financial planner and she's been reaching out to old friends to get them on board. + +&#x200B; + +First, I had a call with her and her boss. He asked/talked to me basic financial status and goals. When I asked him about the service, he was very vague. Then they set up another call where they were a bunch of my info like salary, savings, 401k, etc. Nothing too personal. However what really irked me was when I asked over and over and over what they were offering or the service they were offering, I couldn't get a straight answer. The only thing I got was something along the lines of, "putting together something for me. It doesn't cost anything but they don't want me to take it to another firm." They also sell insurance. + +&#x200B; + +It all feels like a scam to me. I know its not because the employees have their licenses, but come on. She can't even explain to me in one or two sentences what she does or what they are going to do for me. + +&#x200B; + +Am I missing something? +https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/how-manage-money-single-parent-london-monthly-income-814060/amp + +No pay wall. + +Thought this might be interesting: the Take Home Salary is just over £25K with a 5% Workplace Pension Contribution: at the headline, I thought it might be finally time to see what a more realistic income/living costs article would be like. + +How wrong I was. + +>Mortgage: £270, Council tax: £69, Utilities: £89, Broadband/landline: £74, Mobile phone: £30, Contents / other insurance: £33, Water: £44, Groceries: £380, Car tax: £58, Petrol: £40, Gifts: £40, Streaming services: zero, Clothing: £60, Contribution to son’s university accommodation: £200 + +Thoughts? +In general, is she out of her tree? + +- slightly misleading article: yes, it does show living in London on 1400pcm: but in order to do that, you needed to be born 50 years ago, by a fixer-upper flat you could flip to then afford a (now) £900K 4bed Edwardian house while supported by a husband (who provided an unstated income) and benefitting from the easier lending of the time. You can then divorce said husband, and stay in same house with the majority paid off. +Simples. *meerkat noise* + +- It's oh so simple to live in London, you don't even need to pay for your transport. Just get a 4 bed house using the above process within walking distance of your workplace. + +- it is very hard for her to see people struggling due to a lack of social housings, says a lady who lives on her own in a 4 bed whole her son is at uni. + +- she has no idea how she will afford to live on her pension, even though £200 of costs will not be going to uni costs. I don't know why she doesn't get a lodger or 3 to pay off the mortgage while she is working, then she can either enjoy her retirement with the mortgage paid off from the £1000/PCM minus costs she'd be likely be to command from that. + +These articles are fucking shit. +I'm referring to investing mainly in ETFs, nothing too high risk. I'm under 30, I have no debt, and have no plans for any large expenses any time soon (like buying a house for example). I'm fortunate to be at a job that pays me well and I've been able to put a lot of money in the stock market, including shares I've received from the company I work for. Right now, about 80% of my net worth is in investments, be it personal investments, 401k, Roth IRA, etc. The rest is split between HYSA, CDs, and my checking account. My expenses are especially low right now due to covid so I've basically just been consistently putting money into stocks. Is there any reason not to do so? Seems crazy to have so much money tied up in stocks but at the same time, I have plenty of 'liquid' money that's just kind of sitting around anyway. +So a stock I invested in got delisted last year. They went private on purpose. It is an Irish based (but actually mostly US) company called Mainstay Medical. If all goes well they'll most likely go public again at some point in the future, most likely with a US listing. + +Now my EU based broker (DeGiro) kept the stock listed in my account for the shares I own (worth a couple of thousand euro's when i bought them), but the worth was set to zero and it was marked non-tradeable. I was told by customer service the line was still in my account because "our custodian still keeps the record of stockholders". + +Now fast forward 15 months and they removed the line from my account today. So basically I now feel pretty vulnerable and like I need to make sure my ownership of the shares can still be proven and remains intact. Of course I sent my broker an e-mail already and waiting for a response, but I would appreciate some more input. I'm pretty sure my broker can basically tell me to figure it out myself now, because they have nothing to do with this company anymore. + +So my question is, does anybody have experience in this field and know the proper course of action for me? There is lots of info on Google about stock delistings, but I find nothing about how to assert your rights when you're all of a sudden a private shareholder. Who even keeps the record or knows who owns which shares at this point? I guess I can simply contact the company myself, but I would like to know what I need from them and what to expect from them before I do that. + +EDIT: To be clear. This company delisted but left all the shareholders intact. The shares were not bought back to then go private and the company didn't go bust. + +**EDIT2: Here is the press release from when the delisting was finalized** + +*In accordance with the terms of the Scheme, ordinary shareholders of Mainstay Medical International plc ('Mainstay') at 6.00 p.m. on Thursday, 4 June 2020 will be issued with one Mainstay Holdings Share for every Mainstay plc Share held at such time. Shareholders who held their Mainstay plc Shares in uncertificated form will have their CREST accounts credited with their entitlement to Mainstay Holdings Shares on Monday, 8 June 2020.* + +*Shareholders who held their Mainstay plc Shares in certificated form will be issued with share +certificates in respect of their Mainstay Holdings Shares in June 2020.* + +*Shareholders are advised that all instructions, mandates, elections, communication preferences and group requirements relating to notices and other communications in respect of ordinary shares in effect on 5 June 2020 will, unless and until varied or revoked, be deemed to be valid and effective mandates or instructions to Mainstay Holdings in relation to the corresponding holding of Mainstay Holdings Shares.* + +*Cancellation of listing of Mainstay plc Shares* + +*The Mainstay plc Shares will be delisted from trading on Euronext Paris and the Euronext Growth market of Euronext Dublin with effect from 7.00 a.m. on 8 June 2020. Mainstay plc Shares in uncertificated form have been disabled in CREST.* + +**EDIT3:** I guess I'm getting some clues from the press release myself as I posted it. I just found that "CREST is the central securities depository and settlement system for the UK and Ireland." I'm assuming I had uncertified shares, held at CREST on behalf of me (in nominee) in the name of my broker DeGiro. So I guess I need to start there and ask for these shares to be put in my name somehow. + +**EDIT4:** My broker said they won't transfer the stock in my name but it's still registered at CREST on my behalf, using their custodian entity (separate entity that holds all customer assets). If the stock ever becomes publicly listed again they said I need to contact them and they'll transfer it back to my account so I can sell it myself if I want. I guess this is fine, but in the meanwhile it won't show up anywhere in my account. Guess I'm saving the e-mails discussing this with customer service for the long term... +I'm going on the 'official record' to explain my personal decision. I will be sacrificing my house, my car, and my coming kid's current college savings. I am doing this for my family's future. I am 100% confident that I will be upgrading my home to a mansion, and my family vehicle to an SUV: Lamborghini Urus. + +The real MOASS WILL occur: + +95% confidence interval: 31JAN2022-25FEB2022 + +99% confidence interval: 24JAN2022 - 04MAR2022 + + +Evidence supporting my MOASS Timeline: + +1. Obvious danger in the short term (GameStop continues to be shorted to death, as we are now at a 10-month low; there are no indicators to suggest hedge funds will let up until it's financially practical for them to do so. They clearly have created a model, and a plan, to soon 'undo' their net short position. Key word: 'net') + +2. Similar to the final dip prior to the Volkswagen rip - there was a similar, last-chance, egregious 'overborrow' period. This occurs when hedge funds realize that what is happening is inevitable: they then *overborrow* (which at a low rate and in a high inflationary environment, has worked wonders for them) and *overshort* (this not only improves their cost basis prior to the switch, but it allows them to have more control over the *timing* of the relatively instantaneous switch of their position from net short to net long) + +3. We are also close to the economic limit (perhaps $80-$100 range) where the new, natural demand would far exceed even any forged oversupply. This too is well-timed with a falling general stock market, increases of VIX and VVIX, market-wide increases in VaR (value-at-risk) and volatility coefficients in the NSCC risk management algorithm, which elevate collateral deposit requirements. This also plays into previous talks about the benefit of GME's negative beta during this coming scenario. + +4. 21JAN2021 (friday) long term put expiry (hundreds of thousands of puts no longer available to balance their books. They too are aware of this) + +5. Q1, 2022 Depository (SLD) Requirement + +6. Verification and validation of cyclical quarterly SLD impact to GME's price (and volume), implying similarly-outsized green candles to occur on or around 08FEB2022 and continuing thereafter + +7. Evidence that, since GameStop's IPO, we have now hit a record number of red weeks in a row, serving as a statistical outlier, and therefore into oversold territory + +8. The vast majority of technical indicators are beginning to indicate 'oversold'. Further, GameStop is now sufficiently cheaper than even 'official' analyst price targets. + +9. The 27-year old Truck Driver legal case (through FINRA), in which it was proven in federal court that the disabled-BUY-button by Robinhood (which, in collusion with Citadel, avoided Melvin's bankruptcy) on 28JAN2021 forced him into a $30,000 loss. Now he'll be paid back by Robinhood. This has already enabled a $3 Billion or so avalanche of federal litigation (class action) of retail against Robinhood and other brokerages via this avenue. This supports a new likelihood (higher likelihood than not) that BUY buttons will NOT be disabled going forward. This gives a full green light to allow the natural, and necessary, MOASS to occur. + +10. The preponderance of the evidence proves that hedge funds have not closed their short positions, and have in 2021 until now, relied on the creation of several retail/meme ETFs. They were designed quite literally to be overshorted an order of magnitude beyond the ETF shares outstanding. This too evidences that - when this sum of ETF shorts (and conservatively figuring for GME alone in those baskets) combined with the disclosed ORTEX short data, combined with Swaps / Brazil, combined with yet-to-be-discovered short interest, and considering our margin of error - GameStop is currently overshorted an order of magnitude above its outstanding shares. + +11. Whales (probably Melvin and co) have already begun to offset (hedge) their coming buy-ins (closing of the majority of their shorts) by buying OTM calls, as evidence from the options chain shows. They will continue to crash the price this week to mitigate risk, in accordance with their model, by shorting to psychologically target and 'kill' the JAN2021 anniversary, in order to 'dig in' by loading up on outsized, short-term, weekly OTM calls at the bottom (GME likely therefore will be held flat from Thursday 24-28JAN2022). Summarizing, they are getting 'revenge' from last year by making the anniversary a valley rather than a peak. Yet, by doing this, they are knowingly forcing themselves to start to buy-to-cover (and for their own survival) the following week. They, themselves, need those OTM calls at that point in order to survive their controlled-inversion from a net short to a net long position, which is what will henceforth be known as the historic MOASS. + +Now and forever, this is not finra-certified financial advice + +TLDR; The real MOASS WILL occur: 95% confidence interval: 31JAN2022-25FEB2022. 99% confidence interval: 24JAN2022 - 04MAR2022. Evidence supporting my MOASS timeline is provided in 11 lengthy reasons above. With a kid on the way, this is why I am mortgaging my house and selling my family vehicle, in order to secure my family's future. I will use this inevitable MOASS to upgrade the house into a mansion, and the family vehicle into an SUV: Lamborghini Urus. +TLDR: just some thoughts as I reflect on my 20s and 30s. Lessons learned and mistakes I made. Maybe it helps those younger than me. In the end I ask for advice from those older than me. + +&#x200B; + +**Lessons I've learned to help those in their 20s and 30s:** + +* Wish I had invested earlier. I invested in a big way starting in 2011+. Big mistake. Should have been investing every dollar that was just sitting in a savings account earning 0.05% (yep - did not have online savings accounts back then, and I didn't understand CDs etc.). +* Diet and Health. Incredibly important. NOTHING is worth a damn without health. Don't abuse sugars, carbs, meat - get a balanced thing that works for you. Get a "good" amount of sleep (I'm targeting 7 these days...usually average 5-6). Get an exercise routine that you can make a habit out of and that brings you some joy. +* Focus on skill maximization in 20s and 30s. I worked *very* hard. Obnoxious hours every day. Was working for "the man" the whole time, and I focused on making myself more valuable and the company more successful. Figured I'd get my fair share over the "long term". The trade off was little to no fun travel, almost no social life, family relationships withered. Yes - the trade-offs were real for me and I was making them consciously. The millennials that I see around my company are doing it SO MUCH BETTER. The younger crowd seems to be doing an awesome job of balancing travel, family, and fearlessly negotiating higher wages. So...I guess I don't have much advice here. If anything, I see the younger folks that are investing in their skills and *giving the impression* that they are focused on organizational success get better promotion odds and leverage in negotiating better pay, benefits, etc. I see those that are creating startups being successful too. Based on the cases I know of, the success-rate is better after a few solid years in a related career. +* Take your time and choose the right partner. Pretty self-explanatory. Don't get caught in the "I won't find anyone better" BS mindset and it shouldn't feel like settling. Looks are not that important - being on the same page with important things like finances, family, kindness, sexual chemistry (not same thing as looks) etc. - are far more important. +* Market timing and security selection...are impossible. If you think you know how to do it, take my money and escrow-guarantee me a return above market. If not, STFU. If I sound bitter, I am. Spent too much time chasing that rainbow. Now it's SCHB4Life (or similar). I still have a play-money account where I pick stocks that I am trying to get below 5% of my invested funds. I'm not perfect and like many others, will constantly have to work on fighting urges to "do something". +* Check your 401k fees. Do NOT PAY ANYTHING OVER **0.15%**. Move your funds to the lowest fee, broad-market index fund available with your 401k provider. You will save MILLIONS in compounded fees (remember, the loss isn't just the fees you pay today, it's the compounded returns you miss out on if you had saved on the fees and kept that money invested). +* Happiness/Purpose/Meaning. This is not a destination...no achievement unlocked is going to change your base-level of feeling good about yourself and your life. You have to work through your feelings of emptiness, lack of purpose, weariness with all the bad news you consume with your digital hoses - and *create* your own meaning and happiness. No, you are not alone in thinking that this world is shit and unfair. Tragic things happen everyday for no fucking reason. The universe doesn't give two leptons about your ambitions and dreams. Only you do - and while the universe is under no obligation to make sense to you, you can *create* your own meaning and purpose (good start is focusing on the things you love). +* Your only 'race' is with yourself. It matters not where you get, but how far you go with the resources & opportunities available to you. I've struggled with feelings of failure when those around me think I am "successful". It's because I know I can contribute more to the world with my skills, intelligence, and ambition. Contrary to popular opinion, I think people have *different* potentials - and you are in the best position of knowing what yours is at different points in your life. Take steps to realize your potential and you will feel great, and forget about anyone else's journey (whether they are ahead of you or behind you). The worst thing you can do is try and live somebody else's life (it won't bring you joy, and you won't discover the life that would have). +* I have chased financial security ever since I was 14. I was surprised by my feelings after I GOT EVERYTHING. There was an initial euphoria and release of stress, but then this sort of temporary malaise became a visitor. I have my dream car, wonderful wife, beautiful paid-off house, financial independence, at the top of my profession. Almost like a "survivor's guilt", I feel bad for family members and others stuck in bad situations...and sometimes feel like I don't deserve the good fortune I enjoy. The feelings are temporary, I quickly move on to something I do enjoy - but I recognize that they are there. This is just a continuation of the earlier point that "getting everything" is not the same thing as being happy. Happiness comes from progress. You always need to be making progress *towards* something, improving yourself in some way that holds meaning for you. Whether it be financially, relationships, intellectually, physically, etc. Progress is the only pill that helps. I think I learned this trick wayyy too late. + +&#x200B; + +Sorry for the wall of text. Was interesting for me to write on a weekend morning, maybe helps someone out there. Happy to answer any questions. My situation: single income, married, no kids yet but planning on one within a year. + +&#x200B; + +Am all ears for advice from those in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. Any words of wisdom? I think the older I get, the more I regard advice from those older than me. In my teens and 20s - I thought people in their 50s knew jackshit against the backdrop of a fast-changing world. Yeah...I was wrong. + +&#x200B; + +**Edit:** Wow, thank you so much for the comments!!! I would've been happy if one person liked reading it, my track record with posts is spotty to say the least. Thank you for my very first gold and silver!!! Progress indeed! I'm reading every comment and will respond to all questions. +Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank merged with Punjab National Bank + +Canara Banka and Syndicate Bank merged + +Union Bank of India, Andhra Bank, Corporation Bank will be merged + +Indian Bank is being merged with Allahabad Bank + +Bank of India and Central Bank of India will continue to function as is. + +https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/nirmala-sitharaman-press-meet-live-updates/article29299217.ece +I started my journey about 6 months ago with an account of about $120,000. I quickly realized I didn't know what I was doing and lost almost 30% of it down to about 85k since then I changed my strategy and started getting in and out of trades with no TA and have consistently made 30-45k per month making 2-5k per day bringing my account back up to around 190k. I have only had 7 days of minor losses in the past 3 monthsI have been doing this by buying and shorting very active stocks many times in one day. + +Most of the time I don't even know whats moving them or what they do.. ( I literally go to yahoo finance and go to top gains of the day and short it on dips and buy it back on the way back up) I read a-lot about these 1:1 ratio's etc.. I don't know what it all means but thinking that if I am becoming consistent I may be able to do this full time! + +Thoughts on my process or lack of process would be appreciated +Hey just getting some thoughts on what to do about this situation I am in. within the last two years I was in a low mental state and stopped caring.. one thing lead to another and now I am in extreme debt. I have learned and am ready to get back on financial track but need some advice on how to start hacking away at the amount… any help would be greatly appreciated. In the process of selling my car hopefully enough to just have it payed and not deal with the payment also trying to down grade our housing situation…. I live with my gf… she has no idea. Thanks in advance for the help +My wife and I need Reddit's sage advice on how best to maximize funds and make them work for us. + +**We are:** mid-30s, no debt, no kids (and not planning on having them), gross 200K/year, and live in a HCOL area. + +**We have:** 100K in a home savings account yielding 1.25%, 36K in an emergency fund account yielding .5%, 11K in a TDAmeritrade account split between various stocks, about 3-4K/month in cash after bills to utilize. + +**We are already**: Maximizing our retirements through employer-matched fund and traditional IRA. + +**We need:** Help. We're not buying a house. It's just not happening considering the area we live in. So we want to start allocating the above funds into whatever accounts, growth stocks, secure stocks, dividend stocks, bonds, etc. that will yield us the maximum potential for increasing our funds and making our money work for us. We're open to doing it slowly over time or dumping large chunks/all of it. + +Should we insert a bunch of it into a Vanguard? Dump it into VTI on TDAmeritrade? Buy 900 Disney shares and hope the Mouse takes over the world? Buy a plot of land and a van and live out our days hunting our dinner? Again, any and all advice or direction would be very helpful and appreciated. We're going to talk to a financial advisor but Reddit has a certain perspective that we also want to take into account. Thank you so much! +**The 10% drop in the US Stock Market this month is very unusual.** + +I went to Portfolio Visualizer and they have had monthly results for VTI (Total US Stock Market) since January 2001. In the 252 months, the S&P 500 has only dropped more than 10% in a month 4 times. + +SPY (S&P500) has records from 1993 and there have only been 5 months out of 336 that it dropped more than 10% in a month. + +There have only been six months where the stock market dropped more than 10% since 1985. 6 months out of 432 months + +This shows how severe the current stock market crash is! + +Does anyone have access to information from before 1985? + +(The largest 1-month drops were in October 2008 when it dropped 17.48% and in March 2020 when it dropped 13.91%) +I keep coming across this “fact”. There are factors at play besides cheap borrowing affecting inflation. Supply chain, employment shortages, etc. If these abate, won’t that lower inflation independent of central bank rates? +Hey all I'm just starting out in my education of economics and I'm interested in helping those near the bottom. So I started looking into poverty and a lot of what I found was people just considering income and not cost of living. Wouldn't it make more sense to consider the ratio, income / cost-of-living ?? Is there a name for that ratio? Is there some other concept I should also look into? Thank you! +China has been shut down for most of Q1. + +Given the overall consensus that it will be months before they find a cure for Coronavirus, it's like that Q2 will also be massively affected. + +The world's 2 largest economy shutting down will largely disrupt Supply Chain and global exports. + +What will happen to Indian economy if China goes under? +So I lost about 10k+ this week. 3k on a tsla put debit spread, a couple hundred on a tesla call credit spread, and 7k (likely more on market open) on a mrna csp. + +why did i make these plays? well i was doing just fine selling weekly csp’s on tsla until the stock decided to explode and i didn’t have enough capital to run that play anymore and needed a new strategy. + +i would read on here about 45dte but it didn’t make sense to me. when i was losing money buying weekly calls and puts, it was theta that was fucking me. so if i’m in the opposite side of the transaction, logically, why wouldn’t i only sell weeklies? throughout the period of me selling tsla csps i had a 80%+ success rate and made around 25k. clearly i have more understanding of theta than the half-wits @ r/thetagang + +new play #1: try playing option spreads + +couple weeks ago i opened a 4dte 1050/1000p debit spread on tsla when it hit around $1025. it’s rsi was in the high 80’s. i thought there was no way it could sustain that momentum. yet the green dildos just kept coming and coming. unbelievable. i ended up taking the maximum loss on that spread. then last week i opened a 5dte 1130/1125c credit spread. what was i thinking with a put debit? call credit is the real r/thetagang play. again, even more ridiculous green dildos even at 90+ rsi. + +now over the weekend elon musk decides to create the poll about whether he should sell 10% of his shares in tsla, to which he lost. and then on top of that news came out that his brother recently sold over $100m worth of tsla shares this week. this news being a major catalyst for a correction in tsla this week. if i had not been opening weekly bearish positions and had done a single 45dte position, not only would i not of lost money, but if tsla drops this week which it probably will, i would of made money. opening my eyes to the margin of safety 45dte gives you. + +new play #2: sell weekly csp on another high IV stock + +idk if 45dte would have saved me much here but i sold a 5dte 300p on mrna. i didn’t do much research here honestly. i didn’t even know it was earnings week. i just saw a high iv & having been so spoiled by winning tsla weekly puts non-stop i figured it couldn’t go tits up. lost $7k+ trying to make a measly $300. + +now i have no idea what i’m gonna do for plays because spreads have left a bad taste in my mouth and so have selling csps on random high iv stocks. but anyways thanks for this board i’ve learned a lot being here. + +inb4 “it works until it doesn’t” + +inb4 something something pennies/steam roller +Been searching for months. The pay is $10.50/hr, full-time. Not great. My previous job was twice that. But I get insurance and benefits after 3 months. I haven’t had insurance in so long. I have been without medication for my chronic pain and I haven’t seen a dentist in 10 years. The job is 5 minutes drive from my place, but I want to cut my gasoline usage. I’m looking into getting a bike and it’ll only be 12 minutes away. It’s a job that I won’t hate. I won’t have to talk to many people, it’s warehouse type work, which is ideal for me. + +I’m definitely not where I want to be in life yet, but I am better off than I was yesterday. +I'm being offered a job for $90k. The job post had a budget of $80k–$100k based on "location, skills, knowledge and experience." I'm a Midwesterner in a mid-size city getting an offer from a firm in Denver. As for qualifications, no candidate is perfect, but I check nearly all the boxes and the few I don't hit didn't seem like a concern for the employer. I even hit all of their "bonus" qualifications. + +I breezed through the interview process, didn't sweat it at all. + +I currently make $54k. So the $90k is fine, but I feel like there's $10k I'd be leaving on the table that the firm has budgeted for the role. What's the right way to get to as close to $100k as possible? + +Thanks,122anon + +Edit #1: People are already mentioning increased vacation and benefits, whatnot. The benefits are great, including unlimited PTO, which I have every intention of taking full advantage of. I don't know if they hand out bonuses. Something I'll ask. + +Edit #2: The $90k was the first offer from the employer. The only part I played in that was telling them that their budget was "within my expectations" during the screening interview. + +Edit #3: I've noticed some comments saying I'm "greedy" for asking for more, or I should be content with the original offer because of my current pay. My response to this is the $54K is how much my current employer values me; an employer I'm trying to leave in pursuit of personal and career growth. I want to know how much my next employer values me and how that aligns with my goals. So it doesn't matter to me whether I'm currently making $25k, $50k $89k or $150k today. What matters is my worth to who's paying for me and what I want for my career. + +Thanks! +This is the official $GME Megathread for r/Superstonk. Please keep ALL conversations contained to Gamestop and related topics. + +**Not enough karma?** Here's a [**quick guide**](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-get-karma-on-reddit/) on how to get it. + +# [announcements](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/wiki/index/announcements) + +* Make sure to check the Announcements regularly. 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I would love for house prices to be 10-20% lower. As I'm trying to up size that would benefit me. Every house in the area is just as "overpriced" as mine. + + +Hi UKPF. + +So I'm currently selling my house. At the start of the process, I had 7 agents come out to value it. 3 valued it at offers over 220, 3 at over 210, and 1 at 200. All expected it to go 5-10K over asking. + +As I was in no rush I decided to list it for 220 and it took less than a week for an offer to be accepted for 230. Seemed like great news. + +The mortgage company of the buyers sent out a surveyor, and they've valued at 205. The buyers don't have a big enough deposit to cover the difference. This is a down valuation of more than 10%, but even worse reduces my equity (and deposit for the next house) by 25%! + +I'm really struggling how they got this valuation, the property is in excellent condition with it all being renovated, new windows etc. There's nothing like it on the market in the area for less than 210 with most similar properties being on at 220. + +For reference, based on the price I bought it and the rate of house price change in my area it should be worth about 195 but that doesn't consider the substantial change in the condition of the property. + +The estate agent now says this valuation will be on record and so will happen with any buyer. Is there anything that can be done about this? + +TLDR: very quickly sold property for £230. Mortgage surveyor thinks it's worth £205. While £230 is a generous offer, I think £205 is quite a low valuation. Is there anything that can be done? +The amount of support and feedback I received on my previous post was insane! I want to thank all of you for that, and since there was so much interest in these portfolio updates, I'll definitely be posting here every week. + +Previous post: +https://www.reddit.com/r/thetagang/comments/j1m4vc/my_100000_portfolio_revealed_wheel_options/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share + + +Since so many people in that post typed "!remindme every Monday" I thought I'd post this 2nd update on Monday, but I'm actually posting my Portfolio Update videos on YouTube every Friday. Depending on your feedback I can also post here every Friday after my video comes out, or just stick with Mondays for Reddit. + + + +9/25/20 Ep.1 (Trades #1-10) +http://imgur.com/gallery/PP9lNH2 + +10/2/20 Ep.2 (Trades #11-19) +(http://imgur.com/gallery/liQPVZ9) + +*For some reason, after trying to rearrange the image order multiple times, and even re-uploading, Imgur keeps putting Update 19 as the first picture in the gallery. Update 19 should be the final picture. + + +I had a few comments last time say they preferred a more coalesced, easy-to-digest version of the data. My friend was kind enough to make me a spreadsheet which I've attached a screenshot of in this week's gallery. I hope it makes it easier to visualize the information. + +As always, I appreciate any comments, questions, and suggestions. Thanks! + +*EDIT* Here is the spreadsheet template that I use, in case any of you would like to make a copy of it and use it for yourselves. On the 2nd sheet, it also includes a calculator to help you reach annualized target rates. If you encounter any problems, please comment and I will try my best to assist. Also open to suggestions. +https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ynGzkCEKH_YXemoHDkaqeBrWUIDHz8reN6O4mt5JMgc/edit?ts=5f7b9661#gid=0 + +*EDIT* Ep.3 is up! https://www.reddit.com/r/thetagang/comments/ja1feg/my_102627_portfolio_revealed_wheel_options/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share + +*EDIT* EP.4 is up! +https://www.reddit.com/r/thetagang/comments/jecdew/my_102729_portfolio_revealed_wheel_options/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share + +*EDIT* EP.5 is up! +https://www.reddit.com/r/thetagang/comments/jip1rg/my_103696_portfolio_revealed_wheel_options/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share + +*EDIT* EP.6 is up! +https://www.reddit.com/r/thetagang/comments/jmxnqq/my_103948_portfolio_revealed_wheel_options/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 + +*EDIT* Ep.7 is up! +https://www.reddit.com/r/thetagang/comments/jr7sbw/my_103372_portfolio_revealed_wheel_options/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share + +*EDIT* EP.8 is up! +https://www.reddit.com/r/thetagang/comments/jvh5n8/my_103692_portfolio_revealed_wheel_options/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share + +*EDIT* EP.11 is up! +https://www.reddit.com/r/thetagang/comments/k8z1uh/my_107170_portfolio_revealed_wheel_options/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share +[Search My Fund](https://searchmyfund.com/) is a new tool developed by myself and my brother, with the aim to give greater transparency into what you are investing in. Funds usually say what their top 5 or 10 holdings are on their websites but not everything single holding. + +[Search My Fund](https://searchmyfund.com/) allows you to see all the holdings that a fund has and therefore gives you a better picture of where your money is going. This is with the aim of giving more data about their investments and then can make more informed choices. + +Through using machine learning we have developed a method of collating funds and holdings. The site is currently in beta, so any comments or feedback would be really appreciated. If the fund you are looking for isn't on the site please contact us or give us a DM. + +We also have a site [Green Finance Guide](https://www.greenfinanceguide.com/), around green and sustianable finance. +I am addressing this question specifically to those who have been investing for at least 5 years which IMHO is a long enough period to gain good insights into pros and cons of growth and dividend invest sting. Growth investing is stocks like TXN, SPY, DIA, ADBE etc. which may not pay any dividend or a miniscule amount of dividend. Dividend stocks on the other hand are mainly about dividends and very little growth. + +So what percentage of growth vs dividend stocks vs cash do you have? +Michael Burry, the star of the Big Short, bought first CDC options on May 02. 2005. He foresaw the housing crises and took the chance. +You know when he started selling? +2 years, 3months and 29 days later. That's 850 days of waiting, pressure, knowing he was right but being called a madman etc.. + +If you bought Jan 28. 2021, you are almost 70% of that way. About 590 days have passed. +You can do this + +This is my reminder + +Be patient + +Be kind + +Be like water + +D*cks out for Harambe! 🐒 + +Buy, hold, DRS 💎 ✋️ 🚀 +[https://www.investing.com/economic-calendar/initial-jobless-claims-294](https://www.investing.com/economic-calendar/initial-jobless-claims-294) + +Forecast initially started around 500K, was adjusted to 750K, then 1M, and finally 1.6M late yesterday. Even with all those adjustments the estimates were doubled. Yikes. + +**Edit:** [Official Release Doc](https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf) +https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/02/elon-musk-on-investor-call-autonomy-will-make-tesla-a-500b-company.html + +Citibank and Goldman Sachs hosted a "broad investor call" with Tesla executives on Thursday, as the company announced plans to raise around $2 billion. + +Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Tesla's vehicle, solar and energy businesses were just a backstop of value, but self-driving systems in development now will turn Tesla into a business with a half-a-trillion dollar market cap. + +On the call, CFO Zach Kirkhorn reiterated that Tesla aims to deliver 90,000 to 100,000 vehicles in the second quarter, and between 360,000 and 400,000 vehicles in 2019. +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +*** + +Thread guidelines: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/) apply here so please be familiar with them. + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +I was browsing through the sold houses on my REdotcom list and noticed a house we offered on sold for $5000 LESS than our offer. WTF. How would this have happened I feel kinda gutted. +Browsing stonkies looking and pricies, I see Facebook has taken a little dump: + +https://preview.redd.it/ef5z4th9whf81.png?width=1222&format=png&auto=webp&s=658981ce8150cb61b63cc39e858b6c1d52b6d7a5 + +Well, serves them right, those bastards. + +What else have we got? + +Apparently no one likes listening to music anymore, cause Spotify is tanking, too. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/vp6zqopewhf81.png?width=1204&format=png&auto=webp&s=26c8d7e665ed6040cc1f1f40ad0c6c79296e2f1b + +What about one of the retail giants, Shopify? Tanking? Sure, why not! + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/5mfnz47jwhf81.png?width=1194&format=png&auto=webp&s=98038cc2e95894442756e296a5659549716cf61d + +&#x200B; + +Let's find another random company in tech, Roku. What do you know... down 10%. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/n2g783ylwhf81.png?width=1158&format=png&auto=webp&s=5f9cec0ecc489e8d995a7265c0091277ebf1eead + +How about those dirty Snapchat kids? Down 17%! + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/6jw93bdmxhf81.png?width=1114&format=png&auto=webp&s=99690db31ec327d3067100bb7a9c494e7afa634c + +&#x200B; + +Now how about Pinterest? First it was down 10% in aftermarket, then suddenly, BAAAAM, UP 103%!!! + +https://preview.redd.it/pm5q9veswhf81.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=157e7f2ec987f47b7e25cc9ecd9bb31cd3155cdf + +A second later, back to being down 10%: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/n4wez6mywhf81.png?width=1096&format=png&auto=webp&s=648ba79ffb37fb900359ca9a16b239677b2b2eff + +But I caught the action on the chart, too: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/kyxunam0xhf81.png?width=2500&format=png&auto=webp&s=e07392d5bbee8e98d2ad3828df6e5340dfd23875 + +Business as usual, folks. Just another day in paradise! +Yeahhhhh the closer we get to this thing the more concerned I get…. + +Without a doubt, I’m confident when I say that the GME Saga has been a wild ride and a SIGNIFICANT part of almost all of our lives for the last 6 months; +maybe more, maybe less. From start to its eventual finish, this is single-handedly the most monetarily impactful, super villain levels of corruption, world awakening event in the history of finance. It’s fucking EXHILARATING and the chance that a lot of us will become multi-millionaires is so strong we can TASTE it. I’m talking A5 Wagyu levels of rich. + +That being said, and at the risk of getting a decent amount of hate for saying this; I don’t think some of you understand the idea that if you go, you’re not just representing yourself but ALL of us here at Super Stonk. Presumably, this will be your first legitimate meeting and, honestly I mean no offense, not only are you not going to look as good as you think you do but if they even DO let any of you in…you’re going to really see how smooth your fuckin’ brain is being in a room with people who all know what they’re talking about. Not only that, what are you really going to add to the meeting? I get it, you want to be a part of history and have a story that your family will tell for GENERATIONS. Here’s the thing, you’re already a part of history, right now! + + +You read the DDs, you bought, held ,and voted, you are about to see more zeros in one place than a Waifu pillow convention. Why go when, not only do we all know shit is absolutely FUCKED with the share count, but, they’ve sent a release stating the duration of the meeting will be 15 minutes. + +#15 MINUTES + +Fifteen whole minutes. + +You’ll do nothing but waste GameStops time doing whatever it is you’re going to do when you eventually get in, because there’s 100s of us retards crowding in a fucking conference room. Honestly, unless you’re someone like DFV, or are holding 10,000+ shares (just so you don’t think I’m gatekeeping, I can’t even count that high, let alone do I own anywhere near that amount of shares), I don’t think we should go. + +And to wrap this up, Seriously, you goons look great in your one-size-too-big business suits and your banana ties…. but just think for a second, not About yourself or the “experience” you could have (I saw one guy on here talking about bringing his 4 kids…come on guys, you’re kidding me right?), consider that they have a solid course of action. That’s why their meeting is 15 minutes; they want to get in, get out and get back to work. Don’t make this harder for them than it has to be. +3 minutes before premarket open all major indices in Europe just took a massive dump as much as 7-8% did a margin call in Europe take place? + +Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill Fill fill +I started mining Ethereum in July 2017, with 400 GPUs. We did well, $100k USD revenue after 4 months, well on our way to returning our investment and making some good money. I also believed in ETH as the future world computer, and the proposals for scaling would happen. + +That said, by October of that year, after reinvesting and expanding the mining farm even more, the value of ETH (and the larger market), started a slow decline. + +Two months ago we stopped mining. After today, we have no plans to start mining again, it simply isn't profitable. + +I spent a lot of time trying to understand what happened and why. My feeling is that the market makers, meaning the banks who want to use technologies like Ripple, ETH etc... Won't do it until the miners can't control it. As a result they've forced the market down all year, getting all but the bigger miners out of the game, then they can own it. + +Sad. At least I'm still holding coin... But mining was dead a long time ago, nobody knew. +What do you value most? + +Guiding them to grow up where they will be independent and self-sufficient? + +Helping them develop critical thinking and valuable skills where they can add value to companies? + +Enrolling them in extracurricular to make them well-rounded? + +Getting them into private schools to secure their chances at top colleges? + +Even if it's all of the above, list the one that resonates most with you. Since kids seems to be a huge expense according to Fatfire families here. +**2014 - April** + +Facebook market cap: $155 billion + +Bitcoin market cap: $5.69 billion + +**2021 - April** + +Facebook market cap: $851.857 billion + +Bitcoin market cap: $1.107 trillion + +Hey hey heeeeeeeey Zucky, how are you? People always said that you should never trust the guy who is going outside only with his identical twin. Seems like Winkles got it right. + +Sauce: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/may/19/winklevoss-twins-bitcoin-bigger-than-facebook-investors + +This is not April joke. +**Intro** + +I've been trying my hand in Day Trading since around September; its been a fun, knowledgeable, exciting experience and incredibly enjoyable. By now I fully believe that my "Market Tuition" has been paid in full and its time to rake in consistent profit. I have made a fair amount of money on the side recently but mainly from meme stocks and I happened to get into Dog Coin early, but I'm done with that because I want a little more constancy and less risk in my bets. I only used them to cover the past losses I had from day trading, but the losses are now getting less frequent and my day trading portfolio is starting to turn green. I'm making this post for two reasons. First for support, Second for critiques on my strategy and execution of trades. Hopefully this might be easier with a little wind at my back, and if a make a bad decision someone can tell me. + +**Strategy** + +I will be trading mainly in Put Options. My plan is to buy put options on Pre-Market Top Gainers with a 2 day expiry (I made sure to check that my brokerage offers this). I won't go at random, I'l only bet against ones that have been historically going down, and with a weak catalyst. The strike will be set to 10% below whatever it opens at the day of the gap up. I've crunched the numbers and it looks promising. + +1 Month Data: + +[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11mFiALzlrgTsUNOZGcqq7WimDql7tYasFQNnvpuE2qg/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11mFiALzlrgTsUNOZGcqq7WimDql7tYasFQNnvpuE2qg/edit?usp=sharing) + +The data says that the strike will be met around 66-75% of the time. I know that through my judgment of an OK vs a Good vs a Great Catalyst that my personnel accuracy is closer to 85%. The returns on a good bet are enough to cover the loss on a missed option and then some. + +&#x200B; + +**Postings** + +I'm not going to claim to be something I'm not. I don't think I'm very smart, and I make mistakes very often; the only thing I know for sure, is that I know very little of what there is to know. I'm going to be upfront about my goofs and failures. I'l try my best to post my results weekly on Friday Night. My post will include my profit/loss, Options made and fulfilled, reasoning behind my actions and my side thoughts. If I quit trading than I'l say so, and If I quit my job/school and trade for a living I'l say so. + +&#x200B; + +*To preemptively answer questions:* + +No I'm not a beginner, but I'm also not a seasoned by any means, I have roughly 9 months experience, and I would never call it "9 Months of Solid Experience" + +I'm choosing Put Options over Equities because I'm going to back out once the stock is down 10% regardless, and Options has larger returns and is a little bit more safe + +The reason I'm doing a Regular Put over a Naked Put with a Stop Loss is because the Stocks that I choose tend to shoot up 10-20% within 10 minutes and than crash. As its to risky to not use a stop loss, a large amount of profit would be thwarted by it, so it seems smarter to go with a Regular Put + +I will 100% take of the advice from the comments into consideration + +I'm trading on IBKR Pro + +&#x200B; + +Thanks for reading, and my apologies for any bad grammar/sentence formatting or miss used terminology + +Edit: Fixed grammatical and fixed terminology mistake +Made in 2003, you could buy digital land, sell resources, clothing for avatars, etc. It made a few millionaires from selling avatar customizations. It even opened up a world to crazy virtual sex stuff and gambling... + +But that place had it's limits and it's easy to lose interest unless you're super invested. Which is a similar issue for VR and mixed reality. When you strap anything to a person's face, it seems to lose appeal and novelty. + + +So with that and taking some serious reflection. I am pulling all my share out of Meta and leaving my exposure to Meta via indexes only. I personally don't have the confidence that this will be more than a passing fad. VR and mixed reality may have enterprise use, but that feels more like MSFT is doing a better job of that. + + +This project already has a working products, and hasn't even been listed on CG or CMC yet. On top of that, they have a big marketing campaign upcoming!! If this won't give you profits, I don't know what will. This is not another p&d coin! + +The Beta casino has been online for weeks, and thoroughly tested and LOVED by many!! To broaden the audience to their casino they are partnering with one of the leading platforms in the crypto gambling industry!! Some of their games will be integrated into the CryptoCandy platform, and they will help with the marketing of them. Our very own multiplayer poker is in the final stages. When all that is done, many influencers and live streamers will promote it! + +Alongside the casino CryptoCandy has a mobile game upcoming where you can earn tokens for just my playing the game, and unlock premium features by holding the tokens. Get them while they are cheap, and before it is too late!! + +Social Network was created today for the community! You can register using only your wallet.. no email needed! + +In the beginning, all profits from the casino will be used to add value to the LP, and later be used for marketing & development of further products. + +You can try their games now but you need to have some $SWEETS first :) + +TLDR + +🌕 Marketing campaign is paid for the next 5 days (banner and native ads) + +🌕 Influences on board + +🌕 Audit DONE + +🌕 Crypto casino is LIVE! + +🌕 3 founders have all DOXXED + +🌕 First mobile game is under development + +🌕 1 NFT created and auctioned in AMA on discord every week. Profits go to LP. + +This is not financial advise and as always DYOR!! + +Website: [https://cryptocandy.club](https://cryptocandy.club/) + +Social Network: [https://network.cryptocandy.club](https://network.cryptocandy.club) + +Casino : [https://cryptocandy.casino](https://cryptocandy.casino/) + +Telegram: [https://t.me/cryptocandybsc](https://t.me/cryptocandybsc) + +Discord: [https://discord.gg/CUTWZQxQuS](https://discord.gg/CUTWZQxQuS) + +PancakeSwap: [https://exchange.pancakeswap.finance/#/swap?outputCurrency=0xc1999565b29e5fa35a24ecc16a4dcf632fb22d1e](https://exchange.pancakeswap.finance/#/swap?outputCurrency=0xc1999565b29e5fa35a24ecc16a4dcf632fb22d1e) +To be fair, she is probably just relieved from not having to hear me talk about it. Basically breaking even at the moment, so it's not the end of the world. Plus I never invested any of her money or more than I could afford. All that good stuff. But for a good 5 months or so I was giving her pretty constant updates, because good lord is the bull run exciting and I wanted to share it with someone. + +Anyway, just a funny thought I had. + WSB was never moving into silver. The media got the story wrong. + +Think about who reads weekend financial news. Old people. The last time silver had a real short squeeze was in the 70s, and these people are now in their 70s. Who clicks on ads? Basically only old people. Dealers of gold and silver love to advertise, and media likes to make money through click-through revenue. Of course they are going to post all these stories of small unit silver selling out at dealers, they will get higher click through and sales kickbacks from the targeted ads on these articles. + +If you are purchasing SLV thinking you are purchasing silver on the open market, you could not be more wrong. **Purchasing SLV is the best way for an investor to shoot themselves directly in the face.** + +I have done some research on SLV and I have come to believe that it is essentially a vehicle for JPM and other banks to crush retail investors by manipulating the silver market. + +So what are these games of manipulation that the banks have played? + +**The general theme could be described as this: If banks hold the silver, the price is allowed to rise, but if you hold the silver, the price is forced to fall.** + +Jeff Currie from Goldman had an interview on February 4th where he dismissed the idea of a silver short squeeze, and he had one line that was especially profound, + +“In terms of thinking how are you going to create a squeeze, the shorts are the ETFs, the ETFs buy the physical, they turn around and sell on the COMEX.” – Jeff Currie of Goldman + +This was shocking to holders of SLV, because SLV is a long-only silver ETF. They simply buy silver as inflows occur and keep that silver in a vault. They have no price risk, if the price of silver declines, it’s the investors who lose money, not the ETF itself, so there is no need to hedge by shorting on the COMEX. Further, their prospectus prohibits them from participating in the futures market at all. So how is the ETF shorting silver? + +They aren’t. The iShares SLV ETF is not shorting silver, its custodian, JP Morgan is shorting silver. This is what Jeff Currie meant when he said the shorts are the ETFs. Moreover, he said it with a tone like this fact should be plainly obvious to all of the dumb retail investors. He truly meant what he said. + +What is a custodian you ask? The custodian of the ETF is the entity that actually buys, sells, and stores the silver. All iShares does is market the ETF and collect the fees. When money comes in they notify their custodian and their custodian sends them an updated list of silver bars that are allocated to the ETF. + +But no real open market purchases of silver are occurring. Instead, JPM (and a few sub custodian banks) accumulated a large amount of silver, segmented it off into LBMA vaults, and simply trade back and forth with the ETFs as they receive inflows. **Thus, ensuring that ETF inflows never actually impact the true open market trade of silver.** When the SLV receives inflows, JPM sells silver from the segmented off vaults, and then proceeds to short silver on the futures exchange. As the price drops, silver investors become disheartened and sell their SLV, thus selling the silver back to JPM at a lower price. It’s a continuous scalp trade that nets JPM and the banks billions in profits. Here’s a diagram to help you sort it out: + +&#x200B; + +[reduce, reuse, recycle](https://preview.redd.it/ewkug02chwo61.png?width=864&format=png&auto=webp&s=a424d1a61b93e9a37541cdf8ff19591a3df9fb88) + +An even more clear admission that SLV doesn’t impact the real silver market came on February 3rd when it changed its prospectus to state that it might not be possible to acquire additional silver in the near future. What does this even mean? Why would it not be possible to acquire additional silver? As long as the ETF is willing to pay a higher price, more silver will be available to purchase. But if the ETF doesn��t participate in the real silver market, that’s actually not the case. What SLV was admitting here, was that the silver in the JPM segmented off vaults might run out, and that they refuse to bid up the price of silver in the open market. They will not purchase additional silver to accommodate inflows, beyond what JPM will allow them to. + +The real issue here is that purchasing SLV doesn’t actually impact the market price of silver one bit. The price is determined completely separately on the futures exchange. SLV doesn’t purchase futures contracts and then take delivery of silver, it just uses JPM as a custodian who allocates more silver to their vault from an existing, controlled supply. This is an extremely strange phenomenon in markets, and its unnatural. + +For example, when millions of people buy GME stock, it puts a direct bid under the price of the stock, causing the price to rise. + +When millions of people put money into the USO oil ETF, that fund then purchases oil futures contracts directly, which puts a bid under the price of oil. + +But when millions of people buy SLV, it does nothing at all to directly impact the price of silver. The price of silver is determined separately, and SLV is completely in the position of price taker. + +So how do we know banks like JPM are shorting on the futures market whenever SLV experiences inflows? Well luckily for us the CFTC publishes the ‘bank participation report’ which shows exactly how banks are positioned on the futures market. + +The chart below shows SLV YoY change in shares outstanding which are evidence of inflows and outflows to the ETF. The orange line is the net short position of all banks participating in the silver futures market. The series runs from April-2007 through February-2021. I use a 12M trailing avg of the banks’ net position to smooth out the awkward lumpiness caused by the fact that futures have 5 primary delivery months per year, and this causes cyclicality in the level of open interest depending on time of year. + +https://preview.redd.it/2vpm42uehwo61.png?width=849&format=png&auto=webp&s=5feb48c0ce3ce1a2a55280e7ec2f79b8b7f33c0a + +It is evident that as SLV experiences inflows, banks add to short positions on the COMEX, and as SLV experiences outflows they reduce these short positions. What’s also evident is that the short interest of the banks has grown over time, which is also why silver is ripe for a potential short squeeze, just not by using SLV. + +One other thing that is evident, is that the trend of banks shorting when SLV receives inflows, is starting to break down. Specifically, beginning in the summer of 2020, as deliveries began to surge, the net short interest among banks has actually declined as SLV has experienced inflows. It’s likely one or more banks see the risk, and the writing on the wall and is trying to exit before a potential squeeze happens (having seen what happened with GME). + +For further evidence of this theme of, “If banks hold the silver, the price is allowed to rise, but if you hold the silver, the price is forced to fall” look no further than the deliveries data itself, + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/e6gnlo7ghwo61.png?width=869&format=png&auto=webp&s=cb6ff867907a4de54a27876835cad96ac00ad46e + +You’ll notice that as long as futures investors didn’t actually want the silver to be delivered, the price of silver was allowed to rise, but whenever deliveries showed an uptick, the price would begin to fall once again. This is because the shorts know that they can decrease the price of all silver in the world by shorting on the COMEX, and then secure real physical silver from primary dealers to actually make delivery. Why pay a higher price to the dealers when you can simply add to shorts on the COMEX and push the price down, and then acquire the silver you need? + +But just like the graph of the bank net short position, you’ll notice that this relationship started to break down in 2020, and the price has started to rise alongside deliveries. The short squeeze is underway, and the dam is about to break. + +And lest you think I’m reaching with my accusations of price manipulation by JPM, why not just listen to what the department of Justice concluded? + +https://preview.redd.it/fwjolfmhhwo61.png?width=877&format=png&auto=webp&s=6b1804172cace87c2fb285f1f13bad1d5dcef374 + +For JPM and the banks involved in the silver market, fines from regulators are just a cost of doing business. The only way to get banks to stop manipulating precious metals markets is to call the bluff, take delivery, and make them feel the losses of their short position. + +SLV is by far the largest silver ETF in the world, with 600 million ounces of silver under its control, and its custodian was labeled a criminal enterprise for manipulation of silver markets. Why should silver investors ever put their money into a silver ETF where the entity that controls the silver is actively working against them, or at a minimum is a criminal enterprise? + +And let me know if you see a trend in the custodial vaults of the other popular silver ETFs: + +https://preview.redd.it/8kbb08xihwo61.png?width=607&format=png&auto=webp&s=7da347b06b44433082ab041d11f35d1563c8919a + +Further exacerbating the lack of trust one should have in these ETFs, is the fact that they store the metal at the LBMA in London. Unlike the COMEX that has regular independent audits, the LBMA isn’t required to have independent audits, nor do independent audits occur. I’m not saying the silver isn’t there, but why not allow independent auditors in to provide more confidence? + +So what are investors to do in a rigged game like this? + +Well, there is currently one ETF that is outside this system, and which actually purchases silver on the open market as it receives inflows. That ETF is PSLV, from Sprott. Founded by Eric Sprott, a billionaire precious metals investor with a stake in nearly ever silver mine in the world, so you know his interests are aligned with the longs of the PSLV ETF (in desiring higher prices for silver via real price discovery). Further, PSLV buys its silver directly, it doesn’t have a separate entity doing the purchasing, it stores its silver at the Royal Canadian Mint rather than the LBMA, and it is independently audited. By purchasing the PSLV ETF, retail investors can actually acquire 1000oz bars and put a bid under the price of silver in the primary dealer marketplace. And if a premium occurs among primary dealers, deliveries will occur in the futures market. + +This is what is starting to happen right now, a premium has developed among primary dealers, and deliveries on the COMEX have started to surge, while COMEX inventories have begun to decline. And this is happening after PSLV has added just 30 million ounces over 7 weeks (once the small contingent of silver squeezers realized SLV was a scam and started switching). Imagine what will happen if investors create 100 million ounces of demand. + +Even a small portion of SLV investors switching to PSLV because **they realize the custodian of SLV is a criminal enterprise**, would create a massive groundswell of demand in the real physical silver market. + +After the original silver squeeze posts went viral on WSB on 1/27, silver rose massively over the first 3 trading days following it. But on 1/31 a post was made about citadel being long SLV which got 74k upvotes (compared to only 15k on the original silver post). This lead to a fizzling in the momentum for the silver squeeze movement on WSB. However, given what I've explained here about how SLV is a complete scam meant to screw over investors, is it really that much of a surprise? + +Additionally, that post about citadel showed them with $130m in SLV. That's only 0.04% of Citadel's AUM. Do you really think they were pushing silver because 0.04% of their AUM was in SLV? This post also didn't detail the fact that citadel also had short positions on SLV. That's what a market maker does. They have long and short positions in just about everything. + +There are plenty of banks talking about a commodities super cycle, and a ‘green’ commodity super cycle where they upgrade metals like copper, but they never mention silver. Likely because banks have a massive net short position in silver. + +Lets dig into the potential for a silver squeeze, starting with the silver market itself. + +Silver is priced in the futures market, and its price is based on 1000oz commercial bars. A futures market allows buyers and sellers of a commodity to come to agreement on a price for a specific amount of that commodity at a specific date in the future. Most buyers in the futures market are speculators rather than entities who actually want to take delivery of the commodity. So once their contract date nears, they close out their contracts and ‘roll’ them over to a future date. Historically, only a tiny percentage of the longs take delivery, but the existence of this ability to take delivery is what gives these markets their legitimacy. If the right to take delivery didn’t exist, then the market wouldn’t be a true market for silver. Delivery is what keeps the price anchored to reality. + +Industrial players and large-scale investors who want to acquire large amounts of physical silver don’t typically do it through the futures market. They instead use primary dealers who operate outside of the futures market, because taking delivery of futures is actually a massive pain in the ass. They only do it if they really have to. Deliveries only surge in the futures market when supply is so tight that silver from the primary dealers starts to be priced at a large premium to the futures price, thus incentivizing taking delivery. Despite setting the index price for the entire silver market, the futures exchange is really more of a supplier of last resort than a main player in the physical market. + +Most shorts (the sellers) in the futures market also source their silver from sources outside of exchange warehouses for the occasional times they are called to deliver. The COMEX has an inventory of ‘registered’ silver that is effectively a big pile of silver that exists as a last resort source to meet delivery demand if supply ever gets very tight. But even as deliveries are made each month, you will typically see next to no movement among the registered silver because silver is still available to source from primary dealers. + +So how have deliveries and registered ounces been trending recently? + +Let’s take a quick look at the first quarter deliveries in 2021 compared to the first quarter in previous years: + +https://preview.redd.it/u6vl4z3lhwo61.png?width=669&format=png&auto=webp&s=97d96e5ee4fcc5553bb267603f764a0378123dec + +After adding in the 3.6 million ounces of open interest remaining in the current March contract (anyone holding this late in the month is taking delivery), 1Q 2021 would reach 78 million ounces delivered. This is a massive increase relative to previous years, and also an all-time record for Q1 from the data that I can find. + +Even more stark, is the chart showing deliveries on a 12-month trailing basis (which I also showed earlier) + +Note: You have to view this on an annual basis because the futures market has 5 main delivery months and 7 less active months, so using a shorter time frame would involve cutting out an unequal share of the 5 primary months depending on what time of year it is. + +https://preview.redd.it/o4wjuwfmhwo61.png?width=724&format=png&auto=webp&s=03f45022e0f2d1702d5c3e0aaa2877a654ed884b + +As you can see from the chart, starting in the month of April 2020, deliveries have gone completely parabolic. While silver doesn’t need deliveries to spike for a rally to occur, a spike in deliveries is the primary ingredient for a short squeeze. The 2001-2011 rally didn’t involve a short squeeze for example, so it ‘only’ caused silver to rise 10x. In the 2020s however, we have a fundamentals-based rally that is running headlong into a surge in deliveries that is extremely close to triggering a short squeeze. + +In fact this is visible when looking at the chart of inventories at the COMEX. + +https://preview.redd.it/9907dfnnhwo61.png?width=827&format=png&auto=webp&s=45d5859b4c8cd42a66118d62e6d1a97f2364d774 + +As you can see from the graph and the chart above, COMEX inventories are beginning to decline at a rapid pace. To explain a bit further, the ‘eligible’ category of COMEX is silver that has moved from registered status to delivered. It is called ‘eligible’ because even though the ownership of the silver has transferred to the entity who requested delivery, they haven’t taken it out of the warehouse. It is technically eligible become ‘registered’ if the owner decided to sell it. However, the fact that it is in the eligible category means that it would likely require higher silver prices for the owner to decide to sell. + +The current path of silver in the futures market is that registered ounces are being delivered, they then become eligible, and entities are actually taking their eligible stocks out of COMEX warehouses and into the real physical world. This is a sign that the futures market is currently the silver supplier of last resort. And there are only 127 million ounces left in the registered category. 1/3 of an ounce, or roughly $10 worth of silver is left in the supply of last resort for every American. If just 1% of Americans purchased $1,000 worth of the PSLV ETF, it would be equivalent to 127 million ounces of silver, the entire registered inventory of the COMEX. That’s how tight this market is. + +Right now we are sending most Americans a $1,400 check. If 1% of them converted it to silver through PSLV, this market could truly explode higher. + +And lest you think this surge in deliveries is going to stop any time soon, just take a look at how the April contract’s open interest is trending at a record high level: + +https://preview.redd.it/olei0ejphwo61.png?width=779&format=png&auto=webp&s=e53aa870cf012bdeff94fb0b9f4d07ab8127813f + +It looks almost unreal. And keep in mind the other high points in this chart were records unto themselves. That light brown line was February 2021, and look how its deliveries compared to previous years: + +https://preview.redd.it/llu9bzoqhwo61.png?width=480&format=png&auto=webp&s=cd538ecd2ad375f52aa20ae9932d3b795832f322 + +12 million ounces were delivered in the month of February 2021. A month that is not a primary delivery month, and which exceeded previous year’s February totals by a multiple of 4x. Open interest for February peaked at 8 million ounces, which means that an additional 4 million ounces were opened and delivered within the delivery window itself. + +April’s open interest is currently at a level of 15 million ounces and rising. If it followed a similar pattern to February of intra-month deliveries being added, it could potentially see deliveries of over 20 million ounces. 20 million ounces in a non-active month would be completely unheard of and is more than most primary delivery months used to see. + +Here’s what 20 million ounces delivered in April would look like compared to previous years: + +https://preview.redd.it/n706c9yrhwo61.png?width=478&format=png&auto=webp&s=78c23017586291a4f7efc66a274c8f1c9a99b4f3 + +So just how tenuous is the situation that the shorts have put themselves in (yes CFTC, the shorts did this to themselves)? Well let’s look at the next active delivery month of May: + +https://preview.redd.it/ppuloa0thwo61.png?width=860&format=png&auto=webp&s=680a8cfba0f920b008a6660f52f35d45d82557db + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/fkh2bdfxhwo61.png?width=271&format=png&auto=webp&s=86c2bf46c9b547b8e0b0cfe109639ad283a832e7 + +If a larger percentage than usual take delivery in May, there is easily enough open interest to cause a true run on silver. With 127 million ounces in the registered category, and 652 million ounces in the money, most of it from futures rather than options, the short interest as a % of the float is roughly 513%. Its simply a matter of whether the longs decide to call the bluff of the shorts. + +No long contract holder wants to be left holding the last contract when the COMEX declares ‘force majeure’ and defaults on its delivery obligations. This means that they will be settled in cash rather than silver, and won’t get to participate in the further upside of the move right when its likely going parabolic. As registered inventories dwindle, longs are incentivized to take physical delivery just so that they can guarantee they will be able to remain long silver. + +Of course, the COMEX could always prevent a default by simply allowing silver to continue trading higher. There is always silver available if the price is high enough. Like the situation with GameStop, the authorities have historically tended to interfere with the silver market during previous short squeezes where longs begin to take delivery in large quantities. + +There were always shares of GME available to purchase, it’s just that the price had not reached what the longs were demanding quite yet. Given that it was the powerful connected elite of society who were short GME though, the trade was shut down and rigged against the millions of retail traders. The GME short squeeze may indeed continue, because in this situation it’s millions of small individuals holding GME. While they were able to temporarily prevent purchases of GME, they can’t force them to sell. + +In the silver short squeeze of the 1970s, that’s exactly what the authorities forced the Hunt Brothers (the duo that orchestrated the squeeze) to do, they actually forced them to sell. The difference this time is that it’s not a squeeze orchestrated by a single entity, but rather millions of individuals who are purchasing a few ounces of silver each from around the globe. There is no collusion on the long side among a small group of actors like in the 70s with the Hunt brothers or when Warren Buffet squeezed silver in the late 90s, so there’s no basis to stop the squeeze. + +In the squeeze of 1979-1980, the regulators literally pulled a ‘GameStop’ on the silver market. Or in reality, the more recent action with GameStop was regulators pulling a ‘silver’. The regulators will try everything in their power to prevent the squeeze from happening again, but this time it’s not two brothers and a couple of Saudi princes buying millions of ounces each (or just Warren Buffet on his own), but rather it’s millions of retail investors buying a few ounces each. There is no cornering the market going on. This is actual silver demand running headlong into a silver market that banks have irresponsibly shorted to such a level that they deserve the losses that hit them. They’ve been manipulating and toying with silver investors for decades and profiting off of illegal collusion. Bailing out the banks as their losses pile up would be truly reprehensible action by our government, and tacit admission that our government is ok with a few big banks on the short side stealing billions from small individual investors. + +But what about beyond a short squeeze? Is there any logic to buying silver on a fundamentals basis? + +There are two types of bull markets in silver. One is a fundamentals-based bull market, where silver is undervalued relative to industrial and monetary demand. The second type of silver bull market is a short squeeze. Both types of bull markets have occurred at different points in the past 60 years. However, the 1971-80 market in which the price of silver increased over 30x does was combination of both types of bull markets. + +I believe we may be entering another silver bull market like the one that began in the fall of 1971, where both a short squeeze and fundamentals-based rally occur simultaneously. + +Smoke alarms are ringing in the silver market, and are signaling another generational bull market. + +So what are these ‘smoke alarms’? + +I recently went digging through various data to try and quantify where we are in the silver bull/bear market cycle. + +I ended up creating an indicator that I like to call SMOEC, pronounced ‘smoke’. + +The components of the abbreviation come from the words Silver, Money supply, and Economy. + +Lets look at the money supply relative to the economy, or GDP. More specifically, if you look at the chart below, you will see the ratio of M3 Money supply to nominal GDP, monthly, from 1960 through 2020. + +https://preview.redd.it/ltu4vgovhwo61.png?width=852&format=png&auto=webp&s=de4f9f2f0748ca3d86e8cf153175efa78901435d + +When this ratio is rising, it means that the broad money supply (M3) is increasing faster than the economy, and when it is falling it means that the economy is growing faster than the money supply. + +One thing that is very important when investing in any asset class, is the valuation that you enter the market at. Silver is no different, but being a commodity rather than cash-flow producing asset, how does one value silver? It might not produce cash flows or pay dividends, but it does have a long history of being used as both money and as a monetary hedge, so this is the correct lense through which to examine the ‘valuation’ level of silver. + +Enter the SMOEC indicator. The SMOEC indicator tells you when silver is generationally undervalued and sets off a ‘smoke alarm’ that is the signal to start buying. In other words, SMOEC is a signal telling you when silver is about to smoke it up and get super high. + +Below, you will see a chart of the SMOEC indicator. SMOEC is calculated by dividing the monthly price of silver by the ratio shown above (M3/GDP). + +More specifically it is: LN(Silver Price / (M3/Nominal GDP)) + +Below you will see a chart of the SMOEC level from January 1965 through March 2021. + +https://preview.redd.it/5m8y7kzyhwo61.png?width=905&format=png&auto=webp&s=1073a6fa09e9b1151a162b79172d673af515fc93 + +I want to bring your attention to the blue long-term trendline for SMOEC, and how it can be used to help indicate when investing in silver is likely a good idea. Essentially, when growth in money supply is faster than growth of the economy, AND silver has been underinvested in as an asset class long enough, the SMOEC alarm is triggered as it hits this blue line. + +Since 1965, SMOEC has only touched this trendline three times. + +The first occurrence was in October 1971, where SMOEC bottomed at 0.79 and proceeded to increase 3.41 points over the next eight years to peak at 4.20 in February of 1980 (literally 420, I told you it was a sign silver was about to get high). Silver rose from $1.31 to $36.13, or a 2,658% gain using the end of month values (the daily close trough to peak was even greater). Over this same period, the S&P 500 returned only 67% with dividends reinvested. Silver, a metal with no cash flows, outperformed equities by a multiple of 40x over this period of 8.5 years (neither return is adjusted for inflation). This is partially due to the fact that the Hunt Brothers took delivery of so many contracts that it caused a short squeeze on top of the fundamentals-based rally. + +The second time the SMOEC alarm was triggered was when SMOEC dropped to a ratio of 2.10 in November of 2001 and proceeded to increase 2.32 points over the next decade to peak at 4.42 in April of 2011. Silver rose from $4.14 to $48.60, an increase of over 1000%, and this was during a ‘lost decade’ for equities. The S&P 500 with dividends reinvested, returned only 41% in this 9.5-year period. Silver outperformed equities by a multiple of 24x (neither figure adjusted for inflation). There was no short squeeze involved in this bull market. + +Over the long term, it would be expected that cash flow producing assets would outperform silver, but over specific 8-10 year periods of time, silver can outperform other asset classes by many multiples. And in a true hyperinflationary environment where currency collapse is occurring, silver drastically outperforms. Just look at the Venezuelan stock market during their recent currency collapse. Investors received gains in the millions of percentage points, but in real terms (inflation adjusted) they actually lost 94%. This is an example of a situation where silver would be a far better asset to own than equities. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/ir5gcfv0iwo61.png?width=676&format=png&auto=webp&s=7e02b95d63beea8de9b7e067cc40655d7a59da16 + +I in no way think this is coming to the United States. I do think inflation will rise, and the value of the dollar will fall, but it will be nothing even close to a currency collapse. Fortunately for silver investors, a currency collapse isn’t necessary for silver to outperform equity returns by over 10x during the next decade. + +Back to SMOEC though: + +The third time the SMOEC alarm was triggered was very recently in April of 2020 when it hit a level of 2.91. Silver was priced at $14.96, at a time the money supply was and still is increasing at a historically high rate, combined with the previous decade’s massive underinvestment in Silver (coming off of the 2011 highs). Starting in April 2020, silver has since risen to a SMOEC level of 3.37 as of March 2021. Silver is 0.46 points into a rally that I think could mirror the 1970s and push silver’s SMOEC level up by over 3.4 points once again. + +Remember that this indicator is on a LN scale, where each point is actually an exponential increase in the price of silver. Here is a chart to help you mentally digest what the price of silver would be at various SMOEC level and M3/GDP combinations. (LN scale because silver is nature’s money, so it just felt right) + +The yellow highlighted box is where silver was in April of 2020 and the blue highlighted box is close to where it is as of March 2021. + +https://preview.redd.it/af5yjg13iwo61.png?width=644&format=png&auto=webp&s=f34ac3ae181c742c4ab2dbf30f64ae82648d84ac + +**An increase of 3.4 points from the bottom in in April of 2020 would mean a silver price of over $500 an ounce before this decade is out. And there’s really no reason it must stop there.** + +The recent money supply growth has been extreme, and as the US government continues to implement modern monetary policy with massive debt driven deficits, it is expected that monetary expansion will continue. This is why bonds and have been selling off recently, and why yields are soaring. Long term treasuries just experienced their first bear market since 1980 (a drop of 20% or more). The 40-year bull market bond streak just ended. What was the situation like the last time bonds had a bear market? Massively higher inflation and precious metals prices. + +https://preview.redd.it/0e9ncqp4iwo61.png?width=864&format=png&auto=webp&s=21a08435c70609ca534ca672815cc2095358ef5a + +This inflation expectation is showing up in surging breakeven inflation rates. And this trend is showing very little sign of letting up, just look at the 5-year expected inflation rate: + +https://preview.redd.it/esd1tzp5iwo61.png?width=618&format=png&auto=webp&s=5c26a1673a48f884c3e3cba23ef3d393cfc5eac9 + +Inflation expectations are rising because we are actually starting to put money into the hands of real people rather than simply adding to bank reserves through QE. Stimulus checks, higher unemployment benefits, child tax credit expansion, PPP grants, deferral of loan payments, and likely some outright debt forgiveness soon as well. Whether or not you agree with these programs is irrelevant. They are not funded by increased taxes, they are funded through debt and money creation financed by the fed. As structural unemployment remains high (low unemployment is a fed mandate), I don’t see these programs letting up, and in fact I would be betting that further social safety net expansion is on the way. The $1.9 trillion bill was just passed, and it’s rumored the upcoming ‘infrastructure’ bill is going to be between $3-4 trillion. + +This is the trap that the fed finds itself in. Inflation expectations are pushing yields higher, but the nation’s debt levels (public and private) have expanded so much that raising rates would crush the nation fiscally through higher interest payments. Raising rates would also likely increase unemployment in the short run, during a time that unemployment is already high. So they won’t raise rates to stop inflation because the costs of doing so are more unpalatable than the inflation itself. They will keep short term rates at 0%, and begin to implement yield curve control where they put a cap on long term yields (as was done in the 1940s, the only other time debt levels were this high). So where does the air come out of this bubble, if the fed can’t raise rates at a time of expanding inflation? The value of the dollar. We will see a much lower dollar in terms of the goods it can buy, and likely in terms of other currencies as well (depending on how much money creation they perform). + +The other problem with the fed’s policy of keeping rates low for extended durations of time (like has been the case since 2008), is that it actually breeds higher structural unemployment. In the short term, unemployment is impacted by interest rate shifts, but in the longer-term lower interest rates decrease the number of jobs available. Every company would like to fire as many people as possible to cut costs, and when they brag about creating jobs, know that the decision was never about jobs, but rather that jobs are a byproduct of expansion and are used as a bargaining chip to secure favorable tax credits and subsidies. Recently, the best way to get rid of workers is through automation. + +Robotics and AI are advancing rapidly and can increasingly be used to completely replace workers. The debate every company has is whether its worth paying a worker $40k every year or buying a robot that costs $200k up front and $5k a year to do that job. The reason they would buy the robot is because after so many years, there comes a point where the company will have saved money by doing so, because it is only paying $5k a year in up-keep versus $40k a year in salary and benefits. The cost of buying the robot is that it likely requires financing to pay that high of a price up front. In this situation, at 10% interest rates, the breakeven point for buying the robot versus employing a human is roughly 8 years. At 2% interest rates though, the breakeven investment timeline for purchasing the robot is only 4 years. + +The business environment is uncertain, and deciding to purchase a robot with the thought that it will pay off starting 8 years from now is much riskier than making a decision that will pay off starting only 4 years from now. This trade off between employing people versus robots and AI is only becoming clearer too. Inflation puts natural upward pressure on wages, governments are mandating higher minimum wages are costlier benefits as well. There’s also the rising cost of healthcare that employers provide as well. Meanwhile the costs of robotics and AI are plummeting. The equation is tipped evermore towards capital versus labor, and the fed exacerbates this trend by ensuring the cost of capital is as low as possible via low interest rates. + +On top of the automation trend, low interest rates drive mergers and acquisitions which also drive higher structural unemployment. In an industry with 3 competitors, the trend for the last 40 years has been for one massive corporation to simply purchase its competitor and fire half the workers (you don’t need 2 accounting departments after all). How can one $50 billion corporation afford to borrow $45 billion to purchase its massive competitor? Because long term low interest rates allow it to borrow the money in a way that the interest payments are affordable. Lacking competitive pressures, the industry now stagnates in terms of innovation which hurts long term growth in both wages and employment. Of course, our absolutely spineless anti-trust enforcement is partially to blame for this issue as well. + +The fed is keeping interest rates low over long periods of time to help fix unemployment, when in reality low interest rates exacerbate unemployment and income inequality (execs get higher pay when they do layoffs and when they acquire competitors). **The fed’s solution to the problem is contributing to making the problem larger, and they’ll keep giving us more of the solution until the problem is fixed.** And as structural unemployment continues, universal basic income and other social safety net policies will expand, funded by debt. Excess debt then further encourages the fed to keep interest rates low, because who wants to cut off benefits to people in need? And then low long term interest rates create more unemployment and more need for the safety nets. It’s a vicious cycle, but one that is extremely positive for the price of precious metals, especially silver. + +And guess what expensive robotics, electric vehicles, satellites, rockets, medical imaging tech, solar panels, and a bevy of other fast-growing technologies utilize as an input? Silver. Silver’s industrial demand is driven by the fact that compared to other elements it is the best conductor of electricity, its highly reflective, and it extremely durable. So, encouraging more capital investment in these industries via green government mandates and via low interest rates only drives demand for silver further. + +One might wonder how with high unemployment we can actually get inflation. Well government is more than replacing lost income so far, just take a look at how disposable income has trended during this time of high unemployment. It’s also notable that all of the political momentum is in the direction of increasing incomes through government programs even further. + +https://preview.redd.it/mnfd5gr7iwo61.png?width=864&format=png&auto=webp&s=34c7b3ddfc9808b29e08bd7619d47d1f51f840fc + +The spark of inflation is what ignites rallies in precious metals like silver, and these rallies typically extend far beyond what the inflation rates would justify on their own. This is because precious metals are insurance against fiat collapse. People don’t worry about fiat insurance when inflation is low, but when inflation rises it becomes very relevant at a time that there isn’t much capacity to satisfy the surge in demand for this insurance. Sure, inflation might only peak at 5% or 10% and while silver rises 100%, but if things spiral out of control its worth paying for silver even after a big rally, because the equities you hold aren’t going to be worth much in real terms if the wheels truly came off the wagon. The Venezuela example proves that fact, but even during the 1970s equities had negative real rates of return and the US never had hyperinflation, just high inflation. + +During these times of higher inflation, holders of PMs aren’t necessarily expecting a fiat collapse, they just want 1%, 5%, or even 10% of their portfolio to be allocated to holding gold and silver as a hedge. During the 40-year bond bull market of decreasing inflation this portfolio allocation to precious metals lost favor, and virtually no one has it any longer. I can guarantee most people don’t even have the options of buying gold or silver in their 401ks, let alone actually owning any. A move back into having even a small precious metals allocation is what drives silver up by 30x or more. + +&#x200B; + +&#x200B; + +**TLDR: SLV is a scam, as are basically all of the silver ETFs.** + +If you do want to buy silver you'll buy physical when premiums are low, or PSLV. + +Disclaimer: I am a random guy on the internet and this entire post should be regarded as my personal opinion +Gloom and doom everywhere else, figured I'd ask what you added/ are going to add shortly + + +I added a 5% position into WPC. long term hold. After the last post, I liked the diversification vs O heavy retail exposure. + +A small punt on IRM. Debt is worrisome but India deal plus specific sector makes it unique. + +Going to wait a bit and average down on QYLD when the knife stops falling. I wish I had waited further to buy the dip on this one. Still feel good about the holding but I had just expanded its % to 10% last week. + +T as a defensive play. + +Maybe NUSI if the price is right. KO if the market tanks. + +I stay out of mlps and gas but man there's some bargains there lately too. + + +How are you making out? +Hello All. + +I recently purchased my first home. After looking at Whats sold around my area I realized I paid probably 50k more than what the place is worth. + +Its a brand new build and there are many little things that I need to get fixed/sorted out (Should be under the building warranty I hope) and things that I missed when inspecting initially due to the whole home buying process/shifty agents and etc. Plus a number of other issues related to the workmanship of the builders that built the place. + +Its been a month now and I have finally settled but have this wave of regret over me thinking I could have got a much better place that was made much better for 50k less than what I paid for... + +The house is basically still empty, no furniture apart from my bed and desk for my computer, Havent been able to source anything else due to lockdowns in VIC. It doesnt really feel like a home yet more like an air bnb that im renting one of the rooms out of as Im in my study all day/night + +I dont play to flip this place for financial gain will live it it for a long time I think and if anything ill rent it out in 10 years or so + +I know whats done is done now and I cant do anything about it but does anyone have any words of encouragement around this? did anyone else have any similar regrets? did you get over it eventually? + +Thanks +Hey all, as I break my milestone of $10 a month im looking at other ways to grow a solid portfolio to live off my dividends later on and these 3 ETF caught my eye. SPHD mainly for dividend while SCHD and DGRO is a nice split of dividend (DGRO for dividend growth potential) and it has some general growth. Do you think this is a decent idea to own these 3 and grow them? +This will be my 5th home (I currently own in 3 states and am in escrow on a home in a 4th). + +Looking to pay all cash. Columbus, OH keeps coming up. Thoughts on neighborhoods or suburbs to target? +u/fudgiegood + +Scammer, dude runs a paid group in which he alerts wheeling cycles but he has no credentials. + +Be wary of him in this group. He kept trying to flex level 3 naked options access as to why he’s legit. When I proved to him I had it in exchange for a call to question him about how qualified he was, he gave me a fake number and blocked me. + +Also I looked into his comment history and he’s been harassing this other guy that called him out and said it was ridiculous to charge for covered call alerts since it’s cyclical strategy that shouldn’t require a paid service. Like he threatened to call his university over that....dudes got an issue +**I have been asked this question a lot in the AMA's I have posted. I wanted to expand on the question a bit below. Let me know if you want me to expand on anything else! Thanks! - mep42** + +Does someone who wants to achieve fatFIRE need a wealth manager? + +The simple answer is no. The long answer is maybe. + +As a member of the fatFIRE community, you have already taken the reins on managing your wealth and planning for the future. For some, the idea of hiring a wealth manager seems excessive, too expensive, and simply not needed. For others, a wealth manager can bring assistance in the areas that you might not be as familiar with or simply give you a second set of eyes on your plans. Achieving fatFIRE can be a very straight forward process, but each person is different. Below, I have highlighted offerings that a wealth manager might offer and additional comments on what to look out for. + +1. Anyone you work with needs to build a plan around YOUR goals. + +a. Financial Goals + +i. Risk + Return Expectations + +ii. Accounts Structures - Trust / Estate + +iii. Philanthropic Goals + +iv. Future Generations + +b. Personal Goals + +i. Your vision of wealth + +ii. Confidentiality + +iii. Comfort + +2. Provide a framework to understand your financial life as it is today. + +a. What is your current risk profile? + +i. What does your asset allocation look like today? + +ii. Are you taking to much risk or not enough? + +b. What are your liquidity needs, how does your income effect asset allocation decisions? + +c. Tax situation + +d. What are your assets, liabilities, and current financial holdings? + +3. Build a plan for the future. + +a. Goal Setting + +b. Liquidity management to maintain your lifestyle. + +c. Risk Management – Will you hit your financial goals without taking excessive risk? + +d. Portfolio Construction + Implementation + +i. Implementation costs for the portfolio + +ii. Investment vehicles (Single name, ETF, MF) – internal fund fees + +iii. Best practice for asset class implantation ex. Bond funds or individual bonds + +e. Rebalancing + +i. Active management provides the ability to keep portfolio risk + return expectations in line to meet your goals. + +f. Tax Management + +i. Income + Estate tax planning + +ii. Tax-efficient + tax advantaged vehicles + +iii. Gain deferrals, tax-lot management, wash-sale avoidance + +g. Private Markets (Equity, Debt, Real Estate, etc) + +Above is the core attributes of what a wealth manager can offer their client. There will be differences and similarities and all these items can be different depending on the managers expertise. Regardless of what path you chose to take on your fatFIRE journey, there are a few things everyone should ask a financial advisor. + +1. Are you a fiduciary? I would only use an advisor who is a fiduciary. +2. How are you compensated? I would only use a “fee-only” advisor. +3. Have you ever received any disciplinary actions from the SEC? + +a. Review their form ADV from the SEC. [https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/](https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/) + +There are a plethora of reasons someone choses to higher and advisor, ultimately you need to evaluate if it makes sense for yourself. At the end of the day, the biggest reason most choose to hire a financial advisor is peace of mind. The client knows that there is a layer of protection between their portfolio and markets, their own emotion driven decisions, and an experienced team focused on meeting their goals. +Anyone feel like they are living a financially stable but boring life? + +I work hard, pay my mortgage, pay the bills, save for rainy day, my pension isn't big for a 30yr old but I am working on it. + +I feel like I live a boring life, mostly I work work work, barely take any holidays because A) I feel like I want to see everything but everything requires a long time off from work and B) I feel overwhelmed about holiday planning so I just kick the can down the road. + +On top of this I am constantly told about impending crisis (Brexit, rising costs etc etc) and so it makes me worry more so I save and save. + +I feel like I don't enjoy my life and day by day I am getting older. +Hey I’m the guy who wanted to put $200k into XYLD lol. I’ve done some research and I think JEPI might just be the one. It’s a unicorn. Good growth and high dividend? Kinda sounds like a trap. I understand how they create income to pay share holders but how does the stock price retain and grow value, there top 10 holding are all Spx options it seems. Would love a little more information from someone who knows more. +The average cost of renting a home in the UK is approaching £1,000 a month after demand drove prices up 8.3% in the final three months of last year, marking the fastest increase in more than a decade. + +Renters around the UK are now paying £62 more each month than before the pandemic, taking the average monthly rent to £969, according to property website Zoopla. + +The average annual rent for people who are agreeing a new let is now £744 higher than it was in March 2020 before the pandemic. + + + +Lack of suitable housing stock is leading to these increases. + + +Where are the investment into 'real and proper' social housing? + +Surely this situation is untenable. + + + +And another thing: + +Have developers stopped building new built detached houses in LONDON? I know space is limited, but I have been driving into London for the last 3 days and I see developments going up but they appear to be all multi story flats. + +There will be generations growing up not knowing the small comfort of a garden with a few plants. Is that too much to ask? +Social media is usually crawling with bad arguments for why people think ETH is overvalued. Often people try to reply with good counter arguments, but it's not always easy to summarize these things into a few sentences. I thought I'd collect all of it in one place and condense them as best I could. + +---- + +**EEA Hype** + +Argument: People bought because they assumed brand name companies would use Ethereum public chain, an assumption which has not been substantiated. + +Counter-Argument: Remarks in May of 2018 by EEA have suggested that enterprises are seeing the need to eventually connect their private chains to the Ethereum mainnet. This is then reflected in the new EEA roadmap that shows how they plan to shift enterprise usage to the public chain over time. People's expectations for enterprises using Ethereum are not baseless. They're just too early. + +Counter-Counter-Argument: Being too early is not much different from being wrong. + +Counter-counter-counter-Argument: Wait till when the EEA's efforts start to bear fruit. Enterprises will connect to the public chain because private chains are useless on their own (i.e. they're just inefficient databases). + +---- + +**ICO Shitfest** + +Argument: ETH only usage was as a reserve currency for ICO shitcoin asset bubble speculation. + +Counter-Argument: It's likely that this use case attracts significantly less ETH buying than during the ICO mania, but it's not accurate to say that *legitimate* projects can't use Ethereum for fundraising or token distributions without being a shitcoin. ETH use case as a reserve currency still remains, even while the shitcoin situation has died. Presales for real projects with real use cases (e.g. Gods Unchained) are ongoing as we speak *without* selling yet another useless ERC20 token (they sell playable digital cards that also have some collector value). + +---- + +**Flippening** + +Argument: ETH's rally was fuelled by the flippening narrative. 2018 has shot that to hell. + +Counter-Argument: BTC dominance is based on the Lindy effect, market size and lots of successful memes. When fundamentals start to matter, even a little, it will become very difficult for BTC to maintain top spot. Even without fundamentals, ETH will eventually be seen as having similar Lindy effect, similar market size and (one hopes) a few good memes. + +Counter-Counter-Argument: XRP could ruin the flippening by holding on to #2. Other incumbents too (e.g. EOS). + +Counter-Counter--Counter-Argument: If XRP or EOS are worth more than ETH in five years, then everything we thought we knew about the value of decentralization was wrong. + +---- + +**Selloffs** + +Argument: SEC activity against ICOs create bad news and selloffs (e.g. refunds, fines and exit scams). + +Counter-Arguments: As of Sept there was only 3,858,659 ETH still held by ICOs (see Bitmex research report). All these projects that have already sold enough to have massive runways. Any SEC challenge by can be taken to court and delayed for years. Refunds are also a joke for most of these, since refunds can only be given to those who provide passport info and proof they still control the original wallet where the original tokens are still present and were never traded. Refunds are also optional. And fines are TINY (a few hundred thousand compared the tens of millions these projects have in ETH). Only the bad headlines are legit concern. But just how much impact can bad journalism have on price? + +---- + +**Delays** + +Argument: Staking delayed (i.e. Casper FFG). Constantinople delayed (i.e. issuance reduction). + +Counter-Argument: Sad indeed, but these delays are a normal part of software engineering. They don't imply that the project is doomed or that its capabilities will be diminished. What it does mean is that supply is higher and demand is lower right now. So price is effected. But this is not a great argument for why ETH is overvalued. It's a (partial) explanation for why there's been more sell pressure than buy pressure in the last few months. + +---- + +**Users** + +Argument: No one uses Ethereum. + +Counter-argument: If you limit usage to daily transactions of dapps, then yes, it's very low. But by that metric, you would have to say that no one used the internet until the mid 2000s when people started using ecommerce transaction regularly. The real metric for the web turned out to be *page views*, not credit card transactions. So why are we so fixated with transactions now? We should be looking at Infura metrics, which ***has over 6 billion requests per day***!! Saying that no one is using Ethereum is bullshit. It's time to recognize that people who look-up information on the Ethereum network are users too, just like people who load a webpage are considered users of the internet. + +Counter-counter-argument: When people discuss users, they are generally talking about people using applications that they can profit off of. Hence, the use of daily transactions as a main metric. + +Counter-counter-counter argument: To say that you can only monetize users that produce a daily transaction is to completely ignore the last 20 years of internet business models. Google did not get to 110 billion in annual revenue by requiring its users to make transactions! How can people forget about the cornucopia of monetization models that already exist, let alone those that are being invented specifically for blockchain? There are lots of ways to monetize users without having them make transactions. For example, Gods Unchained gets players hooked by offering a *free-to-play* AAA game. No transactions required. It's only when the player wants something more that they need to make a transaction (e.g. the same as the freemium model we see elsewhere on the internet). The same goes with subscription services, that would not require transactions, but still use the benefits and security of the Ethereum blockchain. The point is that there's more ways to monetize a user than just taking a small fee out of user transactions. Fees might work well for exchanges and marketplaces, but the internet has shown us that there's so many more ways to do things online. + +---- + +**Scaling** + +Argument: It doesn't scale. + +Counter-Argument: Doesn't scale *yet*. L2 solutions are rolling out. Serenity is coming to a testnet near you in 2019. + +---- + +**Usability** + +Argument: Dapp UX is horrible. + +Counter-argument: UX is legitimately horrible. But it's been receiving more visibility this year which has led to good progress on multiple technical solutions. Having more designers on the teams is also helping. + +---- + +**Barriers to Entry** + +Argument: High barriers to entry. + +Counter-argument: This is a challenge for all crypto. It's also a challenge for any new technology. That's why you have waves of users that range from the early adopters and the late adopters. The very earliest adopters were gamblers, hackers and finance types. They were already comfortable jumping through hoops and dealing with complexity. The next cohort will probably be those tens of millions of PC gamers who are already comfortable with figuring out new tech and dealing with confusing software. After them, it'll be a more general audience. Finally, maybe in 5-10 years, your grandma might become a user (i.e. the late adopters). + +---- + +**Fees** + +Argument: Fees will drop. Since the main use of ETH is to pay for fees, there will be less need for ETH. + +Counter-Argument: Fees in nominal prices will drop, but the amount of fee usage will increase dramatically. With Serenity, you'll see a large multiplication of network capacity. The amount of ETH being spent on fees will go up considerably even as the amount each user is spending per transaction goes down. + +---- + +**Economic Abstraction** + +Argument: ETH will have no value because users will pay for transactions in something other than Ether. + +Counter-Argument: This has been possible on the Bitcoin network and every other PoW chain for a long time and yet no one does it because it's not rational. Paying in anything other than the native token adds friction, cost and is a UX nightmare. If it made sense, people would have been doing it with Bitcoin. Even if we assume that in the future people will go against reason and want to do it anyways, the upgrades coming to Ethereum will make it impossible (e.g. paying fees in ETH is getting inshrined at the protocol level and most of the fees are going to be burned, reducing inflation and increasing the role of ETH as a store of value). + +---- + +**Store of value** + +Argument: ETH is not a store of value. + +Counter-Argument: Inflation is going down to near 0 in two years while staking ETH will significantly reduce the circulating supply on the market. Meanwhile, decentralized financial applications are gaining tractions which promotes the use of ETH as money. All of this strongly supports ETH as a store of value. + +---- + +**On Demand** + +Argument: People will just buy ETH on demand. + +Counter-Argument: Buying ETH on an exchange and then withdrawing it to your wallet every single time you need to buy something or make a transaction is not rational. Doing thousands of small ETH buys & withdrawals adds more friction and is more costly than doing a single ETH buy & withdrawal. It can also be a UX nightmare. If people are using Ethereum frequently, in most cases it's easier to just hold a balance in their wallet. Just like they hold fiat money in their wallet for regular use. + +---- + +Alright. I think I've addressed what I consider to be the weaker arguments. Here's the only argument that I think is worth debating, because it's the only one that asks questions we don't have answers to yet. + +**Usage** + +Argument: While ETH has multiple real use cases and the network sees billions of daily requests and hundreds of millions in economic activity, the total aggregate usage might turn out to be not enough to justify a really high valuation. How much fundraising do you need? If only a billion dollars is raised per year through ETH, will that be enough? If a hundred thousand users check their favourite dapps every day (e.g. the equivalent of page views, not transactions), is the ETH they initially bought and used going to be enough? How often do these users "top-off" their accounts? How often do they buy more ETH? How much are they buying every month to meet their needs? Are they doing several small transactions or a few large ones? Is that enough? Is the use of stablecoins eating into the use of ETH as a reserve currency? Do people think of their ETH wallets as savings or investments? + +These are all the questions that I think about regularly. I don't have answers to them because it's still too early. I don't think we can know until after a whole bunch of high quality projects have built up reasonable user bases. Then if those bases don't provide the numbers required to keep buy pressure on ETH, well, then we'll have our answer. +I had five packages from Victoria’s Secret show up at my house, but I didn’t order them and don’t shop there. They have my name and address on them. + +I opened one to see the invoice and called their customer service. They confirmed my address and name on the order but the phone number and email address didn’t match mine. They wouldn’t tell me what they were either since I couldn’t verify what they had on file. I opened a second package and it had the same phone number on the order, but a different email. + +I didn’t open the other packages because they said I’d probably just need to take them back to a local store. I asked to speak with the fraud department because I was concerned that they had opened a Victoria’s Secret credit card in my name. The fraud people confirmed that all of the orders were placed with a Visa card. They told me the last 4 digits and it didn’t match any of my cards. They also said there were a lot of orders using that same phone number that was used on the orders that came to me. + +I’ve ran a credit report and found nothing out of the ordinary and couldn’t find any charges on any of my accounts. + +So what’s the end game here? What was the point of doing this if they didn’t get the merchandise? It was expensive stuff, like $60 and $80 bras for the ones I opened, and they were vastly different sizes. + +The only thing that I could come up with was that maybe it was a stolen card and the person lives near me and didn’t want to ship to their own house, so they were hoping to swipe my mail before I checked it? +Instead of spending 10 minutes talking about your technical issues, maybe you can do a segment on: + + + +1) How price discovery, and supply and demand, are supposed to work when 70 million $GME shares (and counting!) have been moved from Beneficially-owned shares (Cede and Co) to Registered-ownership shares due to Direct Registration (DRS) + + + +2) How the DTCC committed international securities fraud by mishandling the $GME stock split VIA DIVIDEND. + + + +3) Say Superstonk - I dare you + + + + +🖕😁🖕 + + + + + +💎🙌🦍🚀 + + +Edit1 - 70 million shares derp! + +Edit2 - My first self harm message!! You guys shouldn’t have!!! 🙃🙂🙃🙂🫰 + + +Edit3 - Holy monkee balls thanks for the awards lol!! Didn’t think this would get any traction!! Now it’s leaving skid marks in Cramer’s tighty whities! +Title says it all. I'm currently working as a legal assistant at a small legal services company for $15/ho. I've essentially plateaued there and have been searching for new positions elsewhere. I'm currently in-line for a job making $20/ho at a loan company, but there's no guarantee that I got it. Even if I do, It's only one small step forward. + +Cost of living here is very high, and as such, I'm still living at home. I save about $1,000 to $1,500 a month, and currently have $10,500 in the bank. My goal is to be able to save enough for a down payment on a home within the next 2-3 years. I have excellent credit, with a current score of 788. + +I have several paths from here I can take. Military and law enforcement are constants, but both have pretty big negatives. Military would remove me from my home and my family, and law enforcement is difficult to get into, especially with five traffic tickets on my record in the last few years. + +Going back to school is another big step I want to take, but there are so many options, with so few ways to know which will pay off the best. I have a BA in English from the Cal State University program, which is largely useless, and it's preventing me from being able to go back into a Bachelor's program. As such, I would need to either get into a trade school or an AA program. I've considered paralegal, computer science, and business, while leaning pretty heavily towards computer science. + +I also intend to start making use of Khan Academy and other free resources to build a knowledge database for business and programming, but have no idea how applicable my accomplishments with those programs will be for getting a job. + +Please offer me any advice, big or small. I welcome all of it. Feeling like I've wasted my life up to now and have no idea where to go. +**Background:** 36 years old, married, 3 kids, Manager role at work typical 9-5 job. + +Have a sizable amount of liquid funds sitting idle. I personally believe the market is extremely overextended, after going literally straight up for 10+ years. Realizing that markets can stay irrational for much longer due to the fed pumping liquidity and low interest rates, I figured I can start to dabble into the wheel strategy. + +I started over Christmas break reading a bunch about the wheel strategy and found this subreddit. Watched a bunch of videos on YouTube to get educated. Many thanks to youtuber Inthemoney, I found his content the most intuitive to understand. At first the theta strategy seemed way over my head, but after watching and reading things over and over it started to come together. + +Over the week of Jan 4th I started to deposit funds from my bank account to ToS. I did a few deposits totaling $95k. It took a little bit for the funds to settle for options trading, so figure I had all funds ready by Jan 10th. + +**Strategy**: My primary trading strategy is selling CSP’s, 30-45 days out with the objective of not getting assigned. I’m still getting my bearings, but I’ve tried to sell deep OTM puts on good underlying’s. Targeting 20ish delta. See image of tickers I’ve been using. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/j3giczf2goi61.jpg?width=576&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16b504dedf0ec3fd24aa51e013c1c6f88c0bb585 + +**\*\*Note** I upgraded my TOS account two weeks ago, so for whatever reason my trading history prior was wiped out. + +To determine when I enter a trade, I use TA support/resistance and RSI. So far its working well, but could be better. Anyone recommend other indicators that work well? I also found weekly expected move for doing FD’s. + +**Results:** After 1 month Start: 95,000k. End: $97,190 Gain: $2,190. Monthly increase: 2.3%. I know this is over probably 5 weeks, but I don’t recall making any trades the first week I could trade options. + +**Proof:** + +https://preview.redd.it/ehmd5em5goi61.jpg?width=401&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3083b37262e73c4cbe3d177ca36f5598cc84c24a + +&#x200B; + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/an48wc5bgoi61.jpg?width=409&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f02612756a8bfd552f804143041f54d503dee27 + +**\*\*Note** my profit number isn’t accurate. I upgraded my ToS account and it wiped out my initial trade history and profits for whatever reason. + +**Initial Learnings**: It’s hard to prepare for the “wait” with the CSP’s. All the YouTube videos make it seem quicker to collect premium than it really is. I find that I’m looking over my account way more than I probably should. I need to work on this. + +**Mistakes** I have had a few big mistakes that thankfully didn’t bite me in the ass. Here are the ones that hopefully the new users don’t make. + +**(1)** Not legging into a trade. Let’s be honest, timing a trade perfectly is almost impossible. If you know you want to trade 10 contracts on an underlying. Nothing worse than going all in and next day you are -20%. + +**(2)** Chasing a tanking stock. UWMC crew represent. I kept adding CSP’s to this piece of shit stock and it continued to tank. I could have used those funds on other stocks that could have actually made me money. At the peak, I had 45 contracts, accounting for almost 50% of my account. UWMC went up intraday a week or so ago and I was able to get out of the trade flat. From now on, I can sleep well at night knowing 1 or 2 contracts are -75%. + +**Help from the group**\*\*.\*\* + +**(1)** I am really struggling with letting time work its thing with CSPs. I seem to get to 20% profits decently quickly on my trades, sometimes with 35-30 days left to expire and close. I get antsy and move on to something else. My trades are going well, and I fear jumping into something else and it turn into a bad trade and turn the prior winning trade into a wash. How do I break this habit? + +In addition, I think I fuel this habit by frequently open all my trades at once (with exact DTE), and close all at once. I need to turn it opening a few at different times, which will result in closing at different times as the options get to 20 DTE. + +**(2)** Since starting thetagang, I’m tending to hawk over my account constantly. How do you guys make this more passive? I don’t want this to distract me from my main income (job). +I see a lot of discussions on where the best bank to park your cash is, who has the best interest rates etc. I rarely see anyone mention treasury direct as an option. It’s the website to buy treasury securities from the US government directly. The website is easy to use and navigate, setting up an account takes 5 minutes, and links directly to your pre existing bank account. 4 week tbills are currently yielding over 2.4%, which is more than you can get pretty much anywhere else. For cash management purposes I would highly recommend checking it out, especially if you’re saving for something like a house and can’t take any risk. They offer automatic reinvestments for up to two years at a time than you can Vance whenever you want, and the website does a great job of explaining everything for you. If you’re concerned about having your money locked up for 4 weeks at a time, you can split the money into 1/4s and buy the auction each week, set them to auto reinvest and if you end up needing the money stop the auto reinvestments and the cash will be deposited back into your bank account at the end of the term. + +There are no fees, and no minimums, All your money stays in your current bank and is withdrawn when you purchase a security. Proceeds from maturity are automatically sent back to your bank unless you reinvest. Plus it’s the US government so you don’t have to worry about who you’re doing business with, or have to keep searching and switching banks to find the best rates. +&#x200B; + +&#x200B; + +https://i.redd.it/90owxk1korl71.gif + +We have received reliable information indicating and impending coordinated campaign targeting our subreddit to push a proprietary crypto. Forgive me for being vague here but I don't want to give them any unnecessary attention. We have added new automod filters to help nip this in the bud but expect attempts to circumvent it and private messages to show up in your inbox. + + +&#x200B; + +https://i.redd.it/ffyoujamorl71.gif + +You all are veterans at this point and all make the independent decisions in what you invest it. Just know that nefariously coordinated pitches like this are often not what they seem. We also have good reason to believe the people behind this campaign have attempted phishing campaigns as well. These aren't your normal spammers. They are familiar with ape terminology and posting habits. Increased vigilance is highly recommended. + +EDIT: to be clear, as far as we know this campaign has not begun on SuperStonk yet. It is still in the planning phase. I apologize if that was not clear in my post. We were lucky enough to catch this before it happened. The specific nature of this campaign and it's organization is what's prompted me to make this post. +What is the best software or easiest way for tenants to pay rent? I own a few single family rentals and they’re all paying with different methods right now. What’s most efficient and something ideally where you can setup autopay. +I replied with this to a daily thread message but deleted it because it came out sounding really mean to the guy, but I think it needs to be said. I've seen this idea said a few times since Superstonk's birth and I always wanted to say something but didn't. + +- + +Honestly, it's egocentric imo to think this won't happen because things like this don't happen to you. A group of abusive and corrupt trader's over shorted a company that was failing during a pandemic in the hopes it would die. Instead, a team of the greatest business minds on Earth took over their board (the chairman is the man who proved good customer service in a specialized sector beats Amazon, oh and the CEO basically built Amazon in Austrailia from the ground up and knows how to do it again) and they now have enough cash to operate for years, new warehouses and a door dash same-day delivery partnership, and no debt at all. + +You do not factor into this (other than any impact your buy/sell pressure may bring). You aren't so 'unlucky' (whatever that even means) that reality will bend around you. + +Shorts are in a death spiral and retail realized it. That's it. It's that simple. +I always remember the Bill Gates AMA and someone asked what is your “rich guy thing?” and IIRC he said he had an unnecessary trampoline park in his house because it makes him and his family happy. + +What luxuries do you know you massively overspend (or overspent) on - but you do (or did so) because it brings joy and happiness into your life? + +Edit: UKPF loves spending money on watches, bicycles and wine +With pandemic and work from home, I finally have a work life balance. I can be present and do a lot of volunteer activities with my son’s school and *gasp* walk my dogs everyday. + +For the 2nd time in my life, I don’t wish the time away. It used to be that I always look forward like “the next better paying job”, “ the next vacation”, “to be a mom” etc and just put up/endure the daily grind. + +I looked at my son this morning and it just hit me how grown up he has become. I am cherishing every moment and don’t want the time to go by. + +This only happened to me twice. Once when I gave birth to him (and 7 months off from work) and now. + +So for those who already fatFIRE, are you more present or you are still wishing the time away? I imagine you should be more present, yes? +**Before You Read:** This is part of an ongoing series on the basics of options trading and valuation, focusing on stock options. This is the second post in the series. You do not need to read the first part for this part to make sense, but if you are not familiar with the concept of equity, you may find it helpful. + +The first post, which goes over the concept of equity, can be found here: + +[https://www.reddit.com/r/investing/comments/fdx8tw/options\_basics\_what\_is\_equity\_and\_why\_should\_i/](https://www.reddit.com/r/investing/comments/fdx8tw/options_basics_what_is_equity_and_why_should_i/) + +This post will explain what put and call options are. From there, it will delve into our first valuation and trading concept, which has to do with volatility as the title suggests. There is an opportunity to apply your knowledge at the end. + +This is a bit of a long post because it introduces a lot of new concepts. I will try to make subsequent posts shorter. I suggest taking a break and coming back to this post later if you start to get tired or confused. You can take this in bites, so no need to swallow it like a snake. + +**Puts and Calls** + +**A put is the right, but not the obligation, to sell an asset for a specific price.** The asset the put holder has a right to sell is called the **“underlying.”** The price at which the put option allows the option holder to sell is called the **“strike.”** Put options have an **expiration date**, after which they cannot be exercised, which is to say you owner of the put option can no longer invoke their right to sell after the option has expired. Now, let’s put it all together into once sentence: **When a person trades a put option, they are trading the right to sell the underlying at the strike price, subject to the eventual expiration.** + +That sounds great, but how could the right to sell something at a certain price be valuable? At this point, you need to have a notion of what “market price” means. Let’s review for a moment before we dive in, using stocks as an example. When you trade a stock, you buy or sell that stock based on an agreed upon price. Traders can bid (offer to purchase) or “ask” (offer to sell) a stock at any price, but only when one trader’s bid to buy is higher than another trader’s ask to sell does a trade actually occur. That point of overlap is called the “market price.” In reality, the bid involved will end up being slightly higher than the ask, and a series of financial institutions ultimately make their money by pocketing the difference, but for our purposes, we’ll say that the market price is just where bids and asks collide. For our purposes, we may also refer to the market price as the “spot price” for now. Either term is fine for the moment. + +**Puts have value because the strike price of a put may be different than the market price of the underlying.** For example, if you own a put with a strike of $5, and the underlying has a market price of $3, you have the right to buy the underlying for $3, and then turn around and exercise that put to sell the underlying to collect $5, ultimately making $2 of profit. That $2 is called the “intrinsic value” of the put option. **The intrinsic value of an option is how much you could theoretically profit at a given moment if you exercise it.** + +Here is another way to look at intrinsic value: at the very moment when the option is just about to expire, and there is not enough time for the underlying price to change before expiration, the option would be worth $2. In other words, the option holder could theoretically sell their option and collect $2 instead of exercising it. Why an option holder might choose to sell rather than exercise an option will become clear as you read this series. What it comes down to is that the amount you can sell an option for may be greater than the amount you could stand to profit by exercising it. In other words, **an option may be worth more than its intrinsic value except at the exact moment of expiration**; just how is discussed later in this post. + +For now though, it’s alright to be content with the notion that put options have value and that an option holder may choose to sell a put option rather than exercise it. Remember, the definition; a put is “the right, but *not* the obligation” to sell. + +Now, let’s define call options, using what we have learned about puts: **A call option is the right, but not the obligation to buy (not sell) an underlying asset at a strike price, subject to expiration.** It should come as little surprise that call options also have value for reasons similar to put options. See for yourself. **Question 1:** if you had a call option with a strike of $5, and the underlying had a market price of $10, how much could you profit by exercising your call option to buy the underlying and then turning around and selling the underlying on the market? I’ll put the answer at the end of this post. + +**Remember, calls let you buy at the strike. Puts let you sell at the strike.** + +Like put options, call options can be traded, their intrinsic value is based on the difference between the strike price and the market price of the underlying, and they may be worth more than their intrinsic value except at the moment they expire. + +Let’s recap: puts are a right to sell, and calls are a right to buy. One good way to remember it is to imagine the underlying were a dog; if you call the dog, it will come to you. Puts and calls can both be exercised or traded. The option holder gets to decide if they want to exercise or trade, but the option can’t be exercised after it expires. Depending on the price of the underlying, exercising can lead to profits, and that possibility is why options have value. + +We will now go over what can cause an option to trade for more than its intrinsic value. There are a few variables that can affect options valuation. We have mentioned two so far; 1) the strike price of the option and 2) the market price of the underlying. Volatility is the first one we will go over (later in this post) because it is the easiest to understand given only the strike and the spot. In future posts, we will go over the role of the time left until expiration and the role of prevailing interest rates; specifically something called the “riskless rate,” or “rf” for short. There are other variables that can be incorporated into options pricing models, but we will not address them until we have gone over at least two models that deal with these first five. + +To be clear, we are building up to being able to use 2 models that both incorporate five key variables, and you’ll be able to use 3 of the variables a simplified version of one of the two models by the end of this post. The key variables are, as previously stated: + +1. The strike of the option, which we will call “K” + +2. The market price of the underlying, which we will call “S.” S stands for “spot,” which for now we will just say is another name for the market price. + +3. The volatility of the spot price + +4. The time left until the option expires + +5. The “riskless rate” briefly mentioned above + +K and S determine intrinsic value. The other variables deal more with what we call “time value.” + +**Intrinsic Value versus Time Value** + +Let’s consider a call option with a strike of $8 (K=$8). Let’s say the market price or spot price is $9 (S = $9). If you were to exercise at that moment, you would make exactly $1 in profit (intrinsic value = $1 because $9 - $8 = $1). This uses the same logic we went over above. If you don’t get it, try doing Question 1, asking for help in the comments, or DMing me. + +But what if we knew that the price of the underlying (S) could change? For simplicity’s sake, we’ll assume for now that S can change exactly once before expiration. We’ll also assume that, when S does change, it will change to either $6 (go down by $3) or $12 (go up by $3), and there is a 50% chance of each of those possible changes happening. Finally, we’ll assume that the change is about to occur this instant, so no time will pass before the single change, and the change will happen instantly. This is a lot to assume, but the assumptions will become less ridiculous as we are variables to our model. + +If S goes to $12, intrinsic value would become $4 because $12 - $8 = $4. If S goes down to $6, the call is worth $0. Why is it not worth $-2? Remember, a call option is the right, but **not the obligation** to buy the underlying at the strike, so the option holder does not need to buy the underlying for $8 when the spot price is at $6; they can just decide not to exercise the option and let it expire worthless. + +Let’s recap: There is a 50% change the option will be worth $4 at expiration and a 50% chance it will be worth $0 at expiration. The option has $1 of intrinsic value right now. It also has what practitioners call “time value,” which is the value of the chance of the option having intrinsic value later. This time value is not to be confused with “the time value of money” which is a different concept. + +Let’s see how much time value this option has, starting with the single most important fact about option valuation: **The total value of an option is a function of its probability weighted future payoffs.** In this case, to find that total value, you multiply the value of each outcome by the likelihood it will happen. 50%\*$4 + 50%\*$0 = $2, so the total value of the option is $2. Subtract the intrinsic value of $1 from the total value, and you get $1 of time value. + +Before we do another example, this time with a put option, let’s quickly examine why it is worth breaking out the value of an option into intrinsic value versus time value. As I implied, **total option value = time value + intrinsic value**, and intrinsic value is S-K (spot – strike) for a call option and K-S (strike – spot) for a put option. You may recall I said that the one time an option’s total value is equal to its intrinsic value is at the moment of expiration because the underlying spot price has no time left to change. The implication here is that if total value approximates intrinsic value as the option nears expiration, then time value ultimately decreases to $0. Describing mathematically how the time value changes over time and eventually gets to $0 will require all five variables in either of our models – so that’s something to look forward to. For now, just be aware that this feature of options valuation exists. + +Let’s take the simplified model we have already used to value a call and apply it to value a put option. I’m going to start using the variables without restating what they mean at this point. You will want to be comfortable with them by the time we get to a full model. + +Consider this put: K=7. S=10. The spot can either become $3 or $17 using the same assumptions about changes in the spot that we made for the call option valuation above. Let’s check out the total valuation first. If the price goes down to $3, it will be $4 below K, so intrinsic value would be $4. If the price of the stock goes up to $17, the intrinsic value of the option would be $0 because $17>$7. Now, let’s add it up: 50%\*$4 + 50%\*$0 = $2, so the option is worth $2. How much of that is intrinsic value? Well, S>K to start with, so the option starts with no intrinsic value. Therefore, all $2 are from time value. + +A little more terminology before we continue. **The relationship between a strike price and a spot price is called “moneyness.”** Remember how intrinsic value was $0 when the strike was below the spot for a put or above the spot for a call? **Intrinsic value cannot be negative, but moneyness can**. So a call with S = $3 and K = $5 would have a moneyness of $-2. If moneyness is positive, an option is said to be “in the money” or “ITM.” If you’re familiar with the musical *42nd Street*, you can remember this because being in the money is a very good thing. If moneyness is negative, the option is “out of the money” + or “OTM.” If moneyness is exactly $0, the option is “at the money” or “ATM.” This terminology will come in handy later when we start talking about actual trades. Let’s test our knowledge so far: + +**Question 2:** An option has a moneyness of $-2 and S>K. Is it a call or a put? Answer shown at end of post. Can the option still be worth more than $0? How much of that value would be intrinsic value versus time value? + +The relationship between moneyness and intrinsic value results in a special relationship between total option value and the spot price of the underlying. + +Thank you for staying with me so far by the way. I know this is a lot. + +**Volatility and Option Value** + +You may have already noticed that an option’s intrinsic value can be expressed as a function of moneyness. Namely, if moneyness is at least 0, then intrinsic value = moneyness. This idea is powerful because it applies to both puts and calls. + +Now consider that if moneyness is not greater than 0, intrinsic value does not change as moneyness decreases further because it just stays at 0. In other words, whether moneyness is -3 or -10,000, intrinsic value is 0. However, if moneyness is at least 0, then as moneyness increases, intrinsic value increases as we stated before. If we put these two ideas together, we see that **the relationship between moneyness and intrinsic value is asymmetrical around 0. In other words, options have an asymmetric payoff function.** + +Now let’s think of this in terms of volatility: all else being equal, a more volatile underlying asset price has more potential to cause an option to expire further in the money or further out of the money. Another way of saying this is that greater volatility leads to a greater chance of a higher absolute value of moneyness at expiration. Since intrinsic value can’t get any lower once it hits 0, higher volatility can raise the maximum intrinsic value an option can have at expiration up to infinity, but cannot lower the minimum intrinsic value below 0. So, under the model we have been using, if an option can already end up with $0 of intrinsic value, volatility can only help option value, not hurt it, from there. Later, when we get to the Black Scholes model, we will see that volatility is virtually always is accretive to total option value, but for now we will stick to easy examples where options have a high potential to expire OTM. + +For the purposes of an example, we’ll introduce one new term; σ (pronounced “sigma”). σ a parameter used to express volatility. Some readers may notice that σ is used to denote standard deviation in statistics. The idea is similar here. For this model, σ will denote the amount by which S can move up or down during the single change that occurs before option expiration. So if S is 0 to start with and can move to 4 or -4, then σ = 4. **Later on, we will express σ as a %, indicating a rate of change, but we are keeping it simple for now.** + +Consider a call option with the following parameters using the model we have been using so far: K=25, S=20, σ=10. We know S can end up being either 30 (20+10) or 10 (20-10), which means the intrinsic value of the call will be either 5 (30-25) or 0 (because 10<25), which means that value of the option now is 2.5. + +Now let’s try decreasing sigma to 7. Now S can now be either 27 or 13 at expiration, which means intrinsic value is going to end up being either 2 or 0, which means the option’s value is 1. Notice how lowering σ decreased total option value. + +Now, let’s increase sigma dramatically to 15. S at expiration will either be 35 or 5, so intrinsic value at expiration with either be 10 or 0, which means the total value of the call option is 5. + +Feel free to try this with as many puts and calls as you want. You will observe that as long as the option isn’t so far in the money that S-σ>K for a call or S+ σ<K for a put, an increase in σ can never decrease option value, and as long as S has the potential to change such that the option may expire OTM or ATM, an increase in volatility will always increase total option value. + +**Congratulations: you now understand the basic idea of how options prices relate to the volatility of the underlying asset, and you can express it using a simple options pricing model. (It’s a simplified version of the “binomial model” for readers that want to put a name on it.)** + +You may be wondering how markets determine volatility in the first place. When options trade on the market, the value that the options trade for can be used to determine the σ implied by the trade. For example, if we are using the model we’ve used above, a call option worth $3 where S starts at $5 and K is $4, must have an implied σ of $5. No other σ would produce that total option value. + +In the real world, the implied level of volatility is typically expressed as a % and refers to the standard deviation of the change in S over the course of a year. The model used to calculate implied volatility is typically the Black Scholes model, which we can easily learn once we are able to use all 5 variables in the binomial model. The implied value of σ given an option’s price based on the Black Scholes model is called Implied Volatility or “IV”. We will deal with IV more later. For now, just think of it as the market’s best guess at σ. + +The idea of IV does, however, bring up something we can use now; the IV of an option trading on the market is an estimation collectively arrived at by traders. **IV does not necessarily represent how much S will actually change because the market cannot psychically tell the future.** In other words, the market tries to calculate an appropriate value for σ, but often comes up with something that isn’t subsequently reflected in the actual behavior of the underlying. They get it “wrong,” in a way, and if you watch an option for a while, you’ll observe IV constantly changing. + +There is a way to try to make money from this theory: **If you think σ based on the actual future behavior of the stock will be too high or too low to justify the value at which an option currently trades, you may have a trading opportunity.** + +In that light, let’s do our first imaginary trade. To up the ante, **I’ll give gold to the first person who gets this right and posts the answer in the comments:** Let’s say you think the σ of an asset is going to be $10 based on the model we have used in the previous examples. You look at the option chain (the list of options available on the asset), and you see the options below. You decide you are going to buy one option. Which do you buy, and why? + +S = $25 + +**Calls** + +K = $35 Price = $1.00 + +K = $30 Price = $2.50 + +K = $25 Price = $3.50 + +K = $20 Price = $5.00 + +**Puts** + +K = $30 Price = $3.50 + +K= $25 Price = $2.00 + +K = $20 Price = $1 + +K = $15 Price = $0.5 + +***Supplemental:*** + +***Bid Ask Spread:*** *The difference between the highest bid (offer to buy something) and the lowest ask (offer to sell something) is called the “bid ask spread.” The smaller the bid ask spread is, the more trades usually occur because small spreads imply there is less of a disagreement, measurable in price, between buyers and sellers. This small disagreement means only a small change in the bid or the ask is necessary to make a trade happen.* + +***To Whom Do You Buy or Sell When You Exercise an Option?*** *Ultimately, financial responsibility will fall on the person who wrote (originated or originally sold) the option, but your broker and a group called a “clearing house” are the ones who ensure that a transaction actually occurs when you exercise your option. The important thing to remember is that you do not take counter party risk from the person who wrote the option. That is to say, the person who wrote the option can’t simply refuse to honor their agreement and cheat you. If they try, you’ll still get to profit (to the extent appropriate) when you exercise your option because of the clearing house. The writer becomes their broker’s problem (and eventually law enforcement’s problem) – not yours. Keep an eye out for a post about “assignment” or look up “assignment and clearing houses,” for further reading.* + +***Answers to Practice Questions*** + +***Question 1: $5.You exercise to buy for $5, and then you sell in the market for $10.*** + +***Question 2: It’s a put, and it can be worth more than $0 if it has any time value. It has no intrinsic value.*** +My husband and I are currently living in an apartment with our 1.5 year old daughter. We are debt free—no student loans, no car payments. My husband makes 52k/year before health insurance/taxes/401k. + +I’m currently a stay-at-home mom, but I’m looking for nanny jobs so I can work and keep our daughter with me and bring in some extra money. + +We would like to buy a home within the next couple of years—before our daughter starts school and before one of our cars dies and we end up with a car payment again. + +We have 13k in savings so far. + +We are wondering how much home we can afford that would keep our monthly payments around $1,000–including fees and taxes. + +I know there’s a first-time homebuyers thing—but idk how it works or if it’s really beneficial or not. + +I’m not sure if that covers everything or not, feel free to ask any other clarifying questions and thanks in advance for any advice! +Right now, at 55.85% FREE FLOAT DRS, apes are literally ONLY 18.25% away from reaching this mythical number. +Just realize how far we’ve come. It’s absolutely incredible. Slowly and surely we’re moving to higher and higher numbers of DRS. IT’S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. +We are LITERALLY making history by simply registering shares in OUR fucking name. +What happens at 74.1%? WE MOVE ON TO 100%! + +I don’t know about you guys but I feel fucking hyped about watching DRS move HIGHER AND HIGHER! Just wanted to move into the weekend with a bang and motivational post. I salute ALL OF YOU! + +Have a great weekend Apes! +I've been having some really frustrating experiences with Quantopian, and I wanted to see what people think about it on here (recently, at least). I purchased a premium dataset that gave me access to some dividend datasets. Great, but my first frustration came when, for whatever reason, I couldn't pipe this data into the backtest. I could use it in a "research" setting, but this decision seemed arbitrary. + +Whatever. + +Then I found that for my basket of stocks, there was actually some data missing in the pay dates for a few of them. I had to manually go in and add these missing dates. When I pinged tech support for this, they simply never responded and it has been a week. + +What's most frustrating though is the simple fact that I can't change certain immutable variables in the backtest. I can't account for paying taxes on capital gains each time I sell a position, I can't remove payment dividends without manually programming this in (which only works some of the time, and I certainly can't pipeline this data from the dataset I purchased, I had to manually create dictionaries to do this...). + +The rules seem arbitrary, the forum community seems dead, and there seems to be very little interaction with or effort from the Quantopian team. + +I'm ready to move on to the next thing. I know Quantconnect is apparently the next big thing, but I wanted to see if anyone had other opinions about what I should use. I do have a budget if there is software/premium services that I need to purchase. I just need some direction. + +Thanks! +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +*** + +Thread guidelines: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/) apply here so please be familiar with them. + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +https://finance.yahoo.com/news/chipmakers-struggle-inventory-buildup-pandemic-123442063.html + +> - Pandemic recovery, rising interest rates, a falling stock market, and recession fears have weakened consumer appetite for electronics. +> - However, the industry expected chip sales to double by 2030, surpassing $1 trillion globally. Micron eyed a facility in upstate New York that could cost up to $100 billion, partly funded by U.S. government incentives. +Me and my GF (both 28 yo, combined gross income 185k, living in Ontario). We’ve been passively house hunting for over a year now and stumbled on a house that’s in a very desirable area at a listing price of 500k - however the caveat is that some one just passed away in the home and it needs minor renovations to be liveable, major renovations to be the dream home. + +With a 20% down payment, I’ve compared what our mortgage would look like and what we could get for the house as a rental and the numbers make sense to us. That being said, we both live in a rental right now and aren’t sure how purchasing would impede our +opportunity to buy our home. + +Our first concern is that we would loose our savings for a down payment. Second concern, we won’t be able to get a mortgage for the second home. + +Any insight into navigating buying a investment property before a home is much appreciated. +Hey guys, this isn't a dig at anyone, I just want to clarify a few inaccuracies about atobitt's new post - some have tried mentioning in the comments of the post itself but they got buried, and I don't think atobitt saw. I'm also not disagreeing with the idea of Bofa becoming insolvent. + +&#x200B; + +1. **The 1 trillion in high quality capital requirement isn't for individual banks**, it is a *1 trillion pool of money that all banks contribute funds to*. The minimum capital requirement stands at 4.5%, the stress capital buffer at least at 2.5%, and if applicable, the C-SIBs at least at 1.0% [Source.](https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20210805a.htm) For more details there is [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/q1csrw/banks_dont_need_1_trillion_cash_bankings/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share). +2. **The 75% likelihood of insolvency figure attributed to BofA is also false. Here it says it's actually** [less than 49%](https://www.macroaxis.com/invest/ratio/BAC/Probability-Of-Bankruptcy)**.** The 75% figure was seemingly to do with the ticker BAC-PD and not BAC itself. +3. One of the sources atobitt used ([here](https://franknez.com/bank-of-america-has-been-illegally-shorting-amc-stock/)) is from a site called [franknez.com](https://franknez.com), which is an amateur blog, which seems quite bias to me: + +[franknez.com homepage screenshot](https://preview.redd.it/clohr4kmujr71.png?width=731&format=png&auto=webp&s=b0d9bd5bc7cc84ee26192b7d65f8ea97630aa1bc) + +Be careful to take everything on board as fact apes. Again, no issue with atobitt, I like him. I just wanted to correct some errors in the post since it gained so much traction. + +&#x200B; + +**DRS. DRS. DRS. Not financial advice.** +Hey everyone, + +I live in Spain and have managed to save €12K over the last two years. Right now, it’s sitting in my current account but I want to start investing. + +Thing is, I’ve no idea which platform to use. + +Any advice? + +I currently have a few hundred invested in individual stocks with Revolut (was just messing around). +2 years ago, I was in a demanding well paid job (Sales Engineering) where despite the perks, pay and status I found myself often day dreaming about retiring to a tropical island and checking on my FIRE spread sheets to see how close I am. After a lot of soul searching, I decided to quit. Went on a mini retirement for a few months and switch to a much easier job I knew I could coast in at a 40% paycut. This is a follow up to [the original post I made at the time](https://www.reddit.com/r/financialindependence/comments/96jo5r/your_fire_obsession_may_be_a_symptom_of_stress/). + +&#x200B; + +That was hands down the best decision I have made for my quality of life. My outlook of life and future has changed rather dramatically since then but here is a brief list of things I did and lessons I learned: + +&#x200B; + +**TL;DR**: Mini-retirement and switch to lower stress role completely changed my outlook of work. I went from wanting to FIRE ASAP to wanting to go back to work and stay there. The change has persisted for 2 years now. I now no longer see myself ever fully retiring. I should be FI in about 6 years but I don't see it changing much in my life. + +&#x200B; + +**Events**: + +* Setting up 3 month mini retirement: After I quit my job and landed the new role, I realized I hadn't had more than a week off in my entire adult life. I decided it was foolish to plan the rest of my life to work for retirement but never even sample it. And man am I glad I did. I negotiated a delayed start date with my new manager. He had worked with me before and wanted me badly on the team so he agreed. +* First month off: During the first month off I did exactly the type of thing you'd expect someone released from the bondage of work to do. I flew across the country. Drove down the west cost all the way from Canada to San Diego and back, camped in national parks all the way through. Visited family and friends all over the country. +* Emulated retired living for 2 months: The next two months I intentionally tried not to treat my time off as a big vacation and use this time to learn how life would be after retirement. At first many of my days became really unproductive and overshadowed by a feeling of uselessness and slow decay. I usually have no trouble with motivation but I found myself struggling to do much more than play games all day in my PJs. This is when I learned that I have very different mindsets for when I want to get shit done and relax. In order to put myself in the right mindset I started to structure my days a little more. Wake up at a certain time and get a morning routine: shower, coffee, walk. Work on a few personal projects for a few hours to feel a sense of accomplishment. One thing that I started to miss a lot was the social contact at work. Seeing my friends frequently quickly became a very important part of my life during this time. +* New role (QA Engineer): My new role turned out to be exactly as relaxing as I had remembered. There is this implied social narrative that all jobs are equally challenging especially if they pay similarly. Nothing could be further from the truth. No one will openly admit they have an easy job. On top of the fact that very few people have had more than 1 serious career and thus have no accurate way of comparing to other positions. This is my third (did software development as well) and I can confirm that the level of overall stress and cost/benefit ratio between roles even in the same company can be drastically different. + +&#x200B; + +**Lessons learned**: + +* FIRE (specifically RE) fantasies were nothing more than sophisticated tools of escapism. Once I eliminated the main sources of stress from my job, I automatically stopped living in the future. It is an unhealthy way of not living in the present and living life to the fullest. +* Work provides a lot more than money for most people. Much more than people give it credit for and most of it unappreciated. It's also a major source of structure, socialization, challenges, recognition, sense of accomplishment, identity and sense of purpose. In it's absence, you have to recreate a lot of these things on your own except often not as successfully and without the money or motivation. +* Socialization outside of work is really difficult. If you already have a well established social circle and do not plan to move, you might be fine. But if you are planning on meeting people, it will become exceedingly difficult to form strong bonds. Strong bonds often require suffering shared negative experiences together. School and work have a natural way of doing just that. Recreating that when the baser needs are satisfied is much harder than it seems. +* Never settling for a stressful position. The only regret I have is me trying to hang on to positions that were actively hurting my health and not appreciating the amazing life experiences that were passing me by. The money I traded those experiences and my limited time on earth for, has already lost much of its significance. + +&#x200B; + +By the end of the 3 months I was aching to get back to my work routine. HR messed up my start date in the new position by pushing it forward a week and I was disappointed enough in it that I asked the manager to get it fixed so I can start when I wanted. +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +*** + +Thread guidelines: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/) apply here so please be familiar with them. + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +Your markets are run by bots. Now your Weekend threads are too[.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +Read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) people. + +[Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX\_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. You have been warned.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related.](https://discord.gg/wsNDGTf5QH) +This dapp seems to have gained popularity today and I was reading the source code today to see how it works and to make sure it's secure but instead I discovered what looks to be a waterfall styled pyramid/ponzi scheme. + +I will preface my warning with this: the following below is my own analysis of the smart contract on which this dapp runs. I am not your investment advisor and you should form your own opinion about this project. I will outline my observations below and explain what evidence I see towards why this is a pyramid or ponzi scheme and then you can go forth and do with your ether as you wish. + +So if you review the project source code you can observe a definite waterfall scheme going on here: + +https://etherscan.io/address/0xef8a560fa19f26982c27c78101545b8fe3018237#code + +the first sign of trouble is the `earnings` property which exists for each type of tank: + +`uint256 earning; // The amount of earning each owner of this tank gets when someone buys this type of tank` + +So based on the snippet above it sounds like Bob first buys a tank, then Alice buys a tank and Bob then gets a cut from Alice's purchase? Lets read on and see... + + function cashOutTank (uint32 _tankID) public payable { + require (_tankID > 0 && _tankID < newIdTank); // Checking if the tank exists + require (tanks[_tankID].owner == msg.sender); // Checking if sender owns this tank + uint256 _amount = tankProducts[tanks[_tankID].productID].earning*(tankProducts[tanks[_tankID].productID].amountOfTanks-tanks[_tankID].lastCashoutIndex); + require (this.balance >= _amount); // Checking if this contract has enought money to pay + require (_amount > 0); + + if (tanks[_tankID].owner.send(_amount)){ // Sending funds and if the transaction is successful + tanks[_tankID].lastCashoutIndex = tankProducts[tanks[_tankID].productID].amountOfTanks; // Changing the amount of funds on the player's in-game balance + } + + EventCashOut (msg.sender, _amount); + return; + } + + +Ok so this function is interesting. You as a user can run this function and pass it a tank ID which you own. The function then sends you ETH based when it runs the line `tanks[_tankID].owner.send(_amount)`. But the line I'm more interested in, and what makes this truly a pyramid/ponzi scheme, is **this line**: + +`uint256 _amount = tankProducts[tanks[_tankID].productID].earning*(tankProducts[tanks[_tankID].productID].amountOfTanks-tanks[_tankID].lastCashoutIndex);` + +What this line is doing is determining the amount that you, the tank owner and caller of the function, are about to be paid out. The above line could be re-written to be better understood as: + +`moneyIGet = someConstantEachTankHas * numberOfPeopleWhoBoughtInAfterMe` + +so as you can see, if one person buys into this contract after you, then you would earn whatever value your tank was assigned. If two people buy into the contract you would earn twice the amount the value your tank was assigned. And, of course, when **you** bought into the contract, the folks who bought in before you were given the corresponding amount because you had just bought in. + +Reading the relevant section of [this publication](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1703.03779.pdf) on ponzi schemes on the blockchain, I believe the above scheme best resembles a **waterfall ponzi/pyramid scheme:** + +> divide each new investment among the already-joined users, starting from the first one. Each user receives a fixed percentage of what she has invested, as far as there is enough money. On the subsequent invest- ment, the division starts again from the first user. We show in Figure 5 an archetypal scheme of this kind, which is very close, e.g., to TreasureChest and PiggyBank. To join the scheme, a user sends msg.amount ether to the contract, hence triggering the fallback function at line 18. The contract re- quires a minimum fee of 1 ETH: if msg.amount is below this minimum, the user is rejected (line 19), otherwise, her address is inserted in the array (line 21-22), and the array length is incremented. The contract sends 10% of the received ether to its owner (line 25), and with the remaining ether, it tries to pay back some previous users. If the balance is enough to pay the first user in the array, then the contract sends to that user 6% of her original investment (lines 29-30). After that, the contract tries to pay the next user in the array, and so on, until the balance is enough. On the next investment, the array will be iterated again, starting from the first user. In this scheme, the amount given to each user is proportional to what she has invested. However, it may happen that those late in the queue will never get any money at all, even when new users continue to join. +[https://i.postimg.cc/ZqPMmZQC/ally.jpg](https://i.postimg.cc/ZqPMmZQC/ally.jpg) + +Just got this in an email and thought I'd share. They'd been waiving them automatically during the pandemic but have now made the change permanent. +Finally FTDs were released: [https://www.sec.gov/data/foiadocsfailsdatahtm](https://www.sec.gov/data/foiadocsfailsdatahtm) + +&#x200B; + +Numbers below...including GME's even though the result is not surprising. Increasing FTDs directly with GME would cause too much attention, so I've included the top ETFs with GME exposure with the number of shares held in the relative ETF sourced from [https://www.etf.com/stock/GME](https://www.etf.com/stock/GME) + +&#x200B; + +Just a note: Each reporting period is reflected in half month timeframes (ex. 1st half/2nd half). + +|*Ticker*|*Shares FTD (1st half Mar)*|*Previous FTD (2nd half Feb)*|*Previous FTD (1st half Feb)*|*Shares in ETF*| +|:-|:-|:-|:-|:-| +|GME|137,668 \[-72%\]|498,336 \[+106%\]|241,516|\-| +|IJH|178,142 \[+2,184%\]|7,799 \[+15%\]|6,739|1.75M| +|MDY|10,179 \[-82%\]|59,399 \[-80%\]|310,586|532.44k| +|VTI|196,571 \[+164%\]|74,295 \[+237%\]|21,994|414.91k| +|IJK|3,207 \[-95%\]|72,233 \[+508%\]|11,869|412.02k| +|VB|10,594 \[-96%\]|324,687 \[+16,183%\]|1,994|290.85k| +|XRT|2,840,439 \[+84%\]|1,536,339 \[-58%\]|3,666,706|34,898| +|IWB|95,112 \[+442%\]|17,533 \[+26%\]|13,846|45,949| + +**Edit:** *Just to make this huge jump more clear. Timeframe of this report is March 1st to March 15th. This is the same timeframe that GME started a decline from 125.87 to a low of 77.58.* + +&#x200B; + +**Edit 2:** *For a real in-depth analysis on IJH, check out* u/Mikeymikers0n *post:* [*https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/sufvav/introducing\_ijh\_the\_latest\_addition\_to\_the\_etf\_r/*](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/sufvav/introducing_ijh_the_latest_addition_to_the_etf_r/) *He covered IJH a month ago, BEFORE this huge jump in FTDs.* + +&#x200B; + +**Edit 3:** *Took a while till I had a moment...work. Just added XRT in, I only added the top 5 ETF's that held GME. Source of XRT GME holdings:* [*https://www.ssga.com/us/en/intermediary/etfs/funds/spdr-sp-retail-etf-xrt*](https://www.ssga.com/us/en/intermediary/etfs/funds/spdr-sp-retail-etf-xrt) + +&#x200B; + +**Edit 4:** *Added IWB Sourced from:* [*https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239707/ishares-russell-1000-etf*](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239707/ishares-russell-1000-etf)*, I didn't add some that held low amounts of GME even if their ETF had a high allocation to GME (ex. MEME). I am reading the comments so if you see one that should be added, just comment below.* +Hey y'all. saw this comment in another sub that i cant link to but it's quite important today as far as the options go... For those holding profitable options they can't fully exercise... + +An interesting take on exercising call options from IBKR Chairman Thomas Peterffy. + +[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq4jdShG\_PU&t=27s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq4jdShG_PU&t=27s) + +[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq4jdShG\_PU&t=312s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq4jdShG_PU&t=312s) + +Credit u/Mental_Celebration_2 + +Credit [u/69dantheman](https://www.reddit.com/u/69dantheman/) + +For those holding profitable options they can’t fully exercise: you can call your broker and execute an Exercise-to-cover. Your broker exercises the option and Simultaneously sells only enough shares to cover the exercise cost. This leaves you with shares remaining. This applies if your options are ITM + +Credit [u/not\_a\_meme\_farmer](https://www.reddit.com/u/not_a_meme_farmer/) + +At least from Fidelity it is called: “Initiate An Exercise-and-Sell-to-Cover Transaction” + +Exercise-and-Sell-to-Cover - [https://www.fidelity.com/products/stockoptions/exercise.shtml](https://www.fidelity.com/products/stockoptions/exercise.shtml) + +[https://preview.redd.it/5kxnazu1vcp81.jpg?width=753&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=53cd69e0650162458b376b0dc508b1499680e5bc](https://preview.redd.it/5kxnazu1vcp81.jpg?width=753&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=53cd69e0650162458b376b0dc508b1499680e5bc) + +&#x200B; + +EDIT: CONGRATS Y'ALL! BATTLE WON. CLOSED @ $151.95 +I’m 30 and have around 4M and am ready to stop grinding, but I can also keep going and reach probably 10M or 20M in next 5-10 years. + +But my concern is I can’t understand how my lifestyle would change going from 5m to 10-20m. Even now, I spend max 200k a year and this would be with a 2m house mortgage. + +At 10-20m levels, how do people even spend that much? What are some things they splurge on? + +Some things I can think of: +- 5m+ houses (10-20k/month mortgage) +- 500k yearly on travel? +- 500k on cars? +- 500k on expensive hobbies? + +Anything I may be missing? Ultimately, I want to figure out what I may be giving up by not pursuing a 10-20m net worth with 5-10 more years of grinding. +Buying a new property. 1 month into the process, I realize my real estate agent and mortgage broker that he referred me to, have pegged me as a real estate dummy and are working in collusion to extract maximum cash out of me with scam overpriced properties made by their developer friends. + +This is after I treated my real estate agent well and treated him to a $500+ dinner on our first day of showings. This actually makes me extremely angry that my real estate agent and broker is trying to scam me this hard after I've treated them with nothing but kindness. + +It just breaks my heart that you can treat people so well and give them the benefit of the doubt, and they just view you as a pile of money, and try to scam the maximum out of you. Short-term minded people. I'm relatively young, but I feel like I'm going to have to experience much more of this throughout my life unless I adopt the proper screening mechanisms for my service providers. + +How do you guys filter out the leech service providers out of your life who don't have your best interests at heart? +Needham: + +"Yesterday, at AMZN's devices and services event, AMZN announced Luna+, a $6/month (intro price) cloud gaming subscription competitor to Google's Stadia ($10/month), Microsoft xCloud($15/month), and EA's Origin Access ($15/month). **Although AMZN's content is inferior to competitors today, we expect its Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC) to be below competitors, thanks to its Twitch and AWS integrations.**" + +"We believe additional value from Luna+ comes from: a) building brand trust with the next generation (16-26 year olds); b) upside from sub revs, which are valued at 9x Rev vs AMZN's avg of 4x; and, c) a new rev stream using AWS & Twitch that raises AMZN’s barriers to entry." + +"**We calculate that AMZN's media revenue streams are worth nearly $600B, or about 40% of AMZN's total EV, suggesting these businesses are the most undervalued piece of AMZN.**" + +"Advertising's Hidden Value. The "hidden" value of AMZN's advertising's expected 50% y/y growth in FY21E is important because many public companies with comparable ad rev growth rates trade above 7x and up to 22x revs. We use an average of 14.5x EV/Rev." + +"Subscription Revs Hidden Value. Similarly, subscription revenue streams typically trade at much higher EV/Rev multiples than AMZN's core business, so anything that adds revenue in subscription silos grows AMZN's value faster, we believe. Consumer-facing subscription revenue is generally predictable, sticky, has upside optionality to add more rev/month over time, and has high switching costs and barriers to entry. As a consequence, many subscription business models trade at 7x-12x EV/Rev, well above AMZN's avg." + +"Luna. By implication, successful growth of subscriber revenue streams suggests faster upside valuation revisions for AMZN. A gating factor to this potential upside value driver is introducing new subscription services, like Luna." + +"Twitch and AWS Integrations Lower AMZN's Risks. AMZN's economic risks of Luna failing is lower than its competitors because it already owns the cloud servers required through AWS, and it also owns the dominant video game viewing platform in Twitch, which it is integrating into Luna. Both AWS and Twitch should lower Luna's CAC. Therefore, even if Luna fails, it should cost far less than other companies that don't already own cloud servers and a huge number of video gamers already spending hours per day on a sister-platform." +I started my renovation in the beginning of February. The contractor said they would need 45 days to complete the entire thing. It’s been 4 months, and I would say it’s close to 30% done. I follow up with him every week and ask for updates. And he always says “should have most of it completed in 2 weeks”. I’m a 4 hour drive away so I only go to check on it every month. We signed a contract and I’ve paid around 50% of the money already. Is there anything I can do? I already told him I’m planning to sell it end of June so it needs to be completed by then, and he says it’s not a problem but it doesn’t seem likely at this point. Is there anything I can do to speed things up? Or even terminate the contract? + +He’s also extremely slow at responding. I’ve asked for pictures about 5 times already over the past month and he hasn’t sent any. + +At this rate, I feel like it’ll take until 2023 at least. +Forgive me because I am trying to understand how all these retirement accounts work. My husband and I plan to buy a vacation/rental home down the road when we are in our early 60's (so in about 5-8 years). Rather than save for this purpose in a regular savings account can we increase our retirement contribution in our 401k to the maximum allowed and then withdraw funds (we will be past 59 1/2 by then) to use for vacation home purchase? +Hi there! I really *really* want to broaden my financial/trade knowledge. It might sound stupid but I don't even really know how ETF's work, how to read charts, what pitfalls to avoid, how to properly daytrade etc. Could anyone recommend me where to start? I guess its never too late? Cheers and thanks a lot! +If anyone could recommend some good books for a beginner looking to invest. I am living in the Czech Republic but I am a German national. I am 24 and have followed the first basic steps (budget, pay off any debts (apart from a UK student loan) and create an emergency fund). I am now looking to invest some money. I received some money from my grandparents when they died and I would like to invest it somewhere, the only problem is that I don't much about investing. + +*Tim Hale: Smarter investing, The Millionaire Next Door and A Random Walk Down Wall Street* are books that I have found from previous posts. +PRIORITY EDIT: Software engineer apes, what FEATURE STORIES would you write to build a platform like this? Let's put more pieces together, let's help them do this. LET'S BE THE NICER STACKOVERFLOW FOR THEM. + +Apologies for the clickbait-y title. + +Before you read further down this post, please give this a read first [https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/pmdr0c/how\_nft\_taking\_a\_step\_back\_to\_look\_at\_where\_we/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/pmdr0c/how_nft_taking_a_step_back_to_look_at_where_we/), otherwise the rest of this post won't make sense. + +The one thing that bothered me a lot in my last post was "where the hell is GameStop going to get a list of shareholders when we all know there is fuckery going on in DTCC", and in search for the answers for this question I discovered some *NEXT LEVEL TIT JACKING INFORMATION*. + +**MEGAPHONE SHOUT OUT TO** [**u/SurVVhyNot**](https://www.reddit.com/u/SurVVhyNot/)**,** [**u/Toxsic99**](https://www.reddit.com/u/Toxsic99/) **and** u/GMEJesus **for finding supporting evidence for this.** + +# Part 1: The role of a Transfer Agent + +Let's look at the role of Transfer Agent listed on Sec's official site here - [https://www.sec.gov/rules/concept/2015/34-76743.pdf](https://www.sec.gov/rules/concept/2015/34-76743.pdf) page 89-90 + +&#x200B; + +[TA is the recorder keeper for the issuer](https://preview.redd.it/oylbne50txn71.png?width=805&format=png&auto=webp&s=296caccc32e131b2ec006434d8485c714bf1a0c7) + +&#x200B; + +[They keep transfer history too](https://preview.redd.it/85evmxq2txn71.png?width=802&format=png&auto=webp&s=c8e8d7bdb369d0fc9b45312fef598a16cf8d2890) + +So, at this point we know ComputerShare is the Transfer Agent for GameStop. [Source 1](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001326380/000119312519170214/d762862dex99a1c.htm) from SEC + +&#x200B; + +[2021 proxy here https:\/\/gamestop.gcs-web.com\/node\/18846\/html?fbclid=IwAR3Dk8eBXhr68HkOdgqVt-OK6jbGjoRZ2c22s0SJiIgiv20qJgqL6nLzLis secion 9, page 11 ](https://preview.redd.it/uiro9l1ahyn71.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=82abc9a3a2464eb69bad8bb5499c75f6e2671a60) + +THANK YOU u/TOXSIC99 YOU'RE A LEGENDARY WIZARD + +&#x200B; + +This is a whitepaper I found on CS describing what they do as a TA [https://www.computershare.com/us/Documents/TA\_Overview\_WhitePaper.pdf](https://www.computershare.com/us/Documents/TA_Overview_WhitePaper.pdf) + +&#x200B; + +[Page 5](https://preview.redd.it/whnf0dkhuxn71.png?width=441&format=png&auto=webp&s=07c66d24eee20d4e334991e7317e0f87eefbf264) + +&#x200B; + +[Page 7](https://preview.redd.it/wn4kzb1juxn71.png?width=451&format=png&auto=webp&s=be539ff523071587592ee5b061db2d5c4d639f8f) + +Ok, so ComputerShare has the capability to do these things, that's good to know, how does this relate to MOASS? + +# Part 2: How did Overstock issue its digital dividend + +This was my hand on forehead moment - Dr. T and Wes Christian has mentioned Overstock in reference to battling naked shorting before, I thought, why not look into how they actually did it and how GameStop could do this? Here's the link to their website detailing this [https://www.overstock.com/dividend](https://www.overstock.com/dividend), they have basically laid out the plan for GameStop to follow. + +1. Type of dividend - in the case of Overstock, they're treating the dividend as a digital share with voting rights + +&#x200B; + +[A type of share, not just a token on the blockchain](https://preview.redd.it/fovcxu92wxn71.png?width=411&format=png&auto=webp&s=12ec40ba5d7abd2ab722f2dfea27f9ad6c7b9663) + +&#x200B; + +2. Where is it stored? + +[overstock has its own trading platform that's registered with SEC](https://preview.redd.it/ik8e2n4jwxn71.png?width=880&format=png&auto=webp&s=41e23de1e29818b861aeb761bc9d6cb9d78d9ce1) + +In their case, they have a platform that's registered with the SEC, which means they're thinking it in terms of shares and not just a token on the block chain. Huh, they also use ComputerShare as the Transfer Agent of said security. But wait, as a shareholder I can only buy shares through a subscriber to their platform, that appears to be a problem for the brokers who don't have the subscriber integration. + +&#x200B; + +3. What are some of the problems with taking the "digital security record keeping" approach? + +[it's just a ledger which allows no interactions, but hey remember in my last post i said they also need to package a wallet for us to receive them?](https://preview.redd.it/iqd41kp6yxn71.png?width=885&format=png&auto=webp&s=770a8cc3d1dadc1ef985851eae055452720bc34b) + +[https:\/\/irmagazine.com\/technology-social-media\/how-overstock-used-blockchain-distribute-its-digital-dividend](https://preview.redd.it/d6qphdfqyxn71.png?width=612&format=png&auto=webp&s=70dbb382de7254b405b8017f7a2b5443156f5a38) + +[cash is the only option when it comes to fractional shares in tZERO's approach, this is how they neutralized Overstock MOASS. this is the Achilles heel in this approach](https://preview.redd.it/286mzwshxxn71.png?width=879&format=png&auto=webp&s=c5b831c0a5bba4fdc6067c7465ac0e2ab8c4ee6c) + +&#x200B; + +# Part 3: How is GameStop going to solve these problems + +Again, [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/pmdr0c/how_nft_taking_a_step_back_to_look_at_where_we/) is required reading because this entire section is not going to make sense without it. + +GameStop is going to get a list of shareholders from CompusterShare since CS is the transfer agent. Cool, they have a list now but the majority of them are going to be under Cede & Co's name in CS's books ([see this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/ppcdrt/lets_be_thoughtful_this_is_in_regards_to_drs_and/hd4amn1/) discussion started by u/GMEJesus), but also let's take this directly from Sec's website (again) - [https://www.sec.gov/reportspubs/investor-publications/investorpubsholdsechtm.html](https://www.sec.gov/reportspubs/investor-publications/investorpubsholdsechtm.html) + +&#x200B; + +[when we hold shares in brokers they're the record keepers aka \\"street name\\" registration](https://preview.redd.it/xrkf9p7i1yn71.png?width=596&format=png&auto=webp&s=bddbed616362f653d2c8310baa365a2781fd8969) + +Didn't GME say something about this [in their prospectus](https://gamestop.gcs-web.com/node/18961/html#supprom192873_27)? + +&#x200B; + +[page 15](https://preview.redd.it/oehnkrmw3yn71.png?width=1281&format=png&auto=webp&s=4790cf28cc013a129c15880ea432b57dd1c6cec7) + +&#x200B; + +[also page 15](https://preview.redd.it/euauo8bebyn71.png?width=1265&format=png&auto=webp&s=0f0c24e90a3650e858b7948159f03ecf6e6eb15d) + +Cede & Co is going to have to figure out how to distribute those to shares held in their name, now, we know there is fuckery going on so how long will it take for those records to get reconciled? ***What happens when they can't reconcile those records?*** + +And, fractional shares, they're traded over ATS, how do we make sure they won't be issued like overstock's cash replacement? + +Enter CS's DIRECT STOCK PURCHASE. There has been so much fud in this area wrt what is considered a book entry. Let's look at the source material here [https://cda.computershare.com/Content/7e2c2c4c-aeb6-4614-83a3-b67e32756a78](https://cda.computershare.com/Content/7e2c2c4c-aeb6-4614-83a3-b67e32756a78) + +&#x200B; + +[their DRP \(think ATS\) allows direct register with fractional shares, it's book entry just like whole shares](https://preview.redd.it/rjkosub28yn71.png?width=376&format=png&auto=webp&s=bfc81d0e3bbd6e13c79074de3f21399a38d7d63d) + +# THIS IS WHY DRS MATTERS, because when you directly register your shares with CS, GameStop will be able to distribute them BYPASSING DTCC altogether and greatly reduce the turnaround time and ENSURE DATA ACCURACY (aka they have access to a vetted list of individual shareholders) regardless of whether you own whole or fractional shares. + +&#x200B; + +[same sec site https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/reportspubs\/investor-publications\/investorpubsholdsechtm.html \\"BOOKS OF THE COMPANY\\"](https://preview.redd.it/dz9gbslg5yn71.png?width=601&format=png&auto=webp&s=19122c17bad5b94cd88d932bf01eb5c778236916) + +&#x200B; + +[It says pretty much the same thing on Overstock's website https:\/\/www.overstock.com\/dividend, they integrated tZERO system with CS already imo](https://preview.redd.it/8hkrjumw5yn71.png?width=870&format=png&auto=webp&s=c958f033e34d137d0f66ac963547759f6736b3e0) + +GameStop is building the platform (think tZERO) that's going to solve the problem with (cash) fractional shares by creating fractional tokens with ERC-20 and ERC-721 that don't necessarily have to be considered as a form of tradable security (this point is debatable if you feel otherwise please leave a comment and let's explore this). The platform can be used as infrastructure for game trading at a later date (think aws). tZERO does one thing but this new platform can do SOOOO MUCH MORE. + +&#x200B; + +# TADR: The MOASS started the moment we began direct registering, WE ARE THE CATALYST. + +&#x200B; + +Edit 11: From Sec's page again [https://www.sec.gov/reportspubs/investor-publications/investorpubsholdsechtm.html](https://www.sec.gov/reportspubs/investor-publications/investorpubsholdsechtm.html) + +&#x200B; + +[so this is a limitation for DR, please also take this into consideration](https://preview.redd.it/surm0n7yazn71.png?width=603&format=png&auto=webp&s=088d41d47ccb2828c010f4a76fac42cf576ec3e2) + +Edit 12: apparently you can get a list of active brokers here [https://www.sec.gov/help/foiadocsbdfoiahtm.html](https://www.sec.gov/help/foiadocsbdfoiahtm.html) + +I checked out the September data and ***DID NOT SEE COMPUTERSHARE REGISTERED AS AN ACTIVE BROKER-DEALER with the sec.*** + +# + +# This is also not financial advice. + +Though isn't it amazing that tonight there are multiple posts that all link MOASS and DRS together? + +&#x200B; + +[in the very slim chance you missed this https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Superstonk\/comments\/pps2yj\/direct\_registering\_shares\_drs\_is\_the\_moass\_key\/](https://preview.redd.it/wtbfnhvw41o71.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5214e481d8522926f90c8942914f3ebc69be8e8b) + +\---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +&#x200B; + +Edit 6: Easter egg from Overstock's dividend page here? [https://www.overstock.com/dividend](https://www.overstock.com/dividend) + +&#x200B; + +[DIRECT REGISTER AND HODL, RECORD DAY IS COMING SOON MY DEAR FRIENDS.](https://preview.redd.it/873ndpq9uyn71.png?width=788&format=png&auto=webp&s=f75edb02eb563eb3a89274f5b8c4c5b18e5c9377) + +Edit 8: Can't hype without evidence. + +Edit 9: Evidence was not conclusive, no hype. This -->[https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/ppod1x/computershare\_only\_trades\_through\_the\_nyse\_look/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/ppod1x/computershare_only_trades_through_the_nyse_look/) though does provide some interesting data + +Edit 10.5 new flair idea: [Buy, Transfer, Hodl](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/ppoumu/the_final_missing_puzzle_piece_the_moass_already/hd5m7m4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) + +Edit 1: linked SEC docs to prove CS as the TA + +Edit 2: Linked 2021's prospectus + +Edit 4: auto mod got me on the link to jungle + +Edit 5: RIP inbox, please poke holes in this in comments, I need to get some work done and will check back in a few hours. cheers :) + +&#x200B; + +Edit 10: [International Apes question thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/ppoumu/the_final_missing_puzzle_piece_the_moass_already/hd5hmd9?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) + +Edit 13: ["General Questions" thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/ppoumu/the_final_missing_puzzle_piece_the_moass_already/hd631un?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) + +Edit ? : [Roth IRA question thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/ppoumu/the_final_missing_puzzle_piece_the_moass_already/hd5svxl?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) Answered by [u/Nomes2424](https://www.reddit.com/user/Nomes2424/) in [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/ppu676/computershare_is_not_a_scam_it_is_legit_rich_and/) + +Edit 14: need dinner and step away from screen for a bit, will catch up tomorrow. also rip inbox, sorry if i missed you + +Edit ???: As someone pointed out the edits are making this thread unprofessional, cleaned up. thank you u/hamzah604 you beautiful ape. +...I thought it was fantastic. I haven't listened to Trimbath speak before and this was a great lesson on DRS. She definitely understands this and enjoys informing on it, sharing the history and the facts that you can look up. + +I hope someone took better notes. Here are the take-aways I got: + +The SEC and brokers do not want you DRS your shares. + +Smart Companies want shareholders that care about the company to register. + +However - Transfer Agents and the Company Issuer are not permitted to promote Direct Registration. + +As long as your shares are registered with the company, the fate of your shares are with the company + +As long as your shares are with a broker the fate of your shares are with your broker. + +Nothing can stop naked short selling..as long as brokers can borrow and lend phatom shares from other shady brokers .. however, direct registration does remove the real shares from the DTC exposing the naked shorting. + +And who knows what happens when that last share is transferred or proof is provided. + +Also when it comes to company info, voting material and dividends, those only go to the registered shareholders. If that's a broker that doesn't have enough registered shares for how many phantom shares they have then that's between you and your broker. + +About that PROOF: + +Existing rule: 14A-7 - can give list of registered share owners, not how many shares they have, or how many phantom shares may exist + +Upcoming rule: CSDR 2014 (takes effect Feb 2022) will impact trades around the word, particularly trades that fail to deliver in the EU. It tosses out repeat offenders. + +Q: If all shares were registered, would they all be removed from DTC? + +A: Yes + +Q: Is the transfer agent required to report over registration or phantom shares? + +A: No, because they would be unaware of this. - ALSO - the broker, for a fee, can also misreport this. +All she told them was the balance amount, who the card was with, her first name only and the expiration date of the card. Absolutely nothing else. I kept telling her not to do it because they contacted her through instagram, the numero uno of red flags. + +She did it anyways and they paid off $1200 in CC debt. I’m almost sure it’s money laundering or something but it’s been 12 full days since they’ve paid it and it’s still showing as zero balance and the credit card company said the payment has completely cleared. + +They gave her their account information to make the payment. + +Update: Convinced my mom to report the card stolen and freeze the account. She took screenshots of their entire conversations and they had a website set up to convince her. They have a website (http://burdenfreefinancial.simdif.com) they used to convince her to do a “cash flip.” + +I’m just annoyed that she didn’t see this was a scam clear as day in the first place. She even gave them MY information and sent me their banking info. + +Update 2: Okay... she refuses to change her passwords. She won’t request a new card. She now tells me that they asked her to send them $200 and they will pay off her 10k credit card. And she’s going to do it. 😐 + +She seriously thinks she’s outwitted them because she withdrew the $200 and deposited it into a separate account and only would pay them via PayPal instead of direct wire. + +She keeps saying how their website is so nice and that’s what nonprofits do, help people. A website full of typos and ugliness... + +Update 3: Annnnnd now she’s saying I’m jealous of her. I got her to unlink my zelle from her bank account so now it’s not of my concern. +Hi all! Just sold my business and I'm beyond excited to achieve my lifelong goal of FF. Just want to run the numbers by the community and make sure I'm safe before taking the plunge. + +36 years old, married, 3 kids, HCOL city. Liquid NW (stocks/bonds, 70/30): $18.5M, Real Estate: 1M, Annual Spend Post-tax: $400k. + +I know that pre-tax this puts me around 3% SWR. Given that I'm so young, how likely am I to run into problems as the years go by? I'm nervous that hanging it up for good in my best earning years might come back to bite me in the ass further down the road, but maybe I'm just being super paranoid here. Would love to hear some perspective! +Hi everyone, I’m hoping to get some advice as I transition my individual stock portfolio and some extra cash, in aggregate ~$75k, into an all ETF portfolio for the long-term. + +For a quick background, I’m 24, have higher risk tolerance and am looking to add to my positions through biweekly income. + +A couple of my questions I have are below, but I’m open to any additional pieces of advice as well. + +1. What is the recommendation to invest this capital? I understand valuations are at or near all-time highs and there is macro uncertainty looming which may weigh on future valuations. With this in mind, would dollar cost averaging be the most effective approach? If so, what interval and how much capital should be deployed each time? + +2. What is the ideal number of ETFs to hold in a portfolio? + +3. For an investor with my risk profile, are there any specific ETFs you’d recommend? I’ve seen multiple posts referencing VT, AVUV, AVDV, SCHD, QQQ, QQQM, VOO etc. I’m open to suggestions on selections and weighting. + +Thanks in advance for the help. I appreciate it! +I'm a new investor just started about month ago. Here is a thing I'm really struggling with is my money being invested in to make the most and will I regret decisions. SO I have been putting 70% into ETFs (VTI, XLK) then the rest in crypto but I'm afraid a year or two from now I'll wish I would've taken advice from person a) or person b) and put it all in on a crypto, or stock, or something. + +An example say investor a) was putting his money into ETFs over the last 5 years (quite a bit of money) investor b) put this same money into bitcoin when it was say at 500 dollars per coin. neither one of them changed their investment path the bitcoin person clearly amassed a fortune through luck where the ETF person probably built their wealth but with 15% annual returns nothing like the bitcoin investor. Investor a) now has a lot of regret and hindsight is 20/20 suddenly he has to deal with the present options of continuing his slow progression towards compounding gains or worrying about what the next BTC opportunity is. + +this are theoretical but I see this being my problem in investing IS my money in a position to make me the most ? Can you guys help me justify my positions ? i want to continue on this 70 30 ETF/crypto portfolio. +Edit: Thank you, to everyone! This community is a fantastic place with many helpful people. I’ve gotten countless great advice and many different perspectives on investing that I couldn’t have gotten on my own. This thread will help many lower income people, like me to become financially independent into retirement. + +If you have information to offer, PLEASE leave helpful advice for people in similar money tight situations to read in the future. You’ll be helping more than could imagine. Thank you again! + +Original post: + +TLDR: I can only afford $25-$40 a week AT MOST. Where should I invest? Should I save to purchase larger ETFs like ARKK, or invest in fractional/smaller ETFs? + +I understand that everyone here is playing with more money than I, but I want to invest into my future as well though. I’m not looking for overnight gains, I want to invest long term, with a few small short term to keep it kind of fun. + +I would likely only be able to put aside $25-$40 a paycheck comfortably (which is weekly). My goal is to invest into a portfolio that will be reliable for many years and act somewhat as a second savings account (I have an emergency fund). And eventually invest into more short term maybe a 6 months to a year from now. + +My only background is in crypto currencies which I still hold to this day. + +[Here is my poor class portfolio I just started on in December. ](https://imgur.com/a/bBK302a) I whited out the items which are pending selling. I’ve owned blackberry for a long while. It’s something personal and I won’t liquidate. + +Any advice to this poor folk would be awesome. I’m aware of ARKK, but they don’t sell fractional shares. Would it even be worth it to save for multiple months just to buy that? Let me know any advice if you can spare the time. +Like the title says - what am i missing with covered calls? i am just starting out with options, and think it's a no brainer to start with covered calls. But why do more seasoned investors not use covered calls more often? Every single one of my friends who trades options doesn't do covered calls. they say it's too much work for very little money; is that the only reason? if you have any insights, please share. +I'm looking for ways you *added* to your spending that increased your happiness the most. Especially ways where you kicked yourself and thought "I wish I started doing this earlier." + +I'm hoping for general answers that ignore my specific circumstances, but mine are as follows: income has recently increased from ~$200k to ~$400k and rising, but my spending is still around $40k in a MCOL area for an unmarried person in their early 30s. I know I can increase my lifetime happiness by adding to my spending without dramatically changing my saving rate, and I want to do that in the best way possible. +As everyone knows, the amount of streaming services out there means that many people are paying $100+/month for multiple services, which is kind of insane. My wife and I had Netflix, Prime, Hulu, HBO, Apple, and Peacock. However, we realized that we’d typically just watch one or two series, maybe a movie here and there each month, and certainly weren’t using all 6 at once. + +So instead, we cancelled all of them (except Prime, since we use the delivery like most people) and instead decided to keep each service for 2-3 months at a time. We’d watch everything we wanted to see, then cancel it and start on catching up on what was on the other services. Kind of a have your cake and eat it too situation, since it’s saved us $80/month but we haven’t felt like we’ve missed out on anything. +I’m only asking this here because I’m looking to invest in real estate but don’t know if I should sit on the cash or invest with the way things are going in the states. +Econ can be a fascinating tool for rethinking your decisions and re-imagining life. On the other hand, it can look like a pile of meaningless charts and statistics. Especially for degree holders, what really got you excited about the field? + + +[SoftBank Group Corp.](https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/9984:JP) shares tumbled in Tokyo trading after reports that the Japanese conglomerate made substantial bets on equity derivatives amid the surge in technology stocks. + +SoftBank shares dropped as much as 5.4%, the most on an intraday basis since April. The stock had gained 33% this year before Monday. + +The Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and [Zero Hedge](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/terminal/QG8ZJIMB2SJO) reported that SoftBank was making massive bets on technology stocks using equity derivatives. The FT labeled SoftBank the “Nasdaq whale” that “stoked the fevered rally in big tech stocks,” though it didn’t include details of any trading. The FT later reported that SoftBank is sitting on trading gains of about $4 billion after founder Masayoshi Son’s bets on equity derivatives, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter. + + The Japanese conglomerate [said in August](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-11/softbank-returns-to-profit-after-record-losses-on-startup-bets) that it was starting a new unit to trade public securities, pushing beyond its traditional base in telecommunications and private startup investments. Bloomberg [reported](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-11/softbank-is-said-to-target-over-10-billion-in-public-investing) in August that SoftBank was targeting investments of more than $10 billion, perhaps tens of billions, and would use financing structures that would allow the company to avoid showing up in public disclosures of shareholding. + + + +The Japanese company’s derivatives strategy has been built over the past few months, the FT cited the people as saying, adding that SoftBank has spent about $4 billion on options premiums focused on tech stocks over that time. SoftBank now has large but unrealized profits, and the trades have been deeply controversial even within SoftBank, the newspaper reported. + +SoftBank declined to comment. + +The Wall Street Journal reported that SoftBank spent about $4 billion buying call options on stocks, while also selling call options at higher prices. + + + +The idea that options buyers [could drive extreme rallies](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-04/option-traders-flex-market-muscles-with-focus-on-very-few-stocks) in technology stocks -- and push benchmark indexes to record highs -- would have drawn skepticism in the past. But as call volumes have exploded in stocks such as Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Tesla Inc., analysts are beginning to embrace the theory. They point out that traders could have outsize influence by concentrating their bets on a narrow set of high-profile names while other trading activity is reduced. + +“In a world where volumes are distorted by the frantic trading of algos, any real order flows may have surprisingly large impact on prices,” Peter Tchir, head of macro strategy at Academy Securities, wrote in a note Tuesday. “By trading options, they leverage their position.” + +[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-06/softbank-s-4-billion-trading-gains-on-u-s-stock-option-bet-ft](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-06/softbank-s-4-billion-trading-gains-on-u-s-stock-option-bet-ft) +I'm no expert, but this simple change in thought has saved me more money over the past year than ever before. + +I was constantly thinking of ways to make more money in life, and would do anything it took to create multiple incomes. + +I was saving, but not really actively focused on it. + +I would just save what I planned to, and spend my budget as freely as possible. + +I then had a thought that if I actively tried to save and make better decisions under my budget, it would be like making money. + +I guess what it boils down to is this - + +Just because you have a budget, doesn't mean you need to spend all of it. + +I know that's a fundamental idea, but I never realized how just changing my thought process would make it that much more enjoyable to save. + +Now I look at money saved as money made. + +Didn't buy lunch and ate at home? I just made $15. + +Didn't buy the more expensive brand and went with the generic version? I just made $7. + +Went to the movies on discount night and didn't get snacks? I just made $20. + +Constantly doing this has increased my savings dramatically, and its actually a fun concept to keep me motivated. + + +My contract is due to end on June 9th and I want to it to end on that date and not roll over. Their website states a minimum of 31 days notice must be given. I just rang to cancel and was told I could only ring and cancel exactly 31 days before my contract ends. + +Surely I’m within my rights to give them cancellation notice before? I am working away on May 9th and won’t have access to a phone/emails etc. + +Has anybody had a similar experience and found a work around? +I’m 28 years old and I’m about to inherit +$800,000.00 + +I’m from Argentina (Tax Residency Country). + +**What would you do?** + +**How would you invest?** + +Would you buy small businesses? Where or how would you find them for sell? (Small saying the entire business price is in between $50,000 and $700.000). + +Thank you all. I love this community. +For example, + +Costco and Target. Costco is a great growing business, but it is trading at insane valuation. On the other hand, Target is a good stable business that is trading around FV, or to some degree undervalued. Target has a higher upside, but Costco has the stability upside of consistent growth. In this case, which type of business you find more attractive to invest in? +I’ve read small anecdotes here and there that I find interesting around this question. The basic logic is … more money has poured into the stock markets in extreme speed and volume than ever before in history. And more of this money is passive than ever before - meaning it is invested in index funds and other etfs for which individuals do not fully control the securities selected. All index funds and many etfs are not even actively managed by fund managers - they have a formula they follow based off overall market performance of the market that self selects the stocks to put in. Or they literally just follow an index and pick up / drop stocks as the index does. Why? Because for the last 50 some years there has a been a slowly built narrative - invest in market itself aka etfs - over time you will earn 7ish percent per year and etc etc. Its nearly impossible to beat the market etc etc. This narrative has held true. + +The catch is, we had a lot of reasons for this to be true - so many active investors made the market more efficient which led to the ability for a market average to be not only greater than what most investors could do - it also made the market average be closer to fundamentals. With so much passive investment today, the invested capital has never been more lazily allocated. So even if the market average is still strong, it’s ability to be tied to fundamentals has never been weaker. + +This lazy capital means that when times get rough, the market and thus indexes may perform more poorly than in the past for a given amount of economic struggle. + +So, long story short - the idea is that it’s becoming more more unattractive to invest passively because once everyone is doing it, the original reason of doing it to benefit off the back of the intelligent market …is eroded. + + +I’m still kinda deciding what I think about all this because it does go against a narrative I’ve been taught about the greatness of passive investing. Hard to not follow the logic though. + +Thoughts??? +I don't know how many of you heard of the man who got the 800k tax bill on 45k day trading profit because of wash sales rules (just Google it if you haven't cause dumb automod won't let me link it since it mentions the forbidden broker) but I got a question about that whole situation. So to all the frequent day traders/scalpers out there, how do you guys avoid such a catastrophe with the wash sale rule? I understand how the rule works I just don't entirely understand how you are supposed to not get slapped with a tax bill that is more than your profits if you continuously day trade/scalp same tickers for small profits and losses days in and out as losses are essentially disallowed in these instances but the profits are recorded. So if you have any knowledge in this area please share it with me because dumb Google gave me a bunch of articles on what a wash sale is and none on how day traders deal with it. Thank you :) !! + +EDIT: +Okay after reading all of your comments ( thank you so much for all the explanations btw!! ) here’s like a summary. Most of you don’t have to worry about this (assuming you are decent traders who can turn a profit EVENTUALLY lol). Even if you sell for a loss and buy back the same stock within 30 days the loss will be just added on onto your cost basis. So if you are scalping same tickers over and over again your goal is to eventually turn a profit on them. If you can’t turn profit on them cause you took a big loss on a ticker, stop trading it in the end of November (just to be safe) to the end of December (so 61 days passes) and your losses will get settled and everything will be good. What I think that guy did was that he had winning tickers and losing tickers but he never stopped trading the losing tickers so his 1.4 mil profit was booked and sent to the IRS but his 1.05 mil losses never settled because of wash sale and therefore were never sent to the IRS. So his 800k tax bill is on his 1.4 mil gains while his losses were not accounted for because of wash sale. So in the end just don’t be retarded :) +I can see a scenario in which, with private insurers being allowed to continue their existence, these insurance companies force high risk insurees off their plans, forcing these high risk beneficiaries to move to the public option. This makes the public option incredibly expensive (due to it having such a high concentration of high risk beneficiaries), and have exorbitant costs to the taxpayers. In contrast, a single payer system that outlaws private insurance would not face the same issues, as everyone, low or high risk, would be contributing to the ‘insurance pool’. + +Can I get some clarification? I know there are economists that support the Delaney model more, and I just want to know why. Krugman recently [tweeted](https://twitter.com/paulkrugman/status/1156557739583258624?s=21) about it. Thanks. + + +Edit: Thanks for all of your responses. In summation: + +I have realized I do/did not understand how insurance pricing works under the ACA. Single payer is not actually cheaper or better than some other kinds of systems that are newer and incorporate more competition. Economists like Krugman prefer Delaney's proposed health care plan better because it works a lot like the Swiss or German model, which are some of the most cost effective in the world (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/09/18/upshot/best-health-care-system-country-bracket.html) (Shout out u/RegulatoryCapture for the article). Thank you all for the education! +&#x200B; + +You can find the calculator at: + +# [http://yourslrc.co.uk/](http://yourslrc.co.uk/) + +Firstly, I would like to extend my thanks to everyone whose been trying the website out, brought bugs to my attention and has left feedback. I want this tool to be as beneficial to everyone as possible and a big part of working towards that goal is making use of all of your feedback, it's a huge help! I really appreciate it. + +SLRC (Student Loan Repayment Calculator), is a site which aims to help you answer two important questions (among other things); How much your student loan will cost and whether you should try to pay it off. It does this primarily through the calculator on the homepage; you give it as much information as possible and it tries to predict how much you will end up paying in total before your loan is either paid off or written off. + +&#x200B; + +Based on lots of user feedback and research, in summary, the site: + +* Has been completely re-done +* Added the new Plan 4 loan for Scottish students +* Increased the number of contributions (voluntary extra payments) you can make towards a loan (and you can choose whether that's a lump sum or done over a period of time) +* Fixed many bugs, such as not being able to do a calculation if you graduated before 2006 +* Clarified the definition for each income bracket on the **Student Loans Explained** section of the site +* Added a new articles section (the intention is to write insightful and beneficial articles related to student loans and university) +* And made many other smaller tweaks and enhancements in both the web app and the API which powers it + +&#x200B; + +Some things which haven't been added yet but I would like to in a future iteration are things like: + +* The real cost of your loan taking inflation into account +* The opportunity cost of the money you're putting towards paying off your loan vs investing it +* At which income:debt ratio and income change trajectory it becomes more worthwhile trying to pay off your loan +* Repayments when living overseas +* Allow users to perform calculations with historic data (basically, calculations in the past) + +As always, I would love to hear any feedback around the changes, any issues you run into, any ideas you have etc. + +Thanks! +I read a lot of threads on this sub that are incredibly valuable. I also tend to see folks overemphasizing their suggested saving rates 'on topics like "% of savings from net pay" or "budget based on this job/city" + +While very few will get ahead with irrational spending, I think it's important to also invest in experiences that help you get ahead and conveniences that allow you to perform at your highest level. These are tertiary benefits to FI, but they can compound in a big way. + +A few examples that I find help me progress but are often viewed as contrarian here: + +1. Services and convenience to save time for higher-value activities: + +\- Services like meal delivery/ kits, cleaning, labor or convenience of living in a downtown core are all expensive vs taking the bargain route, but the time/energy that these save allows you to focus energy on much higher value tasks. + +This could mean working that extra hour or two, fitness, self-improvement, time with loved ones. We all have a finite time in life. If you can afford to optimize your time in a day, it's likely to pay off in the long run. + +2. Experiences + +\- It's expensive to take part in high-demand experiences (Vacations, Dinners out, Conferences, activities like skiing/Tennis/Golf), but if done in moderation, there are also key benefits. This is often where you can make connections with the network you need to move up in your career. This is the time you can take to justify working your ass off to make real $ vs a passive job with a mediocre income. While the end goal is FI, it's important to reward yourself along the way to continue working hard. + +3. Buying High Quality + +\- This is a tricky one as there's a fine line between needs vs wants, but buying higher-quality often leads to better results, satisfaction, longer-term use. I see this with posts about meal planning quite often. While it's certainly going to save $$ eating rice and basic protein hacks, the food you consume is the fuel you need to have your body and mind performing at top capacity. I'm not suggesting you need a steak dinner and essential supplements every day, but you pay for what you get when it comes to nutrition. + +\- Similar story with things like home appliances, car (if required), clothes etc etc. Don't always buy top of the line, but also think hard on the quality vs price point + +Again, these all require moderation (particularly experiences), but they can also really help propel your career/business. Of course, everyone's situation is unique. If you're paying off debt, then the mindset of saving everything possible still likely applies. +Right now, at 55.85% FREE FLOAT DRS, apes are literally ONLY 18.25% away from reaching this mythical number. +Just realize how far we’ve come. It’s absolutely incredible. Slowly and surely we’re moving to higher and higher numbers of DRS. IT’S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. +We are LITERALLY making history by simply registering shares in OUR fucking name. +What happens at 74.1%? WE MOVE ON TO 100%! + +I don’t know about you guys but I feel fucking hyped about watching DRS move HIGHER AND HIGHER! Just wanted to move into the weekend with a bang and motivational post. I salute ALL OF YOU! + +Have a great weekend Apes! +Your markets are run by bots. Now your /r/Asx_bets daily threads are too. + +Read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) people[.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +[Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX\_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. You have been warned.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) + +Automoderator may provide "Guidance" for Lazy and zero effort posting. + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related.](https://discord.gg/wsNDGTf5QH) +Hey guys, I've been away for a few days, but judging by the looks of things in the Daily, even some old hands are starting to get *pissed and angry* at ETH's price decline and the fact that it has not yet solved world hunger, or even work all that well at scale yet. And by the way, that decline is not unique to ETH, but really a sector-wide decline affecting all cryptos. Yes folks, our hype cycle has burst, and this is what the other side looks like. And I still consider this a baby hype cycle compared to what is coming. + +And that's precisely why I remain so excited. We got as far as we did on what has basically been a useful prototype. What happens when (which you should probably read as "if") it all works at scale and really does start to address important, broadly applicable use cases (both via L2 and L1 scaling)? What happens when real world and new virtual world assets start getting tokenized onto Ethereum? What happens when mainstream financial institutions *really* get into this market and EEA participants start to launch working blockchain initiatives on Ethereum? If all of that happens, as I think it will in the next couple of years, 10x to 50x and beyond from here *may* be in reach for that next cycle. I know those are big numbers, but this is a big idea / technology, with ramifications we can't really understand (just like the nascent internet). + +I say we're [just entering the trough / valley of despair](https://bravenewcoin.com/assets/Uploads/four-stages-chart.jpg) for this hype cycle and still have a ways to go. And yes, that means the price could fall further. And for that to happen, some of you cranky old hands who expected to retire this year in December are going to have to straight up drop out of this market for me to feel like a true bottom is in. I don't think we're there yet. Then again, I could be completely wrong and maybe our bottom is already in. I have no idea, I'm just a guy on the internet who happens to really believe in the potential of the technology and is trying to make some smart, long term investment decisions. + +As for me, I'm as cool as a cuecomber [sic] at the moment. I sold about 10% recently to take advantage of tax loss harvesting, and will likely redeploy it over a matter of weeks or months by DCA'ing, and faster than that if we go sub-$400. As for the rest of my ETH, I ain't touching it, unless a useful tax loss harvesting opportunity comes up, and ETH would have to fall a looong way for that to happen. + +So how low do we go? I have no idea. But I'm fiscally and mentally prepared for as low as $100. I would be fairly shocked if that happened, and tend to think of $300s as the lower end of where we might end up, but like everyone else, I really have no idea. If you think you might sell it all if it drops to $100, $200, or $300, then do yourself a favor and just *sell it all now.* + +What I can tell you is that the next run, whenever it happens, could very well be *epic*, on a scale that is unfathomable to most of us. If you don't understand this technology, take the time to learn about how transformative it could be. Don't over-invest, but invest wisely with money you can afford to lose. Success is not guaranteed, but I still have never been more excited about any investment opportunity in my lifetime. + +This game isn't for everyone, and if you're going to bow out, just do it now and get it over with (I suggested that at $600 to $800 as well by the way, and I still mean it). But if you're still in a few weeks from now, consider yourself in for the long haul. And strap in: this won't be a straight line sloping moderately up type of deal. It's going to be (possibly) further precipitous declines, followed by quiet boredom, followed by an *absurd* spike up that many people are going to miss. Then, it will probably all happen again, and again until this technology becomes stable and boring (we are likely decades from that point, by the way). + +Play the long game. Or get angry and capitulate. There are merits to both approaches. Which one you choose depends upon your temperament and your risk tolerance, just like every other potential wealth creation opportunity out there. Think long term, understand yourself and your goals, choose wisely, and focus on making the rest of your life as great as you can. Your future self may thank you profusely. +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +*** + +Thread guidelines: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/) apply here so please be familiar with them. + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Find the latest Altcoin Discussion thread in [this search listing](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/search?q=author%3Aautomoderator+title%3Aaltcoin&include_over_18=on&sort=new&t=all). + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! +The sudden increase in posts warning of shorting the IPO in case they squeeze it seems so strange to me. +Why would anyone frequenting this sub even be thinking about the IPO, let alone wanting to throw away money shorting it. + +If anything warning about a potential squeeze may trick people into actually going long on the fucking thing. + +Just forget Robinhood altogether. Let them go down in lawsuits and loss of customer base +Newbie here. My partner and I have decided we want to start residential real estate rental business, buying properties and renting out to tenants. We have our LLC created and some properties selected, and now need a loan. Looking for advice on where to start + +1. Where to go? National bank (pnc, BoA) or local credit union? Any advantage of one over other? + +2. What documentation will they require for the loan application? Business plan? + +3. What interest rate should we expect? (We both have great credit) + +Thanks! +This is a genuine curiosity. + +I have a mortgage with the intention to be mortgage and rent free when I retire. + +If you are renting and in your 30-50s, what is your plan when you retire? As I’d anticipate rent will have increased substantially by then. +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +*** + +Thread guidelines: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/) apply here so please be familiar with them. + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +Within 24 hours CNBC had not only responded to, but thoroughly dissected the views from Reddit posts concerning ‘Meme Stocks’… +So it is blatantly obvious that the whole crew is paying very close attention to what is going on in the subs. + +Yet: meanwhile 200k individual investors are drying up the supply of a beloved stock to the tune of 70 million + of the float locked away in a safe and…. + +Crickets 🦗 …literally NOT one WORD…. + +C’mon seriously if that doesn’t jack your titties nothing will. + +They can’t stop talking about GME!! There are over 9000 tickers to discuss, but with magnitude of that news and the amount they talk about the stonk and NOT. ONE. WORD! + +I may have been born in the daytime…something, something +Buy, Hold, DRS + + +Not financial advice +Moonbud ($MBUD) launched just five days ago on the BSC (Binance Smart Chain) and already made remarkable progress in achieving its vision. Its transaction fee of 5%, with a breakdown of 2% for distributing back to holders, 1% that continuously burns and 2% that goes to its charity wallet ensures that as long as there is volume, this coin can fulfill its mission. + +&#x200B; + +What makes this token special is its vision. It is charity-driven, which has attracted over 5,000 Holders in less than five days. A whopping SIX FIGURES sum was raised for animal charity donation in less than one week, making it possibly the biggest crypto donation for a small mcap token. Next weekend, it will make its first six-figure donation, and the plan is to do it every weekend consistently. + +&#x200B; + +The $MBUD team has teased us with multiple updates regarding the coin's future, including: + +&#x200B; + +* Brand new website and logo, both made by professionals in the field +* Heavy marketing, including IG, Tiktok and Youtube influencers (many already locked down) +* Imminent Coingecko and Coinmarketcap listings +* Weekly charity donations, starting with 6 figures (the plan is to reach 7 figures and beyond, obtaining MSM attention in the UK) +* Top tier NFTs in development + +&#x200B; + +I can’t wait to see the future of Moonbud. This project is unlike any other project – this one is meaningful. Calling all my fellow doggo lovers to support this project and see it through. + +&#x200B; + +Links: + +&#x200B; + +Buy it here: [https://v1exchange.pancakeswap.finance/#/swap?outputCurrency=0xbe8183612f145986a41ad8e8fcfefed1c2f9deba](https://v1exchange.pancakeswap.finance/#/swap?outputCurrency=0xbe8183612f145986a41ad8e8fcfefed1c2f9deba) + +Solidity Audit report: [https://solidity.finance/audits/Moonbud/](https://solidity.finance/audits/Moonbud/) + +Live chart: [https://poocoin.app/tokens/0xbe8183612f145986a41ad8e8fcfefed1c2f9deba](https://poocoin.app/tokens/0xbe8183612f145986a41ad8e8fcfefed1c2f9deba) + +Website(new version next week): [https://www.moonbud.space/](https://www.moonbud.space/) + +Telegram: [https://t.me/moonbudofficial](https://t.me/moonbudofficial) + +Twitter: [https://twitter.com/MoonBud\_Coin](https://twitter.com/MoonBud_Coin) + +Bscscan: [https://bscscan.com/token/0xbe8183612f145986a41ad8e8fcfefed1c2f9deba](https://bscscan.com/token/0xbe8183612f145986a41ad8e8fcfefed1c2f9deba) + +Subreddit: r/moonbud + +&#x200B; + +Note: If it says “price impact too high” on pancake swap you must click the “v1 old” button on pancakeswap +*This was originally a [comment of mine](https://np.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/comments/7hntd5/daily_general_discussion_december_5_2017/dqsl3os/) in the Daily, but [by suggestion](https://np.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/comments/7hntd5/daily_general_discussion_december_5_2017/dqsm33g/) of /u/JohnMeriwether I decided to make a new post.* + +**CryptoKitties, Network Clogged and Scalability** + +Lots of Ethtraders are pretty surprised with the fact that the network is clogged. Or you haven't been paying attention to what's been going on, or you didn't comprehend at all what scalability issues are about. + +You know when people talk about Sharding and PoS, Raiden and Plasma, how these improvements would actually make Ethereum the first scalable blockchain ? Yeah, well, these improvements avoid network clogging by allowing for a very big number of transactions per second, per day and per month. + +You know when people say that fundamentals are extremely important and you should invest based on them ? Yeah, well, we were talking about real world issues like the one we're experiencing with just a few Dapps running and a few tens of ICOs plus the normal number of transactions of people sending ETH here and there. + +Now, Ethereum is here to stay and is the only blockchain tackling hard the scalability problem. It will be the new pattern on blockchains as soon as these issues are resolved. If you had actually had a look at Ethereum's roadmap you'd have known this was a constraint. + +On a personal note, I consider the current ongoing stress-testing and the one we're about to witness in the next few days to weeks, something extremely bullish. + +Ask around to see how many of the other production blockchains have hit 700000 transactions a day after a little more than 2 years in a production environment. + + +**Bitcoin Trolls Bad-Mouthing Ethereum** + +One year ago, there were jokes: Ethereum was a scam because it had "unlimited supply" or because it had Hard-Forked contentiously. We all knew around here that below the layer of jokes, there was a little bit of fear of being technologically overrun, but many were still not sure. + +These days, there are no jokes anymore, just pure trolling and bad-mouthing (public bad-mouthing on social networks, not constructive criticism). It's a negative attitude, built by extreme fear of losing the only thing that is keeping them alive and apparently healthy price-wise: publicity and the layer of lies they tell to the public. + +When in a little more than 12 months, the same old trolls go from joking endlessly to screaming insults, you know that the ground is shifting. If you can't feel it right here (because you're looking at the ETHBTC ratio or because of any other reason you want to believe), they are certainly feeling it very strongly right there. + +In the end, it's just human behaviour: there's a threat and they defend themselves against that threat the best way they can. Because they can't do it with actual improvements, things that make their tech as good as or better than Ethereum's, they resort to tweeting stuff in Caps Lock. + + +**Price Movements** + +BTC/fiat 1D is exhausted. ETHBTC 1D seems to be hugging the lower trendline. + +When BTC corrects, in case it's a swift one (correcting 25-35% in a matter of a few days), it'll drag down the fiat value of ETH towards our strongest support levels, because that's how this market still works. Still, it's expectable that ETHBTC bounces up hard. + +Prepare your ratio longs. +It was great to sell CSP on it at $700-$800, but since it's crazy climb up to $1k, it'll be harder and harder to sell (1) CSP... Especially if it keeps going, + +Sheesh, I'll soon have to find the new TSLA +I don't have a lot of people around me who are aware of my real estate endeavor, so a win is always hard to share. + + But i just closed on another property, this time a 4plex @3.65% (investment) in a C turning B neighborhood. . +Already occupied, with good tenants in place, cash flowing nicely. + +Every purchase is a new experience, and I'm lucky to have found good partners to work with all those times. + +That's it, I'm stoked and wanted to share. + +Good luck to all prospective investors in here, whether buying selling building or holding. +**BREAKING: The wallet is claimed to be another cold wallet, likely belonging an untagged exchange.** [**https://twitter.com/ki\_young\_ju/status/1549792335201959938**](https://twitter.com/ki_young_ju/status/1549792335201959938) + +Edit: The wallet sold so much that it's at 4th position, no longer "No. 3" + +Edit 2: 61k BTC has moved out the past 2 days. The wallet now has less total BTC than in 2021 + +Edit 3: The wallet currently has 0 BTC. At the same time, Elon Musk claimed that Tesla has sold 75% of its holding. + +For those who do not know, "Whale No. 3" is a well-known holder of bitcoin and has gotten famous due to the sheer amount of BTC and anonymity. You can check out their holding here + +[https://bitinfocharts.com/bitcoin/address/1P5ZEDWTKTFGxQjZphgWPQUpe554WKDfHQ](https://bitinfocharts.com/bitcoin/address/1P5ZEDWTKTFGxQjZphgWPQUpe554WKDfHQ) + +That wallet currently holds over 117k BTC (valued at 2.6 billion USD). Nobody knows if this whale operates as an individual or an institution but it has been active for multiple market cycles. + +Over the cycles, the whale has been rather accurate in the local tops and bottoms. During the summer lulls of 2021, it was accumulating. Then it started selling into Q4 of 2021. Some people keep 24/7 tabs on the whale's wallet activity using it as buy/sell signals. Sometimes the whale gets things wrong and loses (millions of USD ouch), but more often than not it gains huge. + +&#x200B; + +[a c c um u l a t e](https://preview.redd.it/drqb1mdpnmc91.png?width=716&format=png&auto=webp&s=ba28c3c9d189bc66d52d4fb638408e745e3d087a) + +During the past 1 month, when everyone was insanely bearish calling for 10-12k BTC, the whale was accumulating loads of BTC. Summing up to over 5k BTC. Congrats to people who followed the whale's decision. + +&#x200B; + +[yo chill out man](https://preview.redd.it/p3tzr20rnmc91.png?width=473&format=png&auto=webp&s=e0222c4b1188ac54312ed5c2655cf181e491953d) + +Today, it has just moved 15.5k BTC out of the wallet. It could be just a movement, but highly likely it's a sell. We are currently at major resistances at multiple timeframes, and this huge movement is piling onto the indicators. + +Well we all know nobody knows shit about fuck, I'm just here to report something which this sub doesn't seem to pay much attention to. +Ballstreetwets whole front page is filled with yolo options and I fucking love it !!!! I know I know (no options) but this isn’t fud or trying to make anyone to buy options. THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT AND WE ARE GOING TO SKIN THIS BABY EVERY FUCKING WAY !!!! I myself am a one year holder and have xxx shares in DRS along with some calls I dabble with. + + +HEDGIES r FUKT !!!! Always have been and now with the autists in the fight and FOMO I believe this January run up will be much much higher ! We apes are much more wrinkly and have converted into some diamond handed motherfuckers ! + +Fuck you Mayo boy! Tendies are back on the menu. + + +WE RIDE AT DAWN MOTHERFUCKERS ! Buckle up 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 +My goal was to be better skilled and richer than the paid members because I couldn’t afford a subscription. I spent countless days mining coal in Falador and then walked to Varrock. I mined iron in Varrock and then walked back to Falador. I forged it into steel and then went to sell them in world 1. I repeated this for weeks until I had a rune set. I bought rune sets for 200k and sold them for 210k. I reaped the margin until I made millions. I spent eternity in world one buying and selling. I got a green haloween mask for 35mil. I traded green haloween masks until I could buy blue for 45m. Blue then red for 55m. Red then red AND blue. Red and blue then red, blue AND green. The whole set. I spent lifetimes clicking, mining, walking, trading, profiting, all because the game was rigged against poorer players and I wanted to shine. I did all this for my own pleasure. I walked around with pride wearing my mask set. + +YOU THINK I CAN’T HOLD A STOCK FOR MERE MONTHS KEN? A STOCK THAT CAN LEVEL UP MY MATERIAL LIFE?! This is child’s play to me. + +edit: thanks for the awards and likes gang 🥲 lots of ppl vibing in the comments. who knew that Runescape was merely Tutorial Island for the REAL game. The final game. GAMESTOP. +Dozens of apes were just doxxed in the new DTCC filing. If your email appears in that filing after page 42 I'd highly recommend you do these two things at the very least: + + - Update your current email password. + - Make a new email through an encrypted service such as Protonmail, and re-link your brokerage accounts to it just in case. + +And for some added security, if these features are offered: + +- Verify your backup email +- Enable 2FA / MFA + +Emails can be linked to other breached datasets and apes could be targeted after the squeeze. The information in that filing is now public. Be careful out there. + +--- + +EDIT: I'm referring to https://www.dtcc.com/-/media/Files/Downloads/legal/rule-filings/2021/DTC/SR-DTC-2021-005.pdf + +Starting on page 42 +I've been bad with savings since as long as I can remember. And having a 4 month old doesn't help either but this is a positive start + + +Edit: gotta say I didn't think this would get as much attention as it did. Thanks guys/girls! + +Edit 2: thanks for all the support! I feel like if I had posted this in other finance subs it would've gotten buried but you guys/girls understand because we're all living it! I'm really starting to love this sub. + +The amount is just over $10,000. I'm planning just to write them a check for the amount. Is there anything I need to know about before I do it? + +I read somewhere that gifts over a certain amount need taxes paid on them, and it looks like federally that limit is $14,000. I should be fine there unless Oregon has it's own rules that I don't see. +Currently 31 in FAANG as a manager. + +&#x200B; + +TC with spouse: 650. Save about 300k every year. Currently have 3M. Fire number is 5M. Should easily hit that in the next few years. + +&#x200B; + +I want to quit at 40 or so. I am pursuing my pilots license. What can I do now to pick a job at 40 that will let me travel the world? +Disney down 7% - This company lost over $20BN in value today. + +[Disney stock 11-11-21 4:00PM](https://preview.redd.it/8r6m6vjd91z71.png?width=1644&format=png&auto=webp&s=4e5df8636de9f3e8a5310efdfed6f1c3037cc904) + +The Call Options Got Wrecked... + +[Even a retard smooth brain knows thats not good for people hodling them \^](https://preview.redd.it/rpege23t91z71.png?width=1610&format=png&auto=webp&s=baba042143435a9ff5d079b3406ede94fc5ce7f9) + +[Citadel Advisors with a $1.5B Call Option... ](https://preview.redd.it/ckk7xzv0a1z71.png?width=1868&format=png&auto=webp&s=9c1ffc0cecd9f1eed7c3331e8a51261532ce6c96) + +[https://stockzoa.com/fund/citadel-advisors-llc/#google\_vignette](https://stockzoa.com/fund/citadel-advisors-llc/#google_vignette) + +**TL:DR Far out Disney Call Options got wrecked today. One of Citadel Advisors Core Positions is a Disney Call Option valued at $1.5B. This will cause major damage if they still own that position. Based on the fund behavior (Ive studied it for a while now), I would say they still have that position open. Citadel holds their core positions.** +Hey all + +I currently have some ($20k<) in student loans at a fixed 4% interest rate. I’m currently paying those off and investing into a 401k/roth/personal portfolio as well. + +Should I prioritize investing rather than paying off my student loans if I am able to yield between 6% and 7% on my investments? If I were to prioritize investing, then I would still actively pay off my student loan debt but to a less extent. + +Any and all advice is much appreciated! +The more I learn about personal finance, the less it makes sense to me why someone would want to tie their money up in an ~~illiquid~~ investment that doesn’t even keep up with inflation. + +One caveat could be older people who are concerned solely with wealth preservation low-risk wealth preservation, but a friend of mine (28m) got angry and defensive recently when I mentioned my thoughts on this. + +Help me understand why anyone younger than 50 would choose CDs over HYSA, I-bonds, index funds, etc. + +Edit: Thanks everybody for chiming in. This discussion has probed my blindspot and changed my views on CDs to the point where I will likely consider them as an option going forward. A couple key takeaways: + +- CDs used to pay double-digit interest in the 80s, which explains why many older people (and those directly influenced by their mentalities) view them as an investing tool. + +- “Locking in” a good interest rate for a set period is a key component of CDs that makes a lot of sense in some savings situations, something I actually hadn’t thought of. + +- CDs will likely make more sense than I-bonds (what I currently hold for mid-term savings) once inflation settles down. +I've owned a business for a few years and I'm not really liking it anymore. Someone has offered to buy it for $210k. I want to sell it and use the money to start flipping houses but I'm not sure if I should. I cant flip houses now because I only have $10k cash. I'm scared of the low inventory situation. I know construction so I'm not worried about that part. Im afraid if I just keep the business I'll let it slowly die and it wont be worth anything. Advice?? +The mother of all short squeezes is a concept (and reality) that is almost too big for me to wrap my head around. It's one of those times in history when something almost too incredible to believe is unfolding right before our eyes. + +When the first wave of COVID came, I didn’t believe what people were telling me until it actually happened. Until I saw the shelves empty in the store, and people being mandated to stay home. + +But what does this have to do with GME? Well, something that had never happened before, and that I never thought would happen even after people told me that it would… DID happen. + +When something big is about to happen in the world, it is hard to wrap your head around the possibility until it actually starts happening, even when the writing is on the wall. If an asteroid was headed towards earth and all the scientists and news stations said that it was going to hit, people (including myself) wouldn’t be for sure about the whole thing until it hit the atmosphere. Whether good or bad, we always think that nothing big will happen to us. + +But here we are today, on the brink of a financial event that will likely change the world forever. This will not just go down in stock market history... it will go down in history, period. + +Remember the scene in “Margin Call” when the guy is looking at the people on the street in 2008, going about their daily lives... and he says “They don’t even know what’s about to happen”. + +It did happen back then, and every possible sign has presented itself now, that another crash will happen, and that a massive short squeeze will occur. Pigs are flying, Dr. Burry. + +In this post I will share opinions and speculations, as well as imagination. This is not financial advice, I am not a financial advisor, and nothing that I say should be considered advice of any kind. Below is a story meant for entertainment purposes. This story contains both truth and imagined aspects. Please do your own research, and make your own decisions about anything / everything. + +I simply like writing, and thought I would put things together in a way that you might enjoy. + +P.S. In case you missed my “[squeeze breakdown](https://www.reddit.com/r/GME/comments/omco6m/an_updated_breakdown_of_the_gme_squeeze_situation/)” post and want some more GME reading, [here it is](https://www.reddit.com/r/GME/comments/omco6m/an_updated_breakdown_of_the_gme_squeeze_situation/) (I wasn’t able to post here until recently). + +# The story so far + +**Short Hedge Funds** + +These rich people are used to winning everything, all of the time. Life was good for them for a long time. Over a long period of getting rich without any oversight, they lost sight of right and wrong, disconnected themselves from the common world, and developed an invincibility complex. They promptly rose their standard of living to match their income, “knowing” that everything would either stay the same or keep growing. They attached their self worth and their own survival to how much they get paid. They need to be super rich, and to sustain a super rich lifestyle, or they lose everything. Their house, their gold-digging girlfriends, their rich and powerful friends, the respect of the community… fucking everything. + +So they break the rules to get ahead. Nobody does anything about it, and so they do it again, and again, and again. The SEC does nothing, and hedge funds start to realize that nobody is watching. Nobody is coming to patch the infinite money glitch, and so they start breaking the rules to the point of breaking the entire system. They get leveraged to the tits. + +Use synthetic shares to increase sell pressure... and dark pools to reduce buying pressure... and a new price control system soon develops, to run companies / families into the ground. The cherry on top is causing complete bankruptcy to avoid taxes. Life is good for an evil hedgie. They are flying high above everyone else, high above the law, and even above reason. There is no such thing as risk, for a shining golden god. + +They can’t even see the tiny ants that they call retail from the lofty heights of their private jets. The common folk are of no concern to them. Not even the suffering of the people is of any concern to them, as long as they get their fat checks. After all, retail traders are powerless and stupid, and even if they discovered the secret glitch, their tiny accounts pose no threat. Nobody would listen to their complaints. Life is good. Until it’s not. + +**DFV** + +This seemingly ordinary man is looking for undervalued companies, and finds the jackpot. A company named GameStop is valued ~~incredibly~~ redicuously low on the market, and he simply decides that he likes the stock. The man invests 50k. + +**Retail traders** + +Some normal guy takes a closer look at GameStop, and doesn’t just hit the jackpot... he finds Pandora’s box. GameStop isn’t just undervalued, it has been shorted to oblivion. It has been shorted far beyond what should be possible. It has been shorted to a point that makes it ripe for the biggest short squeeze of all time. + +It is ~~possible~~ ~~probable~~ unquestionable that we are in a completely fraudulent system. + +The word spreads like wildfire, and the price of GME starts climbing. + +**DFV** + +He is meow worth 50 million, and keeps buying shares. He sticks to the shadows, but in spirit he still leads us through the dark night by his legendary teachings. Cheers. + +**Short Hedge Funds** + +Life is not good anymore. The word is out, and the fucking jig is up. The firm is losing billions. Clients are on the phone screaming, “What did you do with my fucking money!?”. Their brokerage is demanding money before liquidating the firms positions. People are getting fired. Some scary ass people who invested with the firm are furious. + +The wildfire keeps spreading, and the entire world is finding out about the con on the entire globe. Retail traders know what you did last summer, and the one before that, and the one before that. + +They have two choices. Give up and lose everything, or go against all logic to go down with a fight. They make the only decision that they can, after being so deeply fucked. How dare those little pissant retail fucks mess with hedgie money. How dare they uncover the ill-gotten gains. They will be crushed like the insignificant amateurs that they are. Convince them that the squeeze is over, and that GameStop is not worth a fraction of the current price. Between millions of people, they won’t be able to call the bullshit, right? + +**Ryan Cohen** + +Life is good to be a retired billionaire in his thirties. You did it Ryan old boy, you won at life before it was half over. But something is missing. Something isn’t right. Life has something more in store. Ryan Cohen is not going to be a one hit wonder, no sir, he is going to go down in history as one of the most successful businessmen that ever lived. More importantly, he is going to bring a dying business that he truly cares about back to life, and into outer space. Not literally like his pal Elon... but to the outer reaches of outer space he will go with GameStop. + +He sees even deeper value than DFV. He sees just about everything, because he is sharper than a fucking razor. Sharper than all the minds on the trading floor. He sees the Matrix, basically. It goes beyond the fact that people still like disc-based games. It even goes beyond transforming GameStop into a digital company. He will transform GameStop into a TECH company. But it goes beyond that too. Beyond tech, and beyond games. One fulfillment center will not do, and neither will two. + +Ryan has a plan so enticing that executives from ~~major companies~~ the biggest companies in the world are jumping ship to join his cause. He wishes with all his heart that he can say more to the public, to the people who matter and who made all of it possible, and it breaks his heart to hold his cards so close among friends but he must. There are more than just friends sitting at the table. You don’t show your hand to the other card players if you want to win. You can be damn sure that Ryan doesn’t tell his chess opponents how he is going to win, even when he already has them cornered. + +Ryan sees retail traders storming the castle, and he steps into the fray himself. He snaps the chains on the drawbridge with one swipe. (Buys 9 million shares, puts a plan into motion, and becomes chairman). Retail starts to scale the walls of the castle, and Ryan says, “Let me stand on your shoulders and I promise you by all that is good in this world, that I will pull you up” (You hold and I must sell. You will be rewarded for your bravery and loyalty). In RC we trust. + +**Short Hedge Funds** + +Life sucks. There is a new sheriff in town and his name is Ryan Cohen. He is the bane of hedgie existence. He is a force of creation that overcomes destruction. He is what goes bump in the night. Now, trying to extinguish the GameStop flame is like trying to put out a forest fire by pissing on it. The one way out (GME Bankruptcy) is no longer a possibility, even with every dirty trick in the book. The pressure that used to tank the price, isn’t even enough to hold the price stable anymore. + +Retail are like pit bulls with diamond teeth. They won’t fucking let go of a single damned share. They won’t buy into the lies. They won’t believe the false data. They won’t take the bait. They won’t stop raising their damned floors! They won’t stop multiplying. They can’t stop. Won’t Stop. + +“Sir, we are fucked.” + +The price is so far above their average that closing their position on their own is impossible. Just like wiping their ass, someone else will have to do it for them. And that’s just considering the current price. Considering how quickly the price would go up when they start covering, the thought of being able to cover even a fraction of the position is laughable. Like trying to piss on a forest fire. + +The hedgies are under the microscope now, and still they are compelled to keep breaking the rules to buy another day in paradise. The crime and desperation are more and more obvious every day, but they can’t help themselves. More synthetics, more rerouting orders, more lies, more lies, more lies. They are like a drug addict with a gambling addiction. They keep begging for more loans to get them out of debt... and each time, they lose the bet. They keep selling everything they own to pay for their habit. They borrow money from friends, they borrow assets that they sell, and they never pay anyone back. Even Uncle Sam is tired of giving bailouts, and getting screwed over. + +**Retail** + +Retail traders are left in silence as they wait. Ryan Cohen is in the fight of his life, high up on the castle walls. They wait. Like in Game of Thrones when the army of the dead waits in the cold for the water to freeze over again, and for a path to solidify. They wait for Ryan to clear the way. + +**Ryan Cohen** + +Ryan sends cryptic messages and keeps morale high while retail waits. Imagine all of the things that he wishes he could say outright. We may have to leave it to the scholars who study this in the future to decrypt the full hidden meaning of his messages... but the overall meaning is there for all to see. He is telling apes that he is with us, that he is confident as fuck, and that great things take time. To HODL. + +Something ~~incredible~~ ~~ground-breaking~~ earth-shattering is in the making. Behind the scenes, a team of geniuses are reprogramming the entire game. Perhaps they will revolutionize the way that games are played, or the way that they are sold. Maybe they will revolutionize the way that stocks are sold. Whatever it is, it will be ~~big~~ ~~huge~~ colossal. + +Do you think that Ryan Cohen is just going to press on without shaking the shorts off of his back? Just let his company keep getting attacked, and somehow grow the market cap at the same time? Just let the hedgies bully him, and simply accept the ball and chain? To make a fucking fool out of him and his dream team of directors who get paid in shares? To continue stomping on the shareholders who helped them raise 1.5 billion and bought their company back from the dead? Fuck! No! That is not the way that legends do business. That is not the type of attitude that turned the heads of his new directors. Ryan Cohen doesn’t just build businesses, he grows them explosively. + +GameStop MUST remove the ball and chain if they want to grow, and must do it asap. Each day that the problem is not taken care of, is another day that the market cap doesn’t grow, no matter how well they do. They know this. They came into the game knowing this. + +You know that things always take longer than expected. Programming projects always take WAY longer than expected. Great things take time. Doing things right, takes time. But this WILL come to a conclusion. + +Remember that one of these days will be the day. The mother of all short positions must be closed. Each share sold short created an obligation to buy it back at market price later. One day we will wake up to something truly amazing. Ryan will drop a rope down from the battlements, and as you climb up you will find that the battle is already won. + +In the name of lord Cohen, first of his name, black of hair, king of the apes and rightful heir to the digital kingdoms, I hereby declare hedgies fucked. + +🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 + +https://preview.redd.it/ugem4r73pwi71.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4a5575a04bae08b90f6e20501f27de0487877f9d +Sup cunts, it's me, ya boy. + +It's been an amazing week for the ship and her crew and I'm absolutely chuffed. I've been rocking a half chub for the better part of 5 days now and am considering seeking medical attention. + +I like to step back when it's rocketing and come back to help people find a good entry. I've seen a lot of comments about buying the dip, buying in for the first time, buying the correction etc. + +I've seen a lot of comments about how much more does it have to run, what time frame, what risks etc. So, I'm going to attempt to answer some questions here, this isn't so much DD as an informed opinion, and at the risk of sounding like a HC boomer, I really do advocate for doing your own research. Now, the disclaimer: + +Unbelievably I hold this stock, shocker. My first buy in was at 9c and my average buy in is now 33.5c. I have no intention of selling it untill were well into production, my price target is $3.30. how did I get to that target? Well... +I could type out the calculations for the lithium spot price predictions over the next 5 years, I could go over our 25ktpa doubled to 50ktpa, the esg benefits, the brine purity and all that other shit, but you can find that in any one of the thousands of webinars or conferences Lake has done. Theres also 10+ forward looking evaluations that put lake anywhere from 1.20 to 8.60 (8.60 is pretty retarded, don't count on it) these are also easy to find. Additionally, youtubes got some good shit that's easy to find for the next generation of bag holders to find. + +Now here comes the risks. Not nearly enough people mention them, and I'll be honest, they're still there and some are still fairly large. It goes without saying that anything pre production has risks, but specifically for us there's a huge difference between theoretical and practical. While novonix confirmed our coke is nice and white and DLS is now proven at scale thanks to a bolt on system used by another big boy, the fact remains our very specific set up hasn't been done before, and while unlikely the reality is it might not go as smoothly as we all want. + +Another risk is construction. Anyone who's renovated a house knows that delays and fuck ups are pretty common and honestly are not that big a deal, but when the margins are tight and the timeframe is important, delays to construction could be really painful to the SP if it causes us to miss a key window. + +Argentina is also a risk, though not as much as I think some bears play it off to be, there is some sovereign risk here, but the military and government (who's who you tell me) love money, and they seem to be able to get payed off pretty easily with mine money, so I honestly think they'd leave us alone if we chucked them some oppies. + +Lastly, offtake. Now I know, it's probably going to happen, but there is a chance it doesn't, or it doesn't eventuate soon enough. Offtakes are really fucking important, without it we are nothing. This is especially true because our financing with the UK and Canada is predicated on having the offtake in place in a timely manner. + +Now the moment you've been waiting for, should I buy now? I can't legally tell you the answer to that. What I can tell you is it's currently overbought to fuckery, while it might keep going, statistically buying in when the RSI is doing it's best Usain bolt impression and the MACD is producing more green rods then PEN is generally going to be a bad idea. + +As we didn't form any resistances on the current run up, I honestly can't place a solid numerical value to a good buy, but I'd be looking for a solid run of red and a return to a normal or negative divergence and at least a return to sub 70RSI and preferably sub 50RSI. If you don't know what I'm talking about, download Trading view, YouTube some basic ta shit and plug in lake. + +We have the 75c oppies that will be out next year, so that's where my money is at for a logical pull back at this point. + +Best of luck, I think it's a great stock, but be very careful with entering at this point. GLHFLMAODYORLGBT. 🔋🟩🍻🥇💸🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 +I'm currently 25-years-old. Graduated with a degree in a "high-demand" field about 5 months ago. (High-demand, yeah, sure.) + +Anyway, I was wondering what my current savings goal should be. I'm currently a cashier until I can (hopefully) find a job in my field. + + +I Googled what an "average" 25-year-old should have in savings, and Google results in multiple articles stating that a 25-year-old should have an $80,000 net-worth. (Is that a joke? Am I just really far behind by not having even close to an $80,000 net worth?) +TLDR; Long Whales are working the Max Pain Channel; IV + consolidation is approaching levels last seen before GME rose from $4 to $350. The Low Volume and Sideways trading is aligning the stars for a Gamma booster, into the short squeeze launch from a $1,000 platform. Enjoy this beautiful calm before ignition; sleeping soundly tonight, knowing Kenny G isn't. + +\*\*\*\*\*\*\* + +Last week I published a report on why Long Whales are orchestrating this channel $175-198 around Max Pain in options market and how it is designed to bleed the Hedge Funds of the funds they have left: [Our Whale is Suppressing Volatility to Bleed HFs -- Max Pain Explained](https://www.reddit.com/r/GME/comments/mi1a5r/our_whale_is_suppressing_volatility_to_bleed_hfs/) + +The strategy is clear, to me, based on the amazing and tireless work of fellow Ape DD's in the last week to explain the behavior of the Hedge Funds to delay their shorts while playing the deep ITM calls. This is coming to an end soon, based on DTC 2012-005 (if this is news to you, please check out [Legal Interpretation of the Proposed SR-DTC-2021-005](https://www.reddit.com/r/GME/comments/mi8mo9/legal_interpretation_of_the_proposed_srdtc2021005/) <-- this hasn't received the exposure I think it is deserving of, props to u/BigBrainBets) + +The long whales (and Blackrock, I'm convinced, at this point) aren't working together -- that would violate trading rules -- but they are surely aware of the long GME benefit of keeping GME priced in this channel (175-198) until things change. All you have to do is watch the price, and every time GME works to leave this channel, there is a powerful force pushing it back into it. Not much trading will send the stock up or down a few bucks, but try to leave the channel and it's a massive force pushing us back in. This is akin to having the snake (Kenny G) by his tail, as he tries to squirm up the Call chain or Down the Put (I mean poot) hole. Desperate to find any mechanism to slow the bleeding and survive another week. The last 8 trading days, this game of his, has stopped (and the deep ITM calls paused the last two days -- no doubt due to HF lawyers investigating 801/005 implementation/enforcement edit2: seems they have continued for now), we have leveled, flat (a beautiful serene calm, before the storm -- it has me excited, and I hope to show you why). It's a sign of the dwindling capital on hand for the shorts, and a shining beacon onto the lack of power they have left to manipulate GME to serve an options play aimed at pushing their shorts down the road and raising enough capital to keep the game going, as they do. + +# Why Do Long Whales Want IV Down? + +Take a look... + +&#x200B; + +[follow the hot pink](https://preview.redd.it/tz57bofhttr61.png?width=1803&format=png&auto=webp&s=94e09d9d4179b7df6c16f318b4109e33d038617e) + +This chart I've illustrated speaks for itself. There are moments, when stars align, and the variables are just right -- we're headed that way, and it's not by accident. Everything is happening, on purpose and with intent. We're entering a new phase. The optimal launch phase. It may last days, or weeks. + +Look, there are plenty of catalysts for the Short Squeeze, and we have seen plenty come and go (rip 3/19 - you had me so jacked to the... but my jack'dness is still growing; I see how much more powerful this is becoming, each day). Digesting DD, by the data, seeing this all unfold. And I hope by now, Apes realize, the longer **this** goes, higher it goes; the stronger it becomes. **The waiting that is.** + +I'm full of analogies, and one I'd like to throw out there, in this situation, is a compression spring. See we have plenty of things that could set of the short squeeze: + +\- Kenny G running out of money + +\- SEC passing DTC laws + +\- Gamestop recalling shares (voting) + +\- Gamma Squeeze (without Robinhood buy button vanishing as it climaxes) + +Among others. But also there are plenty of variables at work here that can boost the launch, maximize the height - all of them are aligning. Consolidation at $180 with IV lowering to levels we last saw when GME was $4 -- well that is insanely bullish! One of the catalysts is Gamma, which has been off the table for quite some time, due to the ridiculously high IV (implied volatility) numbers. (seriously, go read my linked "Our Whales" post above if this IV thing is confusing; I scratch the surface of why it's important there). Gamma is like a free ride to higher price, before a short squeeze even gets started. It's the options chain forcing market makers to push our price higher to cover gambling debt from Puts (shorts). Gamma requires a loading of Calls to be bought, so many, that Market Makers have to start positioning (buying) shares to ensure they have enough to execute the Call chain. As it cascades to higher and higher prices, so does GME's stock price. This Gamma squeeze is usually balanced by puts, but when stars align and people see catalysts, hype builds, and so do massive ATM Calls, and slightly OTM Calls pulling GME upward like a tide building into a tsunami. + +Sure... a squeeze could launch anytime, and shorts get stuck, fleeing. But as a wise man once said... + +https://preview.redd.it/fv5qfn97utr61.png?width=1792&format=png&auto=webp&s=3d7d5541a51488a35f9f25e083d8f0c5f9b1b4d7 + +And shorts are destroying themselves. I think they are confused why we haven't launched yet. They don't sleep at night, I can assure you of that. Hedge Funds have been destroying themselves with their naked shorts -- digging deeper, that hole from which they can't climb out of. + +Why do they do this? + +Because they are already done. Why did Bernie Madoff keep floating his Ponzi scheme higher and higher, despite being aware it would end someday. Well, he liked his yacht, he wanted to keep it longer. He didn't care if he destroyed more and more along the way. the HFs, in this case, don't care if they bring the whole system down with them. If they are going down, and they can survive another week on their Yachts... well that's better than prison. These aren't moral beings. You can't apply logic, rational, ethical thoughts to understand how they behave. Give these rats, another dead end to run down, and they'll just keep going... till they run into a wall. + +# The Spring Compresses + +... as we move sideways, the variables optimizing, for the perfect launch. The lower IV is, the more able retail and institutions are to jump on the Call Chain fueling the Gamma (stage one booster). See the Long Game powers (Long Whales, Long Institutions) of which we (retail) are a pawn in this game of chess (we secure the floor - we literally give them the assurance, that they can mock the shorts in this channel, because if a dip appears, we'll pile on to help the Longs get us back into the optimal channel - to bleed the shorts of money). The long team has been doubling up on the notion of allowing HFs to hang themselves with the rope they've been whineDing. Let me be clear, how important Apes are. We do the opposite of what HFs expect, when they deploy any measure to drop the price, and instill fear into the market. More GME gets bought! We aren't emotional investors. Retail is supposed to be stupid, and emotional... we are rational. That crayon that I stuck up my nose... call it a lobotomy. I feel the opposite of fear, when GME goes down... I feel excitement. + +When GME drops significantly (see that $115 dip Q4 Earning release week -- or Mondays' drop to $165 where the media jumped all over an apparent "sell off" hmmmm), we see the Media manipulation, and we get exciting, antsy. This is when I buy more. Because I know the media is playing the general public. I know Gamestop is a deep value play at 13B market Capitalization (See another post I contributed last week: [DD: Gamestop Price Analysis -- still a Deep Fucking Value under $550](https://www.reddit.com/r/wallstreetbets/comments/mhcmi4/dd_gamestop_price_analysis_still_a_deep_fucking/) ) + +# The media knows it can't play us. + +You want to see a Gamma Squeeze launch us to $1,000 before the short squeeze even gets started on those margin calls for a 1000% SI float (conservative estimate here)... just watch what happens the day the general public catches wind that weekly $250 Calls are selling for pennies on the dollar ($0.85 last I checked) due to that beautiful flat line fueled IV suppression. *(Edit 1: I'm not suggesting anyone here buy 250Cs... point is, retail gamblers who notice the Gamma potential might want to throw $85 on a chance to ride 100 shares to $100M each - they'd be less likely to if IV was higher)* + +# So why do they keep doing it? + +They are scared to death of the masses catching wind of what we know. We are waiting, till that day comes. Patiently. Eating crayons. + +Stay safe out there. Love each other. This is a beautiful thing to watch. History, playing out in real time. + +\*\*\*\*\*\*\* + +This is not financial advice. + +I don't know how the stock market works. + +I'm an idiot and don't know what I'm talking about. + +Any names associated with real life people is by coincidence only. + +This is pure fiction. + +Any reference to "we" is simply an acknowledgement of my self diagnosed schizophrenia. + +&#x200B; + +\*\*\* Edit 1 \*\*\* Clarifying Calls above + +\*\*\* Edit 2 \*\*\* addressing deep ITM calls above + +\*\*\* Edit 3 \*\*\* I've gotten a question or two on Max Pain for next week. It's abnormally low $135 as of this edit. That's because of an abnormality in Puts purchased for next week, and will come up to the $175-187.5 region Monday. \[Theory\] I have speculated that a large Put purchase in the 20P region may be a plot by HFs aiming to scare "not a cat" into executing his 500 12C (he's too smart for this though)... it doesn't take much to dump a huge number of puts into way OTM Puts (like 20P), because they are so unlikely to happen. In the case of GME... $20 (or a $1.4B valuation for GME) is laughable. They have half that, sitting in cash. Not to mention $2.1B in sales in Q5 of last year. This large Put purchase could have been to skew the Max Pain marker (now that we are looking at it) for next week. On Mondays Options players usually load up on Calls/Puts for the weeklies in high volume, so that's when you see legitimate Max Pain points establish. + +\*\*\* Edit 4 \*\*\* The beauty of that price channeling... on such low volume (usually an environment were massive swings can occur on a tiny nudge). \[*Price is moving below the 178 channel, no problem. Just a little nudge back up. Opp...$180... not so much... ok back to level...*\] this isn't normal. It's so beautiful to watch :) + +https://preview.redd.it/k2iszw4iutr61.png?width=819&format=png&auto=webp&s=48ee4afb22fc905b73e0e3567b5e999472828f99 + +\*\*\* Edit 5 \*\*\* Market close update, less than 100K total traded volume in the final 5 minutes **combined**. Only 37K volume in the final minute. Only 4.6M shares traded hands today. This is Twilight Zone material right here... + +\*\*\* Edit 6 \*\*\* Adding in an underrated post by a lawyer - his interpretation of DTC2021-005 (linked above and here: [Legal Interpretation of the Proposed SR-DTC-2021-005](https://www.reddit.com/r/GME/comments/mi8mo9/legal_interpretation_of_the_proposed_srdtc2021005/) + +\*\*\* Edit 7 \*\*\* tried editing on my phone and the formatting got messaged up (photos disappeared); bringing it all back up. Fixed: Ok images are back in this post... never doing that again. + +\*\*\* Edit 8 \*\*\* I see a handful of questions/comments saying in one form or another that bleeding HFs might be against Apes interest. The implication, stated or implied, is that HFs running out of money means we get less. This is false. I will address this (and the options chain) in a more detailed post soon, but the short answer to this is that the DTCC is insured to cover the losses that can't be covered by an insolvent hedge fund who can't make due on their debt obligations. Basically, Citadel with cash left to mess things up, does more damage to the short squeeze, and Citadel bled bone dry. I'd rather have the computers from the Clearing House automatically sending buy orders to fulfill debt obligations, than the HF delaying or putting off paying those obligations themselves in real time. The DTCC is insured in the 10's of trillions. Forgive me for not knowing the exact amount off the top of my head, but it's something like $35T, or $67T... That would take Gamestop's valuation to 30x Apples. Well over $1M a share. +Hi there, + +Generally a lurker, sometimes a commentor. I'm looking for advice from people who have gone through similar experiences. I've asked a variant of this question previously, but this is the crux of the issue I think I haven't focused on before. + +**TL;DR**: How do you plan for fatFIRE, if you aren't feeling secure in your income. At what point in your career did you start to feel secure in your income? + +I'm an SDE at a large tech company (not FAANG but close enough). My income has increased significantly over the past two years, from about $225k to $400k. This happened from a combination of promotion and stock appreciation (stock grants have 4x in value since I started at the company). + +Part of me feels like I should be treating this like a windfall. The stock market could have a correction anytime which would make my income drop substantially. + +On the flip side, for many employees at places like Amazon, Google, Facebook etc eventually the stock grants and refreshers begin to seem much more secure, and reliable. (Or maybe they don't, and I'm just assuming this is the case?) + +At what point in the growth of your career, and your income did you start feeling like you could plan around your income staying relatively high, if ever. How did you approach your planning? How did that impact your spending and saving? + +I've heard some people say you should act like your RSUs don't exist, and just move them into index funds when they vest. Some people say do that for some percentage of them. + +If you're constantly living like a large portion of your income could disappear at any day, how do you plan long term goals around that? If you, at some point, decided that you can reasonably expect to maintain that $350k+ per year income, how did you make that decision? + +An example of why I'm struggling with this. An $800k house seems pretty reasonable when you're pulling in $400k a year. But, if your income dropped down to $200k, or even $300k that house seems a lot harder to justify. These kinds of decisions apply to all sorts of other things (vacation spending, cars etc). + +This may be more appropriate for Mentor Monday, and if it is I can repost there. But I'm hoping we can get some good stories, and insights about what career growth and settling into a lifestyle felt like for people across different spaces. +Has anyone here ever invested in Puerto Rico? Due to the economic downturn in Puerto Rico over recent years home values have dropped by as much as 25%. It’s now very easy to find 3-5 bedroom homes that are in need of repair for less that $100,000. Some, as little as $30,000. When it comes to property taxes, you won’t pay any for as long as the home is your primary residence and the home value is less than $150,000. My father and I went there in 2018 to look at a 3 bedroom condo for sale for $100,000 right on the beach. With each bedroom window overlooking the ocean. When it comes to AirBNB, a 3 bedroom home will easily rent for $2,000 plus for a single week. Does it make sense to invest in an island that has huge potential for growth but is currently on the decline? +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +*** + +Thread guidelines: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/) apply here so please be familiar with them. + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Find the latest Altcoin Discussion thread in [this search listing](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/search?q=author%3Aautomoderator+title%3Aaltcoin&include_over_18=on&sort=new&t=all). + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +My experience with forex signals! + +(Made this post a year ago but I felt it was necessary to repost it as covid 19 has financially strained many and signal providers are looking to take advantage of those needing quick cash) + +Hi my name is D and I have used multiple forex signal providers in the past and I would like to share my experience with the community in the hopes of warning others to wisely pick a signal provider and not burn their hard earned money like I did. ( I know this post is long but please give it a read before you start trading with any signal providers.) + +So what made me start following signal providers? I had friends who were trading the forex market by themselves and making profits. I wanted to be like them however I was too impatient. I did not have the confidence to enter trades based on my own analysts as I was still in the learning stages but I still wanted to make some money from forex. + +I started my search on instagram to find my first forex signal provider. It was then that I started my year long journey of subscribing to a signal provider and then switching to another one when the previous one was not profitable. (No. I did not switch provider right after a month as I believe every trader has bad months. I had multiple accounts to enter different signals from multiple providers.) After about a year, most of my accounts were down and I told myself I had to put a stop to this senseless burning of money. + +I risk 2% for every trade no matter the size of my SL and TP. SL of 20 pips with TP of 40 pips? 2%. SL of 50 pips with TP of 100 pips? 2%. My lot size will just be smaller. Every profitable trader will agree that risk management is everything and is what keeps you in the game in the long run. + +Over the many months I have collated the data and managed to pinpoint the exact reasons why my accounts were in a deficit even when the signal provider will show that it was a profitable month. There will be 5 reasons that I will be covering and I hope you take note of each one because if you see a signal provider doing one or more of these, it is a huge red flag that you will not be profitable if you follow it. + +1. Every post is showing off their lavish lifestyle and saying you should quit your 9-5 job + +This is a huge huge red flag that the provider is not genuine. Real traders know that forex is not some get rich quick scheme and it takes months, even years of hardwork to start seeing results. They are trying to sell you a dream that you can get rich right away just by purchasing their signal package lol. Looking back, I realise that their analysts was total crap probably because they spent most of their time flexing on their gram. Genuine traders do not have to be such a douche about things as they know the value they offer and do not have to resort to such means to get attention. + +2. Bad risk reward ratio + +Risk and reward ratio is everything. If your RR is 1:2. You only need to hit take profit 33% of the time to break even. 1:3? 25%, even better. Any percentage higher and you would be making money. Some signal providers only send trades with RR of maybe 1:1, some even lower than that. This means you have to hit take profit 50% of the time to break even. That is honestly pretty hard to do. So not only do you not make money, you end up losing. + +3. Setting multiple take profits + +This is the biggest scam ever and how I was so stupid to not notice it sooner annoys me. Firstly, there is nothing wrong setting multiple take profits to secure some $$ first. However these providers do it in a way that makes it seem their week was profitable while in reality it was not. So let me show you how the maths works. I found an example of one of these trades from a provider I was once subscribed to. ( I have added in the number of pips from entry to save you from the calculations) + +BUY XXXXXX NOW @ 1.59650 +Sl: 1.59300 (35 pips) +Tp1: 1.59822 (17.2 pips) +Tp2: 1.60000 (35 pips) +Tp3: 1.60200 (55 pips) +Tp4: 1.60600 (95 pips) +Tp5: 1.61000 (135 pips) + +Wow! Looks good doesn't it. Nope it is actually not. Lets break it down. For calculation purposes assume that I risked 5% of my account for the entire trade. I would have to open 5 different positions, each risking 1% of my account. So now lets assume best case scenario and all the trades hit take profit, this is how much account growth I would have in total. + +Tp1: 0.49% +Tp2: 1% +Tp3: 1.57% +Tp4: 2.71% +Tp5: 3.85% + +Total of 9.62%!! Wow not too bad right almost a 1:2 RR. However this is rarely (almost never) the case. In reality it does not often hit TP 5, normally TP 3 and if you are lucky TP 4. In the case of TP 3 your RR would be negative. This factored in with not knowing when to set your SL to entry and having little clue when to actually take profit as TP 4 and TP 5 is unlikely you will be left with a huge drawdown. + +So now for the best part. How forex signal providers make it seem that they are profitable. Lets say this trade hits SL, never mind its just a 35 pip loss, dont sweat it. Hits TP3 ... wow! 107 pip gain!!! (17.2+35+55) What a good trade! Yup you risked 5% for a 3% gain, nice one. Now you understand how people get scammed by those forex gurus posting huge pip gains and little losses, PIP GAIN DOES NOT EQUAL PROFITABILITY DO NOT BE FOOLED + +4. Unrealistic RR + +Constant signals of RR of 1:4 and higher?? Sign me up please. Yup some providers do this and once the trade is entered they tell you price looks like it is about to retrace blah blah blah and ask you to close it at 1:0.5. A well known forex signal provider still does this but no name shall be mentioned. Worst still etc. you risked 100 pips for "400pips". And the provider celebrates that you caught at least 50 pips! 50 pips is a lot if your risk is maybe 15 pips, but you risked 100? No please that was terrible. + +5. Not caring that different currencies have different pip sizes + +For example GBPAUD EURUSD have completely different pip sizes, great you are 60 pips up in GBPAUD and down 45 in EURUSD, still 15 pips in profit! Nope, lets assume you opened 1 lot for each trade, you will be up $410usd for GBPAUD and down $450usd for EURUSD. It is a totaly unnecessary gamble hoping that the trades with a bigger pip value will be up. One way to "counter" this to calculate it such that each pip value is the same. Lets say you want 1 pip to be 1USD, for GBPAUD it will be a 0.145 lot size, for EURUSD 0.1. + +These are the reasons why a reliable signal provider is extremely hard to find and instead of earning some money quickly you will find yourself in a hole and in the cycle of changing signal providers. I personally feel it is better to spend your money learning forex and strategies from courses provided online and eventually trade by yourself. The key in forex is patience, having a good risk to reward ratio and full faith in your strategy. + +If you have made it this far, I would like to thank you for taking your time to read my first reddit post. I hope you found it informative and please leave some feedback! + +Help to share this post to prevent others from being scammed by forex”gurus”! +The FOMO is real in term of seeing how WSB making big bank on NIO, PLTR, TSLA, FCEL, CRSR. I gotta remember, I'm the one selling contracts to these tards and the moment I enter, the stock will tank lol + +I'm up more than 50% since May 2020 via mostly theta. Gotta keep track of the long road - a slow but steady income. No FOMO. All HOMO. + +How about you guys? Do you get the FOMO itch? +So I’ve been working on an algo for a while now, and I’ve got to the point where I have 500+ pages of backtest on excel on multiple time frames (I’m using medium-low TFs), in different market conditions. + +I’ve accounted for fees, slippage, liquidity, very strong trends, lateralization periods, very high or very low volume, I counted spread, I’ve managed risk and leverage, stop losses, I tested everything i could possibly think of and I have a 67% win rate with around 8% daily profit with 3% risk per trade, or around 5% if I bring risk down to 2% per trade. + +Now I’m programming the bot to actually execute this on bitmex. What could possibly go wrong that I didn’t think of, aside from the bot having bugs and failing because of errors in the code? I’m expecting the actual live trading to perform a bit worse than that, but I’m still expecting to be profitable, maybe with 60% win rate instead of 67% for example; am I delusional? Am i missing something? +Your markets are run by bots. Now your /r/Asx_bets daily threads are too. + +Read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) people[.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +[Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX\_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. You have been warned.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) + +Automoderator may provide "Guidance" for Lazy and zero effort posting. + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related.](https://discord.gg/EKU2tVBp9u) +Your markets are run by bots. Now your /r/Asx_bets daily threads are too. + +Read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) people[.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +[Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX\_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. You have been warned.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) + +Automoderator may provide "Guidance" for Lazy and zero effort posting. + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related.](https://discord.gg/ywAGqfUAQE) +Your markets are run by bots. Now your /r/Asx_bets daily threads are too. + +Read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) people[.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +[Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX\_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. You have been warned.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) + +Automoderator may provide "Guidance" for Lazy and zero effort posting. + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related.](https://discord.gg/ywAGqfUAQE) +"Elon Musk is proposing to buy Twitter Inc. for the original offer price of $54.20 a share, Bloomberg News reports. + +Musk made the proposal in a letter to Twitter, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential information. Shares in Twitter climbed as much as 18% on the news, after trading was briefly halted." + +https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-04/elon-musk-proposes-to-proceed-with-twitter-deal-at-54-20-a-share-twtr +My dad died a couple months ago. The estate stuff took forever, but I finally started getting the disbursement. Dad worked in a transmission factory, so he wasn't wealthy. But he had a few hundred thousand dollars saved that are now mine. It'll be about $5,000 a month before taxes for five years. + +I miss my dad, but this is my way out of poverty. It's life changing. If I'm smart and I stretch this out, it's the ticket to paying off my debt, catching up on bills, and maybe going back to school. I can trade in my old beater for a more reliable car. This is literally the ticket to the middle class for me. + +So, I'm kind of happy and excited, but I still miss my dad, and I'm really sad that he died. And then I feel kind of guilty for being happy that my life will be better. + +I guess I'm just venting, I've got a lot of feelings right now and not much to do with them, and I'm not sure who to talk to about them. +So I earn £22k/year atm. Working from home has been great but my company wants us back and they're relocating their office to another town where the commute is a pain (no trains, u reliable bus, I can't drive, and cycling is only good if weather is good). + +Been looking at LinkedIn and found a nice position at a law firm in Central London paying £40k/year, a small step up in position to my current role (my current company will also be rolling out such a position soon which I'm a strong candidate for). + +But after considering the taxes, the commute cost of £360 per month, and factoring likely lunches, it's not actually a massive payrise. + +After 6% pension contributions and tech scheme, I currently have £900/month to spend after household contributions and pre-debt/other cost payments. + +If I do get this role at the law firm, my post travel, tax/pension and household costs, I'// only get around £1500/month to spend, pre other debts and expenses. + +So for a almost 2 times salary, I get barely £600 more per month. That doesn't seem a lot for a place with £7 pints and high cost of living. + +So is £40k really that a lot as it first seems? I know it certainly looks a lot to someone still at school or minimum wage. To me £22k seemed a lot when I was at school and earning minimum wage after school. But not I realised it's not a lot. And £40k to me looks a lot now on the surface, but after digging in it doesn't look that much. +Back in January 2018 I spent most of my life savings in JCPENNEY stock(JCP), it was around $40,000 for 10k shares. It kept going down, 10%... 20%... l and ultimately I can't even watch the losses anymore. I then uninstalled my brokerage, forced myself to HOLD because I was sure retail would make a turn around... Few years past by and the pandemic hits, I noticed there's a lot of attention on stocks because people were saying everything was going up... I was very happy to hear this and logged into my brokerage account and to my surprise that same $40,000 is now $2,500, for a 93.59% loss ($37k-ish) + +Right now I am 27, don't have a job, and still live my parents. What should be my next step? Am I in financial ruins? What should I do... I didn't imagine myself with such big losses... Please give some advice! + +Edit: Just to add on, I don't have too many debts right now, only about 6k in student loans and maybe 500$ in credit card debt +I’m curious if others feel the same way about this group that I do. + +I’m a rust belt city guy. Plugging away towards FI in LCOL with a middle of the road salary situation. + +I really love the insights and takeaways from this sub but in some ways I think it takes on the characteristics at times of traditional social media that most Redditors loathe. + +I don’t like FB or Instagram because it’s a sizzle reel of everybody’s life. Pictures of vacations, achievements, image crafting to perfection. It’s not really an indicator of what the average person’s life is and therefore creates a lot of sadness and depression for people who use that platform too much and start to compare their real life to someone else’s sizzle reel. + +Sometimes I do that with this sub. + +This sub can become a sizzle reel to me. The reason being is I imagine that 90% of the sub are people like me. Salaries between 30-90k who are saving aggressively in order to go against societal norms of what wealth and/or retirement should be. + +(when I was in HS I really like that Rage Against the Machine song “F*ck You I wont Do What You Tell Me!” and I realize that FIRE is just a grown up version of that... but back to my point) + +The other 10% are people in STEM or unique situations who share what they’ve got going on. + +I’d venture a guess that 80% or the content comes from those 10% of users in this sub. + +So the status quo, or what is average, is set by that 10%. + +“37 - 2.5M NW what should I do?” type posts. + +Now I’m not saying the person writing this is bragging or doing it for validation (although I’m sure that’s true in some situations). + +But it does set the bar in many ways... well shit I’m no where close to that I’ll never share where I’m at, now that I think of it I’m kind of a failure. + +That’s why mindfulness is so important with FI if you’re going in these groups. I lose track of that sometimes and just pile on myself but really I should just be comparing me against myself yesterday and not against redditors. + +TL:DL The high achievers tend to share disproportionately more which creates an unrealistic average which in turn creates lurkers out of most people in the sub who are left thinking they haven’t done squat. + + +I think Trump is threatening a trade war because he knows that threats in a jumpy market push the market down, which may influence the Fed to start buying assets again, or halt their pace of raising fed rates. +Yellen was talking about four rate hikes, and he got her to step down. +Powell is talking four hikes, but I don't think he will for long, because Trump likely believes that the market / the economy needs to run a little hotter. +In addition, I think the threat of the trade war is meant to put the Chinese on the back foot and diminish the impact they will have with North Korea. +You will note, possibly, that the CIA and the state department have already started secret talks with the NKers. +South Korea was once threatened with tariffs, and Trump backed off. +I think if yo have cash on the side right now, let's see how much this market will crash, and then if it bottoms, AND the fed rolls back a rate hike, you know the bull run is on. +I think the market makers are now conspiring with trump. They are like, "okay, i got you. sell." +>- The Federal Open Market Committee, which makes monetary policy for the Federal Reserve, finished its two-day meeting Wednesday. + +>- Markets expected the central bank to approve a quarter-point interest rate increase. + +>The Federal Open Market Committee, which makes monetary policy for the Federal Reserve, finished its two-day meeting Wednesday. Markets expected the central bank to approve a quarter-point interest rate increase. Currently, the Fed's benchmark interest rate is in a range of 2 percent to 2.25 percent. + +http://cnbc.com/id/105636773 +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +*** + +Thread guidelines: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/) apply here so please be familiar with them. + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +Not that I encourage you to quit but as most traders ultimately do quit after months/years of losing, so what it takes for you to conclude that Forex Trading is not for you. + +And Also, what it takes you to be convinced that you can do it for a living and keep going. + +Please comment +Dear SEC, + +&#x200B; + +\- I stood next to a digital rock and clicked it, for two years. Every day, every night. I set my goals and did not sway. I was 13 years old. The day I got my level 99, I learned a valuable lesson. + +&#x200B; + +\- I grew up in the PC era. The era where we are groomed to become addicted to a game, and to play it 14 hours a day until we get that next big thing. + +&#x200B; + +\- We are a generation trained to HODL. We don't even know why we're doing it most of the time. Just for the next thing to achieve, another step up. + +&#x200B; + +\- I've HODL'd on many games. Runescape, Starcraft, Age of Empires, Guildwars, WoW, Dota, the list goes on. + +&#x200B; + +\- Last year, I found a new game. It was called GameStop. I am fully trained for this. We are all fully trained for this. We will HODL. + +&#x200B; + +\- We are a generation who only knows how to HODL. + +&#x200B; + +\- It's your move now 💎🙌💎🙌 +**I’m not crying, you are.** + +Just caught the livestream where the Happy dev **doxxed himself** and then immediately donated **$20,000** to fund a bunch of kids to go to camp with other children like themselves who’ve lost parents.... As something I went through myself growing up, I know *exactly* how much a support group could have helped because there are few experiences as isolating as losing a pillar in your life. + +**If you didn’t catch it, check it out here**: [https://www.twitch.tv/videos/998388884](https://www.twitch.tv/videos/998388884) + +**Experience Camps** was the first donation for HappyCoin and it looks like a great one as they brought on nine members of their team in a **Zoom call** during the Twitch stream to watch the money roll in and celebrate its arrival. A truly moving moment for those of us who are looking for the bright side of the recent crash and are wondering about what the meme market means. + +When it allows for degens like us to *actually* make good in the world, it **truly** makes this bull run even more special as we *reinvent the cash games* we play to have purpose behind them. Currently rising with the **news hitting like a ton of bricks**, understand that the **$20M market cap value** this token currently holds is truly only the **beginning**. + +There hasn’t been another charity token with this much success this quickly, and with another **$20,000 going out the door next Friday**, HappyCoin will continue **changing lives**, on pace to **deliver $1,000,000 to mental health organizations by next year**. + +How sweet is that? + +But for our moonboys out there, *don’t fret*, there’s more than just heart here. There are a number of partnerships on the way, **potential CEX listing** right around the corner from what I can tell, and **influencer marketing** is only going to ramp up from here with the legitimacy of a verifiable charitable donation on record. + +**Don’t miss out** on what can be both a life-changing experience for you as well as those we help with the 5% reflection both aiding all **20,000 holders** (in less than a week) and the **3% charity wallet** simultaneously. + +So I’m going to keep cutting up my onions while you make the **happiest decision** of your life and get in on the absolute ground floor of a coin with a brand that has staying power. Don’t be surprised if you see your ***favourite celebrity*** or mainstream outlet reporting on this one next :) + +👉 [Website](https://www.thehappycoin.co/) + +👉 [Twitter](https://twitter.com/the_happy_coin) + +👉 [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/the_happy_coin/) + +👉 [Telegram](https://t.me/happy_coinTG) + +👉 [Discord](http://www.discord.gg/happycoin) + +👉 [Pancakeswap](https://v1exchange.pancakeswap.finance/#/swap?outputCurrency=0xB0B924C4a31b7d4581a7F78F57ceE1E65736Be1D) + +👉 [Chart](https://poocoin.app/tokens/0xB0B924C4a31b7d4581a7F78F57ceE1E65736Be1D) +I understand the differences between a, b, and c properties. But how can you tell what grade a property is in if you aren’t familiar with the market? Is this speculative? +I miss the days of 80k active users and many comments and interactions on each post. Now I can barely scroll through “Rising” before the posts from Hot come up. The Daily Discussion comments are down and I feel like there hasn’t been a solid DD in months. + +I think a lot of this can be credited to DRS, as people have really begun to put their heads down and DRS whenever they can, however I do miss the Swaths of DD and series that we used to have. + +Any other theories to the almost non-existent engagement on the sub? +https://np.reddit.com/r/investing/comments/6acolz/cryptocurrencies_and_the_circle_of_competence/ + +The OP is pretty subtle in how he establishes a neutral stance, then subtly concern trolls ETH, and then he pretends that ETC is the real Ethereum. (note: he deleted the controversial part, but his hand has been shown). Somewhere in his replies to me, he even promoted Barry Shilbert's material... let me find it: + +https://np.reddit.com/r/investing/comments/6acolz/cryptocurrencies_and_the_circle_of_competence/dhdkqi5/ + +Is that what you call fucking neutral??? + +Finally: there are ETC trolls going around spreading fake links specifically this: https://np.reddit.com/r/investing/comments/6acolz/cryptocurrencies_and_the_circle_of_competence/dhfw3qd/ + +There are a lot of bad actors out there trying to bring ETH down, most of them from the maximalists from the other two coins taking advantage of naive investors. Watch out. +# Congratulations on 500,000 members, Superstonk! This is truly remarkable! Thank you all for being here! I love you all! 💎💙 + +[Apes Together Strong](https://preview.redd.it/0ebg2jg52k871.jpg?width=780&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ea9c291eb0f1b2739f4fc32e3aa9550a7d4bcac) + +We have come a long way since, *checks notes*, three months ago. r/Superstonk was created on March 15, and I sort of thought of it as a joke sub, until April 4, when the Second Great Ape Migration occurred and, in 24 hours, over 100,000 apes joined the sub and our new era had begun. Just three months later, we are now five times that number, and are growing more and more with every day. + +Congratulations, apes! This truly is a marvelous- nay, a LEGENDARY feat. Apes together strong and DIAMOND HANDS. I like the stock! + +# Superstonk Growth Plan + +[From baby apes to grown baby apes.](https://preview.redd.it/uafjjiz62k871.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2620337fa4807ca27c013c54efb16974446004a0) + +With this natural and impressive growth, the mod team has been putting together plans for expansion. We have modified our structure of mod hierarchy, and organized our team in a way that truly is comforting to all of us. We no longer fret over the psychological issues of compromised mods or bad actors, and honestly I must say this is the best team I have ever been a part of. I see nothing but great things in our future. + +That said, we have become mildly fatigued over the sheer growth and intensity of the past few months. Mods are people too, and have IRL situations that need tending to, and ultimately we are not superhuman. Additionally, we have lost a few mods, most recently u/HeyItsPixeL, due to IRL workload constraints, and, while are sad to see him go, we were so happy to have him along for the ride to this point. + +Moving forward, we will be making regular additions to the mod team. Previously, we had waited for growing pains before beginning the process of adding new mods, usually 2-3 at a time, but now we are making a dedicated effort to scaling indefinitely so as to properly moderate the sub and ensure that r/Superstonk has a long future on reddit. + +We are planning to add 2-3 mods on a regular basis to ensure proper management of the mod queue and mod mail, among other more advanced responsibilities. This method, coupled with a mod training guide that we have put together, and a structured discord for moderator communication and organization, should allow us to quickly onboard, train, and implement new mods. + +# Welcome Our New Moderators! + +[Get into the mod team, you damn dirty apes!](https://preview.redd.it/ksep93e82k871.png?width=726&format=png&auto=webp&s=288ac3ccd2b1ab105a84104a3906bdb4e9bfe4c7) + +This week, we are adding FOUR new moderators. They are already in the mod chat and meshing well with the whole team. Please give them all a warm welcome: + +* u/broccaaa \- This user is very helpful, and has a large knowledge base surrounding FTD cycles and more. He also has many connections in the DD circles that will be very helpful to the mod team. We are confident he will make a solid addition to the sub as a whole. +* u/stonk_sandwich \- From sending headbands to apes to attending the shareholder meeting in person, this user is an active, kind, and smart ape who will be focused on community engagement. We are already very impressed with their involvement in the team, and have high hopes. +* u/ [badtothebone](https://www.reddit.com/user/_badtothebone_) \- This user is someone that u/rensole and myself ( u/redchessqueen99 ) have moderated alongside before, and we have decided to welcome him into the fold of the r/Superstonk mod team. He has proven to be a reliable mod who prioritizes team work and loves this community, so we have very positive experiences and are excited to work with him again. +* u/hey_madie \- This user has been fostering an impressive and positive image across the community, and has established herself as intelligent, resourceful, and reliable to not only the mod team, but respected circles of DD authors and technical analysts. We have no doubt that she will elevate the mod team to a whole new level, and are very excited to have her on the team. Also, she is basically the Queen of Quant. + +I am superstonkin' excited to have these four aboard, and I am very excited to see how they mesh with the team and progress the sub as a whole. Welcome, new mods! + +# Superstonk's Future + +[APE 2.0](https://preview.redd.it/pg4aimcb2k871.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c97f8953bb6400f373acfa42d99f34f00c051d5) + +I know there has been a lot of concern around the recent communication we received from reddit admins regarding [**issues of brigading**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/o80eky/no_brigading/), where apes are pushing GameStop and Superstonk onto other subs, as well as referencing them in negative light on this sub overall. Therefore, we have made several changes to the automod code, as well as a required change added by reddit admins, to prevent the discussion of certain terms and references to other subreddits. Please honor these constraints, and help us keep the sub going strong. + +We realize this is frustrating, as many of us are used to collaborating with other GME-specific subs, and please know that I am working to clarify the specifics of this situation, and am working to try and recover crossposting and sharing of content with GME-specific subreddits. I am also on good terms with their moderators, and hope to reach out shortly, once I receive clarification from reddit admins, to foster a healthy relationship between our subs. + +Also, a lot of people are talking about backup plans, and another migration, so let me say this. I am not going anywhere. I am extremely proud of what we've created here at r/Superstonk, and I am going to fight to the end to keep it healthy and strong, and active. We are going to do everything in our power to comply with reddit admins and reddit policy, so that this sub can live a long and healthy life. + +So, please do your best to behave, to be civil, to be polite, and to be conscientious of these issues and policies, so that we can prevent further mishaps. I know there is a lot of animosity due to past grievances, but I am hoping we can start a new chapter with our 500k milestone, and take some proud steps into the future. + +# Re: Knights of New + +[Is this ape? Or shill in ape suit?](https://preview.redd.it/6gvlcflc2k871.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ba3220238cfdaeb446a4548a93b2ce4b7a79a885) + +This group has popped up over the past month or so, and aims to "police" the New sorted r/Superstonk feed, and intentionally downvotes posts that violate our sub's rules and general content quality, and upvotes those that they deem to be quality content. While at first, this idea seemed fun and a good idea, as apes voting for good content and downvoting bad content has always been a staple of the success of the sub, we now are seeing some aspects that are problematic. + +This could be construed as organized vote manipulation, as well as generally being unregulated and outside of the moderator's jurisdiction. As many of you may or may not know, the moderators can ban users and remove comments, but cannot control who votes on posts. We cannot see who votes, nor can we stop organized vote manipulation on this level. Even banned users can vote, and that is something I truly need to underscore. This has been a long time problem by bad actors and shills, and now it poses to be a real problem with the Knights of New, since they are primarily self-appointed and could easily be infiltrated or impersonated by bad actors. This would be very bad for the sub as a whole, and terrible for anyone who is identifying as a Knight of New. + +I urge you to please report users who are pushing any vote manipulation, and please bring it to our attention if you discover organized efforts in off-reddit mediums such as Discord and Twitter. We like the idea, but cannot support the execution and nature of the Knights of New. Therefore, we are detaching ourselves entirely from the concept as mods. Thank you for understanding. + +If you ever received Knights of New flair, and would like to change it, mods will be happy to adjust, but since we can be rather busy, you can always comment !buckleup! to replace your current flair. + +# Community Awards Design Contest Update + +This is a really quick update. TLDR: We have been very busy with the anti-brigading issues of the sub, and [this contest](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/o178u3/official_superstonk_community_awards_design/) has been delayed. However, we have received over 150 submissions, and plan to put the bracket together soon, but I am prioritizing these other important matters before this contest. I am hoping we can kick it off next week. Thank you for understanding. + +https://preview.redd.it/gtpdoe1e2k871.jpg?width=300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=af46e0bcb6f270fad1cb809da4cc9c8e5865159c + +# The Future of YouTube Channel + +Many of you were disappointed in one or two of our previous streams. We heard you and made serious changes. We are very proud of our new Monkey Business segment, which features local apes such as yourselves, and we have some exciting AMA guests we hope to bring on soon. However, we are prioritizing the moderating necessities of the subreddit itself, and hope to continue these side projects when we have the capacity. + +# Onward, and Upward 🚀 + +&#x200B; + +[Moass Effect: Legendary Edition](https://preview.redd.it/hpo9i0ug2k871.jpg?width=728&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1d7adc6e4584306881d8f5f5aefb2435968060c3) + +I want to again thank each and every one of you for your dedicated support and activity in r/Superstonk. We truly have grown at an incredible rate, and I can only remain excited for the future, despite some of the obstacles we've faced. It's been one crazy ride, and I hope this ride continues until we find ourselves past the moon, past Andromeda, and onward. TO THE MOON 🚀🚀🚀 +Interesting article .. + +[https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/its-modern-slavery-uber-eats-drivers-say-they-were-paid-equivalent-of-5-an-hour/news-story/a09d6b019e0b6e3c8e6d1d9b3bd63561](https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/its-modern-slavery-uber-eats-drivers-say-they-were-paid-equivalent-of-5-an-hour/news-story/a09d6b019e0b6e3c8e6d1d9b3bd63561) + +The obvious question is why are so many people seemingly willing to work in this so called 'gig economy' ? Some people will say they have no choice, that's the only work they can get etc. + +But I'm a regular Uber user and I've had more than a handful people say (granted the article is about Uber Eats but even so .. ) how they love working for Uber .. They love the flexibility etc. The point is they aren't working in conjunction with other work and aren't seeking other work. They're content. + +Please advise. +Many of the identity theft cases that are posted here started with their mobile number getting ported to another provider by the scammers. Why is it so easy to do that in Australia? All they need is your name and DOB and to port your phone number and get access to your bank accounts. + +From my experience, it is not this easy in all countries. In India and Singapore, you have to carry your physical identity documents to an authorised dealer to change the provider. I wish same is implemented in Australia as too. +Hi, + +FIRE subreddits used to recommend to buy 2-3 years old Toyotas. +Do you think this is still the best advice today? +In the past few years: +\- used cars (especially Toyota) have gotten much more expensive, +\- 'cheaper' brand have risen in quality standards (Dacia Sandero/Stepway), +\- gas prices increased and hybrid cars may be more frugal, +\- manufacturer offer better guarantees (e.g. 5 years, 100,000km). + + +I was first thinking of buying a 2019-2020 used Toyota Corolla or Yaris (both hybrid). Then i saw that I can save 40% by purchasing a Dacia Sandero Stepway (petrol). Even with the fuel costs, the difference is huge between the two options. + +Here is some more info about my situation: + +\- Budget: 20 Keur maximum. I do not currently own a car. +\- Location: Luxembourg. +\- Expect to drive 10,000 km/year (15 km commuting both ways, weekly groceries, occasional short trip). +\- My girlfriend has a small 10 yo car which she uses for her daily commute. We plan to have a kid in the next 2-3 years. + + +Thanks for your help! +The power of the masses is the ability to be decentralized. As soon as someone starts worshiping and idolize a single author, we become centralized and easy to manipulate through the opinions and presence/absence of these authors. I suggest deleting comments like "Papa u/...", "Love you, u/..." etc. Let's stay balanced and emotionally detached. + +I am not saying that I am not thankful for all the DDs these guys are doing, my main point here is that MOD = DD author = Usual Lurker. Every ape matters and all are equally important. Only this way we can be sure that will be truly decentralized, and r/Superstonk will be our last & only home. + +Thanks for reading this. + +Edit 1: Typography + +Edit 2: u/ezzune phrased it much better than I did. I really love his comment: *"Spartacus was only powerful because he had no face. By making individuals our "generals" we make it so our enemy has to defeat 3-4 of us instead of 100k of us."* Can't really say it better than this. +Might be in the wrong sub. + +&#x200B; + +There's being a lot of talks and posts about a 2008-scale crash coming up. + +&#x200B; + +Genuinely don't care if it's true or not - this is beside the point of my question. + +&#x200B; + +My question is, if there is a crash, can we expect mortgage rates to go up or down? +All of the best questions that I have seen suggested so far have originated from Dr.T. Why not let an industry expert ask the questions on behalf of retail? + +Imagine what Queen Kong could reveal in a ten minute question-answer with Gary? + +Don't let Gary ftd the answers retail deserves. +How many of you here want to fire because you find it hard to work with people (colleagues, bosses, clients etc) + +For me this is a big reason for wanting to fire is my inability to work well with people. I am very comfortable in 1:1s but group situations, team lunches etc are pretty uncomfortable. I also don’t like the conflict situations at work with colleagues. + +I enjoyed my work at places where I can sit down and do my work (programming) without constant code reviews, meetings, disagreements etc. +I hate these kind of posts, fuck the Drama, but I can't expect everyone to read my Twitter. + +TL;DR: I don't know what they were talking about. + +I am not talking as a Mod about this, but as a private person. + +To all the people spreading FUD and denouncing me, because my name was mentioned in one of the Screenshots: Are you actually retarded? There are 30 Minutes of convo missing when my name was mentioned and I wasn't even involved, how am I supposed to "defend myself" as the people asked me to do when they called me out. + +Stop tagging me in posts, asking me to respond to something, I don't even know about. If you want to know what they were talking about, ask Warden, not me. + +And now: Move on, don't tag me, don't dennouce me without evidence, Buy, Hodl & Vote. Thanks. + +Edit: People just told me he, didn't belive in my DD and that's why my name was mentioned. I still don't know, why they would say "Pixel knew" if this was the case, but that's Warden's apparent explanation. +Hello everyone! + +Over the past week, even the past months I am being tagged in Superstonk posts because there has been a username confusion. + +The user you are looking for is u/elegant-remote6667 + +And not myself + +Unfortunately my karma is not high enough to comment here and therefore a lot of you are hoping for answers you will never receive, I also know nothing about stocks. + +Just wanted to clear that up have a wonderful rest of your days! + +Edit: can’t comment so imma answer some questions: I never minded being tagged, I just felt bad that a lot of you wanted stuff archived by u/elegant-remote6667 and were then seemingly ignored because I was the wrong person and every attempt I made to reply to correct you got blocked by the auto-moderator. + +This post was approved by a mod after I messaged them so thank you so much to them! + +I love that so many of you want me to seemingly join but I also get the vibe I’ve walked into a gingerbread house. + +Thanks for awards and for the link to a post from a guy asking to be banned which made me laugh 😂 I’m one of those folk that doesn’t interact with Reddit much and just lurks. + +I don’t know who Ryan Cohan is + +Edit 2: + +Couple of people asking what I mean by “walking into a gingerbread house” this is in reference to Hansel and Gretal, as in this is a trap (in a joking way ofc) + +Edit 3: + +Ironically I can now comment thanks to this post +A year ago I posted to this [sub](https://www.reddit.com/r/Forex/comments/jll3gv/monthly_performance_discussion/) my performance in October where I happily made 2% algo trading that month. A year later I've made 74% YTD algo trading forex. + +[October 2020](https://preview.redd.it/tx1mmpoyjev71.png?width=674&format=png&auto=webp&s=28813ddfbd5e80265ef491452b47e270930de010) + +&#x200B; + +[October 2021](https://preview.redd.it/6yvjgwrzjev71.png?width=548&format=png&auto=webp&s=935aa0785a952cd927818a723de70505bd19a750) + +&#x200B; + +[Fx Blue stats.](https://preview.redd.it/1jv5vn42kev71.png?width=270&format=png&auto=webp&s=9abccbc0d8a0cc321e27e763c337e327bdd46062) + +Here's what made the difference. + +1. I started with Trend Following because it was simple to understand and code. But as we all know, trend following has large drawdowns, and low win rates that are difficult to maintain long term. My October 2020 graph was a trend following algo mainly. + +2. Then I began mixing in mean reverting algorithms into a portfolio to smooth out my equity curve ( as much as possible). This increases your overall win rate but has a negative skew on the risk to reward ratio. + +3. Then I looked for a good blend of uncorrelated pairs to put in the portfolio and back tested them exhaustively for 20-30 years of data. I used multiple out of sample windows for my walk forward analysis and used metrics like Sharpe ratio, Profit Factor and Return to Draw down ratio as my drivers for success. + +4. I let algorithms run live for 2-6 months before adding them to the portfolio. This is to get an understanding of how they operate live, I do this with real money because it makes me pay attention to the algorithms even in a developmental phase. Trust me, you will take your tests more seriously when there is money on the line. + +5. After I found uncorrelated pairs, with uncorrelated strategies that gave a good overall portfolio performance the algorithms went live to my main accounts. My main accounts are a mix of personal accounts and prop firm accounts. + +After that I spend a lot of time trying to fund the algorithms using prop firms. They successfully passed all the challenges and verification stages, and I briefly became a top trader at one of the online prop firms we all know and hate lol. + +I'm posting to show the difference a year could make and hopefully inspire some people to keep going at it. I open to questions if anyone wants to discuss, I also posted something similar to r/algotrading and answered common questions there. + +Cheers! +I mainly created this thread because of so many users coming here and saying bitcoin is old and outdated. These users are very misinformed. They've been fed misinformation by people that are profiting from spreading misinformation. + +**Just read the bold text if this thread is too long for you.** The bold text is the summarized version and it contains all of most important information within this long wall of this text. I did this for users who don't like to read long posts. I know it's still long. + +**If you'r a bitcoin veteran and you already know a lot about bitcoin:** Skip straight to the two bold paragraphs second from the bottom. They contain information about most of bitcoin's recent developments and second layer protocols. + +**Bitcoin is just a protocol. It was released in 2009** + +**TCP/IP are just protocols that were released in 1972. You could call them the backbone of the internet. Look at how long it took us to get to the internet that we have today, where TCP/IP is the backbone.** + +[**Click here to read a bit about TCP/IP and blockchain technology.**](https://hbr.org/2017/01/the-truth-about-blockchain) + +HTTP is just a protocol that was released in 1991. You could call it the backbone of the world wide web. + +SMTP is just a protocol that was released in 1982. And IMAP is just a protocol that was released in 1986. You could call these protocols the backbone of email. Many people used to say that email was useless and nobody would ever use it. + +TCP/IP was actually developed by cypherpunks just like bitcoin, PGP, and many other great protocols and technologies. In fact, two cypherpunks by the names of Hal and Len actually lived near each other and both helped develop TCP/IP. And they are also two of the three most likely candidates for being Satoshi. But that's not important. + +People used to say computers and the internet was a useless waste too. Computers do use far more electricity than bitcoin mining. So perhaps they were right after all. + +We are in the early majority. Bitcoin hasn't had it's Windows 95 moment yet, and I'll explain that statement below. + +**Do you remember back in 1990 when everyone had heard of the internet but you didn't know anyone who used it? This is much like bitcoin right now, and even less people use the lightning network. Both are still in beta. February 1991 is when AOL for DOS was released. AOL for DOS made the internet fairly easy for everyone to use. But you still probably didn't know anyone who used it, and you probably didn't use it yourself. The internet didn't start getting popular until Windows 95 came out and most people still didn't use it for more years.** + +**I can't wait to see where bitcoin is in a 12 years where it will be 23 years old. It was 1995 back when TCP/IP was 23 years old.** + +[**Click here to watch/listen to some news clips talking about the internet and email back in 1995 when TCP/IP was 23 years old.**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95-yZ-31j9A) This was also the same year that Windows 95 was released. + +**Bitcoin has the potential to be the backbone of the financial system.** And that's what people like the rocket scientist Michael Saylor are betting on. Michael Saylor is the same MIT graduate that predicted the mobile wave. + +I want to inform you all that **I am not a bitcoin maximalist.** And my favorite cryptocurrency is actually an altcoin. I know you're shocked to hear that. But bitcoin holders please fear not, because **I still see bitcoin as the safest bet. And I also see bitcoin as the only protocol that has the potential to be the backbone of the financial system.** If this happened, then companies and countries would be using on-chain payments to settle large payments. There could be bitcoin backed currencies (like gold backed currencies of the past) and even bitcoin banks. **Hal Finney predicted there would be bitcoin banks in the future all the way back in 2010** Most people would be using second layer payment protocols to send bitcoin in milliseconds and costing almost no fees. And these **second layer protocols like the lightning network take a negligible amount of electricity to operate. Bitcoin can scale to handle as much demand as the world can create because of it's second layer protocols.** + +Satoshi didn't create bitcoin to get rich. **He created bitcoin to allow online payments to be sent directly from one person to another without requiring trust or permission of anyone else.** Over 99% of altcoins were created to enrich their founders and over 99% of them have no future. None of them are as secure, as decentralized, or launched as fairly as bitcoin. **Bitcoin has the most users, largest infrastructure, no premine, no developer fund/tax, no leader, longest track record, is the most secure, is the most decentralized, and bitcoins circulated freely for 18 months before ever having any monetary value which can never even be replicated by an altcoin because the genie is out of the bottle now.** And unlike the founders of every altcoin, Satoshi never cashed out. The issuance schedule and maximum supply of bitcoin are both clearly defined and will never change. Bitcoin development is decentralized and anyone can contribute because Satoshi published bitcoin under the MIT license so that it's open source and anyone is free to do anything with the source code. Bitcoin protocol rule changes are also decentralized because they require nodes to come to consensus.** All of this is why bitcoin is so vastly different than altcoins. + +Cryptocurrency is full of scammers/grifters, ignorance, and people that actually believe the lies because they've been sucked into altcoin cults. Gamblers use altcoins for trading/gambling to increase their bitcoin stack [or even their ETH stack if they don't understand bitcoin and cryptocurrency,](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T89gsJ2MsG8&t=47m24s) and they aren't aware that Gary Gensler, the current Chair of the SEC, just said that "a lot of crypto tokens, I won't call them cryptocurrencies for this moment, are indeed non-compliant securities" this week. And nobody told them that the SEC disregarded previous claims made by Bill Hinman, former director of the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance, who suggested that offers and sales of ETH are not securities transactions. But enough about that. + +Gambling on altcoins can be very profitable during a bull run because the altcoin market is basically a short term casino where you actually have a good chance of winning. It's a relatively easy way to increase your bitcoin stack. + +**If you properly handle your private keys, then your bitcoin can't be stolen or seized and nobody can stop you from sending it to anyone else.** + +**Any protocol rule change that doesn't make any previously invalid blocks now valid is called a soft fork.** This would be a miner upgrade and is easier to accomplish, we can give the mining nodes a chance to upgrade, bip9 can be used, or the nodes can just run compatible software. + +**All protocol rule changes must be agreed upon by fully validating bitcoin nodes.** Even if the mining nodes don't agree, if the full nodes come to consensus and make a rule change, people will continue to mine as long as it's profitable to mine, so the miners have to deal with it or piss off and other people will mine. The mining difficulty will adjust every 2016 blocks regardless. So when it comes down to it, only the users who run fully validating bitcoin nodes are in charge of bitcoin. + +**Fully validating bitcoin nodes must come to consensus on any rule change that makes any previously invalid blocks now valid, and that's called a hard fork.** This would be a pretty big upgrade, and it would be difficult to pull off with bitcoin because it's decentralized. And that's a good thing. + +**There is a maximum supply of 21 million bitcoin**, and that will never change. Satoshi designed the protocol so that **miners solve a block every 10 minutes on average**. The block reward started at 50 BTC. **The block reward gets divided by 2 every 210,000 blocks** (4 years if the hashrate remained constant), which we call the block reward halving. The block reward is currently 6.25 bitcoin and the next block reward halving will happen around April 2024. And then the block reward will be 3.125 bitcoin. **The mining difficulty adjustments every 2016 blocks** which is approximately 2 weeks. So if it's profitable for people to mine, then hardware gets turned on and the mining difficulty increases. But if the price of bitcoin lowers so that some hardware is unprofitable to run, then it gets turned off and the mining difficulty decreases. And as the block reward gets divided by 2 every 210 thousand blocks, the **transaction fees will continue to incentivize miners to secure the network even when the block reward is minuscule.** + +Many users here like to repeat that the last bitcoin wont be mined until 2140. And while it is true that the last satoshi will not be mined until 2140. It is also true that **approximately 97% of bitcoins will be mined by 2032**, and the block reward will just be 0.78125 BTC at that time. But if bitcoin is worth, for example, a million dollars, then the block reward alone in 2032 would be worth more than the current block reward + transaction fees at this time. That's not even accounting for all of the transaction fees that the miners will also be collecting from the transactions that they include in blocks. + +Bitcoin is constantly being developed. **Bitcoin also has second layer protocols that are constantly being developed and they don't require any consensus.** So anyone can just create second layer protocols for bitcoin and nobody needs to agree on anything. It's up to the users of bitcoin if they want to use various second layer protocols that maximize the user experience. **One of bitcoin's second layer payment protocols is called the lightning network. It's still in beta but it already allows an unlimited amount of users to send and receive bitcoin transactions in milliseconds for extremely minuscule fees.** + +[**Bitfinex**](https://www.bitfinex.com/), [**Okcoin**](https://www.okcoin.com/), and [**Strike by Zap**](https://beta.strike.me/faq) have already integrated the lightning network so that people can deposit and withdraw bitcoin using it and [**Kraken**](https://www.kraken.com/) **will be integrating the lightning network later this year.** Kraken even has a US banking charter and [**Kraken Bank**](https://www.kraken.com/en-us/bank) plans to offer most typical banking services later this year. + +**For newbies wanting to try out the lightning network:** I only recommend you to use [**Muun**](https://muun.com/) wallet or [**Phoenix**](https://phoenix.acinq.co/) wallet. They're both user friendly and they allow users to send and receive on-chain transactions or lightning transactions, all from the same wallet. [**BlueWallet**](https://bluewallet.io/) is also a great choice but it's more advanced than Muun and Phoenix. + +**For US residents only:** Consider trying out [**Strike**](https://beta.strike.me/faq) by Zap. It has no fees and it allows Americans to use cash in their bank account to buy bitcoin and have it be sent anywhere in milliseconds using the lightning network. Or they can send a lightning payment and receive cash in their bank. So Americans can use Strike app to fund lightning integrated exchanges with bitcoin instantly, to fund their lightning channels with satoshis, or to make instant bitcoin lightning payments, and all without any fees. I believe that Strike is also capable of sending and receiving on-chain bitcoin payments + +**Bitcoin has second layer protocols like the lightning network and statechains. The lightning network allows an unlimited amount of users to sent and receive bitcoin in milliseconds for almost no fees, and uses minuscule electricity. Bitcoin also has a second layer protocol called statechains that allow non-custodial off chain transfers which bypass paying transaction fees and waiting for confirmations. And statechains can also be turned directly into lightning channels at will. So statechains allow users to open and close lightning channels without performing any on-chain transactions, without paying a transaction fee, and without waiting for a confirmation.** + +**Bitcoin is also switching to schnorr signatures and activating taproot this year which will improve privacy, security, and efficiency. This will also lower the operating costs of running a node and the transaction fees for exchanges by an expected 30% and it will also allow us to use many more second layer protocols that have been developed. This will also allow us to create massive multi-signature transactions that are substantially smaller in size, and will even allow users to aggregate all the multiple signatures of a transaction into one (multiple signers can produce a joint public key and then jointly sign with a single signature). Shnorr signatures and taproot will also allow us to use the coinswap protocol which is pretty self explanatory, the musig2 protocol which will allow aggregating public keys and signatures, new discreet log contracts which increases privacy and scalability minimizes the trust required in the oracle which provides external data for the contract, and point time locked contracts which will improve the privacy of bitcoin payments using the lightning network. Trustless cross chain atomic swaps should also be available towards the end of this year. Schnorr signatures also makes multi-signature and single-signature transactions indistinguishable on the blockchain so an observer will not even be able to tell if a multi-signature transaction or a trustless cross chain atomic swap has happened by viewing the blockchain. NFTs can also be done on bitcoin and that's where they were done first back in 2012. There's also various sidechains in development, including liquid network. There's the RGB protocol which will allow smart contracts to be done using bitcoin on the lightning network. And much more.** + +**Money (not fiat currency) always evolves in four stages** (this is from the *what is money?* section of *The Nature and Creation of Money* chapter of a college course on *Principles of Macroeconomics*). **Bitcoin is currently going through the second stage of the evolution of money, which is a store of value.** The next stage is a widely used medium of exchange. Bitcoin may evolve into the third stage in 5 years, in 7 years, in 12 years, or **bitcoin may never evolve passed the second stage**. The final stage of the evolution of money is a unit of account. Bitcoin is also currently going through price discovery. **Bitcoin's true value needs to be found before it will ever be a widely used medium of exchange The lightning network also to be adopted by the users, merchants, and exchanges before it's even possible for bitcoin to evolve into a widely used medium of exchange.** +Let me start off by saying that a lot of us are facing an acute shortage of fiat aka money to invest and are probably balls deep. + +Lets just look at the bloodbath right now + +[The market right now](https://preview.redd.it/ky9skqra7hy81.png?width=1616&format=png&auto=webp&s=feb5d44fd0a0903353c467b27d7a6a7bd51caa54) + +BTC - ATH is $68,789.63 and the current price is 33,279$. When we reachieve ATH, that will be over 100% increase. Which means you are doubling the money that you are putting in by buying now. + +Similarly with ETH. ATH is $4,891.70 and the current price is 2,413$. Again when we reach ATH, you are looking at a 2x of what you have invested. + +But those of you who have money but haven't bought BTC at this price, in the hopes that + +1. The price will go even lower. That is Greed. You aren’t even taking this opportunity now to get a 2x, then trust me, every time it goes lower, you will wait for a new low. And when prices rebound, you will still wait for the “crash” only to finally fomo near the top. +2. The market is too volatile, I might lose my money. Well, this is crypto. You should invest what you can afford to remove maybe a year or two later. Don’t imagine Bitcoin to make you a millionaire overnight. But if you invest too much, it can make you broke in no time as well. +3. The potential of BTC is over. I need to find the next 1000x ultra micro cap coin. Well if you are colorblind, the market is red now. Good luck finding an alt coin that statistically might not survive the bear market. + +TLDR - Agreed that crypto is volatile as hell. But within this space, the most safest and blue chip investment are at prices which will net you double the returns. What is stopping you from investing at least a portion of your investment money now ? +So today's chat confirmed Fidelity did not process my DRS request last Monday. Prior to last Monday I had never used the online chat before to process a DRS request and this was the first time a DRS request did not go through for me. + +https://preview.redd.it/sln26dmxbdu91.jpg?width=1442&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=523f72f40886d0c97d51c5a6c6b562b4a3789e89 + +Then I called Fidelity and the first rep I spoke to just seemed like he was playing dumb, so I hung up on him. I called back again and asked for a Supervisor and I spoke to Matt. Matt said he was going to investigate the issue and 10 minutes later he hangs up on me. I thought it might have been my phone being out of money because I'm currently overseas on a pre-paid but I tried calling back Fidelity and nope, my phone has money and it works. This is why you see 3 calls. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/aingj4yhcdu91.jpg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=df7d163db8b5818490d592544250bdae90a23e34 + +Definitely smells like Funkelity's foot is kicking the can down bullshit lane. I'm going to try again later, but I think we're onto something... +I was going through historical GME data looking for clues and I came across something interesting. I think i know what is driving the volume during our runups (and downs) + +Let me start by saying I am a smoothbrain by trade and this is just speculation. I am merely a truth seeker that likes looking for patterns in life and am good at connecting dots. Trying to understand what GME doing is a hobby/obsession of mine, as im sure is true for many of us. + +So while looking for patterns in GME data I was looking at unusual volume spikes from 2011-2021. things looked pretty normal and nothing really looked sus until we get to 2015. I'm sure GME was being shorted before this but this is where the shorting became abusive with spikes in volume 7 times more than "normal" and having very little change in share price. This is when the death spiral becomes evident. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/2olttw8dfsu71.png?width=1219&format=png&auto=webp&s=c826c0988b5629c20a47ce99e24fc68e0920d676 + +This is when they started going full blown Toys R us on GME. + +After this the FUD kicks off. [Why Shares of GameStop Corp. Tumbled 24% in November | The Motley Fool](https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/12/09/why-shares-of-gamestop-corp-tumbled-24-in-november.aspx) + +The slow death has begun, and now all they have to do is short it to oblivion and let it bleed out for several years so investors keep coming in thinking they bought the dip. Suckers, ami right? + +Lots of huge volume days with little effect on share price in 2016, but couldnt find any patterns worth noting. Im not sure if the volume spike days could be them accumulating massive short positions, but if they were there are hundreds of millions of them + +**ENTER 2017** + +This is where it gets good. There are 5 unusually high volume days of over 10M that happened in 2017. They all match up with the runups (and rundown) in 2021 + +Take a look at January. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/05jolchnfsu71.png?width=1202&format=png&auto=webp&s=a8aa1d90b092b76ce7390fdb0f2894d9d95eefc2 + +When people think of the Jan Sneeze they think the of 26th, 27th, and 28th as the money days, but did you know the real magic started on the 13th? + +[GameStop rips 93% higher as board-overhaul rally enters 3rd day | Markets Insider (businessinsider.com)](https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/gamestop-stock-price-board-overhaul-ryan-cohen-holiday-sales-gme-2021-1) + +From here the Fomo and positive sentiment as the SEC put it ran things up until the buy button was turned off. Sure, this could be a Cohencidence, but it stood out to me enough to keep digging. + +We know from SEC report that jan was not a short or gamma squeeze, and I believe the Feb runup was caused by FTDs from Jan, there is a small 7 million volume spike feb 28th 2017, that may or may not have anything to do with feb runup, but i think FTDs was more likely. + +Ok, so what happened after feb? The biggest fuckery event in the history of mankind took place. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/rfhxuewyfsu71.png?width=1339&format=png&auto=webp&s=e8f9db58d4dbca5dce49748c51d45c067a11d3cf + +Yeah that sucked. whats above 350 kenny? Also WTF was the deal with March 24th?? + +You know, the day that went from $181and dropped violently to $120 and then back to $183 the next day? Sure was weird. Never seen any stock move like that ever. It would be weird if this same event happened to gme in 2017. + +&#x200B; + +Believe it or not. + +https://preview.redd.it/m6rbdb12gsu71.png?width=1243&format=png&auto=webp&s=dfd7105091d04b77474152d53b962303b7301692 + +&#x200B; + +Ok.. WTF now. This is getting weird. They sure do look alike. + +&#x200B; + +Oh yeah it also happened on march 24th Also on an unusual spike in volume day in 2017. I am starting to think that if they failed at the mother of all fuckeries this would have gone in the other direction and we would have moassed on march 24th. No clue what happened with this one other than it rhymes with 2017. + +https://preview.redd.it/vmhhgw6agsu71.png?width=1186&format=png&auto=webp&s=c38be94bef1898d69e5d9b67ee6c0320baba7ac8 + +&#x200B; + +&#x200B; + +[RIP](https://preview.redd.it/6qdxy3plgsu71.png?width=299&format=png&auto=webp&s=c66b76f86ee5e5c88bc7c27664e6988207051e17) + +&#x200B; + +The next suspiciously high volume day in 2017 was..... + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/2iw2h2jrgsu71.png?width=1235&format=png&auto=webp&s=9512310ce0280f29b7188a08fe38f7f2c9c9182a + +**Does everyone remember May 25th and 26th? Here is a reminder.** + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/k00j1wf0hsu71.png?width=1547&format=png&auto=webp&s=cec859bcaa987aee9383124b67bb3682a1dfadbc + +&#x200B; + +**MAY RUNUP DATE = MAY 25 and 26** + +**GME GOES FROM $180 to $240 PER BARREL** + +**There must be some high volume dates in 2017 that dont perfectly line up with 2021 right?? This cant explain everthing. Right? Lets check the data. The next SusVol 2017 date is.....** + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/22b2gqc3hsu71.png?width=1186&format=png&auto=webp&s=256438a36150fc6529e8be04a6d9554dbf75e629 + +August 25th? + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/jrgc92d8hsu71.png?width=1447&format=png&auto=webp&s=42aff6121b9398f0341f84015c9104b5acc00229 + +HAHAHA WTF. The ghost of 2017 right on schedule. I am surprised this one was the weakest of the runups, also it technically started on august 24th. I cant explain why its on point for every other date but started one day early here, maybe kenny took the day off, but there was a significant spike in volume the 25th as well after hitting record lows the week before. + +&#x200B; + +**NOW THE $55 MILLION DOLLAR A BARREL QUESTION** + +**WHEN FUCKIN MOASSS???** + +To be honest I dont know. This is one of the most tenuis DDs on this sub hands down and could mean absolutely nothing. Its just a curious observation of a pattern that seems to be repeating. It is in no way a definitive answer to the GME riddle. There is always a chance that they have more fuckery in store for us, AND don't forget we have been let down EVERY SINGLE TIME SOMEONE TRIES TO PUT A DATE ON THIS. + +This is for entertainment purposes only, if nothing happens we keep holding and being patient. + +I am hoping more intelligent apes can weigh in on this if there is a possibility that there is a 4 year FTD cycle at play or maybe can explain what the hell is going on here. + +**BUY HOLD AND DRS IS STILL THE WAY** + +**DO YOU UNDERSTAND??** + +&#x200B; + +If true next big volume spike should happen on >!November 22!< + +Whether it goes up or down I can not say. +RC quoted JFK knowing most of you dumb dumbs would interpret him to mean "DRS" or "BUY TO PUMP Q2 NUMBERS" - and both of those interpretations benefit the company - but I think all those ideas are WAY too on the nose. Papa really wants us to mentally prepare for what is coming and choose to use this opportunity to make the world a better place. We have a rare opportunity to change the course of history and completely redefine the power dynamic of this world. That is an INSANE amount of responsibility to give a bunch of Lambo hungry crayon eating banana fuckers. So do the world a favor and READ the speech RC quoted. It will take you 2 minutes and might make you a better person or some shit. Replace all the God references with Gamestop Board of Directors or something. + +"Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You" +John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961 + +We observe today not as a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom — symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning — signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago. + +The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe — the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. + +We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans — born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage — and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. + +Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. + +This much we pledge — and more. + +To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do — for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder. + +To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom — and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside. + +To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required — not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. + +To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge — to convert our good words into good deeds — in a new alliance for progress — to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbours know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house. + +To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support — to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective — to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak — and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run. + +Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. + +We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed. + +But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course — both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war. + +So let us begin anew — remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. + +Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belabouring those problems which divide us. + +Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms — and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. + +Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce. + +Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah — to "undo the heavy burdens -. and to let the oppressed go free." + +And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavour, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved. + +All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. + +In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. + +Now the trumpet summons us again — not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are — but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation" — a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself. + +Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort? + +In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility — I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it — and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. + +And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. + +My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. + +Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own. + Nebraska finally bans payday loans. Nebraska voters overwhelmingly supported a ballot initiative Tuesday that caps rates on payday loans at 36% throughout the state, even as federal legislation restricting these high-cost loans remains stalled. Roughly 83% of Nebraska voters approved Measure 428, according to the Nebraska Secretary of State, which provides election results. The ballot measure proposed putting a 36% annual limit on the amount of interest for payday loans. + +Source - [ElitePersonalFinance](https://www.elitepersonalfinance.com/nebraska-voters-choose-to-limit-payday-loan-interest-rates/) +My wife grew up in a family of six with a stay at home mom and money was always tight. Her family was able to get by but money was always tight, financial independence was never on their timeline. That isn't a bad thing, but it sets up the story to come. My mother in law now works part time but would rather be home most days, their youngest is 19yo now. They have a tight sense of family; 19yo, 22yo, and 27yo plus 27yo fiancé are all under one room with the inlaws. My wife is the only one who lives on her own, with me. + +I work for the feds and there is a excellent daycare, run by employees of my facility, on site where I work that is both very affordable and good for the kids who go there. Lots of activities, the teach the kids sign language, reading, etc. My wife is a healthcare professional who's starting income is about 160k/year and she's planning on going back to work next week. To help with her schedule and my schedule, we were planning on putting our kids in day care (under 2yo) for TWO days a week, 5hrs a day. Nothing crazy. Our goal is to pay off our house in the next year and a half before the 3rd kid comes. Great. + +Fast forward to last night, my wife is talking to her parents about the situation and the day care idea comes up. My wife explains our situation about wanting to pay off the house and her parents lay into her about being selfish and ridiculous. "Why can't you be normal and raise your kids the way we did?!" "Everybody pays their house off in 30 years, why do you have to do it differently?" "Why do you have to do this to our grandchildren?" I could continue but you see the point. + +Suffice to say, your business is your business. Her parents are upset with us now and, to be completely honest, my wife is equally upset with them. Another reason to keep your plans to yourself and just run the course. +Hi everyone, i'm an 18 year old, living in South Wales, i've won the euromillions lottery raffle of £1,000,000 and i'm really feeling out of my depth here. I haven't announced it to my family at all or friends. I want to just make it last forever and not have to work a day in my life but i have no idea how claiming it will work or if my bank will handle that amount of money? won't it be suspicious if that all just went in and my bank would ask questions? My first thoughts are just new car, new gaming house for me and my mates, quit job but i'm just shaking with fear and excitement and I dont want anyone to know about it really as I know i'll have hands from everywhere. I come from a poor family (Sub 5k a year) and i'm earning less than £10k a year currently. It's a godsend but I want it to last... Please help me, what can I do and how can I enjoy it without ruining my life? +Excluding blue chips like Apple and Microsoft, what companies do you believe will best weather the storm and likely be back to where they were before the pandemic. What companies stocks are down the most right now, that you don’t believe have a high chance of going bankrupt? Whether it be 2 years or 10 years, what stocks right now do you personally believe will pay off the best when this is all over? +This is clearly a big question, but how do you improve neighborhoods without gentrifying them? + +By gentrify I don’t necessarily mean in the technical sense of the word (changing to meet middle class preferences), but more so forcing poor ppl out and changing the character of the neighborhood. + +If property taxes rise as values increase, then is there really a way to improve a neighborhood that doesn’t increase the cost of living (monthly taxes), and eventually forces ppl to sell? + +Does improvement generally cause more demand, which causes price to increase? In other words, is this issue inherent to market dynamics? + +Improvement can also mean lower crime, neighborhood activities, cleaning public spaces, etc, its doesn’t need to be just property improvements. + +I’m trying to sort this out right now, any other thoughts are much appreciated! + +Syscoins chart currently looks very juicy but it’s what it has coming that looks better. + +Around dec 6th they will release their NEVM, Ethereum based smart contract layer that can plug and play any ethereum project for 96% cheaper and secured by bitcoins PoW. + +It already has 20% of bitcoins hash power meaning it’s roughly the second most secure blockchain and green as this is power already used by Bitcoin. + + +They have an ecosystem of projects already waiting to deploy on their NEVM, so immediately will be utilised. + +OG project and totally decentralised, 7 year old with supply already circulating, near 40% locked up in 2500 masternodes and using bitcoins PoW. + +ZKROLLUPS are hot right now and Syscoin is the only other chain other than Polygon and Ethereum to have them and again already an ecosystem ready to deploy on them. + +Regulation compliance built in and a publicly listed company with the gold standard of security in BTC, smart contracts in ETH and scalability in ZKRU + +Biggest marketing campaign beginning with influencers all talking about SYS, +Shelby, Mando, El Chapo, Michael van de poppe, Crypto General and Wendy O soon everyone will be talking about Syscoin whilst it goes on it’s run. Get in early, fundamentals are 10-30 mc if you place it against SOL and FTM and right now only on 400m. + +Syscoins chart currently looks very juicy but it’s what it has coming that looks better. + +Around dec 6th they will release their NEVM, Ethereum based smart contract layer that can plug and play any ethereum project for 96% cheaper and secured by bitcoins PoW. + +It already has 20% of bitcoins hash power meaning it’s roughly the second most secure blockchain and green as this is power already used by Bitcoin. + + +They have an ecosystem of projects already waiting to deploy on their NEVM, so immediately will be utilised. + +OG project and totally decentralised, 7 year old with supply already circulating, near 40% locked up in 2500 masternodes and using bitcoins PoW. + +ZKROLLUPS are hot right now and Syscoin is the only other chain other than Polygon and Ethereum to have them and again already an ecosystem ready to deploy on them. + +Regulation compliance built in and a publicly listed company with the gold standard of security in BTC, smart contracts in ETH and scalability in ZKRU + +Biggest marketing campaign beginning with influencers all talking about SYS, +Shelby, Mando, El Chapo, Michael van de poppe, Crypto General and Wendy O soon everyone will be talking about Syscoin whilst it goes on it’s run. Get in early, fundamentals are 10-30 mc if you place it against SOL and FTM and right now only on 400m. +The money I’ve been saving up doesn’t really have a purpose right now, but I feel that it’s a good start to “something” (if that makes sense). I’ll probably continue to grind on these delivery apps until the end of this year. I currently have around $2500 saved up in the bank. My question is: should I be doing something with this money such as investing in stocks? I’ve been told that it’s not ideal to just have money sitting in the bank. Any advice would be helpful! :) + +Edit: Also wanted to mention that putting money in a savings account with interest (or anything interest-related) isn’t permitted in my religion. +I'm at the point where I have a bot I'd like to deploy. I'm not sure if it's better to put it on a web server like Azure or AWS, or just get a laptop that can run it all day. Does anybody have any thoughts? +The valuation on Tesla is now beyond the absurd. + +Whilst European EV sales explode to presently 19% of all car sales this year, Tesla does not even make the top five EV sellers by company at a lowly 7%. (VW 25%; Stellantis 13%; Daimler 10%; BMW 10%; Hyundia-Kia 9%). + +Tesla, unlike in the US, is simply being outsold by the vast array of alternative BEV models on sale particularly. VW group alone offers the e-up, ID3 and ID4 (ID5 not yet on sale); Audi e-tron, e-tron Sportback e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT; Cupra Born; and Skoda Enyaq + +In China Tesla has been pushed into 3rd place this year by BYD which has seen EV sales grow from 53K Q1; 98K.Q2; 183K Q3. Tesla meanwhile has seen China quarterly sales for 2021 flattish at 69K, 62K and 75K. China will likely sell 3 million EV's this year, half the worlds volume and Tesla sales are flat for the year. Tesla might sell a lowly 9%. + +Tesla dominates the US markets of course, where few EV models are on sale. EV sales might be 3% of automotive sales. + +Whilst investors will assert these stats do not.matter and Tesla's valuation is all about tech, batteries and robo-taxis, it still does not sell any car related tech beyond its own cars. Take up of FSD is a lowly 11%. It still buys it's battery cells. By its own statements it has a level 2/3 driver assist whilst companies like Waymo are already starting to offer level 4/5 robo-taxis in cities like San Fran (a free trial program has commenced). + +With Tesla slipping badly in the two biggest and mature EV markets globally, it's EV mkt share has fallen from near 18% highs in 2019 to 14.7% YTD in 2021. With Europe and China likely to see 20% EV sales, the Tesla domination of global car mkts story is looking utterly flawed, yet its market capitalisation is now than the entire companies combined that sell 99% of cars and are adding EV's faster. + +Tesla is frankly trading at utterly ludicrous levels given the clear reality of global EV market growth. + +(These figures all verifiable with CleanTechnica and InsideEVs) +Your markets are run by bots. Now your /r/Asx_bets daily threads are too. + +Read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) people[.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +[Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX\_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. You have been warned.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) + +Automoderator may provide "Guidance" for Lazy and zero effort posting. + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related.](https://discord.gg/wsNDGTf5QH) +Hey guys, I'm looking to invest in CCP since I heard they will soon be acquiring Hong Kong and eventually the entire world. My question is regarding BPAY which I haven't used before. Do I just transfer money using the Biller Code and Reference code? Will those 2 codes contain enough information for them to credit me the shares or do I need to use my CDIA account for the transfer? +TL/DR: Due to the significant growth of index fund use, voting rights and control of public companies are held by an ever shrinking group of index fund managers (Vanguard, Blackrock, Fidelity, State Street) + +[https://www.wsj.com/articles/bogle-sounds-a-warning-on-index-funds-1543504551](https://www.wsj.com/articles/bogle-sounds-a-warning-on-index-funds-1543504551) + +There no longer can be any doubt that the creation of the first index mutual fund was the most successful innovation—especially for investors—in modern financial history. The question we need to ask ourselves now is: What happens if it becomes too successful for its own good? + +The First Index Investment Trust, which tracks the returns of the S&P 500 and is now known as the Vanguard 500 Index Fund, was founded on December 31, 1975. It was the first “product,” as it were, of a new mutual fund manager, The Vanguard Group, the company I had founded only one year earlier. + +The fund’s August 1976 initial public offering may have been the worst underwriting in Wall Street history. Despite the leadership of the Street’s four largest retail brokers, the IPO fell far short of its original $250 million target. The initial assets of 500 Index Fund totaled but $11.3 million—falling a mere 95% short of its goal. + +The fund’s struggle for the attention (and dollars) of investors was epic. Known as “Bogle’s folly,” the fund’s novel strategy of simply tracking a broad market index was almost totally rejected by Wall Street. The head of Fidelity, then by far the fund industry’s largest firm, put the kiss of death on his tiny rival: “I can’t believe that the great mass of investors are \[sic\] going to be satisfied with just receiving average returns. The name of the game is to be the best.” + +Almost a decade passed before a second S&P 500 index fund was formed, by Wells Fargo in 1984. During that period, Vanguard’s index fund attracted cash inflow averaging only $16 million per year. + +Now let’s advance the clock to 2018. What a difference 42 years makes! Equity index fund assets now total some $4.6 trillion, while total index fund assets have surpassed $6 trillion. Of this total, about 70% is invested in broad market index funds modeled on the original Vanguard fund. + +Yes, U.S. index mutual funds have grown to huge size, with their holdings doubling from 4.5% of total U.S. stock-market value in 2002 to 9% in 2009, and then almost doubling again to more than 17% in 2018. Even that penetration understates the role of mutual fund managers, as they also offer actively managed funds, and their combined assets amount to more than 35% of the shares of U.S. corporations. + +If historical trends continue, a handful of giant institutional investors will one day hold voting control of virtually every large U.S. corporation. Public policy cannot ignore this growing dominance, and consider its impact on the financial markets, corporate governance, and regulation. These will be major issues in the coming era. + +Three index fund managers dominate the field with a collective 81% share of index fund assets: Vanguard has a 51% share; BlackRock, 21%; and State Street Global, 9%. Such domination exists primarily because the indexing field attracts few new major entrants. + +Why? Partly because of two high barriers to entry: the huge scale enjoyed by the big indexers would be difficult to replicate by new entrants; and index fund prices (their expense ratios, or fees) have been driven to commodity-like levels, even to zero. If Fidelity’s 2018 offering of two zero-cost index funds has established a new “price point” for index funds, the enthusiasm of additional firms to create new index funds will diminish even further. So we can’t rely on new competitors to reduce today’s concentration. + +Most observers expect that the share of corporate ownership by index funds will continue to grow over the next decade. It seems only a matter of time until index mutual funds cross the 50% mark. If that were to happen, the “Big Three” might own 30% or more of the U.S. stock market—effective control. I do not believe that such concentration would serve the national interest. + +My concerns are shared by many academic observers. In a draft paper released in September, Prof. John C. Coates of Harvard Law School wrote that indexing is reshaping corporate governance, and warned that we are tipping toward a point where the voting power will be “controlled by a small number of individuals” who can exercise “practical power over the majority of U.S. public companies.” Professor Coates does not like what he sees, and offers tentative policy options—some necessary, often painful to contemplate. His conclusion—“The issue is not likely to go away”—is unarguable. + +Solutions to resolve the issues connected with the concentration of corporate ownership are not self-evident, but a number of tentative possibilities have already been advanced: + +• More competition from new entrants to the index field. For the reasons noted above, this eventuality seems highly unlikely. + +• Force giant index funds to spin off their assets into a number of separate entities, each independently managed. Such a drastic step would—and should—face near-insurmountable obstacles, for it would create havoc for index investors and managers alike. + +• Require index funds to hold just one company in any industry. Leaving aside the dubious ability of either academia or federal bureaucrats to define precisely what constitutes a given industry, such a drastic change would lead to the destruction of today’s S&P 500 index fund, by common agreement, the most beneficial innovation for investors of the modern age. + +• Timely and full public disclosure by index funds of their voting policies and public documentation of each engagement with corporate managers. This would take today’s transparent and constructive governance practices several steps further. + +• Require index funds to retain an independent supervisory board with full responsibility for all decisions regarding corporate governance. The problem with this idea is that it is not clear how such a board could add to the present scrutiny of the fund’s independent directors. + +• Limit the voting power of corporate shares held by index managers. But such a step would, in substance, transfer voting rights from corporate stock owners, who care about the long-term, to corporate stock renters, who do not... an absurd outcome. + +• Enact federal legislation making it clear that directors of index funds and other large money managers have a fiduciary duty to vote solely in the interest of the funds’ shareholders. While I believe that such a fiduciary duty is implicit today, making it explicit, with appropriate penalties for violations, would be a constructive step. + +It is time for public officials to consider the pros and cons of these issues with indexers, the financial community, academia, and active managers alike—and develop national policies that support high standards of corporate governance. It will require their working together constructively and cooperatively. + +But one thing seems crystal clear. Even if present trends continue (sometimes they don’t), the enormous value of index funds should not be ignored. First, index funds provide investors with the most effective stock-market strategy of all time: buy American business and hold it forever, and do so at rock-bottom cost. Second, index funds are among the few truly long-term owners of stocks—for all practical purposes, permanent owners of capital—an enormously valuable asset to society. The long-term focus of index funds is a much needed counterweight to the short-termism favored by so many market participants. + +Prof. Coates agrees that nothing should jeopardize the existence of today’s index funds. + +“Indexing has created real and large social benefits in the form of lower expenses and greater long-term returns for millions of individuals investing directly or indirectly for retirement,” he writes. “A ban on indexing would clearly not be a good idea.” I can only say, “Amen” to those words. + +*Mr. Bogle is founder of The Vanguard Group and creator of the first index mutual fund. This article is adapted from his new book, “Stay the Course: The Story of Vanguard and the Index Revolution,” to be published by Wiley on Dec. 6.* + According to Bloomberg, there is a low yield issue with the SOC chip in PS5 (as low as 50% yield). As the result, Sony will have to cut its PS5 production by 26.7%. As we know, AMD provides those SOC chips (custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU and custom GPU based on AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture), and those chips are manufactured with TSMC 7nm process. + +Since AMD's upcoming Zen 3 and Big Navi also use TSMC 7nm, will there be yield issue for Zen 3 and Big Navi too? Probably yes. + +Will this cause AMD and TSMC stocks to drop? Maybe. + +If we keep seeing news like this coming out in the next few weeks, obviously it's not good for any of these companies. So take this into consideration for your next play - don't just YOLO thinking the market has finally turned around. + +[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-15/sony-is-said-to-cut-ps5-forecast-by-4-million-due-to-chip-woes](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-15/sony-is-said-to-cut-ps5-forecast-by-4-million-due-to-chip-woes) + +[https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/18/21183181/sony-ps5-playstation-5-specs-details-hardware-processor-8k-ray-tracing](https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/18/21183181/sony-ps5-playstation-5-specs-details-hardware-processor-8k-ray-tracing) + +[https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/amd/ryzen\_7/4800u](https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/amd/ryzen_7/4800u) + +[https://www.tomshardware.com/news/big-navi-picture-radeon-rx6000](https://www.tomshardware.com/news/big-navi-picture-radeon-rx6000) +FkEl0n is a positive deflationary token executed for success. + +The main approach behind FkElon is to offer a decentralized transactions system which operate on the Binance smart chain (BSC). + +The road way for FkElon is set by market fluctuations, + +but the idea it runs on begs FkElon to succeed. FkElon is a deflationary + +token with a max circulating supply of 149,999,323,173.09262 + +​ + +On each transaction, a tax of 2% will be shared to the Hodler + +and a further 2% will be burnt, + +hence incentivizing holders to hodl and decreasing the supply overtime. + +As the supply decreases, the scarcity of the token increases. + +This inversely-proportional relationship constitutes a supply and demand model. + +Furthermore, there is no limit as to how many tokens can be burnt. + +Without a burning limit you know what happens next. + +​ + +🚀Transaction network which operate on the Binance smart chain (BSC). + +🚀 Listed on Pancake Swap. + +🚀 Flat and smooth total token supply. + +🚀 Deflatory system to remove risk of inflation. + +🚀 Liquidity available for holders, 2.5% of every transaction. + +​ + +🚀 FkEl0n Swap Slippage Tolerance on Pancake swap is 8 % + +​ + +🚀 Website : https://afabr.org/fkel0n/ + +​ + +🚀 Telegram : https://afabr.org/fkel0n/tg + +🚀 Twitter: https://afabr.org/fkel0n/twitter + +🚀 BUY on Pancake Swap : https://afabr.org/fkel0n/pancakeswap +[https://www.livemint.com/news/india/millennial-lives-and-the-new-age-debt-trap-11575474961876.html](https://www.livemint.com/news/india/millennial-lives-and-the-new-age-debt-trap-11575474961876.html) + +>The space is already crowded, with 15-20 fintechs firms offering a variety of payday loans. Among them, a few such as mPokket and UGPG lend specifically to college students (who are 18+). “We provide small-ticket personal loans starting at ₹500," says Gaurav Jalan, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of mPokket. Jalan refused to reveal the average default rate on the loans, but said “it was fairly under control". +> +>UGPG, on the other hand, lends to students based on a pre-approved line of credit. “Our line of credit typically varies between ₹3,000-40,000 and under this line of credit a student can withdraw as little as ₹1,000," says Naveen Gupta, founder of UGPG. “They can take multiple loans and then repay and redraw again. Typically, interest rate ranges between 2-3% per month." + +Scary that kids are getting trapped in these operators at a young age. +https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/04/business/unemployed-workers-permanent-job-losses/index.html + +The number of unemployed who have lost a permanent job, or had a temporary job has come to an end, has soared in the past seven months, from 1.9 million in February, to 4.5 million in September. + +The number of unemployed who are out of work due to the end of temporary jobs has also been rising rapidly over the last seven months, increasing by nearly 100,000. Many of those workers were used to moving from one job to another and now haven't been able to find the next job as normal. + +Most of those who now permanently out of work have lost long-term jobs, many that they held for much of their career. +https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/07/nonfarm-payrolls-unemployment-rate-may-2019.html + +Unemployment remains at a 50-year low, roughly unchanged due to the number. +(Note: amounts are all after taxes) I make roughly $1700 from my job a month and another $600-800 a month from a side job. I currently live with my parents at 22 and I have little to no expenses when it comes to bills. I’m just considering the option of dropping out of college for now and working to get my life in a routine at least. I know that sounds basic but I’ve pretty much been going nowhere with my life the past 4 years in school, mostly because of my own fault. I just landed a entry level job in IT paying $13/hr and I really enjoy working compared to school. I am a sophmore in college but I really want to take a year or two off from school for the sake of my sanity. I’ve wasted enough money in failed classes over the past 3 years and I feel like I should come back to school later since I have a lot of trouble attending classes and other mental health issues. Ideally, I would stay living at home and save as much as possible while I don’t have bills and also I’m expecting a decent pay raise if I don’t attend school this fall because they really want me to become a year round employee. I could start working full time instead of just this summer where I go to school in Sept. and work part time. I’m a pretty big fuck up in life and my parents have pretty much asked for nothing in return so any advice about saving, getting life on track, etc., is welcome. +For background, I'm from a family where we would genuinely count ourselves lucky to have a retail or cleaning job - I've had both and was very proud of them. None of my siblings have ever had a job and my parents became unemployed around the 90s, so I never saw them work. I am constantly extremely anxious about money and savings and terrified of somehow losing it or finding out there's a massive loan I have to pay that I don't know about. Nobody at my current job seems to have this relationship with cash and I don't understand it. +Hodling ADA is like you're eating at a 5 star gourmet restaurant where Gordon Ramsey (Charles Hoskinson) is the chef. Its renouned worldwide . Bottles of wine start at $500. All that to say that the food should be amazing. Only for you to be served chicken tendies and soggy fries from the kids menu. + +You look around then down at your plate. "I thought this was supposed to be good?" You think to yourself. + +Here comes your buddy, the guy who invited you to the restaurant. (Put in his entire life savings in at $0.35) + +"Told you this place is the shit bro." Your buddy says as he sits down and is served a TV dinner from Banquet. + +"Oh yeah the food isn't great... right now. But wait until later trust me bro." He says as he starts to unwrap the plastic film with a big grin on his face. + +Just as you were about to take a bite of your tendie Allincrypto sits down at your table. "Sup boys, Allincrypto here." Then immediately takes a bite of a turd Charles Hoskinsin layed on his plate. + +"Oh my favorite!" He says as he leans forward and eats the log apple bobbing style with no hands. + +"Don't think about your food now. Think about the filet mignon of tomorrow." As he goes in for another bite. + +Disgusted, you look out the window at a run down diner across the street. You peer into the window and see families laughing and having a good time. You see the waitress walk over to the table with what looks like a bacon cheeseburger and a new york strip steak. + +"Wow that looks pretty good." You mutter to yourself. + +Just as you say that Allincrypto and your buddy surround you. + +"That place is so shit." They say in unison as they both proceed to shut the curtains from each side. + +Right before the curtains fully close you look up at the neon sign above the diner. It reads "Ethereum diner" + +You turn around and stand up. Everyone in the restaurant has stopped eating and is glaring at you in complete silence. + +"Hail Hydra" they start chanting. + +They all get up and start to surround you while still chanting "Hail Hydra" + +A woman shouts from the back, "Hydra will save us! Kill the non believer!" + +"Im sorry! I will eat my tendie please don't hurt me! That place across the street sucks." But it doesn't work and they proceed towards you slowly. You shut your eyes and prepare for the worst. + +You suddenly wake up in your bed. + +"Omg it was a dream. Thank god." You think to yourself. + +You pull out your phone to look at your portfolio. + +$10,000 bought at $2.68. Portfolio down 69.420% + +You walk over to the bathroom and catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror. You smile with a tear rolling down your cheek. You notice your teeth are smeared with shit. + +"I wouldn't have it any other way." You think to yourself. + +You proceed to go on Reddit to post about the new Solana outage and check what new features are coming soon to Cardano. + +You look right into the camera. After a long pause you smile and shout "Hail Hydra" at the top of your lungs. + +The camera zooms away from your face and out of your RV thats parked in front of your step dads house and the credits start rolling. + +Fin +I have enough extra income every month to where I want to get a very focused and disciplined plan going on saving for retirement. I have hit this weird realization though: if I were to put every penny I had toward my IRA/401k, I could put in over 20k before I reached the contribution limits. If I understand these accounts correctly, I can't touch any of this money until around the age of 57. + +So here is my question: + +If I wanted to retire at the age of 45 (picked the age arbitrarily), what are some common ways people account for the "gap" between retirement and penalty-free retirement account withdrawals? +As the title says, I've got 10k looking pretty in the bank but I'm not going to live through this decade because of a health problem that's been dogging me since I was born; I don't care if I lose it all, what can I do to have the highest chance of making the most over the course of a year or two? There are a lot of things I want to do before I die and 10k isn't enough for half of them. + + +Edit: Thanks for the tips and laughs, y'all. I've never been much of a redditor but you're a fine ass group of gentlebros. +**TLDR WHEELS ARE ROLLING BABY** + +Fellow shareholders, + +FIRST THINGS FIRST + +PLEASE WELCOME [EDDRICK](https://imgur.com/a/e4Qkf3J) + +HEDGIES YOU THINK YOU ARE PRYING EDDRICK FROM MY CLUTCHING GRASP FOR LESS THAN [SIXTY FIVE FUCKING MILKY](https://gmefloor.com) + +YOU ARE BATSHIT FUCKING INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! + +EDDRICK BRINGS THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF OUR LOVING WATER FALL COMMUNE TO 400.989!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! + +AS WELL PICKED UP [NHL 22](https://imgur.com/a/cGpXhvu) THE SON FEELS CONTROLS ARE DEGRADED FROM 21 BUT I SEEM TO DO BETTER AGAINST HIM THEREFORE I REVIEW IT POSITIVELY + +SECOND THINGS SECOND + +A) Options are shill shit. + +B) Shill price targets are shill shit. + +THIRD THINGS THIRD + +My documents and filing fee have all made it to the Delaware Court of Chancery and the case is being docketed right now. I have confirmed as much with the kind and patient folks at the Register in Chancery. + +After the case is docketed, it's assigned to a judge. I will hear more, including getting a case number, once that happens. + +**I will provide the case number and other info, like a hearing date, as soon as I know it.** + +My apologies for the delay, which was due to a mix-up on my part. For anybody taking notes to file a case of your own, here are two additional documents needed: + +[Form of Order and Motion to Expedite](https://imgur.com/a/nbPF9NX) + +This form replaces the Motion to Expedite from my previous post. Though the language on the forms is similar, it seems to be important that this document's title includes the words Form of Order. + +[Supplemental Information Form](https://imgur.com/a/OroitW3) + +Onward and upward. + +[Addressing FUD](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/qw5ree/last_week_ujasonwaterfalls96_submitted_a_document/hl1xrn0/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&context=3) + +**TLDR WHEELS ARE ROLLING BABY** + +*Disclaimer: My name is JASON FUCKING WATER FALL. I'm not subject to an NDA or any kind of equivalent gag order regarding issues within GME's milieu. I haven't received information indicating an unreconciled number of ballots or votes cast in GameStop's 6/9 shareholder election exceeded the number of outstanding shares. I haven't received information indicating GameStop has been legally prevented from taking action projected to cause a systemic market event. I haven't received information indicating that the number of beneficial GameStop shareholders exceeds the number of outstanding shares. Epstein didn't kill himself and I won't either. I once touched Owen Hart's sweaty bicep as he walked out with Jim Neidhart at a house show. I have never met or knowingly spoken to Ryan Cohen, Matt Furlong, Michael Recupero, Mark Robinson, Tess Halbrooks, Greg Marose, Deep Fucking Value, Ken Griffin, Vlad Tenev, Steven Cohen, Maxine Waters, Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, PFTCommenter, or Ariana Grande.* + [https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf](https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf) + +&#x200B; + +\> In the week ending May 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 2,981,000, a decrease of 195,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 7,000 from 3,169,000 to 3,176,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,616,500, a decrease of 564,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 7,000 from 4,173,500 to 4,180,500. + +&#x200B; + +\> The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending April 25 was 25,363,208, an increase of 6,443,777 from the previous week. There were 1,659,123 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2019. + +Numbers surpass economist estimates of $2.5 Million Claims +Dogecoin is a meme currency which wasnt even meant to be a currency yet its worth nearly $50Billion worth more than Twitter and Ford. +It has appreciated 15,000% YTD and worse thing is people are expecting it to go MORE upwards. + +If this isn't a bubble then I don't know what is. Tell me your thoughts for/against this. +I’m just filling this space to meet character limits but as the title says is there a reason that the biggest DDs not being pinned at the top for everyone new to see? + +I think this would be something very beneficial to educate, furthermore if this sub does get locked during moass then they would still be visible right away for all to see. + + +EDIT: Many of you are missing the point of this saying it’s easy to find with flairs etc. NEW APES with brain crayons have no fucking clue about anything going on here. We need a visible list at the top + +EDIT2: Due to the 2 pins limit, I think one is the daily discussions and the other one should be a NEW APES WELCOME MUST READ and compile all the useful important stuff there by most importance. You could have the voting on top and worthy DDs below for example +In a dramatic yet somewhat ironic move, Apple announces that they will close all retail stores *outside* of China: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/14/coronavirus-apple-to-close-all-stores-outside-of-china-until-march-27.html + +Not sure how much this will impact short term revenue. Online orderings would still be available but I am guessing accessories and wearable sales would drop meaningfully. +I've worked at this company for \~4 years. The company isn't doing too hot (no layoffs but essentially just breaking even). I had a good/great review this week, and was told there's essentially no chance for any increase. Even IF we get X number of new customers (which is pretty much a best-case scenario), we're still below our goals so I don't see boom raises next year. What worries me most is that almost every coworker doesn't seem to care about the raises. + +I do want to say, I really really like working here. + +It's a smaller city, so there aren't a ton of opportunities, but do I need to get ahead of this and stop this cycle? Is this expected at some points at some jobs, or is this just definitely a terrible sign and I need to get out? + The 10% correction, that has taken place in October 2018, is the forth largest stock market monthly drop since the year 2000. Here are the other monthly drops since 2000 that were over 10%: + +September 2002-- 10.10% loss (During a dot com recession of the early 2000s) + +October 2008- 17.48% loss (The month the investment banks went broke in the GREAT RECESSION) + +February 2009- 10.53% loss (During the GREAT RECESSION) + +This huge drop this month is not a simple stock market correction because it happened in such a short period of time and in a good economy. It is also very rare that the bond market drops too during a stock market correction like this month. +Lately I keep hearing the same old narrative from beat-down investors on r/stocks who are down YTD even when SPY is up 30%: "everything is down this year, the indexes are just being propped up by mega-cap tech companies like AAPL, TSLA, MSFT, GOOGL, and NVDA". They go on to say that just because they are down this year and indexes are up, it's actually not that bad because the mega-caps are hiding the true state of the market. + +Well, let's look at the data shall we... + +Here are the YTD gains of a whole bunch of indexes from all the industries that I could think of, most of which don't have many of the aforementioned mega-caps in it: + +VGT: +32.99% (Technology) +XLF: +34.87% (Financial) +XLE: +47.15% (Energy) +XLI: +22.38& (Industrials) +XLV: +24.99% (Healthcare) +DBC: +43.37% (Commodities) +PAVE: +37.90% (Infrastructure) +AVUV: +42.18 (Small Cap Value) +SCHD: +27.87% (Dividends) +SMH: +43.21% (Semiconductors) +ITA: +13.16% (Aerospace and Defense) +TRVL: +6.82% (Travel) + +As can be seen, every major sector of the market is green for the year. Even travel and aerospace, two of the hardest hit sectors, are up YTD. Every single other sector is up at least 20%. It would take an objectively bad investment plan to pick only losers out of this sea of green. + +So can we please stop with the BS that a handful of companies are propping up a dying market. If you are down this year, you really need to review your investing decisions because you are almost certainly investing in companies with poor fundamentals that have been driven entirely by hype and/or trading options in a way that is pure gambling. I just hope that you are taking the right lessons away from this year. Please consider putting the majority of your money into broad market index funds. + +Wishing everyone a successful 2022! +I'm an Irish citizen and lived in Ireland my whole life, never paid any taxes in the US or anything. But because of my dual-citizenship, none of the EU brokers will take me on for tax reasons. And because I'm not a US resident none of the US ones will take me either. + +So frustrating. I was just wondering if anyone knows of a broker that will take on someone like me? Or do you guys think I'd be okay just saying I'm not a US citizen? Probably not a good idea. +After about 18 months I blew up my account. This is my first one. I feel bad about it but have also learned alot as well. I don't want to quite trading. I know that I can make money doing this but need to move beyond some of my bad habits so I don't continue to make the same mistakes. I have learned all my limited knowledge on my own as there is no one other than the internet to learn from around where I live. Any links to any info to increase my knowledge base would be greatly appreciated...and yeah processing tbe amount of money traded away in bad trading isn't fun. +Got a noob question about trading in general and it's comparison to gambling. Since for every trade (long or short) there is only 2 possible outcomes (i.e. market goes up \[profit\] or market goes down \[loss\]), is it correct to say that by default there is a 50% chance of winning every trade? (assuming you have set your stop loss and take profit at equal distances away from your order price) + +If so, couldn't traders just increase this percentage of winning super easily just by following the current trend? Then you would have a higher chance of winning than losing with same payouts. Forgive me if this is a stupid question, I am a new trader and just want to know why they say 90% of traders fail if there is a 50:50 chance per trade of winning/losing. +Hi everyone, I want to start trading stocks with a short-term vision, but I simply don't know how to get started. I've been reading a lot about stocks and know much about crypto trading. I want to trade with a 2-3 month target but I don't know where to learn about strategies, approaches to trading and buying stocks. What literature can you recommend, either a book or an article, but I am looking for a source for trading strategies that I can apply: when to sell, when to buy, what to do when this pattern shows, etc. + +&#x200B; + +I hope you can help, thanks +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +Find the latest Daily Altcoin Discussion thread by selecting the top result on this [search page](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/search?q=Daily+Altcoin+Discussion&include_over_18=on&restrict_sr=on&t=all&sort=new). + +*** + +The thread guidelines are as follows: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All sub rules apply here so please review our **[rules page](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/)** to become familiar with them. The rules page is also linked in the announcement bar above. +- If the top page becomes overloaded with memes, all but the top two voted may be removed. If we need to remove a bunch of memes from the top page, post memes in this thread first and upvote the best so the mods know which ones to keep + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +Hello everyone +Im a 25 year old guy, i just got my first job after grad school, and while i am a firm believer in financial planning and being responsible, i cant help but want ro buy a lot of the things i wanted over the years but could never get (new laptop, phone, piano, travelling..) because i grew up poor and was always very responsible with the little money i had so a big part of it is celebrating and enjoying the fruits of my labor after years of struggle. + +So my question is where do i draw the line financialy between being responsible and having fun ? + +Thank you in advance for your answers. +https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-13/ten-thousand-day-traders-an-hour-pour-into-tesla + +> According to Robintrack.net, during a four-hour span today almost 40,000 Robinhood accounts added Tesla stock, which hit $1,794.99 before closing at $1,497.06 — - Almost 40,000 Robinhood users bought the stock in four hours — Tesla shares surged 16% Monday before giving up gains +I’m looking into p2p lending in the United States, and every service I look into is only offering investment services to institutional investors. For example, prosper, lending club, and peerform don’t allow individual lenders. I understand the risk involved and would still like to lend. It seems like a great way to diversify and help those in need at the same time. Does anyone know why this is or if there are any services that allow individual lenders? +Usually it's a full time job to research and implement a good trading strategy. I was curious if there are stories where someone accidentally implemented a winning strategy in a relatively short period of time. Like over the weekend the algo was back tested and got impressive returns. Always curious about accidental discoveries. +I'm at a loss for words (well, not literally, otherwise you'd not see this post). I've been a holder since XRB days. It's my first coin. It was perfect: Instant. Feeless. Green. IMO, it was what Satoshi intended as the ultimate crypto**currency**. + +&#x200B; + +Now, I understand Nano came to be in a situation where smart contracts where not such a big thing, and there were no "swaps" and there was no staking/lending/liquidity pools etc. People want more from crypto and that's OK. But I'm not OK with freakin' SHIB and SAFEMOON having a larger mcap than Nano. I'll never be OK with that. For the love of all that is holy, SAFEMOON should not be a word any of us remember in two years. + +Sure, there were two major incidents, both occurring in the bull runs, the exchange exit scam crap and the spam attacks now. And sure, it was shilled here relentlessly. And people hate shillers. But how can a coins main fault be "it's fan base is annoying"?? + +/my incoherent rant, I'm just bummed something so technically great is not actually "appreciated" more. + + + +**Edit**: holy amount of comments, Batman. RIP my inbox. + +Thank you everyone for the awards, there's too many of them to reply to you all individually (i still believe in thanking personally for the awards but since my inbox is MIA, this is a bit troublesome). + +Also, someone was so concerned about me being bummed, a bot sent me a message about suicide hotline. While I would never do something like that over crypto (or money), I honestly appreciate the kind thought. You are (as Keanu says) breathtaking. + + + +Take care everyone (even Safemoon holders). + +**Edit 2** this has become my most upvoted post. I don't know what to say. Thank you to everyone, Nano fans and Nano haters. + +Also, it seems Safemoon holders have figured out this post, so they started brigadding. Some had hilarious things to say about Nano (e.g. "Out of #100 instant and feeless" and "Nano is very fast. Out of top 100hehe"). Laughs were had. Just to clarify, if Safemoon and SHIB start doing great things, there will be no one happier than me. I still think both of them have too many red flags, but I'm happy for you if you profit. Take care now and have a good day +[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/british-adults-savings-none-quarter-debt-cost-living-emergencies-survey-results-a8265111.html](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/british-adults-savings-none-quarter-debt-cost-living-emergencies-survey-results-a8265111.html) + +&#x200B; + +Another recent survey found young adults 29 or under have around half have no savings + +[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45744552](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45744552) + +&#x200B; + +&#x200B; + +We emphasis savings from a young age however, the reality seems so much different. Many people I know personally are working full time but have nothing to show by the end of the month. Anyone else also notice this trend? +Not sure where to have an intelligent conversation about this, figured valueinvesting has the best mindset for discussion. + +To me, a good jobs report means more aggressive FED. So who is buying into this tech rally on THAT news? + +If my understanding of aggressive rate hikes are correct, then Tech will just dump over next week or so.... + +What are other thoughts on this? +I’ve seen a few people use the TTM cash flow as the baseline for their DCFs and I think this is stupid. + +Cash flow varies an enormous amount year to year due to changes in account receivable, inventory, payables etc etc. If a company has a good year and earns $1b, but anticipates continued high demand, they may reinvest half those earnings into inventory. If you use $500m as your baseline for a DCF, you’re implying that that investment of $500m they made in inventory halved the value of the company. + +While they are easier to manipulate, earnings will be a better indicator the vast majority of the time, with a couple important caveats. + +The first is that amortisation needs to be added back. It does not represent an economic loss in any real way. + +The second is that depreciation should be added back and you should instead subtract **maintenance** capex. The investments the company needs to make to maintain its market position, and keep its earnings up. + +Big investments in future growth should be taken as reinvested earnings, not costs. + +This is the way buffett does it, for those interested - while he talks about cash flows, he does not just use the FCF number and take it at face value. In his letters he recommends the exact process I’ve described above, and 99% of the time it will give a far better picture than operating CF or FCF. +I thought it would be fun to create this post for people to share books on investing, and what they learned from those books. I'll start! + + +Book Title: Value investing: from Graham to Buffett and beyond. +Author: Bruce Greenwald + + +What I learned: + +I learned about adjusting asset prices and using those adjustments to make better investment decisions about a company. Prior to reading this book I had read elsewhere about the concept of adjusting assets on a balance sheet, however, this book did an excellent job of explaining how-to, and why it's an important practice. I highly recommend the book, there is a lot of other great investment advice. + + +What book did you read? What did you learn? + + +P.S +Please write the Title or Author so I can find the same book, I'm also writing this post in hopes to find new reading material. :') +So, a few weeks ago, I did [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/comments/thlvd4/relief_finally_maybe_now_i_can_get_some_rest/) post saying that I had to move due to just sheer affordability, in with my nephew. + +I gave my notice to my landlord yesterday. She countered. She doesn't want me to leave, and dropped my rent by $200 freaking dollars! I knew she wouldn't want me to leave (I'm a damned good tenant), but I wasn't expecting that. + +I'm staying. I don't have to lose my home, and I'm just blown away and so SO grateful for the kindness of a stranger. + +...and now can unpack my x-stitch and crocheting because dammit, I miss it! It's my evening distraction. + +My stress level and just 'omg, I'm going to lose my home and move in with a dude' stress has gone way down. I'm so relieved! There truly are good people out there, but didn't expect it in this way. +**Introduction** + +For those of you that are living underneath a rock, options represent the contractual right to purchase or sell blocks of 100 shares in the underlying security. Because each option represents 100 shares, they often provide volatile leveraged like returns and are often used by either professional investors as part of a sophisticated investment strategy or by retail ~~gamblers~~ investors as a way to potentially gain massive amounts of money while putting up a relatively small amount. + +In this post, I will walk you through the pricing fundamentals, the Greeks, and common option strategies. Hopefully, by the end of this post, you will stop losing all your money like a bunch of half-wits. Well, you probably still lose money, but at least you can act like a smartass about it. + +**Pricing Fundamentals** + +This section is going to be focused on the fundamentals and theoretical aspects behind what gives an option value. Aka, that boomer shit. + +There are two types of options: American and European. American options give the holder the right to exercise the option at any given time prior to the expiration date (cause freedom, that’s why). These options are the ones you typically buy from your broker. European options on the other hand are fucking gay because they only let you exercise at the expiry date and since none of you cucks ever bought an option from a Europoor before, I will focus solely on American options for this DD post. + +**Value Breakdown** + +Every option, regardless if it’s a chad call or a gay put has two pricing components that justify it’s current market value: the intrinsic value and the speculative value. Let me explain via this equation: + +*Value = Intrinsic + Speculative Value* + +Intrinsic value is how ITM an option is, and the speculative value is the chances of it becoming even more ITM by the time to expiry. For example, assume a call option has a strike of $10 and the current price of the stock is $12. That would mean the intrinsic value is $2. However, the option expires in let’s say 3 months, and is being traded at $3. That would mean the additional 1-dollar difference above the $2 is the speculative value of the option. That $1 represents investors speculating the option will become even more ITM within that three months time frame. + +Taking that logic further we can derive the fundamental value for a call and put option as: + +Call = stock price – strike + speculative + +Put = strike – stock price + speculative + +**Leverage** + +Now that you know that a single option grants you exposure to multiple shares and the returns are therefore leveraged, you might be thinking to yourself oh gosh, I hope there is a way for me to calculate exactly how leveraged this option will be. Don’t worry, there is. You can calculate exactly how leveraged an option is via this equation: + +(Option Delta x Share Price) / Option price + +To give you an illustration, let's assume you buy a long-term SPY call trading at $10 a contract with a delta of 0.5 while SPY is being traded at $340 a share. Putting these numbers into the equation you get the following: + +(0.5 x 340) / 10 = 17. What this means is that this option lets you be leveraged 17:1 on a single call option. So if you put let's say $1,000 into this call or purchase 1 contract, you have a position that is equal to $17,000 on the SPY. + +Given this example, you should now come to realize why options are extremely risky and should not be taken lightly. If there is one thing to take away from this is that you need to be aware of the amount of risk options carry and you need to allocate your capital effectively. + +**Volatility** + +This is the big one. If the market is a casino, then this is the bookie playing around with the odds on the board. So if you want to leave the casino with money and not another man’s dick in your hand, you need to know volatility cold. For options trading, there are two kinds of volatility: realized and unrealized. + +*Realized* + +All you need to know is that realized volatility is the historic price movement of the stock. It is measured as the standard deviation (or deviation from average price) from the average price of a stock in a given time frame. + +*Unrealized Or Implied Volatility* + +This is the most important of the two. To put it in simplest terms, IV is the expected magnitude of a stock’s future price changes expressed as an annual percentage. + +This expected yearly price change can be expressed as the following: + +*1-Year Expected Range = stock price +/- (stock price x IV)* + +What is important with this formula is that it shows the riskier stocks usually have higher IVs which will result in a larger annual expected range. Taking this a step further we can also visualize the expected stock price changes via standard deviations. + +Assuming most of you passed high school, a fair amount of you must be somewhat familiar with the normal distribution graph and the confidence interval *(if not, don't worry about it, I'm going to baby you through this*). We can demonstrate expected stock volatility with a graph of a normal distribution that shows a 1 standard deviation of the price movement of a stock that is trading at $100 with an IV of 25%. In statistics, when we have a standard deviation of 1 we can say that we have a confidence of 68% that the stock will trade within this range. Plugging in the stock price of $100 with an IV of 25% into the equation we get: + +100 +/- (100 x 0.25 ) = 125 and 75. + +This means that with a standard deviation of 1 we can say that there is a 68% chance the stock will trade within the range of $75 - $125. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/1y132y4f4t771.png?width=685&format=png&auto=webp&s=853ece96eaa14f6877711ce07e2c2ea54759652d + +We can also take it a step further and do a 2-standard deviation which will give us a representation of a stock’s fluctuation with a 95% confidence interval. In the chart below, still assuming a stock price of $100 and an IV of 25%, the range has doubled to $50 - $150. Remember, in statistics, we can go all the way to 3-standard deviations which is a confidence interval of 99.7% and that will mean a range of $25 - $175. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/6mg3o4xf4t771.png?width=675&format=png&auto=webp&s=3b1d816612808faea9f3033a18edbf5c0e372209 + +Now that your high school nostalgia is out of the way, there is one more useful tidbit of knowledge I will show you. + +We can also calculate the stock’s expected move over any period via this equation: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/6pf729pg4t771.png?width=325&format=png&auto=webp&s=7f73cbe0ad10dfbfc42b4dedca03f75b8d4d93c1 + +\*\**19.1 is the square root of 365 or the days in a year. For Simplicity’s sake, I simplified the denominator.* + +This way whenever you buy an option that doesn’t expire in one year exactly, you can still map out the expected price range as stated by option traders. That way, you know what you are getting into and be all surprised when a dick is shoved up your ass (unless you’re in to that, then call me). + +**Greeks** + +What you all need to know is that within the premiums of every option that you buy there are certain assumptions that are priced in, much like there are certain assumptions that are priced into a stock price. These assumptions are often represented by certain Greek letters and by understanding what they are and how they influence the option’s value, you can better understand what you are betting on and whether or not the risks are tilted in your favor. + +In this part, I am going to talk about the four Greeks every last one of you degenerates must know by heart: Vega, Delta, Gamma, and Theta. And no, they aren’t the name of the fraternity your girlfriend goes to so that she can blow half the chads on campus. These guys are the ones that will determine whether you make actual life-changing money or move back to your mother’s basement while your new stepdad subtly judges you. + +**Vega (V):** This represents the change in option price per change in the option’s implied volatility. Vega is highest when the stock price is at the strike price and when the option is farther out from the expiration date. + +Ex: Let’s assume the premium of an option is 7.5, IV is at 20% and vega at 0.12. If the IV moves up from 20 to 21.5, that is a 1.5 increase. The option price will increase by 1.5 x 0.12 = 0.18. 0.18 + 7.5 = 7.68 + +**Delta (Δ):** Delta is a change in the option’s price due to a change in underlying stock price. Assuming we have a delta of 0.5, that means per every dollar the stock price goes up by, the option premium will go up by 50% of that change. Delta is often highest the farther ITM the option is and will often be the most volatile the closer the strike price is to the stock price. Call options have a delta of 0-1 while Puts have a negative delta of 0 – (-1). The absolute delta of an option also tells you the probability that the option will finish in the money. + +**Gamma (T):** Gamma is the rate of change in an option’s delta per 1-point move in the underlying’s share price. It is essentially the first derivative of delta and is used to gauge the price movement of an option relative to how far OTM or ITM it is. Taking this further, gamma is also the second derivative of an option’s price with respect to the underlying share’s price. This is because the delta is the first derivative of share price and since gamma is the first derivative of the delta, it is, therefore, the second derivative of the share price. + +Whenever you long an option, you have positive gamma exposure and when you short, you have negative gamma exposure. + +It is also important to note that gamma approaches 0 the farther an option becomes OTM or ITM. Gamma is also at its highest when the strike is ATM. + +Ex: assume an option has a delta of 0.5 and a delta of 0.1. This means per every dollar increase of the underlying stock, the delta would increase by the gamma amount. So in this case it is 0.5 + 0.1 = 0.6. +Conversely the opposite happens as well if the stock price go down by a dollar which will bring the new delta to 0.4. The change in an option's delta is better illustrated in the next section where the delta curve is discussed. + +**Theta (O):** This Greek is probably the easiest to understand. Theta is the time decay of an option as it approaches its expiration date. This means that theta measures the constant and steady decrease in the extrinsic value for an option on a daily basis. If the theta for an option is -0.02, then every day, as sure as the sun rises in the east, your option is going to lose $2. + +**Delta Curve:** + +For those of you that don’t know, the delta of an option is not stagnant, and its rate of change in accordance with share price changes is represented by the option’s gamma. You can actually map out the expected change in an option’s delta in accordance with the underlying share price via the delta curve. + +Let me show you the delta curve for a call option: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/dxzwnvwh4t771.png?width=566&format=png&auto=webp&s=2dd06ce979c5d1be575cab96f5f73342519a129c + +Note that the delta becomes more volatile as the option becomes ATM as the stock price rises before slowing that rate of change as the delta approaches 1 the deeper the option goes ITM. The delta will approach 1 because the absolute value of a delta represents the market’s expectation that the option will expire ITM so it makes sense that the more ITM an option becomes, the higher that percentage will be as it approaches 100%. + +When you look at the delta curve for a put option, you will find a lot of similarities with the call option delta: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/b3i8zgli4t771.png?width=639&format=png&auto=webp&s=ab2abacf875b84c0df9120c3950a16068839691e + +Just like with call options, the delta becomes more volatile as the option becomes ATM; however, remember that put options have a negative delta and because it becomes more ITM the lower the stock price is, a rising stock price will result in a delta approaching 0. + +**Equations** + +\*\*\* *I got these equations from my CFA textbooks so the nomenclature for these option strategies might be different than what you are seeing on your brokerage page. Either way, you can just look at the descriptions I have made and figure out which strategies I am talking about.* + +To wrap this up I am going to go through some popular options strategies that are often mentioned in investing subreddits. These descriptions will include what the option strategies entail, what will be their value at expiration, how much profit you can make, your maximum possible gain, how much money you can lose, and what price you need to be at in order to break even. + +First here is a list of the variables I will be using and what they represent. + +S0 : stock price at open + +ST : stock price at close + +X : strike price + +Co : call premium + +Po : put premium + +XH : higher strike + +CL / PL: premium on call/put with a lower strike + +CH / PH: premium on call/put with a higher strike + +***Covered Call*** + +This is longing for a stock and selling an OTM call option on it. People often do this in order to increase the “yield” on investment, meaning they get to haul in some additional cash flow on their stock holdings. Benefits to this strategy include the cash flow you receive from selling calls and its ability to reduce the overall volatility in your portfolio. The downside is that because you sold calls, you limit your upside potential because if the stock price goes over the strike price, it would be assumed that the option you sold will be exercised; therefore, there is a ceiling on how much money you can earn. + +Expiration value: ST – Max\[(ST – X), 0\] + +Profit at expiration ST – Max\[(ST – X), 0\] – So + Co + +Max Gain (X – So) + Co + +Max Loss So – Co + +Breakeven Price: So – Co + +***Protective Put*** + +This is longing a stock and a put option on the stock that is usually OTM. The idea here is that the put option serve as a kind of insurance on your stock holdings. By purchasing puts, you limit yourself on how much money you can possibly lose which will serve you well whenever the market decides to hit the shitter and enters a correction. Another benefit to this strategy is that unlike covered calls, you still have unlimited upside potential on your stock holdings. The downside is the money you have to spend in order to insure your positions. + +Expiration value ST + Max\[( X – ST), 0\] + +Profit at expiration ST + Max\[( X – ST), 0\] – So – Po + +Max Gain ST – So – Po + +Max Loss: So – X + Po + +B.E price So + Po + +***Bull Call Spread*** + +This is a directional play with options. Meaning in this case you are betting that the stock will go up. Bull Calls is longing for a call option with a lower strike and at the same time selling a call option on the same stock with the same expiry date at a higher strike. Here you are trying to profit off the deltas in which the positive delta for the option with the lower strike will be greater than the delta for the option with the higher strike and as the stock price goes up, you can profit from the delta difference. A benefit to this strategy is that because you are selling an option as well as buying one, you can limit your cash outflow. A downside is that you also limit the amount of money you can gain with this strategy. You can also do this strategy with put options in which you sell puts with the higher strike and buy puts with the lower strikes. For simplicity’s sake, I will just list the equations for the strategy with call options. + +Profit at expiration Max( 0, ST – XL ) – Max(0, ST – XH) – CL + CH + +Max Profit XH – XL – CL + CH + +Max Loss CL – CH + +BE XL + CL – CH + +***Bear Put Spread*** + +Similar direction play just like Bull Calls but in this case you are betting the stock is going down. Here you are longing put options with the higher strike and selling puts with a lower strike. The expiration date must be the same for both options. The rationale of profiting off the Greeks and the pros and cons remain similar to Bull Calls. + +Profit at expiration Max(0, XH – ST) – Max(0, XL – ST) – PH + PL + +Max Profit XH – XL – PH + PL + +Max loss PH – PL + +Breakeven XH + PL – PH + +***Collar*** + +This strategy is used when you think a stock is going to trade in a certain range. Here you are longing the stock, longing an ITM protective put, and selling an OTM call. The idea is that the put will provide downside protection while the call provides a ceiling on how much money you can earn. The main benefit is that it allows you to buy protection while limiting your cash outflow since you sold a call. The downside is that upside is limited just like a covered call strategy. + +Profit at expiration (ST – So) + (XL – ST) – (ST – XH) – (Po – Co) + +Max profit XH – So – (Po – Co) + +Max loss So – XL + (Po – Co) + +Breakeven So + (Po / Co) + +***Straddle*** + +This is a directional play except over here you have no idea what the direction is. This strategy is ideal when betting on the general volatility of the stock without any idea on where the direction of the stock will go. Here you are longing both a call and a put on the same stock at the same expiration and at the same strike. The idea is that as the stock goes up or down, the delta of one option will slowly go to 1 while the other goes to 0 and you can profit off the gamma. The benefit to this is that you don’t need to bet as much in a certain direction, the downside however is that you are longing volatility and if the volatility does not reach high enough to what is priced into the premium, then you will lose money on both the call and the put as they both expire to 0. + +Profit Max(0, ST – X) + +Max profit = Co + Po + +Max loss Co + Po + +Breakeven X – (Co + Po) and X + (Co + Po) +This is assuming a person is earning $60,000pa before tax, are single, and their monthly expenses are $2,300 and they have a 10% deposit, they should be able to get a loan for approx $335 \[$35k deposit to $370k total price but leaving wiggle room\]. I've only included properties with a price and stayed close to public transport with the assumption of working in the CBD, all timings done with Google Maps, leaving at 7:30am on a weekday. \*I used trains because I have found buses don't give reliable timings due to traffic but this is apparently not the case in Canberra. + +&#x200B; + +This also does not take into account land taxes/body corp/strata/rates/any ongoing costs, which can be high enough to be a major hindrance on owning a place, purely just to show what you could theoretically get as a single person earning a decent income in any of the major cities. + +&#x200B; + +**Sydney** + +&#x200B; + +* [39/9 Ward Avenue, Potts Point, NSW 2011](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-potts+point-134697322?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-title)\- 23m\^2 studio, looks airy and light but does not come with a park. +* [1007/185 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-ultimo-130859398?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- There are about 40 in the same building for "student owner occupiers or investors only" but they do start from $165k for a 17m\^2 studio and for $295k you can get 56m\^2. Not really suitable for your average OO. +* [2/26 Yerrick Road, Lakemba, NSW 2195](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-lakemba-136107246?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- 2 bed unit with a park, 50 mins via public transport into Sydney CBD. Looks spacious and like there's a lot of light, plus a small balcony. +* [11/43-45 Neil Street, Merrylands, NSW 216](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-merrylands-136125942?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)0 - 81m\^2 for a 1 bed/1bath/1 car, the unit looks like it might be a bit dark but it is quite big, 55 mins to the CBD. +* [10/27-31 The Crescent, Berala, NSW 2141](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-berala-135531382?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- 1 bedder with a park, 61m\^2, looks like a nice place with a lot of natural light, 35 mins into the CBD. + +**Canberra** \- There's essentially no public transport here and I could only find one house with an actual price, rather than "Contact agent" or that were going for auction. + +&#x200B; + +* [60/47 McMillan Crescent, Griffith, ACT 2603](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-act-griffith-133362478?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- Only $177,500 but it is a studio and looks really small, maybe 15-20m\^2 but no size given in the listing. +* [98/10 Eyre Street, Griffith, ACT 2603](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-act-griffith-135018902?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- 55m\^2 pus nice balcony, 1 bedder with a park, 2.7km from the centre of Capital Hill \[1.6km to State Circle\] 30 min to City Hill, light and airy. +* [314/2 Akuna Street, City, ACT 2601](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-act-city-136159210?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- in the CBD, 45m\^2 for $260k+, looks like it's a bit pokey/not the best layout but seems to have nice big windows. It comes fully furnished so maybe a part of a hotel complex? The ad doesn't say. +* [55 Banksia Drive, Symonston, ACT 2609](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-symonston-134526822?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- a house in a caravan park, 2.1km to the station then 22 min to City Hill, bedrooms look like they would be a bit small \[maybe 2-2.5m x 2-2.5m\] but priced at $270k. Would have to live in a caravan park and I would assume that schools might not be the best around it. + +&#x200B; + +**Melbourne** + +&#x200B; + +* [520/488 Swanston Street, Carlton, Vic 3053](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-carlton-136062194?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- 1 bed/1 bath for $195k, which feels like there's a catch \[apart from it being really small\], but a "comparable property" sold for $280k \[3404/618 Lonsdale St\] so I'm not sure. +* [308/162 Rosslyn Street, West Melbourne, Vic 3003](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-west+melbourne-136049098?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- 1 bed/1 bath/1 car, not really much of a kitchen but it does have a balcony, a parking spot, and city views. +* [6/20 Valiant Street, Abbotsford, Vic 3067](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-abbotsford-135707138?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- 1 bed/1 bath/1 car near a park, looks recently done up, 25 mins to the CBD on the tram. +* [6/129 Anderson Road, Albion, Vic 3020](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-albion-136166766?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- 2 bedder with a car park, near a park, 30 mins from the CBD, but on a main road. Looks nice enough \[I actually like the bathroom here, it's cute\]. +* [6A Alabama Close, Hoppers Crossing, Vic 3029](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-hoppers+crossing-135816982?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- 3 bed/1 bath house, looks free standing with a small yard. I'm not sure how much I trust the price guide. 22 min to the CBD on the train, but the house is a good 4km away from the station. +* [96A Heaths Road, Hoppers Crossing, Vic 3029](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-hoppers+crossing-135989966?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- 3 bedder on 261m\^2 but it is on a main road and again, I'm not sure I trust the price guide. Google Maps has a really weird route for this where you get off and change onto the same train in the middle, about an hour away by public transport from Melbourne CBD (changing trains is due to track work, thank you to those who let me know). + +&#x200B; + +**Adelaide** \- I'm a bit confused by how Google is showing the public transport options so I will just give the fastest route. I think I just don't know the tram numbers and won't spend time looking it up. + +&#x200B; + +* [1/18 Northcote Street, Kilburn, SA 5084](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-kilburn-132787810?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- 2 bed/1 bath/1 car unit, decent sized bedrooms in a small block of units, 30 mins out from the city and pretty cheap. +* [19 Goodman Ave, Kilburn, SA 5084](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-kilburn-135393198?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- This is an actual house, 3 bed, 1 bath, on 370m\^2. This is near a main road so possibly a bit loud and hard to get into but it is only 30 mins out form the city. Looks a bit dated but nice on the inside. +* [5/41A Addison Road, Black Forest, SA 5035](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-sa-black+forest-136071122?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- Modern 2 bed townhouse, 20 mins from the city. Bit of a weird upstairs with one bedroom having no door or walls but it's cheap and close in. +* [7/23 Winifred Street, Adelaide, SA 5000](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-sa-adelaide-136176950?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- 2 bedroom, 1 bath unit that comes with a car park, in the CBD. No pics of the second bedroom or a floor plan but not too bad for the price and being in the middle of the city. + +&#x200B; + +**Perth** + +&#x200B; + +* [4/8 James Street, Perth, WA 6000](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-wa-perth-135966694?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- 2 bed with a park in the middle of Perth CBD. The bedrooms look like they might be a bit small but the unit looks nice otherwise. +* [27 Merian Close, Bentley, WA 6102](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-bentley-135767266?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- listed without a price but I ran it through a couple of price checking sites and it came back as mid 300s so take with a grain of salt. It is a duplex buy the looks of it but a 3 bed/2 bath with a patio and front yard, 35 mins on the train into the CBD. +* [18B Sullivan Street, Beckenham, WA 6107](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-beckenham-135715914?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- listed for $359k for a bit over budget but it's a 3 bedder on 459m\^2. Rip up the front yard tiling and you'll have yourself a really nice little house only 32 mins from the CBD. +* [14/110 Central Avenue, Inglewood, WA 6052](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-inglewood-136055414?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- 1 bedder with a park at $229k, 20 odd minutes from the city on the train, nice and spacious. + +&#x200B; + +**Darwin** \- weird layout for public transport but cool name. + +&#x200B; + +* [3058/55 Cavenagh Street, Darwin City, NT 0800](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nt-darwin+city-129724810?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- 2 bed, 2 bath with a parking spot, in the CBD for $260k. Bedrooms look small though. +* [4 Phineaus Court, Gray, NT 0830](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-gray-135513138?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- 3 bed 1 bath on 762m\^2, a couple of km to the interchange and then 30 mins on "Orbital 1" into the CBD. Somewhat small bedrooms but it's very cheap. +* [6 Livistona Road, Karama, NT 0812](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-karama-136012122?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- 3 bedder, pretty modern, but near the airport. Decent bedrooms, nice yard and again a couple of km to the "Orbital 1" stop. + +&#x200B; + +**Brisbane** \- This is where I live so I've been able to pick suburbs that have nicer schools/amenities or provide a bit more commentary on them. + +&#x200B; + +* [1604/70 Mary Street, Brisbane City, Qld 4000](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-brisbane+city-135448050?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- This says it's a 2 bed unit but it's more like 1.5 beds, the second one is tiny, however it is in the heart of the CBD and comes with a parking spot and balcony. It's in a hotel so it comes fully furnished. +* [19/22 Barry Parade, Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-fortitude+valley-136022994?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- another 2 bed unit with a car park, in between the CBD and Fortitude Valley, which is a nightlife-by-the-dark and offices-by-the-day suburb, probably a 10 min walk into the CBD. Again, the second bedroom is a little small but not outrageously so. +* [8 Joyce St, East Ipswich, Qld 4305](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-east+ipswich-135300438?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- for a bit of a change, this is in Ipswich, just over 50 mins on the train in the morning into the CBD from East Ipswich station. The area still has higher crime than Brisbane but a lot more young families have started moving into the area because it is cheap. This is a perfect example of what you can get with 3 bedrooms on 809m\^2 in one of the nicer suburbs, walking distance to Ipswich CBD. +* [39 Ipswich Street, Riverview, Qld 4303](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-riverview-135562014?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- another one from Ipswich but this time a more rundown place, further from the train stations \[which take 37 mins into the city from Dinmore station on the express\] but a huge half acre lot, however it is a bit over budget at $359k. Riverview is really close to the Warrego, Ipswich, and Cunningham motorways, which will take you into the city, out to Toowoomba and north or down Warwick/Stathorpe way. +* [6 Bishop Court, Loganlea, Qld 4131](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-loganlea-135297402?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- there is also Logan, another satellite city, where you can get a newer house in Loganlea on 477m\^2. I picked Loganlea because that is where express trains from the Gold Coast into Brisbane CBD stop in the mornings, so it's a bit more pricey but quicker to get into the city \[38 mins on the train, it's 2.3km from the house to Loganlea station\]. +* [12 Heathcote Lane, Fitzgibbon, Qld 4018](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-fitzgibbon-136060290?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- this is a townhouse, 2 bed 2 bath 1 car, 40 mins from the CBD \[12 min walk, 29 mins on the train\]. Big bedrooms and in a small little community of townhouses in a nice enough suburb but no yard. There are parks around to compensate for that though. +* [3/23 Brook Road, Wooloowin, Qld 4030](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-wooloowin-135856418?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- a 1 bed unit in Wooloowin, a 15 min walk to Eagle Junction station which will get you into the city in about 10 mins with express trains always running and this one even comes with a small yard! Wooloowin is a mix of old people hanging onto their houses, cashed up families, and young people \[often professionals\] in share houses. There's a lot of nice bars, shops, and cafes around here. +* [1/164 Flower Street, Northgate, Qld 4013](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-northgate-135721810?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile)\- last but not least, another 2 bed unit with a parking spot. The second bedroom is a little bit small, however this unit is close to express trains \[one express stop up from Eagle Junction\] and will get you in the city in 15 mins. The neighbourhood has a lot of young families and young people in general. + +&#x200B; + +**Hobart -** I felt bad, here you all go, minimal commentary though sorry + +&#x200B; + +* [3/179 Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tas 7000](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-tas-hobart-136009270?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- small studio with a bed nook, can be made into a tiny 1 bedder theoretically. In the CBD. +* [108/156 Bathurst Street, Hobart, Tas 7000](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-serviced+apartment-tas-hobart-135744926?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- 1 (big) bed serviced unit, does not come with a car park, in the CBD and has a nice view, plus two balconies. +* [6/30 Corby Avenue, West Hobart, Tas 7000](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-tas-west+hobart-135982258?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- another 1 bed unit but comes with a car space and really lovely views. 13 mins into the CBD on the bus or a 1.7km walk. +* [4 Pitcairn Street, Glenorchy, Tas 7010](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-glenorchy-136194822?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- 3 bed 1 bath 1 car on 675m\^2, house looks nice and it's close to the water, 41 mins into the city with the ?bus. +* [49 Sugarloaf Road, Risdon Vale, Tas 7016](https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-risdon+vale-136049254?sourcePage=rea%3Abuy%3Asrp-map&sourceElement=listing-tile) \- 3 bed 1 bath on 738m\^2, 36 mins into the CBD with a ?bus and looks like you might get mountain views from the front room, possibly. +Been a long-time lurker here and just hit a milestone of mine - crossed $2 million liquid net worth despite using some assets to buy a home this year. + +It's not something I want to celebrate with ppl irl besides my spouse. I want to share here to keep myself motivated. I'll keep going! + I was watching this coin for a few days before I aped in. I joined the telegram group and it just felt different than all of the other coins. The developers are actively in the chat giving updates, and clearly making progress towards their goals. + +The community has made a bunch of memes, and there is a meme contest going at the moment, but that’s not even the best part. The best part is the token is a completely new unique token, with really cool mechanics that I haven’t seen before. + +The ownership is fully renounced and liquidity is locked for your safety, the project is rug proof! + +&#x200B; + +**Fortune Cookie!** + +**🥠 What is Fortune Cookie?** + +Fortune Cookie is quite simple: A lottery token where you can earn just by trading! 10% is taxed on every transaction and added to the fortune pot. For every 50 transactions, one holder gets the entire fortune pot. + +Conditions: You must be a holder who has at least 2% of the pots value, one lucky holder will be selected! Will your cookie bring you fortune? + +&#x200B; + +**🥠 Tokenomics:** + +\- 10% to the Fortune Pot – which is won by a random holder every 50 transactions! + +\- 5% back to Liquidity + +\- 3% to the Marketing Wallet – for 24/7 marketing! + +\- 2% Burnt to hell + +\- Max Per Transaction: 5B Tokens (0.5%) – so no whales! + +\- Max Per Wallet: 20B Tokens (2%) – so no whales! + +&#x200B; + +**🥠 Links:** + +💻 Contract Address: 0xca94698f5a683939700ea611d6ada30cae632a9d + +💻 BSCScan: https://bscscan.com/token/0xca94698f5a683939700ea611d6ada30cae632a9d + +💻 Telegram Group: [http://t.me/FortuneCookieV2](http://t.me/FortuneCookieV2) + +💻 Website: Join The Telegram For The Link! + +Join the community! The telegram is getting more exciting every day, the developers recently added a lottery bot, you can type /lottery and it will update you on the state of the lottery! Big marketing plans are in the works, with influencers etc! CoinGecko, CMC and Blockfolio listings have been applied for. The developers are also working on a platform called Donut Charts which is a charting platform where they will be able to advertise Fortune Cookie for free. + +&#x200B; + +Once again, ownership has been fully renounced and the liquidity pool is entirely locked! + +🔥 **ALL LIQUIDITY POOL BURNT 🔥 OWNERSHIP RENOUNCED** + +&#x200B; + +For any other questions or information, such as the Official Fortune Cookie website, please visit the Official Fortune Cookie Telegram group! +https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/20/microsoft-expands-its-space-business-pairing-its-azure-cloud-with-spacexs-starlink-internet.html + +Microsoft is partnering with SpaceX to connect the Azure cloud computing network to the growing Starlink satellite internet service offered by Elon Musk’s company. + +The partnership comes as Microsoft expands into the space industry, with the company a few weeks ago unveiling a new service called Azure Orbital to connect satellites directly to the cloud. + +Azure Space and the new partnership sets up Microsoft and SpaceX to compete further with Jeff Bezos’ businesses Amazon and Blue Origin, which have announced plans for similar satellite services and more. + +This is another major victory for msft cloud unit azure. It is a long term hold stock given msft diversified revenue streams. Many businesses are very dependable on msft products to operate. + +Thanks for the award. +I don't believe I need to ask, I feel that most people here can feel...something...in the air. There's a tingle to the tits and deep down, zen or not, I think you see pieces coming together in a big way. I could go on exceedingly about separate tinfoil theories that I could speculate piece together into this puzzle, but I want to focus on the pieces in front of us. Specifically, the upcoming ["Gaming Wall Street"](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjmk6iMoJ_2AhWkMX0KHUowDeMQFnoECAgQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt18332840%2F&usg=AOvVaw1tjCeeGtZe0-pjNs1FqPdS) documentary, the upcoming ["The Problem With Jon Stewart"](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/sq8t5p/if_you_want_moass_and_you_have_a_twatter_account/) episode, and more importantly...**grassroots advocacy**. + +**TL;DR (but you should definitely read/critique it)** + +I believe Dave Lauer, Tobias Deml, Jon Stewart, and others are about to disclose some gnarly new info and quite literally hand us individuals a microphone wired directly to some very "important" people using a proven **grassroots advocacy** approach and cause the ongoing tale of Gamestop to go viral once more in ways that can no longer be ignored...again. This will begin next week, July 237th. Because of this...we need to be vigilant and wise. + +# The Problem + +We are all aware of the new episode of The Problem hosted by Jon Stewart dropping next week July 237th. We know that this specific episode will be featuring some very important characters within this story that all of us individuals just happen to be a part of. Gary Gensler and DLauer in the same room talking about the beloved? Jon Stewart has a history of rustling feathers as well. Had you told me this in my weak state of un-zenness, well... I'll leave that up to your imaginations. + +What DL has openly said on the matter. + +*"Amidst the backdrop of extremely distressing global events, there is a lot happening in the world of market structure. Next week will be a week unlike any other, since Jan 2021. We've got some very big initiatives coming together - an incredible confluence of events taking place."* [Tweet](https://twitter.com/dlauer/status/1497243887836057602?s=20&t=eSb-8ObDZjBbvlOpC22E3g) + +https://preview.redd.it/axhlpsmm9ek81.png?width=1482&format=png&auto=webp&s=33d401027589f8070892dcf80e8698c496e1b8cd + +and + +*"I'm excited to reveal what we've been working on - I think next week will mark the "end of the beginning" - we've all learned so much, and now it's be time to organize efforts and make our voices heard. 2022 will mark a turning point in market fairness and efficiency."* [Tweet](https://twitter.com/dlauer/status/1497244339562586139?s=20&t=eSb-8ObDZjBbvlOpC22E3g) **(Just noticed his typo "It's be time...", sounds like a...Pirate?**🏴‍☠**. Funny typo)** + +https://preview.redd.it/a1qcniso9ek81.png?width=1482&format=png&auto=webp&s=7dccbdfcf5a1f87680c9e7a8bae5a2f32ba94d63 + +Now the DL comment that I'm interested in making a point with. + +https://preview.redd.it/05ezb8sq9ek81.jpg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0c68dd82ee73e5d44d99b57c6c3b5ebabd8eeaa1 + +Grass...roots...advocacy. More on that later. + +# Gaming Wall Street + +This one has me intrigued, yet still hesitant. There are talks about some more very important characters to this story appearing to have "significant...screen time". One of those characters, non other than DFV himself. This coming from the directers keyboard himself. + +[Thank you u\/TripleKnockout for the assembly of comments. Go look](https://preview.redd.it/pworcg8t9ek81.jpg?width=729&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c6ae1e3c29758040994a7e5e6dfbc0486a83a12) + +&#x200B; + +Not only is DFV a potential, but the topic of synthetic shorts and FTDs is, supposedly, a focus. This could be a key difference in what we've seen before. + +I've been around since April. I'm ashamed to admit that I missed some of the most significant portions of this tale. However, I've been around long enough to learn to be skeptical until proven wrong. We've seen some shady dealings with some shady folks either simply trying to leach energy from the saga, or flat out using it to twist our tits (and not in the glorious way we like) by disclosing false information about it or lacking crucial details in order to spread more misinformation. Others may have been pure in motive, but I can't think of many. + +In saying that, I have found myself leaning towards intrigue regarding this one. Perhaps not as much as I am with the Jon Stewart episode, but perhaps so because I think they might be linked and \*kithing. Again more on that in a little bit. I promise. + +Whatever the case, Director [Tobias Deml](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjwpcGDkZ_2AhVkLTQIHYF_BSMQFnoECBEQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm2993564%2F&usg=AOvVaw1lBFqSQfvb2oXJbmWgIq1R) is said to be an actual ape. An Austrian ape. An actual Austrian ape. There's not much, really not anything, that I have dug up to discredit this. So for now I wait with eagerness to hear what he has to say. (I'm not going to lie, as a filmmaker myself, I'm quite a bit jealous that u/tobiasdeml has beaten me to it. Well done and more power if that's the case.) + +&#x200B; + +>*perhaps so because I think they might be in linked* + +Why do I suspect they might be linked? Glad you asked, weary traveler, listen to my tale. + +Check it. I'll make it easy to slip the tinfoil around your slick dome. + +**Dave Lauer-** + +https://preview.redd.it/mddbh2qubek81.png?width=1374&format=png&auto=webp&s=7bae360a5c81eede3d43e713c65ca45043f0e996 + +https://preview.redd.it/pqoeunm6aek81.jpg?width=700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=07abb5d10b902e9f6c5d15a3898a1b83bbd87383 + +&#x200B; + +**Tobias Deml-** + +[\\"Be read, and get ready to be loud.\\"](https://preview.redd.it/j8ey0zh8aek81.jpg?width=713&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f88958e400ea48602d63a7c89658e442a142b00) + +[\\"...we're taking it one step beyond...\\"](https://preview.redd.it/puc5zdn2cek81.jpg?width=567&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=455f8a47ab38dc0f9c0971509757c5708923d73a) + +# + +# Now, what is Grassroots Advocacy Papaw? + +*"*[*Grassroots advocacy*](https://www.quorum.us/solutions/grassroots-advocacy/) *makes it possible for citizens and organizations to elevate their voices and impact the issues they care about. At the core of effective grassroots advocacy are campaigns that build widespread support in order to shape political dialogue."* + +Here's an authentic example. It's a bit of a dry read at first, but once it clicks....oof. + +[Giving Voice: The Power Of Grassroots Advocacy In Shaping Public Policy](https://www.gih.org/files/usrdoc/Grassroots_Advocacy_Sunflower_Foundation_November_2010.pdf) + +[Let's look closer](https://preview.redd.it/zvgopf8caek81.jpg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fdae5875778658b73d9d87aa42f90ebef614f019) + +[Another one- DJ Khaled](https://preview.redd.it/boay0wzdaek81.jpg?width=749&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9094b469a1d91445528be617f65e2f50b00902dc) + +https://preview.redd.it/fuc4q0qfaek81.jpg?width=677&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e6422cc051f08d5ae4fc83e150ed1139cf6c23f7 + +Grassroots advocacy is literally giving a voice to the people who have been left mute and ignored by, quite literally, **giving your voice**. + +I am quite convinced that Dave Lauer, Tobias Deml, Jon Stewart, hell perhaps even the Gensler, are potentially going to make a massive move next week. I believe the big move will be not only disclosure of details that even we individuals have yet to unearth but more importantly us individuals will be thrust into the "spotlight" along with our beloved, in order to be heard. Personally. Way more personally than we have ever had the opportunity to do so before. However, not every opportunity should be met with haste. + +>*"Its one thing to know everything that we know we know. It's another to know how to use that knowlege appropriately and effectively. Thats called wisdom bud."- Me* + +Now what I urge us to be vigilant about is exactly this. We have comically but not so comically seen what happens when the outside world asks Red dit folks a question and then air it out for the world to see. We have also been exceedingly careful to state the fact that we are unorganized, individual investors who like a stock. I'm not saying that dark forces could use our voices against us to paint a different picture, but let's be honest, desperation does weird things to the desperate. Am I then saying that some of these people that I've mentioned here are the bad actors? Absolutely not. But the true bad actors will use everything opportunity they can down to their dying breath, which we may be seeing here very soon. All I'm saying is to be aware of what's happening, because zen or not, here it comes. + + +Edit: “He's gonna launch his platform based on market transparency for retail that he's been working on for the past months. Great way to circumvent advertising infringement this post is. 😂” + +I’ve received a lot of these comments within this post. The thought behind them being that Dave Lauer and the accompanying characters within this post are simply advertising the new Terminal that has been being worked on. My response has been “I’m sure there’s some of that. But he’s also on the John Stewart show specifically talking about what’s going on. I hardly believe that what he’s hyping is only his terminal.” + +There’s something different going on, something big. I can’t say what. If you don’t believe me, take it from Dave himself. He’s in the comments refuting the “false hype” mentality. + +Edit 2: even I stand corrected. Dave is out right saying that the terminal has nothing to do with the hype. So there you go. +So lately the market has been going down and people might have gotten some bloody days in their portfolios. The correction has affected tech the most as the Nasdaq is about 8% from its all time highs. + +The correction has happened because of number one: Rising treasury yields and number two: Sector rotation. Reopening plays are currently the trend that big money likes and money has gone there recently. + +This doesn’t mean that tech is bad in the long term. Stocks go down sometimes and this is the moment that it’s happening. But there is a silver lining to this story... + +This gives us a good opportunity get your favourite stocks at a cheaper price. Averaging down is a very delightful thing to do and this is a perfect opportunity. And even if we continue to go down, it’s ok, since you can average down even more. + +Another thing that I want to say is that you shouldn’t listen to the media too much. It’s their job to create havoc and drama in the stock market. Their opinions change every week almost, and it’s kinda funny sometimes. One week they say that you shouldn’t sell and another day CNBC reporters tell us how big tech is in a bad place and you should move to industrials, travel, etc. + +You have YOUR own plan. Do your plan and don’t listen to those whose job is to dramatize things. The stock market needs patience. Investing is for the long run. + +Don’t look at the 1 day chart all the time. It can be very toxic for yourself, especially during a red day. So just chill and remember that your time horizon is in 10 years, not tomorrow. + +That’s my 2 cents, have good one everyone! +I've already read the advise against co-signing in this forum, but I'm having emotional feelings about my current situation and need some objective advice. + +so here's the situation. My daughter who just turned 19 has been with her 25 year old boyfriend now for a year. she is twitterpated beyond reason, and believes that he is the one. It is her first serious boyfriend. I just got a new job and I will be relocating 3 hours North. she wants to move in with her boyfriend, and stay in her current location as she has a couple of minimum-wage jobs and is going to school although she has already informed me that she will be dropping school to work. + +they have been looking for apartments to move into together, and because they both do not have any credit history rental history or verifiable income, plus she's under 21, they are not getting anyone to want to rent to them. + +So now the next step that they're asking me is to co-sign. I know this is a bad idea, and I'm not super fond of the boyfriend, but because of my new work situation having to move out of the area I am wondering if I'm leaving my daughter in the lurch. We have off her to put her on campus at her University and move her into a dorm, but she doesn't want that she wants to be with her boyfriend 24/7. + +Thoughts? I know the answer here, but need some objective advice. + +ETA: well holy forking shirt balls, did this ever blow up. thank you so much to everyone who contributed your precious time on a Sunday to give me some great thoughts on this somewhat awkward and painful situation. I really appreciate appreciate the time and effort that you so many of you put into your answers, and I absolutely 100% appreciate the fact that you were kind enough to give me information that has helped me stick to my guns on this decision. I will come back an update if there's any updates to be had, but again thank you so much. +\*\* ASKING FOR PARENTS \*\* + +Hi all, + +My parents are coming up retirement age and will have around $500K in their 401K. They have other savings but this is the bulk of their NW (not including roughly the same in their home). They'd like to supplement their income and I was wondering would be the best way to utilize the 401K to do that. Would it make sense to buy stocks in relatively safe investments (think SPY) and sell covered calls? Is there anything else they can do to supplement the income while keeping the majority in the account and still grow tax-free? + +&#x200B; + +No debts. House paid off. Thanks! +Your markets are run by bots. Now your Weekend threads are too[.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +Read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) people. + +[Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX\_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. You have been warned.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related.](https://discord.gg/wsNDGTf5QH) +Your markets are run by bots. Now your daily threads are too. + +&#x200B; + +This thread is for plans and thoughts prior to the market open period. + +Maybe use this time to read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) [.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +&#x200B; + +Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. [You have been warned](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share). + +&#x200B; + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related](https://discord.gg/EKU2tVBp9u). +Your markets are run by bots. Now your /r/Asx_bets daily threads are too. + +Read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) people[.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +[Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX\_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. You have been warned.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) + +Automoderator may provide "Guidance" for Lazy and zero effort posting. + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related.](https://discord.gg/wsNDGTf5QH) +Your markets are run by bots. Now your /r/Asx_bets daily threads are too. + +Read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) people[.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +[Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX\_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. You have been warned.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) + +Automoderator may provide "Guidance" for Lazy and zero effort posting. + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related.](https://discord.gg/wsNDGTf5QH) +Your markets are run by bots. Now your daily threads are too. + +&#x200B; + +This thread is for plans and thoughts prior to the market open period. + +Maybe use this time to read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) [.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +&#x200B; + +Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. [You have been warned](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share). + +&#x200B; + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related](https://discord.gg/EKU2tVBp9u). +Don't be tempted to take out a mortgage with UBank to save a few dollars. I would pay thousand to avoid the heartache I've suffered. Recently I was locked out of my account. I've spent about 10 hours on the phone trying to find out why. Last night I discovered for myself. I have never dealt with a worse, more incompetent organisation. + +https://preview.redd.it/isc6pvxbpfa91.jpg?width=1418&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=975f46b845bc54f93342b6585851de21805c3c60 +Really grinds my gears how people on here are so quick to call it a coordinated shill attack, a conspiracy to distract people from DRS, whatever. + +Here’s something you’ve got to understand: there is 600k+ people on this sub; there are crazy things happening daily and weekly. A lot of crazy shit is about to go down and we are a pretty cool melting pot of financial news. + +This sub doesn’t have to be only computershare screenshots. The screenshots are great, but I’m here for the content and to learn. + +We can walk and chew gum at the same time. Stop calling every big news story forum sliding or a coordinated shill attack, it makes us look like whackos. + +Edit: seems like a few of you are misconstruing my point. This wasn’t meant to ignite BofA discussion, I was using it as an example. +Just a heads up to check your reports. I checked my husband’s report today and found a hard inquiry from the federal government “US SM BUS ADMIN ODA”. After a quick search here I have seen quite a few posts about fraudulent loans being opened. My husband called. This loan was in the process of going through and had been approved for $49,000! My husband has less than stellar credit. They used an old address that we haven’t lived at for more than 10 years. This is the US government’s small business COVID relief loan. We have been able to handle it so far but wanted to put out the word for anyone else. + +Definitely check your reports! I’ve been checking his every couple of weeks because we are in the process of disputing something and this was not on there 2 weeks ago. +So, after [this post ](https://www.reddit.com/r/IndiaInvestments/comments/sg709k/parag_parikh_flexi_cap_fund_stops_all_forms_of/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) yesterday, I resumed my SIP on Coin for PPFAS but it was changed to AMC SIP. + +According to [this article](https://support.zerodha.com/category/mutual-funds/coin-web/general-questions-coin-web/articles/amc-sip-option-on-coin), it doesn't have that many modify options as SIPs normally have at Coin eg, changing date and SIP amount and also, to pause kr resume SIP + +Also, [this article ](https://support.zerodha.com/category/mutual-funds/starting-an-sip/articles/what-happens-once-an-amc-sip-is-created) says, that there needs to be 30 days between two installments. So, if this month's date is on a 7th Feb, say a non business day which means, it wil l be processed only tomorrow or day after ie., 8th or 9th Feb, then next installment will not be processed on 7th March as 30 days have not been over yet. So, next order can only be on 7th April. But am I not losing in the process by way of less installments ? + +And I don't have a bank mandate with this SIP. With so much confusion when orders will be processed or not, can I still do manual SIPs ? + +But I am not sure about its benefits vis a vis a normal Coin SIP, now that I can't change the amount or date according to my convenience. + +This post is for information for those who were looking forward to start new SIPs on Coin for PPFAS + + +Edit - why is this post getting downvoted? It's not a low effort post .. some of us might not understand the difference between Amc sip and sip and hence this post. +Hello all, + +Which health insurance do you guys have? What are the factors do we have to keep in mind while picking health insurance? Any pointers will be helpful. +This is the official $GME Megathread for r/Superstonk. Please keep ALL conversations contained to Gamestop and related topics. + +**Not enough karma?** Here's a [**quick guide**](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-get-karma-on-reddit/) on how to get it. + +# [announcements](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/wiki/index/announcements) + +* Make sure to check the Announcements regularly. Large updates will be made as posts using the [**Red Seal of Stonkiness**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22%F0%9F%99%8C%F0%9F%92%8E%20Red%20Seal%20of%20Stonkiness%20%F0%9F%92%8E%F0%9F%99%8C%22) or [**Moderator**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22%F0%9F%9A%80%20Moderator%20%F0%9F%9A%80%22) flair, but smaller updates will be listed in the Announcements. + +## flair links + +Check out our [**flair system**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/mrwirc/updated_about_and_menu_flair_directory/), which is easily accessible via the sidebar button widget on desktop or the About menu on mobile. + +|[**Daily Discussions**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22DAILY%20%F0%9F%93%8A%20Wrinkle%20Brain%20Think%20Tank%22)|[**DD**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22DD%20%F0%9F%91%A8%E2%80%8D%F0%9F%94%AC%22)|[**Possible DD**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Possible%20DD%20%F0%9F%91%A8%E2%80%8D%F0%9F%94%AC%22)|[**Discussion**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Discussion%20%F0%9F%A6%8D%22)|[**Question**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Question%20%E2%9D%93%22)|[**Education/Data**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Education%20%F0%9F%91%A8%E2%80%8D%F0%9F%8F%AB%20%7C%20Data%20%F0%9F%94%A2%22)| +|:-|:-|:-|:-|:-|:-| +|[**News/Media**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22News%20%F0%9F%93%B0%20%7C%20Media%20%F0%9F%93%B1%22)|[**Mega Threads**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22MEGA%20Thread%20%F0%9F%92%8E%22)|[**Fluff**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Fluff%20%E2%98%81%22&)|[**Meme**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Meme%20%F0%9F%A4%A3%22)|[**HODL**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22HODL%20%F0%9F%92%8E%F0%9F%99%8C%22)|[**Opinion**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Opinion%20%F0%9F%91%BD%22)| +|[**Art & Writing**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Art%20%26%20Writing%20%F0%9F%8E%A8%22)|[**Stonky Pets**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Stonky%20Pets%20%F0%9F%90%B1%E2%80%8D%F0%9F%91%A4%22)|[**Shitpost**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Shitpost%20%F0%9F%91%BE%22)|[**Superstonk Bot**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22%F0%9F%A4%96%20SuperstonkBot%22)|[**AMAs**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22AMA%20%F0%9F%8F%86%22&restrict_sr=1)|[**Moderator**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22%F0%9F%9A%80%20Moderator%20%F0%9F%9A%80%22)| +|[**Social Media**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Social%20Media%20%F0%9F%93%B2%F0%9F%A6%9C%22&restrict_sr=1)|||||| + +# important links + +[**SuperstonkBot is now live for anonymous posting**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/mtc3rb/superstonkbot_is_live_whistleblowers_welcome/) (with review) + +**Want to learn more?** [**Check out our extensive Wiki**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/wiki/index) **and** [**FAQ**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/wiki/index/faq) + +Please review the [**Superstonk Rules**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/wiki/index/rules) before commenting or posting on r/Superstonk. + +*Daily discussion threads are created at 4:00 a.m. EDT* +1) Selling ATM puts + +[https://www.reddit.com/r/thetagang/comments/n6ggo7/quick\_tip\_the\_wheel\_whats\_delta\_got\_to\_do\_with\_it/](https://www.reddit.com/r/thetagang/comments/n6ggo7/quick_tip_the_wheel_whats_delta_got_to_do_with_it/) + +2) Selling OTM puts + +[https://www.reddit.com/r/options/comments/a36k4j/the\_wheel\_aka\_triple\_income\_strategy\_explained/](https://www.reddit.com/r/options/comments/a36k4j/the_wheel_aka_triple_income_strategy_explained/) + +Which one works best for you? +**for me:** + +**-jumping in too fast, motivated mistakenly with fomo, thinking this 'low price' won't go any lower (eg buying too high lightspeed, nuvei and hut 8, even when they later dropped 1-2 mo later even more.)** + +**-also holding on too long (esp newer tech stocks) and not taking profits.**..and hell during these past few months there's been so much volatility with tech/fintek/bitcoin related stock (affirm, docebo, paypal, hut coinbase, etsy, doximity, square,lightspeed,nuvei etc etc) who the hell knew they could rise and fall as fast as they have + +**my lessons learned:** + find a realistic entry point after some research, be patient, buy a bit at a time esp when dips are happening, not all at once because you never know if it'll drop lower (as above stocks have indicated).....sometimes simpler is better like a nice market index fund (VFV) that will save so many headaches; and on this note no wonder Buffet said he'd dump all his wife's savings into a simple,quality index fund. + +this said, however, **I did grab some shares of lightspeed today @ $50** hoping it's a good entry even if it goes lower..you have analysts on both sides either pumping up or beating down this one....you can't find consensus with lightspeed: just today you have morgan stanley downgrading it while RBC is praising it....so imo is a leap of faith to some extent. +It’s best not to use a debit card at all, if you can help it. + +Card readers grab data off a credit or debit card’s magnetic strip without your knowledge, with some pump skimming devices being capable of stealing debit card PINs as well. It’s a good idea to avoid paying with a debit card at the pump. Armed with your PIN and debit card data, thieves can clone the card and pull money out of your account at an ATM. + +That’s one reason, generally, why security and fraud experts recommend paying with a credit card over a debit card: If you use a credit card, you’re not actually spending your money, and you’re protected by your issuer’s zero-liability policy. When your debit card transactions are approved, the money is taken out of your account then and there. If a fraudster took the funds, you then have to wait for their recovery and return, which could take days or weeks. Credit cards can also potentially earn you rewards on gas purchases, depending on which one you use. + +Some newer pumps may include more mobile payment options like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Android Pay, which don’t require the customer to share credit or debit information with the station at all. If you use a mobile payment service that’s enabled at a gas station your frequent, opt for that payment method over your card. In general, newer pumps are going to be more secure for payments than older pumps. + +[https://twocents.lifehacker.com/dont-use-a-debit-card-at-the-gas-pump-1832796443](https://twocents.lifehacker.com/dont-use-a-debit-card-at-the-gas-pump-1832796443) + +Edit: BIG misunderstanding here. Both debit and credit cards in the US have chips which are more secure against skimming. However, many if not most gas pumps around the US have not been updated with the modern chip readers and therefore people who pay with a card at the dated pumps only have the option to slide their card through the reader. This makes both credit and debit cards susceptible to skimming. Credit cards are not immune from skimming. Credit cards are more protective against the effects of fraudulent charges on your account. +I purchased a commercial property in CA for $1M earlier this year (before COVID 19). The previous owner purchased the property many years back from $2.4M. The property tax came back based on $2M. The city has taken the position that the value is greater than the purchase price. I've argued that the property has been vacant for over three years and when the previous owner purchased the property it had a national tenant with a long term contract. I've been following the property for three years and negotiating with the previous owner. I thought I got a new deal, but who knows. Especially now with COVID 19. I've argued with the city that the tax should be based on the purchase price because of Prop 13, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere. Any suggestions? The formal appeal process can take as much as two years and it's hard to rent the property with such high property tax that's not based on FMV. Thanks! +I realize this is unlikely to be a popular post, because both /r/povertyfinance and /r/personalfinance seem to have a bit of an obsession with trades and trucking jobs. Since there have been [several](https://old.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/comments/9qndmr/last_year_i_was_earning_the_minimum_wage_and_now/) of these [threads](https://old.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/comments/9qf37o/i_just_wanted_to_let_you_guys_know_about_an/) posted here lately, all highly upvoted, I think its important people understand the reality. + + +But before doing that I'll just preface this by stating: I'm not saying there is anything wrong with trucking or skilled trade work. It pays OK, and the barrier to entry is low enough that it can be a good option for many people. The issue with this topic is the hysterically large sums of money that people seem to infer is "normal" for these types of jobs. + +The **median annual wage** for *heavy truck drivers* is $20.42/hour or $42k/year, for *electricians* it is $26.01/hour or $54k/year, and for *plumbers* $25.28/hour or $53k/year. Are those all good wages? In most of the country, yes. Will they get you out of poverty? Yes. But remember, those are **medians,** which means you could very likely make less than that. + +Almost no one in the trades or driving trucks is making these large salary numbers that get tossed around here. I have no doubt the people posting are getting paid what they say in most cases - but they are the exception. It seems people are forgetting if you work enough hours in any job, you'll make a lot of money. Truckers making $90k a year aren't normally being paid that much on a per hour basis, they are just working 60 hour weeks most of the year. Work any job that allows that kind of overtime and you'll make good money. And of course there are cases of people in trades making $90k a year with little overtime. They tend to be *in unions* in *very high cost of living areas* (and their wages won't apply to 99% of people in the occupation). + +Finally, most of these jobs are **not** in some sort of "shortage." Trucker jobs, for example, are expected to grow about as fast as all occupations (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Certain regions may have a temporary shortage, but it isn't national and it won't last long enough to drive up wages. Jobs involving trucking and trades are actually very cyclical. During an economic downturn, these jobs get hit worse than other occupations because they rely on commerce or construction activity. +If someone is completely alone then I get it, but that usually isn’t the case. + +I live in California, expensive, I know. + +All of my family and friends are within 100 or so miles from me. + +Even if an opportunity came up out of State, I couldn’t make sense of moving there and being completely alone. I’d meet new people sure, but not the same as lifelong friends/family. + +I’d rather struggle financially and try and improve where I’m at with everyone I know, than have a great job but be away from everyone. + +Money definitely isn’t everything + +End rant! +Curious to see numbers or what expenses you have saved for in your emergency fund. Where do you keep it? Only want to compare mine to others. + +I live in LCOL with 5month Emergancy. +Saving for next years tax season and a larger car. +[https://imgur.com/a/Fsu0vx2](https://imgur.com/a/Fsu0vx2) + +Inspired by [u/WhiskeySauer](https://www.reddit.com/u/WhiskeySauer/)'s annual post [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/khkick/oc_i_tracked_every_dollar_i_spent_for_10_years/) and following up on my post last year, I tracked and charted every dollar my wife and I made and spent since May 2018. I took his spreadsheet and modified it for our needs (source: our budget, tool: Google Sheets). It’s been helpful to us to visualize how our monthly budget and life events affect our financial picture. + +Here are some of the details and major events that help tell the story, starting a bit in 2020: + +* Sept-Dec 2020: Bought our first house, which kicked off easily the most expensive year yet. Yay/oof. Lots of costs with moving and settling in, then AC died almost immediately. Once those expenses settled down, we moved some of our just-in-case cash back into investments where it belongs. +* Jan 2021: COVID government stimmy checks. +* Feb 2021: Planned: new sod in the backyard ($3800). Unplanned: emergency pet visit ($830, lil dude is fine now). +* Apr 2021: Started saving more for retirement because we felt more comfortable with our expenses. +* May 2021: Got pregnant! When house expenses settle down, medical and baby stuff ramps right up. +* July 2021: I got a new job, 25% raise and WFH. +* July 2021: And since we’re both WFH now, we decided to be a one-car family, taking advantage of the crazy used car market to sell one for $10,200, which is 28% more than we expected. +* Nov 2021: Began picking up some freelance work for just a little extra income. +* Nov 2021: House valuation officially crossed $400k mark. More on this later. + +Probably our wildest year financially – spending more than we ever have, by a wide margin. But at the same time, our net worth took off like never before. + +**Expenses:** one major category is the house – a new AC, new sod, an expensive clogged pipe, higher electric costs, etc. And, we knowingly fell into house-related lifestyle creep – Christmas decorations, spending on lawn care I didn’t understand. And somewhere in between, making the house our own with a couple custom walls, installing fans, and painting rooms. But we’re also trying to get handy and do what we can ourselves – I’ve fixed a generator, replaced an ice machine, and did everything I could to try to fix that clogged pipe. + +The other expense is our soon-to-be-born daughter!! Medical expenses just include regular appointments and ultrasounds, and we’re on essentially a payment plan for delivery where we’re spreading that cost over Q4 this year to prevent a huge hit when she’s due in January. That, and all the baby products that are turning us from two adults into parents. We have help and we’re grateful, but it’s a lot. Between the house and the baby, the theme of the year is turning into the suburban Joneses, and while we probably could have cut spending to some extent this year, we’re very happy with how we’ve chosen to spend the year. + +**Net Worth:** sooo with all that spending, how the heck does our net worth chart look so good? Investments have done good but not great. Obviously the 25% raise in July helped, and came with knocking off $3k/yr in commuting costs between gas, tolls, and parking. And we got an extra $10k when we decided to drop to one car, which our NW calc had at $7300, so that was essentially a $2700 NW bump. But the elephant is that we bought our house right before the current housing market took off. Our house jumped 20% in value, from roughly $335k to $402k, in a year. I don’t expect that to keep up, but who knows what’ll happen in real estate next year. + +**Finance Stuff:** Knowing that the house is inflated so much, I started tracking liquidity ratio as a new metric. Happy to see that rising enough to outpace the house inflation. In my net worth calculation, the house is an asset and the mortgage is a debt, but I don’t include that debt in the visualization because it would drag everything miles into the red. For data viz purposes, it’s just rent. I also chose to categorize anything that wasn’t strictly necessary or medical-related as “Recreation”, and probably was over-aggressive in that way but it makes sense for me. + +**What I Expect Next Year:** On the spending side, I’m hoping it averages a bit lower. I know there will be a ton of first-year expenses for the kid, but I also know I won’t have time for house projects/spending! We also won’t be paying for daycare or a nanny. On the net worth side, who the hell knows what the house valuation will do, I’m thinking it’ll level off and maybe drop a bit. Very much hoping our financial progress next year is more due to smart spending and investing, and less due to the market artificially inflating our numbers. + +Very open to constructive feedback about how I considered, tracked, or graphed certain elements shown here, or questions about just about anything! Grateful for another good year. +26/M. I've been investing in ELSS funds since 2018 for tax-saving purposes and started taking investing more seriously towards the end of 2019. I've done a lot of reading in this sub and it has been super helpful. + +Recently got a job with better pay and I'm looking to invest 40K each month this year. And before I do that I'd like some advice on getting my portfolio sorted out for the long term. + +&#x200B; + +|FUND|Amount| +|:-|:-| +|DSP Tax Saver|1.4L| +|Parag Parikh Flexi Cap|62,800| +|Axis Long Term Equity|58,300| +|Axis Bluechip|50,600| +|Axis Midcap|44,900| +|MO S&P 500 Index|43,800| +|MO Nasdaq 100 FOF|41,800| +|UTI Nifty Index|36,500| +|Nippon Tax Saver|19,300| + +&#x200B; + +1. I don't buy units of DSP and Nippon anymore, these were done purely for tax-saving reasons. Both have units that move out of the lock-in period each month. I'm withdrawing units from Nippon each month and moving them to PP FlexiCap. I'm planning to withdraw funds from Axis mutual fund and move them to Axis Bluechip on maturity.With DSP Tax Saver, I'm not sure if I should follow the same strategy. The fund has performed really well so would it make sense to keep the money in it or is withdrawing and moving to an index fund better? + + +2. As you can see I have a major portion of my portfolio in Axis funds. Started out with Axis LTE and once I didn't need ELSS anymore for tax purposes, I started buying the same amount in Axis Bluechip.Both Axis Bluechip and Axis Midcap, while giving me decent returns haven't performed as well as some other funds over the last year. What opinion do you folks have about these two funds for the long term?(I wanted to get into index funds and started investing in UTI Nifty Index but later discovered that there's [significant overlap](https://www.mutualfundskaro.com/mutual-funds-research/mutual-fund-portfolio-overlap?category=All&schemes=Axis%20Bluechip%20Fund%20-%20Regular%20Plan%20-%20Growth,UTI%20-%20NIFTY%20Index%20Fund-%20Regular%20Plan%20-%20Growth%20Option) with Axis Bluechip so right now that's on hold. Should've thought that through before I started 😩) + + +3. I'm investing in PP Flexi Cap, MO Nasdaq, and MO S&P Index because I'd like my portfolio biased towards tech. I'd have preferred an index fund for Nasdaq instead of a FOF but did not find any good options when I started.I'm not really looking to make changes here unless there are any issues I've missed out on so please do let me know if that's the case. + + +4. Should I look at adding a small-cap fund? Would love suggestions if you think I should. Also would love it if you've got suggestions on anything I've missed out on! + + +PS: Sorry for not doing this on discord or on the advice thread, the post seemed a bit too long for those. I hope that's okay 😅 + +EDIT: 40K each month in just equity funds. I've got FDs for emergency funds and I'm fine with EPF, PPF and NPS as the debt portion of my portfolio. +We know what happened to WSB... + +Yes, we want new "real" members, but we also don't want an influx or shills and bots. The sub should be locked ASAP, while real apes are still in the majority. + +We could potentially construct an invite system to allow real people to join but this would put a bigger workload on the mods, so I'd rather see this sub locked for entry. + +Or at the very least raise the Karma/account age requirements so that mew people cannot post and comment at all. And as time goes on keep raising the account age requirement so that bots who joined today dont suddenly gain the ability to post in 2 months. +My company recently IPO'd and I've gone from \~$1mm in net worth from savings and investments to \~$8mm. Of the $7mm in stock options, half of that is fully vested (but not exercised) and the other half is still vesting. The stock is extremely volatile and I'd like to diversify. I'm 37. Married. 1 kid. HCOL. + +I've talked to a CPA and will talk to a CFP. My goal is to use this time efficiently and ask about the right type of questions to ask. Most of my questions are around timing the exercises and sales to decrease tax as well as AMT trap. But beyond that, I'm wondering what is worth asking my CFP? + +&#x200B; +# Looking for the DRS Mega Post? Find it here + +[When You Wish Upon A Star - A Complete Guide to Computershare](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/ptvaka/when_you_wish_upon_a_star_a_complete_guide_to/) + +\------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +# Useful Links Provided By Computershare + +FAQ on [Becoming a registered shareholder in US-listed companies through Computershare](https://www.computershare.com/us/becoming-a-registered-shareholder-in-us-listed-companies) + +For shareholders who need assistance with their account (e.g. logging in, password reset, etc.), please review [FAQ](https://www-us.computershare.com/Investor/#Help/FAQ), [email](https://www-us.computershare.com/Investor/#Contact/Enquiry) or [virtual assistant](https://www-us.computershare.com/Investor/#Help) + +\------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +# Part 2 is Here! + +We’ve collated your questions for part 2, from clarifications in part 1 to additional ones we did not get around to asking and more! A big thanks to Paul and the team over at Computershare for working with us, they’ve been an absolute pleasure to work with. + +Thanks to the community for asking such smart, well thought out questions as well. + +You can find the full video here, on our new (non-monetised) [Youtube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo427AW0anw). + +**Youtube Link:** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo427AW0anw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo427AW0anw) + +**Part 1 post link:** [https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/qmnan7/computershare\_ama\_part\_1\_video\_link\_with/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/qmnan7/computershare_ama_part_1_video_link_with/) + +\------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +# Timestamp Directory + +&#x200B; + +1. [Broker vs Computershare](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=13) +2. [Sell Orders on Computershare](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=165) +3. [Broker Selling & Direct Registered Shares](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=400) +4. [Reporting on Direct Registered Shares](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=570) +5. [**Book Entry vs Direct Stock Purchase Plan**](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=669) +6. [Speed-Up the CS Verification Process](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=848) +7. [Live Registration Counts](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1052) +8. [Platform Reliability](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1133) +9. [**Overstock**](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1225) +10. [**DTC & FAST**](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1406) +11. [**Issuers Encouraging DRS**](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1539) + +\------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +# Transcript + +^(Please note, the transcript may not be 100% accurate as it was typed out by hand. Please refer to the video for full accuracy.) + +**Jsmar18** [00:00](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw) + +So for those who have not seen part one, our guest today is Paul Kahn, president of global capital markets at Computershare. Welcome back, Paul. + +**Paul Conn** [00:08](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=8) + +Yeah. Thanks for having me back, Jack. Really appreciate the opportunity to do the part two. + +**Jsmar18** [00:13](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=13) + +Yeah, we've got tons of follow up questions. So it's much appreciated. So to start off this AMA, I think the main thing that we noticed and want to clarify some details with you on it's taking a step back. And it might be helpful for our audience, if you can clearly define what the difference is between what a broker does versus what Computershare does? + +**Paul Conn** [00:34](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=34) + +Okay. Well, that's a great question. I'm glad we're starting with that. I mean, it's clear from the discussion that's going on in the marketplace that people are comparing and contrasting the different types of transaction and dealing services that Computershare offers, and they are absolutely doing like a tail of the tape comparison to what online brokers offer like stepping right back, it's important to understand what a broker does, and what a transfer agent does. I'm not here to tell you what a broker does. But I can tell you what we do as a registrar and a transfer agent. We are able to offer these services in conjunction with our broker, a third party broker, but what we don't do is we don't offer financial advice. We're not financial advisors. So that's a key distinction, we offer the security. So we offer these services for the securities that we offer our corporate clients registry or transfer agency services for so we provide investors with access to a subset of the market, not all securities in the market, not other types of financial products and crypto and things like that. We don't provide cash accounts. So when people buy securities through us, we expect them to get the money to us, to enable us to do that transaction on their behalf equally when we sell securities on their behalf. We dispatch the funds to them, we don't run cash accounts in the same way that a broker does. That's another very important distinction. And perhaps the final distinction is we don't provide any facilities for leverage or margin or lending. So that's a fundamental difference between what we do in running registers for companies and through that registry process, being able to offer access to dealing services. So that helps your your audience kind of clear up some of the macro. I know we're focusing on the micro, the micro is important. But it's important to kind of set the stage in the macro terms first. + +**Jsmar18** [02:45](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=165) + +Yeah, I certainly agree, especially since majority of what we'll go through is pretty micro, as you said. So moving on to the micro. We've got some clarifications from the last interview, and will tend to just jump around a bit in terms of the questions, so bear with me here. But one of the one of the largest ones that we discussed a lot last AMA was sell orders through CS. But there's still some vagueness around placing multiple orders at high prices, specifically. So I'm going to give this scenario, not what I'm saying it sounds correct, based on what we inferred from the last demo. So is it correct in saying that an order is capped at 1 million, but the maximum limit sell for a share, is at 250,000, which means you'll be able to place one order for four shares at a limit sale price of 250, totaling 1 million. + +**Paul Conn** [03:43](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=223) + +Okay, I'm going to try not to be vague here, but I'm going to answer that in a yes and a no, and break it into its two constituent parts. The first relates to aggregate value, as opposed to limit order prices. As it relates to aggregate value, I mentioned that we had this $1 million threshold, but that people could put multiple orders in through the system, noticing that there is a lot of chatter around what happens when you have very high priced securities, you know, your the math that you just laid out, is correct. But what we're looking to do, and I can't give you a firm date on when this will happen, you know, next week or the following week, or I hope it will be in place before the end of the year, we're looking to significantly increase the aggregate value cap limit, and that would actually increase the number of shares that you could push through the pipe on any one order, while still having the ability to put multiple orders through the system. So that's something I'm hoping we'll be able to bring some relief to very quickly as it relates to this second element, which is around the maximum limit, or the price, that number is above 200,000 and below 250,000. We're still looking at that there are some technical changes that we would need to make and how we interact with our broker, we'd need to obviously have our straight through processing systems change to do with a higher limit order price. We're not yet at a point where we're ready to just start changing our systems. You know, we're well aware of the of the chatter that's going on, there's nothing stopping someone putting an order, a market order through us, you know, at a price that's much, much higher than that. Or indeed, someone could sell through their own third party broker if they wanted to. And these things are all interrelated. So looking to give some relief on the aggregate value cap per order, while still allowing multiple orders. Not yet looking to make any changes to the maximum limit order price. But recognize that market orders above that can go through into the marketplace, and that people can still continue to transact through their broker if they so choose. So hopefully that clarifies where we are. + +**Jsmar18** [06:24](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=384) + +Yeah, that's fantastic. And I think people find it reassuring that you're actually looking into that as well. So it's appreciated. + +**Paul Conn** [06:33](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=393) + +Yeah we are. There's a lot of work going on in the background to understand what these issues what may need to happen. + +**Jsmar18** [06:40](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=400) + +Oh, awesome. So moving on to broker selling, you said in the part one of the AMA that people can directly register, people can be directly registered on your books themselves, through their self ready broker. I personally, I'd love to direct register my ship my shares and various stocks, but hold them in my broker. Could you describe how this process actually works, step by step? + +**Paul Conn** [07:03](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=424) + +Yeah, I will inject I haven't been back through the transcript. And firstly, thank you for doing the transcript because I know that's very helpful to your audience. But I haven't been back in <to> check the transcripts specifically. But what I want to kind of convey, you can hold stock in your name, in DRS form, and deal through Computershare to sell or you can have your shares transferred to your broker. So you can affect the sale through your broker, you can't hold your shares at your broker and at Computershare at the same time, so they can only be in one place at any one time. So I just want to clear that point up. As for the question, I think you're asking, which is, can you hold your securities in DRS form at Computershare and execute an order on a brokerage platform? I think that's kind of where you're where's the of the logic is going and the answer to that is there's no reason why that can't happen. The issue really gets down to who the broker is how their brokerage platform works, and what the relationship is between the broker and the client. If we focus on some of the online platforms, where they require you to have stock in your account or cash in your account before an order can go on, it's highly likely the broker will say, you can't sell through the broker until the shares at DRS back from Computershare to the broker, which can be a particularly for US brokers, that can be a pretty efficient process. But ultimately, it is something which, you know, each person needs to talk to their own broker about to see what they would be prepared to do, whether they put the order on execute, and then bring the shares into the brokerage for settlement or whether they would require the transfer to come into the platform pre-execution of the order is kind of two different ways. + +**Jsmar18** [09:09](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=549) + +Alright, good. Now that I think that's good clarification. I think maybe we got the wrong inference based on... + +**Paul Conn** [09:15](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=555) + +Look, if I contributed to that. My apologies. No... + +**Jsmar18** [09:19](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=559) + +No, no, not at all. I think it's it's very complex lingo… + +**Paul Conn** [09:23](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=563) + +It's complicated. I've been doing this for four decades. I'm still learning things every month. + +**Jsmar18** [09:30](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=570) + +I'm certain. So we also touched on direct share registering reporting as well. I think it's, everyone's asking this question. It's human nature to want certainty when there's a great deal of uncertainty. And you said that CS is unable to share the total number of direct registered shares of a stock and that falls mainly on the issue of a particular stock instead. So people are wondering if Computershare are able to share any metrics at all when it comes to stocks that you are the transfer agent for, such as total number of accounts, average shares per account, etc? Or is that just totally locked away and responsible for the issuer a response? + +**Paul Conn** [10:12](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=612) + +So again, this is a good question, we have that data. It's all available on our systems, what we can do with that data is subject to a contract with a corporate client. So we're not at liberty to regularly distribute, or even distribute that information into the marketplace, we understand exactly why individuals are trying to understand how many investors go through the DRS process, and also the aggregate percentage of issued capital that they control. So we were talking to one or two of our clients about what this means. And I think there's a reasonable case for this information to be made available periodically. It's not something that we can do on our own, but I’d like to think that that may happen in the not too distant future. + +**Jsmar18** [11:09](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=669) + +Yeah, that's fair enough. I think, obviously, people want to understand what portion of retail investors have the company, so very natural. So when it comes to, I think clarifications for book entry versus direct stock purchase program, so we touched on it before, but we want to dive a bit deeper into it as well. And one of the main questions asked as a follow-up is the difference between book entry only shares and those purchase through the direct stock purchase program. Now, is there any difference in how these are directly registered? AKA, when it comes to ownership, direct registered in owner's name, but direct stock purchase is part of a pool. Does this mean that they are not in the owner's name in a way? + +**Paul Conn** [11:52](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=712) + +Yeah, it's a good question. And we're going to go into another layer of detail here. So we've been very clear, when shares are registered in DRS, they're registered directly on the register of the company in the individuals own names. It's very, very straightforward. When people are buying shares through the plan, we record their names on a subclass within the register, so the names are visible to the issuer. So just like the regular common shares, they're visible. In a technical sense, we are holding a portion of those shares in a Computershare nominee, purely so that we can affect efficient settlement within the market through DTC. However, so that's kind of a general point, however, as I think I said last time, there's nothing stopping any investor at any point, removing shares from the plan holding to the DRS holding, it can be done electronically. It's free. There's nothing untoward here in what we're doing. It's really just about how we can organize the security so that we can offer this direct stock purchase plan facility efficiently. + +**Jsmar18** [13:16](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=796) + +Okay, that's good to know. And are there any differences in how a hypothetical special dividends, <such as> an NFT dividend would be issued? With either of these plans? + +**Paul Conn** [13:27](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=807) + +No, that's a good question. I really can't get into the hypotheticals. I can't because until such time as one of our clients says, we're going to have a special dividend, and this is how it's going to be structured. We won't have the opportunity to say, “well, how does it relate to this part of the facility or that part of the facility,” but I would envision that if a company did that they'd want all of their shareholders on the register, be they in Drs, or the share plan to participate. But at the end of the day, that's going to be their decision. We would work with them early on to make sure they could give effect to that efficiently. + +**Jsmar18** [14:09](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=848) + +Yeah, yeah. Okay, that's good. And last, but not least, is verification process tips that people are seeking. So as it takes a few weeks, if not for mail to route to international locations, when it comes to verification processing for those international customers, are there any tips you can offer us when it comes to expediting that process at all? + +**Paul Conn** [14:31](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=871) + +So we know, some people are asking for expedited courrier to get that to them. I mean, we were very, very conscious of this issue. And since we last spoke, I've been working with Joe and Yin and the team at Computershare to see if we can actually solve this particular problem. We are looking at the two and multi-factor authentication that’s not something that we can implement for investor center registration quickly at this stage. But getting right to the point, we are looking fairly soon as it relates to Europe to print and distribute the DRS statements and the pin packs from a UK facility so that we can, you know, truncate the need to cross the Atlantic. Clearly, if there's, you know, dispatch within the UK, that would be very efficient, or much more efficient, and hopefully crossing the Channel won't be too difficult, either easier than being mailed directly from the US into Europe. So I'm hoping that we can cut down some of the time through that particular process, the longer-term solution is to bring around a two or multi-factor authentication process. + +**Jsmar18** [15:52](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=952) + +Awesome. That's absolutely fantastic. Fantastic to hear that your making progress, I'm not sure people will be very happy to start receiving the letter a shorter amount of time. + +**Paul Conn** [16:02](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=962) + +Yeah, we might… we are making some progress in two-factor authentication, once the investor is registered into investor centers. So you'll see we recently I think it was just last week or the week before introduced some two-factor authentication processes for people that already authenticated into Investor Center that's available now in Australia. For those people that are looking at our services in the US, we've recently introduced some very quick access solutions called Quick Access Hub. So people can Google this Computershare Quick Access Hub. You can register for SMS text notifications, and you can register for some very commonly used services. And within some of those services, we're using two-factor authentication. So you know, we're not quite as backwards as some people might have… you believe we are. But I know on the I know, on the dispatch of the pin, it's still causing a lot of noise, a lot of pain, and we're doing what we can to get closer to the investors so we can mail from them starting from Europe, and then maybe we'll be able to replicate that in Canada and Australia and New Zealand. But that's a bit further down the track. + +**Jsmar18** [17:24](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1044) + +It's good to hear regardless, I thank you. I'm sure everyone will be very thankful as well. + +**Paul Conn** [17:29](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1049) + +I hope so we are trying. + +**Jsmar18** [17:32](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1052) + +So we're moving on to the functionality-related questions. Now, we will get to get into these in part one. But now we can get into them in part two. So people are interested in what capabilities Computershare provides for companies that choose you as that transfer agent. So the companies commonly opt-in for the feature that provides the option for live counts or registered shares. + +**Paul Conn** [17:57](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1077) + +So I think I touched on this last time, the corporate clients we have, have real time access to the register. So as we update the register, they are able to see the changes. I think that's a helpful point to note. However, I think I would separate that out from the company's ability to see what's going on inside the DTC where they don't have access to what's happening at a book entry level, either between brokers and banks, or between each of those broker or banks and their clients, there's no real time, visibility of those movements at all so. But as it relates to what comes onto our register, they can look into their registered through our web facilities at any time and see a live count at that snapshot in time. + +**Jsmar18** [18:53](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1133) + +Yeah, you're right. I think I definitely did answer that question. I mean, asked that question last time. So apologies. The next one, which I don't think I asked is platform reliability, which is kind of a concern as users of Reddit we’re used to a really unstable platform and not being able to log in regularly. So naturally, this concern flows across the broker platforms that we use or transfer agent platforms that we use, as well. So people are interested, what your team has done, essentially to ensure platform reliability? + +**Paul Conn** [19:27](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1167) + +Okay, so that's a good question. And I can assure you didn't ask this question last time, but I'm happy to answer it. We are regularly testing our platforms for volume processing, reliability, etc, etc. I mean, we're a regulated business. So we need to ensure that we can process the business that comes through the pipes efficiently. I think many of you will know that, today, in the US, Computershare already processes business from millions of investors, some who still hold pieces of paper called share certificates and many millions whose shares are registered in DRS form. So you never say volume is never an issue. However, I can assure you we're regularly testing our facilities. And as things currently stand, I don't see any cause for concern whatsoever. + +**Jsmar18** [20:26](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1225) + +Okay, that's great and reassuring to hear, so thanks. And we can move on to some more of the fun stuff now, which I'm sure people will be interested in which is touching on Overstock. So I believe you're allowed to talk about Overstock, as it's in the public domain. Is that right? + +**Paul Conn** [20:40](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1239) + +To the extent that it's in the public domain? No problem. I mean, beyond what's in the public domain is, is a client-agent issue. So... ask the questions, and I'll answer as much as I can. + +**Jsmar18** [20:54](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1254) + +Yeah, okay. No worries at all. I mean, he's kind of vague as well, this question. So feel free to say if you can't answer or go into specific details. It's no worry. So it'd be great to get a general understanding of how that process transpired when it came to the Overstock dividend. And essentially, what was the end result for the shareholders who directly registered Overstock and held with their brokers? + +**Paul Conn** [21:18](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1277) + +Okay, that's a good question. And look, I can talk about that, in general terms. Overstock distributed a stock dividend, and that was subjected to a regulatory filing. So I'm sure Overstock wouldn't mind if we updated our FAQ to include a link to the filing so that people who were interested in getting into the detail can go off and take a look at the fine detail, but it was a stock dividend distribution. We were asked to create the entitlements on Overstock’s subsidiary T zeros blockchain. So we calculated the entitlement to the dividend. We distributed the dividend and we updated wallets on that particular blockchain. It was also distributed to Cede and Co and the DTC nominee holds securities on the ledger. And DTC obviously took the entitlements that it had, and passed them through into the hands of banks and brokers. But that's, you know, one step beyond what we're able to distribute, we can distribute to the direct registered shareholders, whether they're in DRS form or certificated form. And they all went on to the ledger directly. And shares that were held by banks and brokers were distributed through the DTC system. + +**Jsmar18** [22:59](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1379) + +When it comes that wallet, are you saying that you had to pre create the wallet and send the distribution there? + +**Paul Conn** [23:08](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1388) + +Can I answer that through the FAQ? Because I'm a little rusty, I believe we did. But we'll let’s... let us come back to include that in the FAQ about who actually populated the wallet. I believe we did. And I just want to be absolutely certain before answering that definitively. + +**Jsmar18** [23:26](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1406) + +Yeah, I'll put in the transcripts for people to reference when they get to this point as well. Yeah, perfect. Okay. All right. But that's really interesting. Thanks for that I didn't really have a great understanding of the Overstock process in terms of how it works. So thanks for going through it. The next section that we want to move on to is the DTC and Fast. We didn't really touch on it too much before especially the Fast component of how that transfer system works. And people have been really curious about why shareholders are not more encouraged to direct register their shares in the name. So I want to understand what your take on this is, as it's essentially a direct competitor of the DTC in a way. + +**Paul Conn** [24:09](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1449) + +Okay, so there's probably three parts to that question, and we're going to need to remind me as we work through that, but dealing with the Fast agent issue first versus DRS. Generally, the Fast agent arrangement relates to the administration of the Cede and Co. holding for DTC. Yes, as securities come out of DTC and we debit their account and credit your account, Jack in DRS form. We're performing some of that processing on behalf of DTC for its account under the Fast agent rules. The DRS rules that relate to you coming on to the register are quite separate. From that, and I know, you know, there's been some discussion that conflates those particular issues, but they really are quite distinct and separate. And the Fast rules are what enable us to run the Cede and Co. account for DTC without having to have a physical certificate go backwards and forwards between us or for them to hold their securities in DRS. So they have a kind of special-purpose uncertificated account and it's under those Fast agent rules. That's the first part of it. Okay, can you give me the second part again, please, because this whole... + +**Jsmar18** [25:39](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1539) + +So people are interested on your take in regards to why people aren't more encouraged... + +**Paul Conn** [25:46](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1546) + +Okay. So, again, I think this issue is it may also be being conflated. And it's probably because, you know, this is not a common everyday occurrence. But I think there is, there's a delineation between issuers are not able to withdraw all of their securities from DTC. That's a DTC rule. You know, I can't speak to that rule one way or the other, but it is there, and issuers don't have the ability to just pull their shareholders’ securities out of the system. So that I think is governed by a rule. The piece that I'm not sure is whether that extends to issuers being able to just tell their shareholders, what options they have available to them, one being their right to exercise choice to have their shares registered in DRS form. I think I don't think there's any legal impediment to that, I'm not a lawyer. I'm happy to keep having a look at that and talking to our team about that. But I think there's a subtle difference between those two examples that I just gave, but I think the discussion in the marketplace and in the forum is conflating those points. I don't think there's an issue with a company telling their clients that they have a choice as to how they can hold their securities, e.g. in the street through a bank or broker, or in DRS form. They just can't, on a wholesale basis, say we're going to take all of our shareholders’ securities out of the street system, which is obviously a fundamentally different thing. + +**Jsmar18** [27:29](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1648) + +Yeah. Okay. I think that's an interesting perspective, because I think we've definitely been under the assumption that DRS isn't widely known about because the issuing companies aren't allowed to tell retail Hey, DRS your shares, these are the benefits associated with doing the direct registration. + +**Paul Conn** [27:49](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1670) + +I mean, this might go to the third part of your question, which was really, I think, really more about competitive LRS. I think just, I mean, going back to the people know about it, I think, you know, banks and brokers have an interest in performing efficient clearing and settlement of trades that are executed on the marketplace. The way in which they can do that most effectively is by having their clients holding their securities through the DTC system. So I think, you know, banks and brokers would have a preference to clients holding in that particular way. I think many brokers would be very happy to register their clients in DRS form, if that's what the client asked for. But I think over time, it's almost this DRS system has been around for the best part of 20 years, if not 20 years, but it's clear that recent events are focusing the spotlight on it. And it's almost as if it's just been discovered, but that's probably, you know, a number of brokers, particularly those that deal in an online environment don't really want to interact with external registers. So they just, the brokers want the securities to come into the street system. + +**Jsmar18** [29:10](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1751) + +Okay, well, that wraps up all the questions we have. It’s much appreciated. I think your time, your team’s time, Computershare’s time for reviewing our questions. And you know, just giving us quality information is really greatly appreciated. + +**Paul Conn** [29:25](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1765) + +You're welcome, Jack. And thanks very much for the opportunity to come back and complete part two, there was a lot to get in a single session. I'm glad we've been able to chop it up into two sessions, and we'll continue to monitor the discussion and I'm sure people will make their feelings known as we know. We understand that. We're catching up slowly. + +**Jsmar18** [29:47](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1788) + +We'll be back for part three next year as the questions start rolling in. + +**Paul Conn** [29:52](https://youtu.be/bo427AW0anw?t=1792) + +I look forward to that. Great, thanks. Okay. Thank you. +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +*** + +Thread guidelines: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/) apply here so please be familiar with them. + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +My company has always offered 25 days of annual leave and subsidised gym memberships (tech industry), but I'm keen to hear what companies are offering post lockdowns where it's becoming harder to find candidates. + + +What does your company offer and what industry do you work in? +Over the last few decades working +in the industry I’ve seen some atrocious unethical behaviour. + +I’m hearing through the grape vine that consideration is being made by the government to clean up the industry to reduce unethical practices and create a sustainable housing market. + +Post your stories and tell me your thoughts. +I currently have SIPs in the following funds- + +Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund-Mid and large cap + +Quant Small Cap Fund-Small Cap + +Axis Small Cap Fund-Small Cap + +Mirae Asset Tax Saver Fund-ELSS + +As you can see, I do not have exposure to foreign companies. I do not have any financial commitments and I want to invest for long term. What is your recommendation for a mutual fund with exposure to foreign equities? I have read on this sub about Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund(this sub loves this mutual fund). The AUM of this fund is high and also they had stopped lump sum investments sometime back. My question is- is this fund still a good option to invest in foreign companies or is there any other option? +Hi.. me again. + +TLDR(s), because I got asked.My GME price in TWS is currently sitting at 1.3Million per share. +This is now the 2nd time this has happened, and it's still happening! +See below for more info. + +\------------------------------------------- + +Funny day today.. + +You’ll remember this post [https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/uxsftq/uhm\_youll\_wanne\_look\_at\_this\_prices\_go\_up\_spy\_gme/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/uxsftq/uhm_youll_wanne_look_at_this_prices_go_up_spy_gme/) ? +Back in May, a day I’ll never forget. +Discord blew up, reddit, twitter too I think. + +It happened again today, still going on in AH. + +Earlier today I made a chart and I saw popcorn blowing up. + +Checked my console, and yeah.. It wasn’t normal. + +https://preview.redd.it/z3isn6z6ygq91.png?width=1892&format=png&auto=webp&s=5a7b260a2f7189c19ee78e4eedc99e18b20108c7 + +https://preview.redd.it/04hv0fa7ygq91.png?width=946&format=png&auto=webp&s=9f310b657955735b63e5563748468d78f8ae3ff0 + +Then Towels followed + +https://preview.redd.it/gm5qpmj9ygq91.png?width=981&format=png&auto=webp&s=b988589cce16052b900cf1a13d97b756a7e1e27b + +Then SPY + +https://preview.redd.it/8am1nmsfygq91.png?width=948&format=png&auto=webp&s=dba0846c2dc78c362db253027187180cb5981646 + +https://preview.redd.it/buwk61dgygq91.png?width=646&format=png&auto=webp&s=9fdf9177afdd823232395e716a66f7cedbff192e + +&#x200B; + +GME finally too. Going for 1.3M currently. + +https://preview.redd.it/oc36mkeiygq91.png?width=947&format=png&auto=webp&s=a8bbb5622499eca2c3c1e360d855d0ca9f218f7f + +https://preview.redd.it/ufx5jdxiygq91.png?width=325&format=png&auto=webp&s=56d893d6b8b18d99608189489f32feaabb56bb59 + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/yd9ljv1lygq91.png?width=638&format=png&auto=webp&s=2213dcfd82aa0912631e7ce0f508a5e6189371a6 + +It’s crazy, but like before, I’m the only one seeing this. Interesting hm. + +And yes, before you ask, I did set up a control ticker, something random, and that doesn’t show any signs of weirdness. Just normal prices. + +https://preview.redd.it/72p7ocnnygq91.png?width=953&format=png&auto=webp&s=322b90fa233a230720345c700e95f5d6b63ca416 + +Also, it worked fine since 04:00 this morning. It just decided to go weird earlier today. + +And just like last time, there were halts, and dates with 1/1/1969. + +https://preview.redd.it/26o84hqqygq91.png?width=650&format=png&auto=webp&s=c3cc00cb277e3e0846dd06e5218151b77fc04f14 + +Here's some charts I made.. + +https://preview.redd.it/7whumwbvygq91.png?width=795&format=png&auto=webp&s=0f235030b86c0a614179fb74b7b74596dedbae4e + +https://preview.redd.it/38vz8ylvygq91.png?width=765&format=png&auto=webp&s=5508fd827b56d1f5bf16a4d1f3ca08828b8c42ae + +https://preview.redd.it/vihi2puvygq91.png?width=668&format=png&auto=webp&s=1dae4a643977f5e4265054eca93f694fde699e6e + +https://preview.redd.it/sx3oce7wygq91.png?width=539&format=png&auto=webp&s=5918d1d54f267bcfd1db5d70594d88446a912c56 + +&#x200B; + +I know I know.. + +I've no idea why this happens to me yet, but yeah.. used to it lmao +It's entertaining at least. + +Just eh.. Enjoy the pictures? + +Discuss? + +Would love to hear some logical explanations on how this could happen. +**Especially from some back-end dev or computerscience perspective!** + +Had many discussion, so far all inconclusive. Looking for answers on how this could end up like this on my end, when it comes from another source. IBKR > TWS . + +&#x200B; + +&#x200B; + +&#x200B; + +Peace. +Apple's earning is up 18% from a year ago, but the stock price is up 100% from a year ago. Can someone shed some insights why that is (possibly)? It would seem fine if it's just 35% up, but 100%, that's like ... crazy. Consider that it's a blue-chip company and all. +So idk what I was listening to but it said “use DuckDuckGo” if you’re having problems with google search so I did it and guess what there are a bunch of articles from independent journalists talking about gme and how Reddit users are still holding. Turns out from what I can tell google is being shady as shit and filtering out results. This is just my personal opinion check it out for yourselves of course. + +Edit: I searched gme short squeeze I was just surprised that anything positive showed up because when I check google for the last few weeks it’s all negative basically calling us bag holders and which new three stocks will make me rich I just want an unbiased search I can figure out which articles to read and what’s trash on my own right? + +Edit 2: I am not saying google is specifically against GME I am saying if you want ALL the articles about GME and not just the crap being pushed by MSM and paid for by HF then use a different search engine +Wife and I ages 70s moved to Florida and would like to buy a boat. We have 3 million in stocks and bonds (about 50/50) and own our condo outright. Cash is about 300k. Delimema is whether we sell some investments and buy a 400K boat or just buy something in the 200-250k range. We kinda feel "go big or go home" in our situation as our kids are set and we really would like the larger boat. We could sell some equities and not hurt our income as our Amazon, Apple and a few others don't pay dividends. We hope to enjoy our senior years but not risk putting ourselves in jeopardy. My feeling is, it is an investment, maybe not the best but we can always sell it and recoup some of money. We are recently retired and looking for some adventure in our remainder of this time on earth :), just trying to convince the other half. + +Comments well appreciated.. +ELON can’t shut the fuck up, so neither will ELONPEG! But rather than just make another Elon coin based on something he tweeted or an appearance on SNL, they pegged Elon. + +WTF is Pegging? In everyday life, pegging is something mom did to dad on special occasions. In crypto, pegging a token is when you tie the value of one token somehow to events outside the blockchain. USDT is pegged to the US Dollar, WETH on BSC is pegged to ETH on Ethereum, and ELONPEG pegged Elon. This means every time Elon tweets, a secure system of APIs and smart contracts AUTO-BURN supply, resulting in reflections for holders and mass amounts to burn. + +Since the coin launched on June 3rd he’s tweeted ~185 times, burning about 28% of total supply (well over $1m) with plenty more to go. See what we mean here: https://imgur.com/a/cKxm4DE + +MASSIVE marketing every minute since launch between poocoin and 4chan ads, influencers, multiple voice and text AMAs and podcasts with the devs, locked liquidity, listed on CoinGecko and CMC, about 20 hours a day of admin interaction, and limitless potential with amazing tokenomics and automations! + +Check out the site: elonpeg.com + +🔥 Tokenomics 🔥 + +* 9% tax on every transaction: 3% to holders, 3% to liquidity, 3% to marketing, events, adding to the vault, and carbon offsetting +* ALL project contracts and wallets secured by hardware wallets, this new "dev got hacked" trend is unacceptable. +* 1 Trillion total supply, 500Bn has been sent to the Vault for burning and recirculation by Elon +* Both the ELONPEG token and Vault have been audited BEFORE launch +* US LLC backed, 2 devs based in US and 1 in the UK +* Further automations blast the message on our TG and Twitter! Every Elon tweet creates MAJOR HYPE as we watch the reflections roll in and the burn happen automatically. + +🪐 WEN MARKETING? 🪐 + +We’ve got ads on PooCoin, 4chan, multiple videos and posts up on Twitter, TikTok, and Insta, and a rotation of influencers worldwide ready to go. CoinGecko just dropped. This project is still VERY young and primed for liftoff! + +On top of this, the devs are SUPER responsive and our TG chat is lively. Come on in, ask questions, share memes, get involved. We have our ShillX group earning ELONPEG every day with outreach and awareness campaigns. + +I haven’t been this hyped up in a long time, the economic model is new and unique, the integrations are automated and secure, this is a TRULY unique and innovative token that is going to blast off. + +📈 Key Information: 📈 + +Website: elonpeg.com + +Telegram: t.me/elonpeg + +Twitter: twitter.com/elonpeg + +Contract: 0xc18994df2dfd0c2767bb1758bae83e95762bbea3 + +Chart: poocoin.app/tokens/0xc18994df2dfd0c2767bb1758bae83e95762bbea3 + +Panacake Swap: exchange.pancakeswap.finance/#/swap?outputCurrency=0xC18994df2Dfd0C2767bB1758bAe83e95762bBea3 + +BSCScan Explorer: bscscan.com/token/0xc18994df2dfd0c2767bb1758bae83e95762bbea3 + +This is not financial advice. This token was created by founders located in the US and UK, who have partnered up to create a US-based LLC. They’re committed to project success and security, but as the crypto market is volatile you should always do your own research! +Just did a cashout on a duplex house hack we live on one side and airbnb the other. Due to lower interest rates pulling out 50k only raises my payment by 200 bucks a month. The airbnb covers the mortgage, utilities and about 900$ in cashflow. I want to get more units and am open to single family, Small multi family, and large multi family. What would you do with the 50k? +So finally, we get a mail from Franklin Templeton on Payment money, Basically below % of your Holding should be returned in this week. thru direct debit / cheques as applicable. + +1. Franklin Templeton - Ultra short term - 49.53% +2. Franklin Templeton - Low duration fund - 62.49% + +(will add for other 3 schemes, once I see them, only 5/6 schemes are paying). + +[https://www.franklintempletonindia.com/investor/market-insights/winding-up-of-specific-schemes](https://www.franklintempletonindia.com/investor/market-insights/winding-up-of-specific-schemes) + +But what is next on this ? + +1. What about the rest of Money and proceeds, I am against fire sale. +2. I would still want to see strict closure based on lapses identified in SEBI report itself. (that report itself is not public yet.) +3. Franklin Templeton TBH, is still being reluctant as an AMC to apologize that they did the mistake. My firm belief that no other riskier debt fund from that time went bananas, so why only Franklin AMC only. They should be barred from India (for few years atleast). All this probably once report is out. +4. Further \~5000 crores were the borrowed money, so the situation was really bad for these MF and it's laughable that the Fund owner was righteous and by the book. + +Congratulations / (celebrations) in order for people who really had lots of amount blocked in these almost-liquid advertised funds. +Hello guys, + +I need some serious advice. I am 27 years old engineer from Germany, but currently working and living in Switzerland. My current job wage is the average of what a young engineer earns in Switzerland. My current wealth is about 83 000 CHF. a large portion of my wealth 65 % is invested into factor ETF (world, small-value, EM...), 20 % of my wealth is invested in Bitcoins and ETH. Another 15 % is in cash. + +Two friends (university times, I know them a very long time) of mine are building a start-up in Istanbul. Hence my origins are from turkey, I can fluently speak and write Turkish. One of my friends is an active overachiever and had built several small businesses, now is aiming for higher amounts. The other one is an analytical freak. The current case is, that we are looking for some investors (need about 2-3 Mio. €) for our business idea about recycling EV Lithium-Ion batteries. For the case, that we are getting the investment, would you cancel your current job well-paying job and leave everything behind for this opportunity? I mean I would get a salary in Istanbul too, which is far above the living standards. In relation to €, the amount of money I get is relatively low due to currency risk (1 EUR - 15 TL). + +My girlfriend is living in the same town as me in Switzerland. So I need to find a good balance between visiting her in Switzerland/Germany and working my ass off in Istanbul. Another option I have is to find a better-paying job in a bigger company in Switzerland and get paid far more than before. In that case, I would aim for Financial independence due to investing a large portion of money each month (2000 CHF). + +Sometimes the opinion or advice of others, who does not know and judge you is far better than people near to you. +I’m by no means a tin foil hat type but the events of the last few years and ongoing inflation, supply chain issues etc. have had me thinking about being much more prepared. + +To some prepping is some extra canned food in the basement, while some ultra-Fat have off-grid bunkers in New Zealand. + +So far I have installed a power generator that can run my whole house, have about 2 weeks of canned food and supplies and holding a reasonable amount of physical gold bullion. I know this is super basic so looking for a bit advice for ways I can improve it. + +Most hardcore prepping feels a bit too kooky, time intensive and very much DIY. + +What’s a good way to be more prepared without turning this into an identity or lifestyle? Any “prepping in a box” that that would give me most of what I need with minimal time and effort? +As a conservative growth dividend growth investor, I wanted to do a short study on what buying and holding 25 well known blue chips would have done for an investor over the course of approximately 24 years. We’re making the following assumptions. + +* The Investor is not an expert, but has a basic understanding of how to evaluate a stock. +* They invested $1000 into each of the 25 companies in their portfolio. +* They refused to sell any of their holdings. Even when the tech bubble burst and during the housing crisis. +* We will stick to American blue chips that have been around for at least 15-20 years and pay a dividend. This excludes tech stocks from our portfolio. (You can try replacing one of the companies with IBM if you’d like.) +* Emphasis will be on companies that the investor has experience dealing with in their day to day lives. So the portfolio will be skewed towards consumer staples and retail a bit. +* All dividends have been reinvested as soon as they were paid out. +* Any special dividends and spinoffs were sold and the cash proceeds were reinvested into the parent company. +* We’ll include 3 famous former blue chips that have gone bankrupt. Any spinoffs and dividends were reinvested into the company that went bankrupt. Feel free to include a company of your choice (Sears, Toys R Us, Eastman Kodak etc). +* For simplicity’s sake, I haven’t included companies that got acquired or taken private. + +I’ll be using this calculator [https://www.dividendchannel.com/drip-returns-calculator/](https://www.dividendchannel.com/drip-returns-calculator/) with a starting date of Aug 1 1995 (as far back as the calculator goes) to the present day. Please feel free to point out any inaccuracies. + +&#x200B; + +&#x200B; + +|**Company**|**CAGR %**|**Present Value $**| +|:-|:-|:-| +|3M|10.67|11,297| +|AT&T|2.92|1,900| +|Bankrupt Company 1|N/A|0| +|Bankrupt Company 2|N/A|0| +|Bankrupt Company 3|N/A|0| +|Brown Forman|16.03|35,010| +|Church and Dwight|18.63|59,479| +|Coca Cola|7.37|5,477| +|Colgate|11.49|13,478| +|Kroger|8.31|6,746| +|Exxon Mobil|9.18|8,169| +|General Electric|3.15|2,099| +|General Mills|9.26|8,313| +|Hershey|12.31|16,060| +|Home Depot|15.47|31,185| +|Hormel|13.51|20,708| +|Johnson and Johnson|11.71|14,129| +|McCormick|13.87|22,337| +|McDonalds|12.75|17,634| +|Pepsi|10.37|10,587| +|Pfizer|10.27|10,360| +|Philip Morris|15.22|29,610| +|Procter & Gamble|10.83|11,600| +|Walmart|11.14|12,500| +|Wells Fargo|11.14|12,500| + +&#x200B; + +SPY has a CAGR of **8.97%** (with dividend reinvestment) over the last 24 years. A $25,000 in SPY on 08/01/1995 would be worth **$196,475** today. + +Our portfolio of 25 stocks has a CAGR of **11.77%** and a present value of **$361,178**. + +Picking our 6 biggest winners and assuming the other 19 go bankrupt would be in line with market performance with a present value of **$198,329**. + +&#x200B; + +Some thoughts for those who would like to build a similar portfolio + +Look for companies that + +* Have a business model that you understand properly. +* Consistently generate excess returns on invested capital compared to the market as a whole. +* Companies that maintain a clean balance sheet. Metrics to look at would be NetDebt/EBITDA, Debt/Equity and Interest Coverage ratio. +* Many boring consumer staples have historically outperformed the market because they grow earnings reliably and tend not to be overpriced in general. + +Buy said companies when + +* They are trading at a discount compared to historic levels. Metrics to look at would be EV/EBITDA, dividend yield, FCF yield. +* However, avoid buying companies that have heavily compromised their balance sheet. If the free cash flow barely covers the dividend, stay away. If the interest coverage ratio is in the low single digits, stay away. +* Avoid buying overpriced stocks. Even the best companies will offer subpar returns when you overpay. KO has slightly underperformed the market because it was trading at a PE in the 50s during its peak in the late 90s. + +You can get all this information from Morningstar or Value Line that most public libraries provide free access to. Or you can calculate it from the sec filings [https://www.sec.gov/](https://www.sec.gov/). + +Keeping this in mind will keep you from panic selling when the market sees a downturn. In fact, it’ll even help you buy excellent companies at a nice discount. **This isn't a guarantee to outperform the market, but it's a fairly straightforward approach that increases your odds of doing so**. + +&#x200B; + +EDIT: To people who feel like it's easy to pick a winning portfolio in hindsight are missing the point. I'm trying to show you can build a winning portfolio from large cap blue chips without taking on unnecessary risks. The worst a company can do is go to zero. At best, the sky is the limit. You can try replacing the big winners (MO, BF.A, CHD) with a few more bankruptcies or try other names such as TGT, CPB, CLX etc and see how the portfolio performs. You probably won't be able to repeat Lynch or Buffet's performances, but a couple of hundred basis points is realistic in the long run. + +For people asking why I chose the stocks I did, a professor from Wharton picked the top companies from the late 50s to see what types of companies provided the best returns. Over the past 50 years, consumer staples were some of the best performers because + +1. They are generally not very capital intensive. +2. Their earnings are the least cyclical +3. Consumer staples generally trade at a lower valuations because they have lower earnings growth. This often translates to lower price to earnings growth ratios. MO and PM are two such stocks that fit that criteria today. GIS below $45 a share would also fall into that category. + +[https://www.amazon.com/Future-Investors-Tried-True-Triumph/dp/140008198X](https://www.amazon.com/Future-Investors-Tried-True-Triumph/dp/140008198X) + +&#x200B; + +u/MasterCookSwag posted a comment listing the dow components in 1997 (which includes a bunch of the stocks I've listed). I believe just using the dow components from '97 would've been a better portfolio for this case study. + +&#x200B; + +Also, some additional links you might find useful + +Joshua Kennon has some awesome articles on investing [https://www.joshuakennon.com/category/investing-articles/](https://www.joshuakennon.com/category/investing-articles/) + +Eddie Elfenbein's blog [http://www.crossingwallstreet.com/buylist](http://www.crossingwallstreet.com/buylist) + +[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFhfVUjk1dE&t=1628s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFhfVUjk1dE&t=1628s) + +u/Fearspect posted a comment that provides other examples of long term buy and hold portfolios. + +[https://www.reddit.com/r/investing/comments/c5vo2c/a\_buy\_and\_hold\_approach\_for\_24\_years/es71c13?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x](https://www.reddit.com/r/investing/comments/c5vo2c/a_buy_and_hold_approach_for_24_years/es71c13?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x) + +Thanks for the gold! + +&#x200B; + +**TLDR**: Stick with VTSAX. +As a conservative growth dividend growth investor, I wanted to do a short study on what buying and holding 25 well known blue chips would have done for an investor over the course of approximately 24 years. We’re making the following assumptions. + +* The Investor is not an expert, but has a basic understanding of how to evaluate a stock. +* They invested $1000 into each of the 25 companies in their portfolio. +* They refused to sell any of their holdings. Even when the tech bubble burst and during the housing crisis. +* We will stick to American blue chips that have been around for at least 15-20 years and pay a dividend. This excludes tech stocks from our portfolio. (You can try replacing one of the companies with IBM if you’d like.) +* Emphasis will be on companies that the investor has experience dealing with in their day to day lives. So the portfolio will be skewed towards consumer staples and retail a bit. +* All dividends have been reinvested as soon as they were paid out. +* Any special dividends and spinoffs were sold and the cash proceeds were reinvested into the parent company. +* We’ll include 3 famous former blue chips that have gone bankrupt. Any spinoffs and dividends were reinvested into the company that went bankrupt. Feel free to include a company of your choice (Sears, Toys R Us, Eastman Kodak etc). +* For simplicity’s sake, I haven’t included companies that got acquired or taken private. + +I’ll be using this calculator [https://www.dividendchannel.com/drip-returns-calculator/](https://www.dividendchannel.com/drip-returns-calculator/) with a starting date of Aug 1 1995 (as far back as the calculator goes) to the present day. Please feel free to point out any inaccuracies. + +&#x200B; + +&#x200B; + +|**Company**|**CAGR %**|**Present Value $**| +|:-|:-|:-| +|3M|10.67|11,297| +|AT&T|2.92|1,900| +|Bankrupt Company 1|N/A|0| +|Bankrupt Company 2|N/A|0| +|Bankrupt Company 3|N/A|0| +|Brown Forman|16.03|35,010| +|Church and Dwight|18.63|59,479| +|Coca Cola|7.37|5,477| +|Colgate|11.49|13,478| +|Kroger|8.31|6,746| +|Exxon Mobil|9.18|8,169| +|General Electric|3.15|2,099| +|General Mills|9.26|8,313| +|Hershey|12.31|16,060| +|Home Depot|15.47|31,185| +|Hormel|13.51|20,708| +|Johnson and Johnson|11.71|14,129| +|McCormick|13.87|22,337| +|McDonalds|12.75|17,634| +|Pepsi|10.37|10,587| +|Pfizer|10.27|10,360| +|Philip Morris|15.22|29,610| +|Procter & Gamble|10.83|11,600| +|Walmart|11.14|12,500| +|Wells Fargo|11.14|12,500| + +&#x200B; + +SPY has a CAGR of **8.97%** (with dividend reinvestment) over the last 24 years. A $25,000 in SPY on 08/01/1995 would be worth **$196,475** today. + +Our portfolio of 25 stocks has a CAGR of **11.77%** and a present value of **$361,178**. + +Picking our 6 biggest winners and assuming the other 19 go bankrupt would be in line with market performance with a present value of **$198,329**. + +&#x200B; + +Some thoughts for those who would like to build a similar portfolio + +Look for companies that + +* Have a business model that you understand properly. +* Consistently generate excess returns on invested capital compared to the market as a whole. +* Companies that maintain a clean balance sheet. Metrics to look at would be NetDebt/EBITDA, Debt/Equity and Interest Coverage ratio. +* Many boring consumer staples have historically outperformed the market because they grow earnings reliably and tend not to be overpriced in general. + +Buy said companies when + +* They are trading at a discount compared to historic levels. Metrics to look at would be EV/EBITDA, dividend yield, FCF yield. +* However, avoid buying companies that have heavily compromised their balance sheet. If the free cash flow barely covers the dividend, stay away. If the interest coverage ratio is in the low single digits, stay away. +* Avoid buying overpriced stocks. Even the best companies will offer subpar returns when you overpay. KO has slightly underperformed the market because it was trading at a PE in the 50s during its peak in the late 90s. + +You can get all this information from Morningstar or Value Line that most public libraries provide free access to. Or you can calculate it from the sec filings [https://www.sec.gov/](https://www.sec.gov/). + +Keeping this in mind will keep you from panic selling when the market sees a downturn. In fact, it’ll even help you buy excellent companies at a nice discount. **This isn't a guarantee to outperform the market, but it's a fairly straightforward approach that increases your odds of doing so**. + +&#x200B; + +EDIT: To people who feel like it's easy to pick a winning portfolio in hindsight are missing the point. I'm trying to show you can build a winning portfolio from large cap blue chips without taking on unnecessary risks. The worst a company can do is go to zero. At best, the sky is the limit. You can try replacing the big winners (MO, BF.A, CHD) with a few more bankruptcies or try other names such as TGT, CPB, CLX etc and see how the portfolio performs. You probably won't be able to repeat Lynch or Buffet's performances, but a couple of hundred basis points is realistic in the long run. + +For people asking why I chose the stocks I did, a professor from Wharton picked the top companies from the late 50s to see what types of companies provided the best returns. Over the past 50 years, consumer staples were some of the best performers because + +1. They are generally not very capital intensive. +2. Their earnings are the least cyclical +3. Consumer staples generally trade at a lower valuations because they have lower earnings growth. This often translates to lower price to earnings growth ratios. MO and PM are two such stocks that fit that criteria today. GIS below $45 a share would also fall into that category. + +[https://www.amazon.com/Future-Investors-Tried-True-Triumph/dp/140008198X](https://www.amazon.com/Future-Investors-Tried-True-Triumph/dp/140008198X) + +&#x200B; + +u/MasterCookSwag posted a comment listing the dow components in 1997 (which includes a bunch of the stocks I've listed). I believe just using the dow components from '97 would've been a better portfolio for this case study. + +&#x200B; + +Also, some additional links you might find useful + +Joshua Kennon has some awesome articles on investing [https://www.joshuakennon.com/category/investing-articles/](https://www.joshuakennon.com/category/investing-articles/) + +Eddie Elfenbein's blog [http://www.crossingwallstreet.com/buylist](http://www.crossingwallstreet.com/buylist) + +[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFhfVUjk1dE&t=1628s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFhfVUjk1dE&t=1628s) + +u/Fearspect posted a comment that provides other examples of long term buy and hold portfolios. + +[https://www.reddit.com/r/investing/comments/c5vo2c/a\_buy\_and\_hold\_approach\_for\_24\_years/es71c13?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x](https://www.reddit.com/r/investing/comments/c5vo2c/a_buy_and_hold_approach_for_24_years/es71c13?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x) + +Thanks for the gold! + +&#x200B; + +**TLDR**: Stick with VTSAX. +Hi, so I was checking my PF account in the Umang app and I saw that I have two PF passbooks, one from my previous job and another of my current one. When I joined my current company they asked for my UAN number and I was under the impression they transferred my previous PF to the current account but looks like both are under different passbooks. + +So my question is firstly is there supposed to be two/separate passbooks for different companies you work for ? or is the previous balance supposed to be transferred to the new one? and if so how do I do this? + +any help would be really appreciated, thanks. +Warren Buffet has always mentioned to buy a stock when it's low. The book he highly regards tells us the same. + +However, the problem with Vodafone Idea is that it is happening in India. Now I don't know about what your opinion is, but i have been loosing little faith on the possibility of their comeback due to many factors. + +I want to know your opinion. Do you guys think it has the potential to survive, given that government has refused to take partial payments and want a hefty sum to be paid, like Airtel did of 10,000 cr. + +RBI has a fresh concern that if these companies exit, it will promote that India is not capable to keep multi national companies. + +Also, their stock price is currently priced around 4-5 rupees. Does it qualifies to be a penny stock and all the risks associated with it? + +I do not know much about the scenarios, if you guys can shed some light, it will be beneficial for all. + + +Thank you for taking out time to read it. +* ‛Road infrastructure has become financially unviable,’ PMO wrote in a letter to National Highways Authority of India +* To solve the crisis, the PMO has suggested that NHAI aggressively monetise its existing assets + +The NHAI should discontinue constructing roads and encourage the private sector to take over the running of completed projects. These are two of the key suggestions that the Prime Minister’s Office has made to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). + +The letter said the NHAI was “totally logjammed by an unplanned and excessive expansion of roads and it is mandated to pay much higher costs for land acquisition and construction.” + +It also said the hybrid annuity model, where the government and the private developer share the costs of setting up new roads, has become unsustainable. + +To solve this, the PMO has suggested that NHAI aggressively monetise its existing assets – either through the toll-operate-transfer model, where long-term concessions for collecting toll revenues are auctioned to the highest bidder, or through an infrastructure investment trust (InvIT). InvITs are trusts that manage income-generating infrastructure assets, typically offering investors regular yield and a liquid method of investing in infrastructure projects. + +[*Livemint*](https://www.livemint.com/industry/infrastructure/pmo-s-suggestion-to-nhai-stop-building-roads-sell-assets-through-an-invit-1566619682822.html) +It's been just about a year since I started making big life changes that have dropped me into an early and somewhat unexpected retirement. I thought I'd document (and share) a bit of this. Here's my story: + +I was 48 in 2018, am 50 now. Married, VHCOL (SF Bay Area), two kids (ages 15, 17). Career is a low level tech executive (director). + +In the Fall of 2018, I had a combination of health events that made me start wondering about my life...this included depression (I'm treating this), chest pain, ER visit, diabetes, abnormal EKG (everything is fine, thanks), my doc pointed our that I had a 40lb weight gain and a spike in (already high) blood pressure...I also felt an existential dread every time I thought about going to work. I was acting like an ass to my family, and just generally not very happy. This all despite a wonderful job managing an organization of top notch software engineers in a thriving company. I found myself just not caring about my teams, my managers, or my work. + +Fast forward to Feb of 2019. Depression was under control, my doc added another BP med, and I took some time to think about life and what I wanted. I've been tremendously lucky to be in the right place at the right time and once I pulled together a financial inventory, I wondered if I had "enough"...My investment assets stood just under $4.5M plus another $2M in home equity for our VHCOL residence. I posted in /r/financialindependence asking for advice and was more or less laughed out of the room - "you're already FI, are you just bragging now?"...but someone pointed me here. My confidence increased and I decided I needed to step back from working. + +Took a four month leave from my job, did some amazing traveling with the family, and after that talked to my boss. It was clear to both of us that I didn't really want to come back and we negotiated an exit path for me. I formally separated from the organization in the Fall of 2019. + +Financially, things are going just fine, I suppose. I'm very, very concentrated in a couple of tech stocks that I need to whittle down and haven't yet. About half my investments are in two tech stocks and half in 401ks predominately sitting in S&P index funds. I've been selling $40k/quarter of one tech stock for a year now to fund our cash needs. I also pulled $200k into a money market account as a hedge against a downturn in the market and a cushion for upcoming college bills (they'll start about 18 months from now). + +Net worth has increased from apx 6.5M to (ahem) almost 8M in that year (home equity hasn't really changed - maybe up 100k, all the gains are driven by appreciation in the stock market). My blood pressure has returned to near normal. I've lost 65lbs (I'm back down to my high school weight, actually). Diabetes went away with the weight loss. I exercise nearly every day, and I'd say I'm generally happier - even if at times I do feel isolated and lonely. I have zero desire to return to a job in tech right now. + +The wife and I have been looking at second homes - recently on Maui but also closer to home in the Sierras or in Oregon. I don't feel wealthy enough to buy the property I want, though. Dammit. + +Downsides include the often-mentioned lack of purpose (to be fair, I wasn't getting that from my job anyway, so that's not so much a change as an acknowledgement). It's hard because my friends work during the day and I usually spend evenings parenting my kids. Loneliness is an issue. I've taken to planning frequent trips: either short road trips or longer jaunts with or without other family members. Having more time to myself also highlights the weaknesses in my other relationships; Maybe more on that later. I have a couple of siblings who haven't been as lucky as I have - they flip between thinking I'm...lazy? a mooch? an idiot? a burden on society? someone who can't get a job?...and thinking I must be fantastically wealthy which makes them a little resentful that I haven't done anything to lessen their financial burdens. + +There's lots to do...I have chores that I am criminally remiss in getting done. These include: a viable will/estate plan, diversification of holdings, and consolidating our myriad accounts under one umbrella (likely centralizing into Vanguard, but we'll see). There's likely a bunch of college related stuff to do with my son. And hopefully that second home once I find the right property. + +Life, overall, is good. All the unhappy bits were also here when I was working - other than maybe a bit more boredom (though I was often bored at work, too). I've given myself permission to spend a little more freely (not that I was ever all that restrained) and I'm plotting adventures for the Spring and Summer. + +Am I fat? I don't feel that way...I think I'm comfortable. And, as I explain it to people who want to listen, I have enough money now to never have to do anything for cash that I don't want to ever again. I may not be able to fly private or drop $2M on that second house, but I do OK. + +(Are stories like this interesting? It feels a bit like self-stimulation to write all this, but I think it's good to document things once in a while and I enjoy reading other people's stories so I'm trying to give back. Feedback appreciated.) +Welcome to another post by everyone’s ~~least~~ favourite essay writer. If you've seen a text wall in the daily threat I apologise it was probably me. But I'm back at it for a DD that is probably 12months too late on RNU. + +RNU: Renascor Resources + +Quick Stats: + +Share price: $0.13 + +52 week low/high: $0.01- $0.185 + +Market Cap: $245million + +Please note I do not own this company and have never owned it. Financial disclaimers at the bottom. + +&#x200B; + +**Overview:** + +(taken from their own website) + +"Renascor is developing a vertically integrated operation consisting of a mine and concentrator plus a downstream operation to produce Purified Spherical Graphite (PSG) for sale to anode manufacturers" + +What this means is RNU has a graphite mine named Siviour in South Australia, where they will be extracting natural graphite for sale and usage in a downstream opreation closer to Adelaide for sale. RNU claim to have the second largest natural graphite mine in the world, and the largest outside Africa. RNU hope to become Australia’s premier Graphite producer utilising a high ESG rating and low opex to create a profitable and sustainable business. + +&#x200B; + +[RNU are the first 3 processes is the box wasn’t enough to tell](https://preview.redd.it/7w3x7apz7ky71.png?width=983&format=png&auto=webp&s=9cb0cb6c1987cd9ab8b3cce0c24440bc478cdc65) + +&#x200B; + +[Anyone ever notice the part of SA looks like Italy?](https://preview.redd.it/r46kzbbesky71.png?width=536&format=png&auto=webp&s=33571e81809d2ed49d80f87a9693bc64bdede75e) + +**Graphite Industry Overview:** + +Like all most things that are going up China contributes between 65% and 80% of global graphite supplies. This graphite is primarily for usage in the steel manufacturing industry as graphite enables steel to keep strength, rigidity and its resistance to chemicals (hopium/copium not included). + +But we don't care about that, we care about graphite because it is 40x more prevalent in a lithium Ion battery as the ANODE to the lithium cathode! Here in the anode they store the lithium ions when the battery is charging or discharging. + +&#x200B; + +[As you can see graphite is a big resource in all current battery types](https://preview.redd.it/a4jr9fml9ky71.png?width=743&format=png&auto=webp&s=f214ac6d9f918da67b6bf37017dc3102788fefa0) + +Currently the main battery is the NMC, with the LMFP and LNMO being actively pursued by other companies and certain vehicle types. Graphite is highly present in all of these. What is not stated here is the solid state battery. This battery does not require graphite HOWEVER it is currently at least a decade away from commercial adoption by which case in 2031 companies like RNU would have plenty of time (assuming all goes well) to deal with these issues and will be debt free, cashed up to make a good decision. + +Overall the graphite industry is expected to grow heavilty with the EV industry (a given every commoditiy is saying) + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/sispdckg7ly71.png?width=1400&format=png&auto=webp&s=ace736e96fff69cdebeaed5c8cbd3a598028d44d + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/3auzta1j7ly71.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=0afef0fce1541dddc7098e279c1f95e38441bf02 + +**Corn Flakes:** + +Finally is all graphite made equal? No lmao. Just like cereal all graphite flakes are flakes but some flakes are better than other flakes. + +Now I am absolutely not an expert on this. I spent two hours (now 10) on a Tuesday night reading about flakes and I left the internet dumber. All you need to know is: + +Mesh: Is the size of graphite allowed through the screen mesh. The specification of flake graphite is determined by screen mesh + +"The "+" before the flake graphite specification means that the particle size of the flake graphite is larger than the size of screen mesh hole and the "-" means that the particle size of the flake graphite is smaller than the size of screen mesh hole." So for example, ±195Mesh flake graphite is 100 Mesh flake graphite with 95% carbon content." - not my words they were on google, must be lefit + +Mircon: Is a unit of measurement + +&#x200B; + +[RNUs flake breakdown](https://preview.redd.it/4u9r3j79bky71.png?width=1060&format=png&auto=webp&s=d512f4b5f5a35a22022272d0f9fd803355e51787) + +[The small -150 μm, are required for the lithium-ion battery market ](https://preview.redd.it/h2ma0mphdky71.png?width=544&format=png&auto=webp&s=f61b43b4d64654c0919429e07c595a29c7080922) + +So these flakes go into the battery grade graphite known as PSG, where the flakes are processed into a ultra-high-purity (>99.95% Carbon grade (C)) product with particle sizes ranging from 10 micron to 25 micron. + +This is cooked, I barely still understand this but here we are. I desire corn flakes now in a Jumbo micron..... moving on. + +&#x200B; + +**Management:** + +Here is a two second overview of management. Note I have watched some interviews with David Christensen (DC on hotcopper). Tried to find a linkedin did a 5min google search couldent dig up much clearly not someone too public but nothing bad either. + +&#x200B; + +* Richard (***Dick***) Keevers: Non-Executive Chairman + +*Mr Keevers’ experience includes advancing multiple producing mines from discovery phase through development, including the Telfer gold and copper mine, the Phosphate Hill phosphate mine and the Baal Gammon copper mine.* + +Bonus points the include the nickname on their website. That tells me all I need to know. + +&#x200B; + +* David Christensen: Managing Director + +*David served as Chief Executive Officer of Adelaide‑based companies, Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd and Quasar Resource Pty Ltd. While at Heathgate and Quasar, his responsibilities included overseeing Australian operations, including the Beverley uranium mine, as well as the expansion into new projects with the discovery and development of the Four Mile deposit and numerous joint ventures. David’s experience also includes serving as President of Nuclear Fuels Corporation, a trading and marketing company, where he managed a multi‑million dollar uranium portfolio and was responsible for developing sales strategy, executing trades and swaps and negotiating all contracts.* + +Ok so man has done some things. He has exposure but I haven't dug deep enough to truly know. A quick google didn’t show any negatives but I guess he has done some interviews which I watched and he seemed to come across ok? + +&#x200B; + +* Geoff McConachy: Non-Executive Director + +*Geoffrey McConachy is an accomplished geologist with over thirty years of Australian and international experience in the mining industry assessing a wide range of commodities. Prior to joining the Company, Geoffrey worked for Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd and Quasar Resources Pty Ltd, where his roles included Managing Director, Exploration.* + +So the dude worked with the MD and came across with him. Either bullish or bearish sign. Either the managing director is good enough people will follow him, or he is just bringing mates across which isn't a good sign. Also has a long history as a geo and his work on RNU clearly found a good resource so maybe bullish? + +&#x200B; + +* Stephen Bizzell: Non-Executive Director + +*Stephen is Chairman of boutique corporate advisory and funds management group Bizzell Capital Partners. He has over 25 years corporate finance and public company management experience in the resources sector in Australia and Canada. Stephen was previously an Executive Director of Arrow Energy from 1999 until its acquisition in 2010 by Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina for $3.5 billion* + +The man has had some success under his belt and has been part of successful companies. + +&#x200B; + +* Pierre Van Der Merwe: Joint Company Secretary + +*Pierre is an accountant of more than 30 years’ experience with extensive knowledge in the provision of corporate secretarial and accounting services to ASX listed companies. He also has experience as CFO and was a Partner from 2004 to 2016 in HLB Mann Judd, an Australasian and International accountancy and business advisory group* + +Didn’t check don't care + +&#x200B; + +* Jon Colquhoun: Joint Company Secretary + +*Is an experienced accountant and company secretary with a broad financial and commercial background across a range of industries providing company secretarial and CFO services to a number of ASX listed and unlisted companies.* + +Nothing of note on his profile + +&#x200B; + +Overall, I didn’t spend enough time on this but I couldn’t spot anything blatantly bad. Certainly not a lifestyle company with their progress but not a "stacked wonder board" of highly successful names all over it. I am neutral on this and would need more reading. + +&#x200B; + +**Path to victory:** + +[No shot it happens on time but nice goal](https://preview.redd.it/hqkduqrtmky71.png?width=1016&format=png&auto=webp&s=a8f4f902d520e26bc124d9014ae5086a03dd9c75) + +So you just read a DD about RNU learnt they are in SA and mine graphite but barely anything else. So here is the step by step of their process: + +Step 1: Mine dirt, acquire graphite + +Step 1 is mining graphite from Siviour over its 40 year mine life. Siviour is a low OPEX mine at A$508 per tonne which is good compared to a company like SYR currently $684 US a tonne in their September quarter report. Average production of 80ktpa with A$114m in Capex. The mine will be an open cut mine + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/b363i2ef1ly71.png?width=542&format=png&auto=webp&s=06124145628376be8cad69477227e6920ec10c73 + +Over the 26-year mining period, approximately 25% of the material mined is within the Measured Resource category, approximately 58% is within the Indicated Resource category, and approximately 17% is within the Inferred Resources category. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/24xvqo6n1ly71.png?width=547&format=png&auto=webp&s=6363e8ab38fb3e7bbc3d3f404432ec78f595e9a6 + +https://preview.redd.it/9ao7u26p1ly71.png?width=547&format=png&auto=webp&s=3dbaca51c74998c8815ee37de6cb60b9199d7b43 + +So they will mine the resource, and then after a few inbetween processes it goes to processing. + +Step 2: Processing + +A 825ktpa processing plants, which will be onsight and with plans for another 825ktpa plant later on. The process plants have been designed to recover graphite concentrate by froth flotation. Ore from the mine will be crushed in stages, followed by grinding, flotation, filtering, drying and sizing, before being bagged and containerised for shipment. + +1. Crushing: Ore goes into crusher it goes into a scrubber. This then goes into another crusher before going back into the scrubber stockpiling ore for the mill. +2. Floatation: Crushed ore then goes into a rod mill, " to achieve flotation feed of P99 425 μm." This then goes into a vibrating screen with oversized material going back into the rod mill and fine material bypasses primary mill so it isent over grinded. +3. Flotation 2: "Flotation and regrind circuits contain desliming, roughing, scavenging, seven stages of cleaning and four stages of regrind"The cleaning circuit includes screening of concentrate at 300μm after the second cleaning, with the coarser flake material reporting direct to filtration and drying. The finer material will pass through additional regrind and cleaning to increase purity. The circuit is designed to optimise coarse flake graphite retention at a minimum purity of 94% to 96% TGC +4. Dewatering and Handling: The final concentrates will be filtered, dried and screened into five size fractions (+300 μm, +180 μm, +150 μm and -150 μm). Concentrates will then be directed to bins and bagged into one tonne bulk bags by product specification. +5. Job done :D not quite + +Step 3: PSG Processing + +Ore now has to go off to Port Adelaide where they will have the PSG processing facility, close a you guessed it a port :D This has a capex of A$90m and is where the "vertical integration" part of the supply chain comes in. They aim to produce 28ktpa of PSG. + +Sadly I couldent find as much about this specifically as planned but it would appear ongoing test work, metalurgical work is occuring for the plant. + +I did find a note saying "The battery anode material plant has been designed to produce battery-grade PSG through an eco-friendly process that avoids the use of hydrofluoric acid and thereby satisfies increasingly strict sustainability requirements of end-users and prospective financier" + +The results presented are based on an annual battery anode material plant treatment of approximately 60,000t of flake Graphite Concentrate obtained from Siviour with a nominal purity of 94% total graphitic carbon (“TGC”) and flake size of <180 μm or 80 mesh. The proposed battery anode material plant incorporates facilities for the following unit process operations: + +* Graphite Concentrate offloading and dry storage; +* Micronisation and spheronisation; +* Caustic roast thermal purification; and +* PSG drying and bagging. + +&#x200B; + +[Final process](https://preview.redd.it/ui1poti06ly71.png?width=964&format=png&auto=webp&s=7c2b5d450ad44bf46f63802e91337b0ad4c39a5e) + +Offtakes potentially include: + +Minguang: First stage product qualification achieved with Chinese anode company Minguang as part of a non-binding PSG Offtake MOU covering up 10ktpa for 10 years + +Zeto: First stage product qualification achieved with Chinese anode company Zeto as part of a non-binding PSG Offtake MOU covering up to 10ktpa for 10 years + +Hanwa: Access to Japanese market through non-binding PSG Offtake MOU covering up to 10ktpa for 10 years. + +Big issues here. All are non binding, two are with chinese firms which given current market could cause accountibility issues if they break the deal as suing Chinese firms has proven difficult. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/b9grrh4n6ly71.png?width=550&format=png&auto=webp&s=e48543b8cbd2c07c7ded7e07a171536dc556d472 + +&#x200B; + +**Math:** + +Firstly its now been like 10hrs of reading about flakes, RNU and math so this is likely to be sketcy at best. + +https://preview.redd.it/sgi3apvnnky71.png?width=880&format=png&auto=webp&s=593145353be18d25eaba6abf0ddb0faa9b7bb4cb + +Below is the roughest absolute meme of a DFS, which assumes more than a mother in law. I would think off these numbers the upside is certainly there but Dilution is coming and that needs to be taken into account which I tried to do... + +As a company nearing production the actual numbers will become as important as the story. Growth investors will leave as value investors arrive, looking for a steady profitable company. RNU achieving profitability will be more important than good drill results IMO. + +Any look at E25, KLL, etc will show you that great run up to production and underwhelming production start can kill a years worth of momentum in the Share price. + +[THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE DO NOT INVEST OFF THESE NUMBERS](https://preview.redd.it/mca6sb94pky71.png?width=626&format=png&auto=webp&s=d4bb621839a4d5e287abd7d657f887777164a2eb) + +What do the numbers mean? I have no idea? Buy, sell, hold, yolo into a highly speculative asset bubble? Who knows. + +I would encourage anyone who cares to try to do them as well, see if they get the same. Happy to debate and adjust the numbers. I think with the PSG facility there is upside to the stock and I can't see a world outside first year unprofitability where the bear case comes into effect. + +In a perfect world a 10c buy in would be perfect for me but I don't know if RNU will head that direction. + +&#x200B; + +**Downsides:** + +Overall this DD has been light on substance, aside from the math part. A lot was on graphite background because overall RNU dosen't have much else aside from management and moving forward. + +The reality is for projects like thhis they always have something go wrong and take longer than expected. Post 2022 appears to lack new flow in general and the nature of it is, constructing a mine is never easy. Things come broken, stuff dosen't work, things aren't as efficient as planned, changes need to be made and workers are slower than you hope. The best possible announcements I can think of post 2022 are offtakes, further drilling for resource upgrades or construction is going faster. + +Worst outcome is delays which are more likely. But a post 2022 project is likely to be quite derisked. For now at least there still seems to be a great deal of big news flow between now and next year. + +But there are downsides: + +* Bad terms for funding. This sub is slowly learning annoucements like "JV and funding" = dilution and lost ownership over NPV. Investors are always overly optimistic meaning terms are usually worse than expected and accompany a rerate that reflects the dilution or lower ownership. This is coming up for RNU +* Graphite price crash. Obvious but unlikely? If too much supply comes online too quickly it might be possible but depends on China's supply side +* Battery alternatives. Obviously the commercialisation of solid state batteries on a level more competitive than Li-ion would be a bearish sign for graphite mines. Could this come earlier than expected? Who knows. +* Construction issues, including reduced plant effiecency, higher opex, higher capex etc +* Approvals are require and should never be assumed as acquired until holding the paper +* Offtakes as stated above RNU needs to lock in its offtakes at a good price or all the modelling in the world wont mean anything + +TLDR: + +* Flakes? +* RNU is a graphite company +* They are near production + +\*(Title based on a pencil weight of 3 grams and graphite of 1.5 grams per pencil. 3.8 million tonnes of graphite reserve can produce 3.8trillion pencils graphite.) + +Disclosure: I do not own the stock, I have never owned the stock, I do not own any options nor have any affiliation with the management. This is not financial advice this is a post purely an exercise in amatuer analysis by a clown who pretends to know how stocks work. This is for general information only and should not be taken as constituting professional advice . + +Referennces: + +[https://www.cmcarbon.com/news/223.htm](https://www.cmcarbon.com/news/223.htm) + +[https://renascor.com.au/](https://renascor.com.au/) +1. If anyone of you invest in REITs what has been you learning? +2. What the things to check before investing? +3. What is an ideal % of your portfolio that you should invest? +4. I saw a video of Mr Warikoo and he suggested three investments - Embassy, Brookfield and Mindspace - are there any others available? + +Update: + +Links to all REITs available: + +1. [https://www.moneycontrol.com/india/stockpricequote/construction-real-estate/embassyofficeparksreit/EOP](https://www.moneycontrol.com/india/stockpricequote/construction-real-estate/embassyofficeparksreit/EOP) +2. [https://www.moneycontrol.com/india/stockpricequote/construction-real-estate/brookfieldindiarealestatetrust/BIR](https://www.moneycontrol.com/india/stockpricequote/construction-real-estate/brookfieldindiarealestatetrust/BIR) +3. [https://www.moneycontrol.com/india/stockpricequote/construction-real-estate/mindspacebusinessparksreit/MBP02](https://www.moneycontrol.com/india/stockpricequote/construction-real-estate/mindspacebusinessparksreit/MBP02) + +For Taxation: + +[https://www.thegalacticadvisors.com/post/reit-taxation](https://www.thegalacticadvisors.com/post/reit-taxation) +I cannot find the original post but a couple of days ago a poster had said that they had built a strategy that simply bought the stocks with the best performing sharpe ratio and after a few months of forward testing was seeing some success. I found the idea interesting and went out and built and backtested it. + +&#x200B; + +**The Process** + +I used the yahoo\_fin library to get data and utilised their tickers\_dow() function to get the list of DJIA stocks for the backtest in monthly interval from 2011 till today. + +I then calculated a 12mo rolling sharpe ratio for all stocks in the index: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/q16607eymae71.png?width=1097&format=png&auto=webp&s=f676468b87b90c4121ea98375adbcff45797126c + +Using the rolling sharpe I selected the top 5 stocks in the index with the best rolling sharpe ratio each month, which would be my portfolio going into the NEXT month. Below are sample of portfolios, note for simplicity, portfolios were equally weighted: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/veyycm7xpae71.png?width=548&format=png&auto=webp&s=c0149019ec5fa85ef38a7140f0eb5bf04958e5d6 + +interesting to note that trade frequency was very low and the portfolio rarely fully turned itself over, instead only adding/removing a couple of stocks each month: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/o80kp33cqae71.png?width=1291&format=png&auto=webp&s=7d521b166f48d4974c8f6f52a104b554d656d710 + +frequency graph of above: + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/kogm1pphqae71.png?width=484&format=png&auto=webp&s=2889a03fa054cc90080e458b1856a42db82001b3 + +**Results** + +Results were a little lacklustre as even with transaction costs set to 0 the strategy failed to beat the benchmark (DJIA returns 178%) over the back-tested period: + + + +https://preview.redd.it/784tknj1rae71.png?width=1290&format=png&auto=webp&s=072ddc84a4436f34339ad3ebe0c18e8a902e3d7e + +While disappointing there does seem to be some method behind the madness and I could see with some adjustments there's potential. Adjustments, such as: + +\- increase/decrease rolling look-back period + +\- increase/decrease number of stocks held + +\- increase/decrease minimum hold time + +\- add position sizing/portfolio optimisation + +\- TP/SL targets + +Thanks for reading! +We all hate commission fees and I hate getting charged everytime I buy and sell, however there are other things to consider. + +There are implicit costs such as the bid-ask spread. The bid-ask spread is the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay for a stock and the lowest price the seller is willing to sell. Sometimes there are large spreads which means you may significantly more than the market price. I believe larger brokers have lower bid-ask spread. + +The interface and technology for investing is something to take into consideration too. Some banks have additional information on industry outlooks, screening, summary of company news, and big announcements, equity research. This may be something that can add extra value for you. + +You can invest right away if you transfer money into your investing account. If you see a stock you want to buy right away, this can add additional value. + +For people who buy and sell a lot, then commission-free brokerages might be the best option for you. But if you are like most people who buy indexes and hold and buy and sell stocks every once in a while, commission fees might not be the only thing you want to take into consideration. +Three years ago my wife and I bought an art deco house to renovate and start a family in. The reno was tough with my wife being pregnant at the time and a number of challenges along the way but we eventually moved into a beautiful house. + +Shortly after moving in we found gaps between the floors and skirting boards that the builder hadn't noticed. They had previously been hidden by thick pile carpet which was removed. I spoke to four different tradies who suggested I get someone to go under and raise the subfloor which I did. What none of them mentioned was that that would shift the nearby walls also and huge cracks appears across our fresh paint and drywall (this was my first renovation and I don't know much about building - I just try to get advice from those who do). While this was heartbreaking we got everything patched up and thought everything was good. + +However, years later it seems that work caused a chain reaction throughout the house. Joins in carpentry have separated (window frames, outward skirting board corners, floorboards etc), door frames have shifted, grouting has cracked and tiles have popped up and even cracked at the other end of the house. It's like a thousand one percenters have appeared almost over night. + +I can't blame the builder because the issue was caused after he finished so now I'm stuck with a ruined renovation and no time or skills to fix the problem. We bought the house because it had good bones but now all my wife and I see some the house is cracks and it causes a lot of stress and anxiety. + +Does this sound like there is any hope or have we bought a money pit? +Im a 29 year old female. Recently ended a 6 year relationship. I have 90k in savings. I'm an independent contractor and can make 10-15k a month from a business perspective (I still havnt figured out how much to pay myself). + +I have no kids. Havnt traveled or lived much life. Have looked into van/rv life (I kind of want to do this for 1-3 months). I tried buying a place back in december with my ex but was priced out of the market. + +I still live in my family home with 1 other family member. Family dynamics are not the greatest, a lot of codependency and toxic energy. I feel that I need to leave, create my own environment for further personal growth to happen. But at the same time I'm very aware of the economy and the current housing market. + +I'm a frugal person so spending is difficult for me. Spending on myself is also new so whether I travel, buy or rent they are all relatively big financial decisions for me. + +Not to sure what to do with my current savings. And as I mentioned previously I'm not sure how much to pay myself from my business accounts (also should I pay myself via payroll or divididens? - im in Canada). + +With all this being said, what is the most financially smart decision? +Hello RE community, + +I'm new to RE investing and recently closed a property. + +My agent mentioned briefly that they form a new LLC for every property they buy. + +I understand that LLC per property restricts scope of liability to that LLC only. + +Where can I under the long term merits and demerits of LLC per property? +What have you done that helped you in long term? + +I plan to buy more property in future. +Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that ***** Jartek and a terrorist who’s responsible for the ******** of thousands of innocent members. + +It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. + +Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The Subreddit and its people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice. + +We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our community. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that April day. + +Thank you and Welcome Back. + +P.S. All Bans have been cleared from the sub. All of them. +After selling a business a few years ago I have net worth of around $17M. + +- Public equities: ~$10M (down ~$500k in the past week) + +- Private equity (combination of rollover equity and separate investments): ~$4.5M + +- Donor Advised Fund: $1M (won't touch this of course) + +- Real estate equity: $1.5M + +I'm still at the company I sold but may be leaving soon (by end of year?). Income there is around $150k. + +My tax returns show last three years of income at an average of ~$5M/year so buying power is pretty high, but with the acquisition now mostly complete the next few years of reported income will be a lot lower unless I sell a lot of stock which I don't plan on doing. + +Most housing affordability articles/calculators base it off income and debt ratios which don't apply in this situation. Is there any rule to determine what makes sense? In the places I'm looking at in California $2M gets you something fairly nice but the jump to $3-$4M is where I'd like to be if it makes sense to do so. +Intel (INTC) - bought at $57, now at $50 + +UBER - bought at $35, now at $31 + +Wells Fargo (WFC) - bought at $32 now at $26.5 + +Duke Energy (DUK) - bought at $84, now at $82 + +Exxon (XOM) - bought at $46, now at $43 + +That's all. Anyway keep outperforming the market guys! +Sup apes. I haven’t done any DD since I wrote T+69 and I have noticed that, although a ton of apes are bullish AF, there’s some uncertainty brewing right now surrounding the current dip. I have found that the best way to overcome your fear of something is to understand it, so I thought I would give a short synopsis of why we are dropping and what it could mean for the near future. + +tl;dr: hedgies are slamming us with shorts and in the money puts. Apes aren’t selling! Hedgie fuk soon. + +First, I need to introduce some concepts that may be foreign to many apes, so let’s start with some definitions. + +# Dark Pool Index (DIX) + +Source: [https://squeezemetrics.com/monitor/download/pdf/short\_is\_long.pdf](https://squeezemetrics.com/monitor/download/pdf/short_is_long.pdf) + +Squeeze Metrics created this indicator, and it basically is the ratio of short sales on dark pools divided by all sales on dark pools. Typically it is used to try and determine when big money is silently moving into a long position. However, with GME, since liquidity is essentially non-existent, I view it as a measure of how much short pressure the hedgies are applying to the stock. Looking in the figure below, the DIX for GME always dips when we either go up or go down, indicating the short ability of the market maker short GME has shifted from the dark pool (where it prevents price movement) to the lit exchange (where it battles price movement). + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/pcaq7cuwfza81.png?width=936&format=png&auto=webp&s=5eec7f246296d6a5a9bcf85f35d44a128fc64c44 + +Interestingly, there are two anomalies on this chart. The first is the rise in DIX for GME during the nov/dec drop, followed by the drop in DIX during late December, and subsequent increase in DIX occurring now. Historically it’s the other way around, more or less. So what gives? More on this later. + +# Put to Call Ratio + +Source: [https://zigz.io/instruments/GME/skew](https://zigz.io/instruments/GME/skew) + +This one is pretty self-explanatory. It is a measure of the number of puts divided by the number of calls currently open on the market. High values mean lots of puts, low values mean lots of calls. Since march/April 2021, this ratio has more or less just given a noisy signal, bouncing around 0.7 or so. There is a slight noticeable decrease in this value between the august and November timeframe when our price was significantly elevated. As can be seen, the number of puts relative to calls increased substantially during the initial drop in Nov/dec, leveled off quickly in mid/late December, and has started to rise again now during our next push downward. + +What relationship do options have to the underlying? In a word, delta. Options market makers will sell naked options in the same way that stock market makers sell naked stocks, to create liquidity in the market and reduce volatility. To hedge a naked sold call, you buy some of the underlying stock. To hedge a naked sold put, you sell some of the underlying. Since they are a market maker they can sell the stock naked. And voila, someone can short the stock by buying puts and getting the options market maker to hedge by selling synthetic shorts. + +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/qwpvuo2yfza81.png?width=936&format=png&auto=webp&s=44650a9385951b7bf0ba3ec39ff1d876de2bc511 + +# The Story In the Data + +I think the general timeline of events is as follows: + +August – November: We enjoyed favorable price action because lit exchange shorting and put pressure were both low. I believe they were intentionally withholding their short pressure so they could deploy it here. + +November – Early December: The hedgies drop an ass load of in the money puts on us, driving the price lower. The uncharacteristic rise in DIX may be associated with higher than normal internalization in the dark pool to prevent retail share purchases from applying pressure to their puts and risking their profitability. So here short hedgies are applying the wombo combo to retail: short retail long purchases and short the market through puts. + +Rest of December: Puts drop off to normal levels. DIX also falls off. Here I believe the hedgies are settling their last put attack, while shorting the options market maker’s attempt to de-hedge, where they go and buy back the synthetic shares they created. Put/call ratio is restored, meaning they killed some of the options momentum brewing at the end of Nov during the run. + +January 2022: Puts once again start ramping up, while DIX returns to typical levels. What follows is my best guess as to their strategy. At this point, between the large put position and the lit exchange shorting, I believe that the SHF are more levered than they have been since March 2021. This was evidenced by the price action today. At open, they shorted the stock essentially as much as they could (0 borrowable shares on fidelity and 10k shares on IBKR). They then used in the money puts to continue to short the stock down to 120, I presume looking for any stop losses they could find. Finding, none, they buy more puts to try and contain the rebound. Then over the rest of the day, having no more ammo to expend, they must slowly start selling the puts they just purchased for a noticeable loss (the bid ask on the puts were quite wide). At the end of the day, someone bought a ton of calls to push us over $130. + +https://preview.redd.it/57pnig0zfza81.png?width=936&format=png&auto=webp&s=aa153827ac6f22c273c421ad94288dcb0ff47e65 + +So to recap: 1) kill call momentum in nov run with puts, 2) transfer put pressure to short pressure, 3) add additional short pressure with even more puts, with evidence that they are finally getting tapped out. + +So why are they doing it this way? + +The same market mechanics that caused the massive price increase in January 2021 is playing out again here, with etf options expirations approaching, among other things. Many others have written extensively about cycle theory, and I recommend u/gherkinit write-ups on the topic. But there’s one other thing that is new this time around: variance swaps. Remember the millions of worthless puts opened during the January sneeze? Well there has been some great DD about how those are most likely used to create a variance swap from u/zinko83 and others. Those puts expire in a few weeks, meaning that’s likely the date many of those swaps expire. This will leave their short position exposed, unhedged, risking a margin call and game over. + +The crazy thing? A basic tenant of variance trading is that variance trends to the mean. So high variance tends to trend down and low variance tends to trend up. So given the unprecedented increase in variance in January 2021, would you go short variance or long? You would go short. Now go look at IV on the options chain. All of this activity that they are engaging in has driven IV up! If I was short variance, and that variance was hedging a massive short position, why would I be driving IV up near the expiration? Because if I can’t get these pesky apes to sell their shares before this swap expires, I’m fucked. People on this sub love to joke about the VW dip before the rip every time we dip, but this dip really feels different. It feels desperate. And the most likely explanation I have come up with is because if they can’t get us to paper hand now, they are fucked in a few weeks when their variance swaps expire. + +Anyway, I know that this has been pretty rambling, but I wanted to get this out there for everyone quickly so that they could potentially understand why we are going down if no one is selling, and how exposed the short hedge funds likely are. I support both buying and hodling, as well as buying near the money, far dated call options as a strategy to apply pressure to them, but I am not going to try and use this post to advocate a particular strategy for anyone. I leave it to each individual investor to make their own financial decisions. I am not a financial advisor and this is not financial advice. + +Buy, hodl, DRS, call options, exercise, hedgies R Fuk. +Starbucks Chairman Howard Shultz said the coffee chain plans to incorporate blockchain technology and digital currencies into its long-term payment technology strategy, and hopes to "expand digital customer relationships." + +Shultz does not, however, believe that bitcoin will play a role in this strategy, remarking that he didn't believe the original cryptocurrency would "be a currency today or in the future." + +He clarified that **Starbucks is not developing a digital currency** or announcing an investment in blockchain or cryptocurrencies, but would like to use its stature to lend credibility to these technologies. + +https://www.coindesk.com/starbucks-chairman-hot-blockchain-cold-bitcoin/ + +Starbucks' Howard Schultz: A 'trusted' digital currency is coming, but it won't be bitcoin + +**"One or a few legitimate" cryptocurrencies are coming, but bitcoin is not one of them**, according to the Starbucks executive chairman. + +Schultz sees potential in blockchain, the online ledger technology underlying digital currencies. + +https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/26/starbucks-schultz-a-digital-currency-is-coming-but-wont-be-bitcoin.html + +STARBUCKS is set to become one of the first major high street shops to accept cryptocurrency after it announced plans to incorporate blockchain as part of its payment strategy, but **in a snub it has ruled out using Bitcoin**. + +https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/910629/bitcoin-cryptocurrency-news-latest-Ripple-Ethereum-price-value-surge-starbucks-payment +I was told this may belong here 😄 + +Hi All, I'm so excited! We just paid off the last of our consumer debt and only have the house left. We even have our 6 months savings fund set up! Quick background, in 2017 I found myself with $29k in debt between credit cards and a new to me car. I was making only $28k a year and hit my tipping point. I got ruthless and cut everything out of my spending except food and gas. I did so many things these last few years to get out of debt, including switching car insurance, getting a roommate, moving into a friend's partly finished basement, eating PB& J for lunch for a year, getting rid of internet, spotify, netflix, all of it. + +In 2019 I managed to land a job that paid 40k, and set to put half of my income towards by debt, and I did! That job only lasted 11 months, but my husband and I during that time were able to pay for our wedding and honeymoon in cash, plus I paid an additional 7k towards my loans. Meanwhile my now husband had been working on paying off his car, student loan and saving 6 months of expenses. + +We got married in March and have had a very unpredictable income with me not having almost any work, and him doing freelance design. But we have been super frugal and have only had to dip into our savings once. We had planned on using our savings right after we got married to pay off the loans, but without a real income during the pandemic we waited to make extra payments. + +Last week we decided to sell our second car to pay off the rest of our debt, now that we live together and both work from home. AND on top of that my husband got a full time job offer the same week! + +I'm telling you, the relief I have had these last two weeks is unbelievable. The weight of the debt is gone! Financial peace is a real thing. If you are wondering if it is even worth the sacrifice, I'm telling you it is totally worth it! +Hey guys, + + This post is going to be a summary of some of the harder-to-accept truths that beginners, or anyone wanting to go full time, will need to hear. I will also do my best to include my advice for solving these problems, or correcting them as much as possible. + + So here goes: +. + +1. YOU WILL HAVE BAD DAYS! + Especially at the beginning, or when you become the most confident. Both of these are typical stages when a person decides to overleverage or overtrade, which can lead to large losses. Trusting in your win rate, and saying stuff like "well, I lost 4 trades already, and I've never lost more than 6 in a row before", may be the exact reason you do lose more. My advice here is to research Martingale Theory, the idea that you can win by doubling down after every loss. This works... Until it doesn't. That's when you will fail big. + Also, it's entirely possible that you have a bad trading day for no reason at all. This just happens. Take the day off, or the week, and get back into it when you have your mind right again. The market will still be there. + +. +2. RETAIL TRADING IS LONELY! +Unless you happen to have all your friends interested in trading too, then chances are you are going it alone. This can be very tough, especially on your mental and emotional wellbeing. What is money worth if you have no one to share your success with? For me, and what I would recommend for everyone else, what worked was to join online groups. (I promise I'm not a shill hahaha), but in particular Discord worked best, due to its ability to facilitate real time discussion and information sharing. But reddit is good too, if you have the right community. Others may be good, but I tend to find are only promoted by spammers and scammers. Make sure to do your dd on any trading groups you are asked to join, as many are pump and dump groups too. + +. +3. IT WILL PHYSICALLY DETERIORATE YOU! + Think about it. You are going to be working from your computer or whatever setup you have, for maybe 6, maybe 8, maybe even more hours per day. And for 99% of us, that means sitting that long too. Standing desks may be the better choice but they can get uncomfortable fast. My advice is to join a gym, or go for a walk/jog/run or do any sort of exercise at all, at least once a day, and at least 5 days a week. Part of this includes eating healthy as well. It's too easy to sit down and drink fizzy drinks and eat whatever the hell you feel like, just because. But that will cause an early death, which is something no one wants. + +. +4. IT IS MENTALLY TAXING! + Anyone who traded/"invested in" GME knows how stressful it was. Massive rises followed by massive drops. Constant eyes on the chart, making and losing more money than you've ever done before. Holding your piss for hours just to see the giant green candles put your account into the big money. These are exceptional circumstances, but they are becoming more and more frequent these days. And if you have ever listened to talks by anyone who traded the dot com bubble, or the great financial crash, you will know that a high percentage of daytrader end up with heart problems. Many people I know of, take all sorts of (legal) drugs to get them through their days. Make sure to get a healthy 8 hours of sleep if possible, and don't ever trade multiple days in a row if they become too taxing. A day off won't kill you, another day of adrenaline might. + +. +5. IT CAN ALSO BE BORING! + When you trade the same instrument with the same system and make the same money every day, it gets boring. Now, I'm by no means a millionaire myself, and I would never complain about being bored if I was, but when you are somewhere between finally achieving consistency and trying to scale up your account, that's when boredom hits. You know what to do and how to do it. But the goal is still far off, and there's no way you can accelerate the process without ruining your progress so far. My advice is to have another hobby, and to do this on the side on those slightly more boring days. Another hobby is good to have whether or not you ever get bored anyway! + +So theres my 5 truths for today. I may share more if there is interest in it, and I welcome any and all feedback. + + Thanks guys! +Full credit to: u/Conscious_Diamond535 who doesn’t have enough karma to post here. Go give his original posts the focus/credit they deserve. + +......................................................................... + + +Force your shitty broker to prove that they bought your GME shares in one simple step. + +TL;DR: US securities laws require that brokers give you **the name of the person that they bought your shares from**, and + +They must give you the name of the broker that they bought your shares from, and + +They must tell you the exchange that they bought your shares on, and + +They must tell you if they acted as agent or principal (internalized trade, or not) + +All you have to do is ask them! (email template below) + +Find out once and for all if you own a GME IOU or a real share. It is important to find out before moon (or a RICO case against the criminals), so that brokers cannot simply unwind or delete your GME shares. Almost all Apes in any country can do this. + +Caution: if you do this, your broker’s head might explode! + +I have PublicFreakout worthy recordings of various managers, traders, and other reps at my broker when I probe their sensitive bits. Although doing this by phone is endlessly amusing, it is common sense not to piss your broker off too much before you deliver the death blow. For this reason, I have provided a template below. I am not a lawyer and this is definitely not legal or financial advice. Use anything in this post at your own risk. + +Note: DRS is still the way. + +US securities laws are well defined and have various safe guards in place to protect investors from securities counterfeiting and specifically allow Apes to get this counter party info for that reason. You will find some of these legal protections in + +[US Code of Federal Regulations Title 17 - CHAPTER II - PART 240 - SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Subpart A - Rules and Regulations - Manipulative and Deceptive Devices and Contrivances.](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/17/240.10b-10) + +Most countries' security regulators have a very similar set of rules for their markets. For example, trades on Canadian markets are regulated by IIROC and so you can demand most of this same info under [IIROC Rule 3816](https://www.iiroc.ca/rules-and-enforcement/iiroc-rules/3000/3816-trade-confirmations) when you buy securities on Canadian markets. + +All you need to do to get this info is to request it in writing. + +Just modify the template below with your shitty broker's name and your account info. Where it says “Ape”, change that to your name. Then email it to your shitty broker. + +If they refuse just email the letter to their complaint resolution team and make an SEC complaint at the same time. Remember that brokers may be violating securities laws each and every time they refuse, so document everything and pass it on to the SEC and your own country's security regulator. Make some noise you filthy Apes! + +When client regulatory complaints on any topic surpass a threshold, the SEC is required to review the nature of the complaints and seek resolutions. Apes can easily bring this matter to Gary's attention. + +You may or may not want to request all of this info about your GME buys. Brokers are required to provide all the info, but the less you ask for the more difficult it is for them to justify refusing. Take out anything that you don't care about. Conversely, you can usually also demand more info than this if you poke around on your trade confirmations and TOS and find something like this to add to the template: + +Additionally, I request the name of the dealer and market for these transactions as prescribed under the "Important Information" section of my online trade confirmations from \\\[BROKER NAME\\\]. + +Here is a sample template for your copy pasta pleasure: + +Attention: **BROKER NAME** + +I am hereby making a written request for trade confirmation data, specifically in regard to the trades where **BROKER NAME** has purchased GME for me in my **ACCOUNT TYPE – ACCOUNT NUMBER** while acting as agent in those trades upon a US market. BROKER NAME has indicated in my online trade confirmation statements that they acted as agent in all of my GME purchases. + +Specifically I am requesting that **BROKER NAME**, in regard to these GME purchases provide me with, at a minimum, the following information in writing within fifteen days as per **BROKER NAME**'s regulatory obligations to me under US Code of Federal Regulations Title 17 § 240.10b-10 - Confirmation of transactions: + +\-The date and time of each transaction and the identity, price, and number of shares or units (or principal amount) of GME purchased. + +\-The name of the person from whom the GME security was purchased. + +\-The amount of any remuneration received or to be received by the broker from me in connection with the transaction unless remuneration paid by me was determined pursuant to written agreement with me, otherwise than on a transaction basis. + +\-A statement whether payment for order flow is received by the broker or dealer for transactions in such securities. + +\-The source and amount of any other remuneration received or to be received by the broker in connection with the transaction. + +**BROKER NAME** has substantive regulatory obligations regarding fair dealing with clients. If **BROKER NAME** finds cause to reject my request, then I further request that **BROKER NAME** provide such statements rejecting my request to me in writing, within fifteen days, referencing the specific statutes, laws, and/or rules that **BROKER NAME** believes are sufficient to outweigh my rights as a customer of a regulated broker that is making trades on my behalf upon a regulated market. If, as a retail investor, I am misinformed about which specific regulatory authority or laws are governing the aforementioned transactions, then I will rely on **BROKER NAME** to act in good faith and provide me with a list of the regulatory entities and governing laws and/or rules whose protections I am entitled to. + +Please confirm that you have received my written request and that it will be forwarded to the appropriate department or individual for resolution. Thank you in advance for your assistance in successfully resolving this matter. + +Sincerely, + +Ape + +TL;DR: DRS. 🚀 🚀 🚀 + +Not legal or financial advice. Do your own research and come to your own conclusions. Seek professional advice from qualified legal and financial experts. Be excellent to each other. + +Please cross post this wherever you want. +Hi all, + +I'm wondering if the cost of charging an electric vehicle at home is cost effective vs equivelent monthly petrol/diesel spend? With the energy price cap increasing, is it getting close to the point where it is no longer cost efficient to own an electric vehicle? I'm specifically referring to charging costs here, not purchase costs. +This is the official $GME Megathread for r/Superstonk. Please keep ALL conversations contained to Gamestop and related topics. + +**Not enough karma?** Here's a [**quick guide**](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-get-karma-on-reddit/) on how to get it. + +# [announcements](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/wiki/index/announcements) + +* Make sure to check the Announcements regularly. 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We are in our early 50s with two kids and their colleges already paid for. We have a nice nest egg (\~5M in various stocks). + +I grew up poor and my father worked his ass off and was always petrified of debt. I inherited some of this from him and as we near retirement I think about this alot. The only debt we have is our mortgage with a very good interest rate. Payoff on the mortgage is about $800K, value of the house is likely $1.6-1.8M. + +We expect to stay in our home forever. I realize the best financial decision is likely to take the money and invest it but my mind keeps telling me how nice it would be to not have a mortgage. Thoughts? +https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/28/starbucks-latest-company-to-pause-ads-across-social-media-platforms.html + +Starbucks is the latest company to say it will pause advertising on “all social media platforms” and promises to have discussions internally and with media partners and civil rights organizations to stop the spread of hate speech. The company will continue to post on social media without paid promotion. + +Starbucks said though it is pausing advertising, it isn’t joining the #StopHateForProfit boycott campaign, which kicked off earlier this month. + +Coca Cola on Friday also said it would pause advertising on all social media platforms globally, while Unilever is halting advertising on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in the U.S. through Dec. 31. + +On Saturday, spirits giant Diageo said it will be pausing paid advertising globally on “major social media platforms” beginning in July. +Their satisfaction premium is lower. + +/////// + +An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. + + +The Mexican replied, “only a little while." + +The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? + +The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. + +The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?” + + +The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.” + +The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.” + +The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?” + +To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.” + +“But what then?” Asked the Mexican. + +The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!” +“Millions – then what?” + + +The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.” +I want to preface this and disclaimer THIS IS NOT FINACIAL ADVICE SIMPLY A SUGGESTION FOR ANYONE STRUGGLING WITH DEBT + +I have been struggling with my credit card debt lately and fought through my adhd and anxiety to actually ring my bank today (ANZ) to ask about options, I spoke to a lovely lady and was able to transfer my credit card debt onto a repayment plan, in detail it cancelled my card and my debt went from 20% to 7% (it is however still considered a credit card debt instead of a loan debt) this takes my debt repayment time from THIRTY FIVE YEARS (at min payment) to FIVE YEARS!!! + +please please PLEASE talk to your financial company (whether a bank or CC company) it is worth it to ask!! +This restaurant i wanted to eat at has a 2 hour line at 6pm on a wednesday. Clearly there is something messed up with supply demand here, why wouldnt they increase prices +Beyond Meat**®** announced its Q2 results ending July 3, 2021, on Thursday after the closing bell. + +##### Key Highlights: + +* Net revenues were $149.4 million, an increase of 31.8% year-over-year. + +* Gross profit was $47.4 million, or gross margin of 31.7% of net revenues. + +* Net loss was $19.7 million or $0.31 per common share. Net loss as a percentage of net revenues was -13.2%. + +* Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $2.2 million, or -1.5% of net revenues. + + +[https://risingcandle.com/marketnews/beyond-meat-announces-q2-results-revenue-up-32/](https://risingcandle.com/marketnews/beyond-meat-announces-q2-results-revenue-up-32/) +🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 +We might be living in both but I am not an economist, so don’t I have the answers which is why I’m asking others who are more intelligent. So do we live in a time of low wages, or just over inflated asset prices? + +In a lot of countries workers are striking, there is a rise in antiwork sentiment, working people who are homeless, adults living with parents etc. + +They’re complex issues and there is no simple solution to each of these but I can’t help but feel that much of their discontent is *actually* due to high rent and mortgage costs which has a knock on effect on almost everything. So instead of increasing everyone’s wages, **would it not make more sense to decrease asset prices, so that they are in line with the majority’s wages?** + +So maybe high asset prices good for an economy, but if wages do not keep up, they become a burden on it. + +I am based in the UK for context. +So my dad left me his house in his inheritance. He bought it a LONG time ago.. it’s been long paid off and it’s been well maintained and remodeled maybe 10 years ago so I don’t foresee any massive investments for repairs short of what I’d like to do. According to Zillow it’s “worth” $600k. (FWIW) + +I have no real estate investment experience nor cpa knowledge on this aspect of revenue and such. + +Where would you suggest I start? My concerns are: + +Manage myself or property management? +How do I claim it for income and taxes? +How do I minimize my tax burden (monies paid) + +I’m certainly onboard to learn it. + +Alternatively, I could sell it and keep the cash for well, cash. +Welcome to the Daily General Discussion thread of /r/EthTrader. + +*** + +Thread guidelines: + +- Please refrain from discussing non-Ethereum related tokens here. You are welcome to discuss altcoins in the Daily Altcoin Discussion thread. +- All [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/about/rules/) apply here so please be familiar with them. + +*** + + Resources and other information: + +* Newcomers who have basic questions about Ethereum can find answers by visiting /r/EthereumNoobies or our Ethereum Education wiki page, [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/wiki/education). + +* To view live streaming comments for this thread, [click here](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto). Account permissions are required to post comments through Reddit-Stream.com. + +*** + +Enjoy! + +https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/17/oracle-is-in-talks-to-acquire-tiktoks-us-operations-source-says.html + +Oracle is working with U.S. venture capital firms to acquire TikTok’s U.S., Canadian, Australian and New Zealand operations. + +Oracle’s talks are ongoing and have progressed in recent days. + +Oracle’s interest challenges Microsoft, which has been in talks to acquire the same TikTok assets for more than a month. + +Thanks for the award. +AAPL was the first U.S. company to reach a 2 Trillion dollar market cap in 2020. + +It begs the question. When will AAPL, and other Trillion dollar companies, reach their peaks? + +I’d like to believe AAPL can double in value again over the next few years, but that would mean that AAPL would have a 4 Trillion dollar market cap? Would it not? + +How realistic is it that these Multi trillion dollar companies like APPL and MSFT, keep growing at the rate they are, in the future? +There was a cold going around the office. I got tested because it was the "responsible" thing to do. Now my insurance is trying to charge me $225. Fuck that. They can take me to collections. I wouldn't have gotten tested if I knew I'd be getting charged like this. +**YES THIS IS GME RELATED.** + +&#x200B; + +Anyone know how to get ahold of this person on Twitter ([https://twitter.com/CatskillCrypto](https://twitter.com/CatskillCrypto)) ? I'm on the FTX Space call and this person just brought up the ENTIRE NAKED SHORTING scam from the real market (as he worked on Wall Street) and then explained how all the centralized exchanges in crypto operate the same way. + + +EDIT: + +He also said he can **PROVE** that FTX and other exchanges on chain data are doing exactly what we suspect the real market is doing. But he needs more manpower to do so to prove on chain data, which validates all our theories of the real market. + + + + +I can't message this person on Twitter, does someone have a burner account they can use to get his attention on twitter and ask him to come and speak here. + +I could tell instantly that this guy knew his stuff and explained everything we've been talking about for over a year! +Proof of work solves the Byzantine Generals problem, but it is expensive, inefficient, wasteful, and obsolete. Proof of Stake (PoS) v3 is an improvement for all of the problems listed below. + +###Centralization +Proof of Work (PoW) has always introduced points of centralization in the form of pools, electricity costs, and chip manufacturing. Pool centralization on PoW is so common it’s hardly reported on anymore. [Vertcoin is above 51%](https://www.reddit.com/r/vertcoin/comments/7ayjo7/move_from_coinotron_they_have_over_51_of_the_net/), [Zcoin is far above 51%](https://www.reddit.com/r/zcoin/comments/7cbq6e/to_the_entire_zcoin_mining_community_stop/), [Zcash is above 51%](https://themerkle.com/one-zcash-mining-pool-controls-over-51-of-the-network-hashrate/), [Dash has Antpool at 48%](https://chainz.cryptoid.info/dash/#!extraction). This is from looking at only 6 altcoins, not cherrypicking, so I’m sure there’s a lot more out there with this problem. PoW relies on people voluntarily switching from large pools to avoid this risk, but clearly that does not work in practice. Even if you get below 51%, you’re still at risk of the two or three largest pools being able to work together for an attack. There’s more than enough money flying around to incentivize that type of action. + +Electricity costs have centralized mining in places like China and Venezuela where it is significantly cheaper. ASIC chip manufacturing has been the most popular point on this topic with BitMain being the focus for the past year. The ASIC industry has centralized to only a few providers and in only a few countries. This gives these companies significant control over all coins dependent on these ASICs for security. + +Now the ASIC Resistance fans are going to jump in here and say the chip part does not apply to them. GPU mining introduces a few unique issues itself. [This article about why Sia chose to make ASICs for their coin](https://blog.sia.tech/choosing-asics-for-sia-b318505b5b51) elaborates on these concerns, but I’m going to focus on one here. ASICs are expensive and become obsolete quickly, but the are profitable if you are using them, so it is unlikely that there is much hashrate sitting idle. Conversely, GPUs are abundant and a very small amount are dedicated to mining. This means there is a massive amount of potential hashrate out there that could be used to attack a coin. We’ve already seen this done with CPU miners with botnets and now browser background mining. With the profitability of mining, the ease of operation (1 click miners anyone?), and the size of Mirai, Dridex, Reaper, and other botnets out there, you’ve got all the ingredients for a highly disruptive force. + +Proof of Stake has none of these issues. It doesn’t rely on chips, electricity costs, or pools. If you look at most PoS coin distributions for an idea of the hashrate, the largest player is usually less than 10% of the supply. Buying 51% of the supply is massively more expensive than 51% of a PoW hashrate. Additionally, some PoS coins like PIVX have a masternode layer as part of their block validation which would require ownership of far more than 51% of the supply for a chance at attack. + +###Governance + +Centralization is not only a 51% attack concern because many coins rely on mining hashrate for governance, which further stresses the importance of a high quality, decentralized security mechanism. If your proof mechanism has centralized in China, you’re not representing the interests of your users, you’re representing China’s interests. If your chain has been attack by a botnet, you’re highly inflenced by the owner of the botnet’s C2 server. Proof of Stake allows you to represent your users and scale influence according to investment. This is better, but still can lead to plutocracy, so take a look at Decred or PIVX for some excellent work on governance improvements. + +###Efficiency and Environmentally Friendliness +Proof of Stake is so low energy you can do it on a raspberry pi using a few watts. Proof of Work however is tremendously wasteful, requiring a massive amount of energy, hardware, and usually investment amount. Not only does this cut out many of the poorer people around the world, but an interesting story recently came out of Venezuela on this subject. Due to the economic turmoil and subsidized electricity, many people have turned to mining crypto to make some money. However, the oppressive government doesn’t like the loss of financial control or waste of electricity, so [they track down high electricity usage and jail crypto miners](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4o0zz49IOY). If they were staking a PoS coin and using network privacy tools, their risk would be basically eliminated. + + + +###“Rich get richer” fallacy + +There is a belief floating around that staking is a rich get richer ponzi scheme type system. This is not true in most PoS coins since coinage from PoSv1 was ditched. + +The main difference in mining/staking payout is who gets it. ASIC POW gives it to people who own mining or ASIC factories. Non-ASIC coins are giving it to the people with the technical knowledge and hardware to run mining rigs. Even 1 click miners are still giving it to people with the most optimized hardware. Proof of stake is simply giving it to the people holding the coin and supporting the network. It's a far more decentralized distribution. At a certain point POW is like broken window economics + +Most POS3.0 coins give proportional rewards, they don't give a preference for the ultra rich like FUD implies. When you consider that value is in relation to the coin supply, 8% ROI is just the same for 10 coins as 10,000,000 coins. Along the same lines a coin could just double everyone's holdings tomorrow and wealth distribution as a percentage would not change. +Inflation + +The small nugget of truth in this type of issue is that a holder of over 51% of the coins is difficult or impossible to usurp, but this type of attack is prohibitively expensive on any somewhat mature coin. It is magnitudes more expensive than buying more hashrate to attack a PoW coin and is not a repeatable attack because you would destroy the value of your own holdings and affect yourself more than the people you’re attacking. With a PoW hashrate attack however, you haven’t lost much of anything and can easily move on to attack the next coin or mine for profit. + +###Economics + +Finally, I’ve seen several people support PoW because it creates work and provides jobs. However, creating unneeded work just to employ someone is known in economics as [the Broken Window Fallacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_broken_window). + +The efficiency of PoS also removes the need to collect fees for miners. They can instead only be collected purely based on spam control and these savings are passed on to the users. Conversely, PoW fees are already getting prohibitively expensive and as the reward drops miners will move to other, more profitable coins because fees will not sustain as much hashpower. This will open up the coin to hashrate attacks. +So I just recently got a credit card to help raise my score and my current plan is to use it to get gas and then pay it off. Now the question is, as soon as I get gas and get home should I pay it off then or give it a few days to I guess post to the account? + +Could’ve sworn I read somewhere to wait til your statement pops and then pay it off, but I could be wrong. Thoughts? Or does it matter? +Your markets are run by bots. Now your daily threads are too. + +&#x200B; + +This thread is for plans and thoughts prior to the market open period. + +Maybe use this time to read the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/asx_bets/wiki/index/) [.](https://styles.redditmedia.com/t5_2hqqj5/styles/communityIcon_41pmnaqp4zn41.png?width=256&s=59bf38425fb316fdcba30365b272a5f19352f370) + +&#x200B; + +Posts relating to the "Is /r/ASX_bets about finance or effect your mental health?" etc will lead to a ban of the mods chosing. [You have been warned](https://www.reddit.com/r/ASX_Bets/comments/l0l9et/the_does_asx_bets_effect_your_finances_emotions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share). + +&#x200B; + +[We have an active official/unofficial discord. It's open to all discussions, stonks related and non-stonks related](https://discord.gg/wsNDGTf5QH). +I've been watching these funny lines and triangles in daily discussions looking for wisdom but absolutely none have predicted a drop like this and anytime the lines don't touch they're met followed with some vague predictions. Technical analysis doesn't work. You're drawing lines over past prices. +[Link](http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-42425857) + +Isn't it an unregulated market? Wouldn't it just be considered fraud? This will be very interesting + +*Edit: Many seem unfamiliar with the situation and many comments are uninformed. Please do your own research before you come to conclusions and take internet comments from strangers with a grain of salt.* +All right - so I'm ashamed to admit this - I haven't been to the dentist in three years and was in desperate need for a visit before my teeth went into a decayed state. I'm unemployed and my only insurance is paid for by the state which most providers don't accept for their care. Without much for options...I tried Aspen Dental out and they did their usual exam/x-rays and told me the results, giving me an estimate saying it'd cost me \~15k to have ten cavities filled and to instill a crown. + +We briefly discussed payment options. They INSISTED that the only possible option was payment for services at the time of each visit. How could they expect this from anyone at this outrageous price tag, unless their clientele is now persons in the upper 1%? She would not entertain the idea of a payment plan at all - so I abandoned all notions of respect and proceeded to share my opinion of the business' practice with the office manager and told her exactly where she could stuff them. ;) + +It's a good thing that I did too. Aspen Dental's 1.33 s&%tt! is coming, for a major reason from customers who had experiences like mine - who this company attempted to exploit. I'll explain. I went to get a second opinion from another practice. Guess how many fillings I actually need? TWO. And guess how many crowns (the most expensive procedure they suggested): ABSOLUTELY NONE. This demonstrates that Aspen Dental is taking advantage of those of us who have limited options. Fortunately, I'm a doctoral candidate in Special Education and I don't necessarily take my doctor's word for everything. I make mistakes - which means someone with a medical degree can't be 100% accurate. + +Therefore, I had questions about my treatment plan, especially given its price tag and the intentions behind it so I got a second opinion and it turns out this was for the best because my suspicions were proven correct so that I could get an improved, cheaper plan. + +I'm sharing this story for two reasons. + +1. To suggest to all of you who live and breathe on this planet to never use Aspen Dental. I think it is in our best interest that they go out of business. Their business model is built on taking advantage of us. The only way we get rid of them is by not going to them when we think we have no one else. Truth be told - there's always a better choice +2. Just to share a story about the ramifications of financial exploitation in the corporate world that shouldn't happen so that you can avoid having to experience this yourself. We learn by our own mistakes but we can also learn through each other too. +I’m pumped. I’ll be honest I’ve never understood you theta gang guys but now I get it. All week AMC has traded sideways between 12.50 and 14.50. Old me would have bought a call and been destroyed by theta decay. New me however sold 12.5 CSPs Monday and hit 80% profit by Wednesday bought back then sold next weeks 12.5 put on a dip and already up another 60%. All with what I consider to be very little risk. Made my weekly goal easily without the stress. Thanks. +I’m so thankful for this wonderful community. I have learned so much and I thought I’d make my first post and maybe provide some sobering perspective on the recent value spike. I’m going to make this short and sweet. + +I believe in Ether and have not sold any of my holdings over the last 9 months. That said, if I lost everything, my way of life would be unchanged and I am thankful for that. Please be safe as the future is uncertain even when the contrary appears to be true. +Just announced, don't think there are any details yet as to if they will be dropping the payout from 80%. + +https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52634759 + +Edit: taken from The Guardian: + +He says the scheme will be extended for four months, until the end of October. (It has been due to end at the end of June.) + +There will be no changes until the end of July. + +And in August, September and October will will continue with more flexibility. + +He says employers will be able to bring workers back part-time. (At the moment the scheme only subsidises workers who are not working at all.) + +He says the government will require employers to make a contribution. + +But he says employees will continue to get the same support they do now - 80% of wages. +No, I don't mean what stitching you'll choose for the leather seats for your Lambo. I'm asking something a lot of you probably haven't considered. You bought in at $.02, or $9, or $20, or whatever. You made a great call, your friends think you're a genius, and you're starting to think of yourself that way too. + + +Great. + + +Now the price is licking $100 on either side, and despite any corrections (c'mon, man, they're inevitable, no one gets 1,000% gains year over year EVERY year, it's simply not sustainable) it's likely to be worth more in a few years than it is now. Which means. . . + + +Some of you are now millionaires or will be soon enough to feel giddy with excitement. You are tracking numbers you've never seen before, life-changing numbers. Maybe you can pay off debt, maybe buy a house, pay for college, start a business, give to charity, or just sit back and relax and enjoy the fact that you made a really good call a while back and it's set you up for life. Maybe all of the above. Fan-fucking-tastic. + + +Now what? + + +How will you spend it? Not what are you going to buy. How. Will. You. Spend. It? + + +Are your coins in a digital wallet? Your $950 PC is now worth a million dollars. How are you backing up that wallet? + + +Are they in a paper wallet? Where are you storing that paper wallet? + + +God forbid they're on an exchange. How are you getting your money out? Do you think Poloniex is prepared for billions in funds leaving the exchange when a lot of early investors start to cash out? Have you done the math on how long you'll be exposed to market fluctuations as you try to remove your money with a withdrawal limit of $2,000 (or even $25,000)? + + +And what about all that smack talk? You've been telling everyone who will listen that you bought 197,000 ETH at .02. You think that quiet guy in your office, the one with the meth habit, can't do the math? He doesn't have to understand crypto to know you won the lottery. What about your family? The uncle with a bad gambling habit? Or just the jealous cousin who thinks she deserves to be just as lucky as you, and you're family so how about an interest-free loan? + + +Are you ready for the tax implications? I'm a big fan of, if you've got enough to have a painful tax liability, you've got enough to not give a shit about paying your taxes. When you're right with the tax man, no one can take what's yours. + + +And once you take it out, in fiat most likely, how are you going to handle the fact you're now back to square one, with money that loses value just sitting there. + + +So my question is: how will you pay off your debts, buy a home, give to charity, take a vacation, pay the tax man? + + +Yes, yes, we've all seen the Bitcoin Matrix meme: +>Neo: You mean someday I can trade my altcoins for millions? + + +>Morpheus: No, Neo. What if I told you some day you won't have to? + + +But you're sitting on real value. Have you thought ahead to how you will do all the things that value can do? +Yes this rule did get delayed until June 21st (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro/nscc.htm#SR-NSCC-2021-002) BUT this does not mean that the MOASS will not happen until then. + +Volume is so low right now that any even slightly bullish announcement from GameStop could ignite this thing. Possible announcements/catalysts from GameStop; CEO announcement, more votes than float, merger, acquisition, crypto dividend just to name a few. + +My opinion is that Cohen was waiting to see if they would approve these rules before the shareholder meeting but since 002 was pushed back until June 21st he may take matters into his own hands. Remember, GameStop specifically stated in their SEC filings that a short squeeze is very likely to happen due to excessive short selling and if this does happen GameStop is not at fault. Cohen is the man with a plan. + +Do not let this delay worry you at all. It would help the moass start but is not necessary. + +Edit: Many comments are saying it is delayed until June 21st at the latest but can be accepted before then. +All of the discussion of this that I've seen on this sub so far has mostly ignored the thousands(?) of apes who have ALREADY had shares sold out from under them by RH. I myself left them a fraction of a share as an honesty test when I transferred out in Feb, and it took them less than 2 weeks to sell at a dip. Screencapped in my post history. + +DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SHARES IN ROBINHOOD ONE MINUTE LONGER. They are not remotely reliable and are considerably more likely than not to cheat you. + +PS yes this is legal, its [explicitly laid out in their TOS,](https://i.imgur.com/kJmyXpi.png) presumably for precisely this scenario. They knew who their bosses were from day 1. + +Edit: Just so the link is in the op too, [Robinhood's full TOS.](https://cdn.robinhood.com/assets/robinhood/legal/Customer%20Agreement.pdf) I strongly advise you to read it yourself. + +Edit PS: I eat french fried crayons and play a lifeguard on TV +RC knows the right strategy to cripple these corrupt hedge funds. + +Take huge chunks of market share from the biggest industries on Amazon. + +PET / GAMING / ELECTRONICS / HOME GOODS BEYOND + +Wouldnt be surprised if he went HAM on Kohls next. + +This man has been playing 8D backgammon and knows Big fullfillment centers + excellent customer service = better than shitty amazon. + +To the moon 🚀 🚀 🌙 +Still a rookie in investing, just started last summer. I got 10K to invest in ETFs. I am going to need the money for a property down payement in 3-4 years. What medium risk ETFs do you recommend? +I assume those of you on this sub are investing, not gambling. I also assume that y'all care about risk. If so, please read on. + +I feel like several times a day I see a "portfolio" advice post for "portfolios" that is 100% tech. IMO, these portfolios will perform poorly and have extreme amounts of risk. In a loose sense, portfolios seek to balance many different equities to achieve an optimal risk/reward. This is done through diversification. If you're 100% tech (especially if it's only US tech) you have little to no diversification. If you want extreme risk, you're better off trading individual stock, options or even FOREX. + +**Why:** There is a reasonable chance of a tech correction + +* Tech has all the hallmarks of another bubble tech + * Many people are buying now only because yesterday's price was lower + * Fundamentals are making less and less sense + * It's happened before + +&#x200B; + +* The tech boom makes sense (I've pointed this out many times on this sub) + * COVID propelled personal savings to all-time highs and money needed a home. [https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PSAVERT](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PSAVERT) + * High Yield Savings and Bonds are unattractive at current rates + * Equities are the best option, but tech is better. It's the sector least impacted by COVID. + * QE is propelling equities (it's also scaring people that inflation will be high) + +&#x200B; + +* The eventual bust also makes sense + * The world comes back to normal + * Beaten down sectors will return to pre-COVID levels, at the expense of tech + * Savings will reduce + * Rates will eventually increase; Bonds, Savings Acct and Fin Sector will look more favorable. + * All this puts pressure on tech and the FED will not intervene. They only care about credit markets. + +**Import case study** (thanks r/investing) + +* Cisco system was the highest valued company in 2000, today's it barely in the top 30. For example, if you bought 100 shares of Cisco in July 2000 it would have cost you \~$7000, by July 2001 100 shares was worth \~$2000. Even scarier, if you held for 20 years, 100 shares are worth \~$4000 today. You're still in the hole, big time! + * This is a great example, as many over-valued tech companies, Tesla, Apple, etc... Will not go bankrupt, but they might be smaller. + +**Will all this actually happen?:** Maybe, maybe not. I just wanted to show y'all that it's not unreasonable. Hence you must diversify to minimize downside risk. + +**What to do** : + +* Take a profit on some of the tech and diversify! +* You can do this simply with some VTI and VXUS. +* You can do this more complexly with non-tech cyclicals, fin sector, some REITs, internal funds. +* Don't stop tech buying. If you believe in tech, keep buying! Just do so in a sensible way. Don't put all your money on black and cross your fingers. That's gambling and you're smart; you're buying ETFs cause you don't wanna gamble! + +Even the pros love tech, but they're not 100% tech: [https://wallethub.com/edu/hedge-fund-stocks/38113/](https://wallethub.com/edu/hedge-fund-stocks/38113/) + +I'm long tech, buy it frequently and it makes up \~15-20% of my portfolio. + +**Edit**: Nice example, I looked at what happened right before the last tech crash: + +* A 50-50 portfolio of Tech and SPY dominates Tech or Spy on it's own +* This backtest assumes that tech will bust soon and decrease dramatically; probably not realistic. +* Play with the dates as you wish. However, even if you bought tech at the exact right time, i.e. Mid-1999, you'll see returns of the 50-50 mix is still good (though less than tech only), but with significant less variance. Also, don't forget tech ETFs can have hefty expense ratios which eat at CAGR. + +[https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/backtest-portfolio?s=y&timePeriod=2&startYear=2000&firstMonth=8&endYear=2020&lastMonth=12&calendarAligned=true&includeYTD=false&initialAmount=10000&annualOperation=0&annualAdjustment=0&inflationAdjusted=true&annualPercentage=0.0&frequency=4&rebalanceType=1&absoluteDeviation=5.0&relativeDeviation=25.0&showYield=false&reinvestDividends=true&portfolioNames=true&portfolioName1=Tech+Mutual+Fund&portfolioName2=SP+500&portfolioName3=Mix&symbol1=FSPTX&allocation1\_1=100&allocation1\_3=50&symbol2=SPY&allocation2\_2=100&allocation2\_3=50](https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/backtest-portfolio?s=y&timePeriod=2&startYear=2000&firstMonth=8&endYear=2020&lastMonth=12&calendarAligned=true&includeYTD=false&initialAmount=10000&annualOperation=0&annualAdjustment=0&inflationAdjusted=true&annualPercentage=0.0&frequency=4&rebalanceType=1&absoluteDeviation=5.0&relativeDeviation=25.0&showYield=false&reinvestDividends=true&portfolioNames=true&portfolioName1=Tech+Mutual+Fund&portfolioName2=SP+500&portfolioName3=Mix&symbol1=FSPTX&allocation1_1=100&allocation1_3=50&symbol2=SPY&allocation2_2=100&allocation2_3=50) + +&#x200B; +Three things that led to this day. + +1) Sacrifice and determination to pay down our loans. + +2) Decent paying jobs where we didn't have to eat ramen, but we didn't buy many material things. + +3) We formulated our own method. You hear about the avalanche and snowball methods. We used both in a very calculated way. + +Targeting our highest interest loans with the lowest balances. So if you have 3 loans at 6.8%, throw extra money on the 5k loan before the 10k loans to get satisfaction of paying off a loan and saving the most on interest. + +Thanks for all your support over the years. It's been a tremendous help. +So I received some money in my bank accounts. (For Short term income plan). It came from SBI account. + +Based on my basic calculations, if all goes well in future then we will get back principle amount (amount that we invested) but interest amount will be the loss. (So 10-15% loss for me in 2-3 years of my investment) + +Some money is also stuck in side pocket schemes that are still valued zero (Yes bank and Vodafone). Vodafone money will most likely come back. Yes bank, not sure. + +Some more amount is stuck with Reliance ADA group and Future group of companies. I hope Franklin is taking legal action and informs investors on what is going on. + +So lets see. Fingers crossed. +In addition to that, if the dividends are indeed the better option, which is a better route between the following: A high paying dividend stock (~8%) that doesn’t grow, or a low paying dividend stock (~2%) that does routinely improve each year? I know that’s a lot, and so I thank you all in advance for your responses. +Link to original post is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/UKPersonalFinance/comments/isig4o/i_want_out_of_my_house_to_the_extent_that_i_would/ + +A few days ago in a state of despair I posted about how much I wanted to get out of my current house. Cue some really helpful replies (and a very kind direct chat), ranging from financial savvy to mental health. The main consensus was to speak to an estate agent and to also speak to my GP, and this morning I did both. + +The estate agent values the house at pretty much bang on what Zoopla expected, and the GP has prescribed anti-depression and anti-anxiety medication. + +Going to view a new place soon, and looking forward to moving on. + +Thanks again to undoubtedly the best UK-based sub (which puts it high in the running for best on reddit). + +EDIT: Some objections to the course of action from the doctor, or that I should just deal with my issues alone, so here is my take: I get what you're saying, but the issue isn't really the annoying neighbours; they are just the latest manifestation of the symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder. It's clear to me that I've struggled with it for most of my adult life, and now I want to move forward and make the most of my life. The doctor recommends some medication, and I trust her judgement. + +So why move house? Well, my wife and I still want something better for ourselves, and I don't think I will ever really be completely comfortable here. So I think it's worth exploring the options. + +EDIT 2: Well, this was a throwaway, so soon I shall throw it, but I will leave the post for future reference. It's been a truly emotional day, from breaking down when talking to the doctor, to breaking down when I told my wife, and then a third time reading your kind words. For anybody else who reads this and recognises their own feelings, don't waste another minute. +I feel like this is kind of a rookie question, but I’m having trouble finding answers to kind of a niche question: I’m a foster parent. I’ve had these teens for almost 2 years, and I’d like to help them get checking accounts set up. Their mom still has some rights as of now (state has filed for permanent custody, but it’s a process that’s going to take probably another year)... can I help them set up checking accounts that their biological mom can’t access? +I know I could probably set up another checking account in my own name and just give them access; but, at least when I was a teen, student checking accounts were free without all the direct deposit requirements +Edit: to be a bit clearer about the goal... I’m not trying to set up some trust fund for large amounts of money. I just want them to be able to have a debit card and start learning to budget more than just cash +Looking for the micro investments and not the Ben Bernanke macro judgements that it can’t happen because of the us debt load or whatever other macro answer. What say you? +Love this sub. + +What are some of the best methods for analyzing reports? I’ve heard such things as starting from the back when reading, and was wondering if anyone had any other tips? +There is little I learn from Buffet today but continue to reread his statements and advice as a guideline for how I should conduct myself as an investor. The advice to never lose money, expect investing to be very boring and control emotions has helped me to keep the right mindset and know that I’m investing, rather than gambling and calling it investing. I am nowhere near wealthy and, if I lost all of my money, can make it back within one year simply by working. But this is a mindset that, if learned now and enforced over time, will bring me some degree of financial success. + +Just my thoughts while I cannot sleep. I won’t say why, but international events (not financially related) have kept me awake. Please stay safe and healthy +&#x200B; + +https://preview.redd.it/gxe6zwtsi0e91.jpg?width=2635&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1147528560be55fc4701932432c33fd9ee406783 + +[Exhibit A](https://preview.redd.it/iiozao7bfzd91.jpg?width=1035&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe4e93d080bfdb394f94ebd858ebd279c1e5ae8f) + +At 9:32 AM, directly after the open, two large sell blocks ($6M / 185k shares) ***from*** a Dark Pool executed ***on*** the public exchange ***Below-the-Bid*** causing a **-1.75%** drop to $32.20 in less than 2 minutes. + +&#x200B; + +[Various sold puts](https://preview.redd.it/ustor9ccj0e91.jpg?width=895&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2e97132f04ed4e9a115f7c81a9912ddac1c95945) + +Over the next 20 minutes, $391k worth of Puts were Sold-to-Open (Long Position) in a *Below-the-Bid Sweep Order* timed at almost the exact bottom of the drop caused by the sell blocks\*.\* Sweeps are aggressive large limit orders split up and sent to multiple exchanges. These order types sacrifice getting a good price so that they can be filled as fast as possible. + +&#x200B; + +&#x200B; + +[7\/29 30 Put \(In my local timezone on accident, this is 9:33 EST\)](https://preview.redd.it/35z37ei3xzd91.jpg?width=1557&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8baec7e5d1e91b3e88ac0ff95878c0f945cadd0a) + +Coincidentally the moment they wrote the contracts happened to be the **high of the day for these Put options (RIP Bagholding Retail GME Bears).** *\*the Put chart is in my local time so add 3 hours for EST = 9:33 AM* + +&#x200B; + +At 11:10 a **$1.53M Buy Order** (46.43k Shares) printed **on exchange from a Dark Pool** driving the price up to its high of the day at 11:19. \[At 11:21 \~450 volume occurs on the 30P (you can see the big orange volume candle just after 11 on the chart above\] + +&#x200B; + +The 4th and final Dark Pool order of the day was a **$4.82M Buy Order** (150k Shares) right before close at 3:44 PM. This ***entire order*** **was routed off exchange** **to the dark pool in order to prevent the upward price movement it would have caused.** + +Price did slightly rise for a few minutes after this block printed, but if you compare the candle volume to the block volume this was ***factually*** not due to the block itself and most likely (in my opinion) just an indirect effect of traders and algos trying to follow the mammoth dark pool print. Directly prior to this, another unusual burst of 300 volume had occurred on the Put between 12:15 - 12:20 (3:15 - 3:20 EST). + +&#x200B; + +**TL;DR-** + +**So putting it all together (follow along with the 1st chart in the post) -** + +**To help visualize, think of this Dark Pool participant not as an internalizing market** **~~manipulator~~** **maker with a god complex, but as a singular trader named Jim Cramer whose account balance goes up and down like everyone else. The only difference is, Jim uses a special brokerage owned by his father Ken.** + +**Starting balance: 185,460 Shares of GME and $0 Cash** + +**Jim sells 185.46K SHARES @ $32.50 = +$6.02M Cash** + +**Weirdly, the price dropped a lot when he sold the shares (he luckily somehow always manages to sell the top 🤷‍♂️) so now would be a great time to sell some Puts since they just went up a lot when the price dropped!** + +**Jim sells various Puts = +$391k -----> Cash Balance: $6.41M** + +**As price drifts, higher Jim's sold puts are up a ton and he decides he wants to use his cash plus the premium from the Puts to buy his favorite stock back at a great discount!** + +**Jim places two buys through his dads brokerage for 196k shares(10k more than he had in the first place) costing him $6.35M.** + +**Balance:** + +**196k GME (+10k)** + +**Leftover Cash: $xxxK to buy back (lol!) his short Puts tomorrow** + +&#x200B; + +TL;DR for TL;DR + +$6M Sell was routed to lit exchange to push price down at open at which point Puts were sold to retail bagholders, afterward a $1.5M Buy order from a Dark Pool was routed to lit exchange to get said retail bagholders to tap out, then a $4.5M Dark Pool Buy Order was kept off exchange to not allow price to run up while buying back the shares they sold to drop it at open. +Its happening, and way faster than anyone called. Interest rates are the major determining factor for property prices, and they've barely gone up yet. Look out for -15-20% in Sydney/Melbourne by December as rates rise. I'd call it at already being about -5% since peak. + +[https://www.afr.com/property/residential/clearance-rates-fall-as-confidence-crumbles-20220603-p5aqxc](https://www.afr.com/property/residential/clearance-rates-fall-as-confidence-crumbles-20220603-p5aqxc) + +PS migration will have negligible impact on prices. There's no evidence that migration has restarted yet. + +And don't forget to remind every agent just how quiet the market is! +$1342.72 is the most I’ve had in a bank account at once. I’m glad I’m getting over my impulsive spend all the money I have and live paycheck to paycheck tendencies. +I figured out that I've taken in more in SNAP and Medicaid benefits than I've paid in taxes over the past decade. While I am extremely thankful for these safety nets, I feel ashamed that I am a net drain on society, at least in fiscal terms. Anyone else feel like this? I hope to turn it all around one of these days, but I'm starting to lose hope. +The sudden economic stop caused by coronavirus containment measures will cause a global recession this year and could see U.S. corporate default rates spike above 10% in the next 12 months, ratings agency S&P Global warned on Tuesday. + +“The sudden economic stop caused by COVID-19 containment measures will lead to a global recession this year,” S&P said in a new report + +A cash flow slump and much tighter financing conditions as well as the simultaneous oil price shock will hurt creditworthiness it added. + +“These factors will likely result in a surge in defaults, with a default rate on nonfinancial corporates in the U.S that may rise above 10% and into the high single digits in Europe over the next 12 months.” + +[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-defaults-s-p/coronavirus-to-cause-global-recession-surge-in-defaults-sp-global-idUSKBN214216](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-defaults-s-p/coronavirus-to-cause-global-recession-surge-in-defaults-sp-global-idUSKBN214216) +Not trying to trigger people but I would like to learn from first Hand account of people who made real gains in the market and booked profits. + +&#x200B; + +my friend who works for a leading financial services org and is a CFA is in losses and was just about breaking even before the lockdown. + +Another guy whos been very disciplined with his SIPs for close to 10 years is down 27% but then he never really created any wealth in the MFs. + + My MBA classmate who works for Ford in the US and has Been investing sinice his School days apparently is also down and says he’s losing faith in markets and want to shift to safer avenues of investment. + +&#x200B; + +I understand we have cyclical downturns and that is inherent nature of the beast but we also know we can’t time the market then how do you get out to make something out of your $$$$$ or do you just stay invested only to go through another down. + +&#x200B; + +&#x200B; + +Honest feedback please +Hello future **$Superbitcoiners !** + +Coming live in your attention presenting our $BTC rewarding token with unseen Tokenomics : + +💰10% of every buy/sell is redistributed to all $SuperBTC ($SBTC) holders in Bitcoin. 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Our Small Private Sale is now LIVE ! ! !** 🔥 🔥 🔥 + +Early players will receive 10% extra tokens for contributing in the private sale + +Check out our Telegram channel for further details. ✉️ **Telegram :** [**https://t.me/SuperBTCbsc**](https://t.me/SuperBTCbsc) + +We are a transparent team as you can see on our channel and the community growth is organic, no bots allowed + +Follow us on twitter for the latest updates : ✉️ **Twitter :** [**https://twitter.com/SuperBTCbsc**](https://twitter.com/SuperBTCbsc) + +Checkout our roadmap our 🌏 **Website :** [**www.superbtcbsc.com**](https://www.superbtcbsc.com) +Stage 1: People refer to a large, sudden, and unexplainable drop in price as a 'correction', anyone referring to it as a crash gets shunned. + +Stage 2: People start responding to any question with 'just don't look at the charts all the time' and get offended when people want to talk about crypto on a crypto subreddit. + +Stage 3: Some people start using the word crash without being downvoted while others are confident that it will be going back up soon. + +Stage 4: People are now confident that it will definitely be going lower and will always go lower, the crypto dream is dead and so is the stock market. Everything is ruined. Other times the market has gone down get referenced constantly. The phrase 'crypto winter' starts being repeated frequently. + +Stage 5: EVERY question gets answered with 'we don't know shit about fuck'. Some people start commenting 'go outside and touch grass' to every post no matter the context. + +Final Boss Stage: The suicide hotline number gets posted. +Hey all, + +36, wife and two kids, 13M NW CAD + +Building off [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/fatFIRE/comments/lc56vd/at_what_point_does_it_make_sense_to_harbor_money/) thread, I want to have a geopolitical insurance policy for my family and a portion of my assets. Singapore is right for us given our Asian descent. I'm looking to attain something that is pretty iron clad in the worst case scenario, which is basically can I get on the plane and get into the country if war breaks out. Likely need a path to passport/citizenship vs. a visa or what not that could easily get turned away when chaos ensues. + +Online I see there's a 2.5M SGD investment path, but am not sure if that's actually what will get me what I describe above + +Does anyone have an experience with this? Any insight from yourself, or a referral to an agency you worked with would be very appreciated + +Thanks all +> The Income Tax Act (Canada) determines whether or not a security is a “qualified investment.” When you hold non-qualified investments in a registered plan like an RRSP, RRIF or TFSA, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) may impose penalties on the annuitant or holder of the plan. The annuitant/holder would also be subject to tax reporting requirements. Here we look at non-qualified investments – what they are, and what to do if you hold any in your registered accounts. + +>Determining What’s Qualified and What’s Not + +>Generally, a security meets the requirements of a qualified investment if it trades on at least one stock exchange that meets the requirements of a Designated Stock Exchange (DSE), as determined by the Department of Finance Canada. + +>You can find a complete list of the DSEs (including well-known North American exchanges such as the NASDAQ, NYSE and TSX) by visiting www.canada.ca and searching “designated stock exchanges.” + +>In general, a security that trades only on OTC markets is a non-qualified investment, but if it also trades on a Designated Stock Exchange, it may be considered qualified. + +>Many Canadian investors find themselves owning a non-qualified investment when buying investments that trade on Over-the-Counter (OTC) markets (as opposed to stock exchanges), or when a security is delisted from a DSE and begins trading over-the-counter. The OTC market is a decentralized, loosely transparent and lightly regulated market where dealers act as market makers, supplying bid and ask prices for securities and currencies. + +>In general, a security that trades only on OTC markets is a non-qualified investment, but if it also trades on a DSE, it may be considered qualified. For example, if a stock trades over-the-counter in the U.S. but also trades on a DSE in Europe, it may qualify to be held in a registered plan. + +>If you hold non-qualified investments in a registered plan, there may be penalties and additional tax reporting requirements. + +https://www6.royalbank.com/en/di/reference/article/owning-a-non-qualified-investment-can-be-costly/j7sfxevb +I’m 35 years old and I started my business of mobile DJ’ing four years ago as a way to make some side money. It’s taken off and I’m making more money then I know what to do with. I’ve never been much of a financial planner, I don’t have a 401k or any other investments for that matter. Everybody in my family has lived paycheck to paycheck for as long as I can remember and they have no assets to show for it. I’ve saved up something over $50,000 but it’s just sitting in my savings and checkings account. I’m also now making over six figures a year in profits and it’s still growing. + +I get a lot of different advice from a lot of different people. I’m sure it’s all good advice, but I just don’t know if it’s what’s best for me. People mention I should be buying my first apartment or condo, or buying a property then renting it out, my accountant says I should start a retirement fund, others say I should invest, others say I should travel the world... frankly it’s a bit overwhelming and I don’t know where to begin. I like to do my research before making any big decisions, but like I said I just don’t know where to begin. Are there any books or sites that you would recommend? + +I also feel like I’m being a bit frivolous with my new found money. My credit card bill each month is between 2k and 4k. Some of that is investing in the business or other miscellaneous business expenses, but a lot of it is going out to eat or drink, going on trips or vacation, or to buy myself nice things. Maybe I’m lying to myself I when I say that in my line of work of dj’ing and entertaining that there are a lot of events that I’m going out to network and build relationships, so it’s justified. But sometimes I wonder if it’s too much too. I feel like I’m definitely getting more care free about it as well and I might be biting off more than I can chew. I want to be more disciplined about my spending habits. + +TL;dr : I don’t know what to do with the money I’m making, I’m also spending more than I’m comfortable with. I want to invest properly in my future but I don’t know where to begin and I’m getting anxious about it. + +Edit: I don’t have any debt besides a work vehicle loan of about 12k. I paid everything else off recently including school debt and past credit card bills. My monthly credit card that I pay 2k-4K is accrued monthly and paid off every month, mainly just so I can get the points/cash back for them. +For myself \[a while back\] - it was buying myself a new pullup bar thinking yeah i will definitely use this alllllllllllllllllll the time - jokes it's still in the box... +Mostly I swing and day trade however, I'm starting to get involved with dividends. Currently I have SLVO, BGR, T, XOM and GAIN. Which is preferred within the community; monthly or quarterly dividends? +I have 1.1k In VOO my mains goal is long term gain but For now it’s Divideds. Thinking about investing 100 a week into SCHD. + +I’m 18 living rent free. I make 15/hr and I invest 100 every week. +The only legit token against Logan ruining the sport we all known and love, Boxing. We have had enough of him and his brother and this is now the last straw, why hate him and cry when you can make your hate earn you just rewards. A ton of telegram everyday people are waiting for this fight and so should you with its price before it blows. + +&#x200B; + +$FLP is currently sitting at $150k market cap at the time of this post, you're getting into what will be a trend especially if Logan cannot back his big mouth in the ring against Mayweather. This reached ATH 100X its original entry point and definately on road for surpassing that come the fight. + +&#x200B; + +Holders are rewarded with high liquidity pool by the community and thus means really its a no brainer to get in and hold whilst watching Mayweather dish out the money, after all he is a Money team Ceo. Telegram is nearly 300 at time of writing, could easily be 600 by the time you read this. + +&#x200B; + +Tokenomics: + +\- Ownership Renounced + +\- 90% LP Burned + +\-96% LP Locked + +\- 5% fee returned to liquidity to ensure the coin is thriving + +\- 2% fee provided to all holders to reward them for holding + +&#x200B; + +Telegram: [https://t.me/fuckloganpaultg](https://t.me/fuckloganpaultg) + +&#x200B; + +Contract: 0xe7c12f8c06e0d0ac128e0c1f83cc2878ac7a98f5 + +&#x200B; + +As always, do your own research with the information that has been provided and ask any questions you may have in the telegram as the community seems welcoming and informative. +**TLDR:** Here’s goes my first ever post on Reddit: Just hit $2.6M net worth at age 33 after discovering I was working towards FIRE without knowing what it was until stumbling across it online last year. Wife doesn’t care, but wanted to tell someone. My story, lessons learned, & how FIRE changed my strategy. + +**Reasons for FIRE:** I’ve worked from home for a tech company for 13 years (Support Delivery) Unlike many people on this sub, I actually love my job, and would do it forever, but know I got incredible lucky and don’t know how I’ve lasted this long already with the BS corporate performance cycle, quotas, etc. My skillset is not transferrable, so if/when they fire me, I’d likely be starting at the ground-level at another company making little $, and probably not working from home, so I decided that when that days comes, I want to be ready. In a way I see it as being a "good steward" so to speak of the hand and luck that I was dealt, and I want to make sure I'm not squandering that by pissing it away on things that don't matter. Curious if anyone else is in the same boat with why they're pursuing FIRE? + +I’m a bit of a lone wolf with how I live life, so when I stumbled across the FIRE movement online last year, I was excited to find the formal framework for what I had been pursuing on my own for years. I had never heard of the 4% rule, and didn’t even think about stocks as a viable option for early retirement, so my focus had been on buy-&-hold rentals, which after managing 7 myself, although almost no work when counted in hours, started becoming more *stressful* than I liked. + +This sub, along with the blogs like MMM, changed my approach and for the past year, I’ve been slowly changing my focus on simplifying my investments, stopped buying homes and started dumping excess income into VTI instead, and even sold my first rental this year. + +**Income:** Started at $48k in 2007, now $160k + $70k profit from 7 rentals mostly owned with cash. + +**Spending:** My current savings rate is 87%. I spend only $26k / year somehow but feel I live luxuriously. I own 2 cars, dirt bikes, ATVs (all Hondas), and spend plenty of time each year vacationing overseas. My #1 expense is travel, and some trips I figure out a way to get the owner of our side-gig (performing arts) to pay for as long as we perform or teach while there (while also making the trip partially tax deductible too). [Link to my current spending / income / savings rate chart](https://i.imgur.com/BKAGvgF.jpg) + +**Investments:** [Link to my mint.com entire NW summary](https://i.imgur.com/xvTLC6P.jpg) + +* **$1.35M** – paid off real estate (now 7 total homes, $1.6M minus $367k in mortgages), includes my personal $300k house. Average ROI for my rentals is 14% w/ just rents, 39% if capital appreciation is factored in. It’s lower because most of them are paid off, so less leverage. [(Screenshot of Rental ROI Details)](https://i.imgur.com/waVzvqy.jpg) I used my HELOC to pay "cash" for homes, then aggressively paid it down and repeated. Was probably risky, but it's paid off now, and is my "E-fund" now. +* **$500k** – Taxable (VTI / VXUS) – M1Finance [(Screenshot)](https://i.imgur.com/bYFuyXi.jpg) Their automation is awesome btw +* **$220k** – Taxable in my company’s stock, acquired through ESPP. Yes I want to move this to VTI, but $130k is gains, so don’t know how to without a huge tax bill. Any ideas? +* **$345k** – 401k maxed out [(Screenshot)](https://i.imgur.com/3vMwfQk.jpg) (Russel 3000, the best options I could find) +* **$96k** – Other (HSA maxed out, joint SoFi account w/ wife, Prosper.com, 24k cash, etc) + +**Taxes:** Federal taxes paid is $16k / year. Real estate helps a lot here, plus our side gig which turns many expenses, hobbies, & travel I'd pay anyway into deductions. + +**Marriage:** I’m married, but we keep our finances separate, so all these numbers are my own. We both contribute an equal amount into a small joint checking for things like groceries & utilities. I’ve shared with her my net worth when I crossed $2.0M, but she didn’t seem to care much. + +**Family Life:** No help from family, at all... I actually ran away from home as a minor and never went back. I took the GED and started college at age 15, graduated at 19. I think pushing the "youngest to graduate blah blah" narrative hard with the college recruiters definitely helped me land the tech job, not because I was particularly skilled. I've been working full time since age 16. + +**Current Plan:** + +* Ride this job out as long as I can without getting fired in spite waning motivation and struggling with work performance. Enjoy the freedom of working from "home", wherever home is that day. +* Continue simplifying finances. Sell 220k of company stock somehow. Want to also sell a few more homes eventually and put that $ in the stock market. I wouldn’t mind keeping a few long term if I don’t have another job to give me something to do. Dreading the capital gains bill from all this. + +**Thoughts & Reflections:** + +* My philosophy in life (FIRE, taxes, politics, money) has been "tell me what the rules of the game are, and I'll figure out how to win". I see so many people whining how they can never succeed in the current "system" (thankfully not so much on this sub), when in reality, no one is going to come along and change the rules for you personally so you can succeed. It's your job to win given the current system the best we can. +* I bought my houses in 2013–2018, when prices were still near the bottom after the recession. I realize this was just luck, and don’t intend to keep pushing that luck or think that is a repeatable format. No regrets, I just got very lucky. +* Keep maxing out tax-advantaged accounts, something I didn't start doing until discovering FIRE. +* I had dumped a bunch of money in cryptos over the last couple years. Finally pulled the plug and got out with big losses. They're right, the pain of seeing losses is way worse than gains. Oh well. +* This year I finally sold all my hard gold and silver that I've owned since 1999. Yes, it was in preparation for Y2K. Also yes, I was just a 13 year old child (but a very prepared child!) +* Focus on choosing a career path that maximizes income first in any way possible. That's far more important than cutting $20 off your cell phone bill. This should be the 1st step to FIRE. +* IMO, doing “something you love” isn’t as glamorous as it sounds. I went to college for art, and realized that although it seemed “fun”, it doesn't pay, and there’s no quicker way to kill a fun hobby than having to do it for a living. Also, I’d rather work a fraction my life at a desk job than my whole life doing something I thought sounded cool at age 20. If the 8-5 desk job doesn’t sound fun, focus on what makes decent money that you COULD still find enjoyable. There’s more options you could enjoy than you realize. Instead of just focusing on “what sounds fun to ME”, focus on “what does the world need more of”, or “what's in high demand in my community that I’d enjoy somewhat at least”. The money often follows that. +* In the beginning I was focused on maximizing returns, which is why I chose rentals. Average work is only a 1-2 hours / week, BUT, I’ve realized I hate the stress. E.g. recent text from tenant: “Sent my brother to check on house, he got stabbed by squatters, is in hospital”. …talk about a way to ruin a weekend (well, more like 4 months, squatters are no joke). Now that I have higher net worth & more money “working for me”, I don’t mind sacrificing return % for peace of mind. +* Don’t turn down living your best life today. There are tons of opportunities, trips, etc that seemed like they cost a lot of money at the time, but turned out to some of my best memories that I would never give up, even if I missed out on compounding gains as a result. Say yes to the parts of life that come along that excite you, and don’t put if off until retirement, since these are what make life worth living, not your net worth $. I often think “if I died today, would I have regrets having focused on savings so much”? Find that balance & slash the stuff that doesn’t matter. For us, that’s kids, big house, alcohol, nice hotels, wedding, any status symbols, etc). + +As you can see, I'm an open book, so I'm open to any thoughts, questions, or advice on anything I may be overlooking or doing wrong. +Seriously, this isn’t that difficult. Remove the mods. Vote on the new mods. Or you can have the sub vote on the mods. Maybe even allow pinkcatsonacid back as a mod. + +Make this sub private for this weekend and let’s figure this shit out. Don’t ruin this sub based on ego and stupidity. We have half a million people here, professionals for the industry, all the great AMAs, don’t ruin this sub. MSM will eat this shit up as well. Be smart! + +This is a simple solution to save this subreddit. Or else Superstonk is done. + +If nothing is done, I’ll be going to the jungle +Firstly: this is my first attempt at doing any amount of digging into anything, but this is something I just learned today and felt was important to share. + +Way back in 1987, Alan Greenspan (chairman of the Fed at the time) had the worst stock market crash since the Great Depression on his hands. His solution? Repurchase agreements (indirect quantitative easing), lowering the federal funds rate,and having the Fed purchase a shit ton of treasury bonds (driving their prices up and padding the banks’ pockets). + +Dr. Wikipedia knows a whole lot more than me, so please take a read for yourself: + +https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenspan_put + +The importance of this, aside from making the problem (temporarily) go away, was that I set a precedent; sleazy financial institutions could count on drastic action by the Fed to fix their fuck ups. + + In addition, all the extra ammo that was printed, loaned, or otherwise created was used up to compound the problem. Don’t believe me? Here’s a pretty graph and a particularly juicy bit from the Wikipedia I linked above: + +https://imgur.com/a/AmsHSCA + + “The Fed also acted to avert further market declines associated with the savings and loan crisis, the Gulf War and the Mexican crisis. However, the collapse of Long Term Capital Management in 1998, which coincided with the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, led to such a dramatic expansion of the Greenspan Put that it created the Dot-com bubble. After the collapse of the internet bubble, Greenspan amended the tools of the Greenspan Put to focus on buying mortgage-backed securities, as a method of more directly stimulating house price inflation, until that market collapsed in the Global Financial Crisis and Greenspan retired” + +Yes, you read that right, this dick gets to come out with a bullshit financial policy, watch it fail like 4 times, and then retire. Some time around the dot com bubble people should have realized that shit wasn’t working right (they probably did). + +I’ll be honest with you guys, I was in it for the money last year in January. The things I’ve learned since, though… I won’t settle for anything less than the dismantling of this disgusting corrupt network of book cookers and embezzlers + +**TL;DR:** + +This shit is worse than I originally thought. The financial fuckery and can kicking has been going on for 40+ years right under everyone’s noses. +Background: I am experienced realtor in Chicago closed 18 million of 2-4 units last 2 years but this was my first time doing a project solely myself as the principal. Was an awesome experience! + +Property: Legal 4 unit purchased $412k net (used a 12k credit to cover close costs paid by seller) and 5% down. It came out to closing almost no money down net after pro-rations/credits/commission. + +Location: North side Chicago on the boarder of Edgewater and Rogers Park. + +Deal Source: I bought off the MLS. I think other investors passed it by as the units are tiny only 600 sq ft. and because it was leased for very low rents with 9 months remaining on the leases. + +Rents when bought: $580, $580, $620, vacant. After: $1100 (I signed an old tenant), $1250, $1250 and owner occupant (my unit). The old tenants had been there 7-14 years and were way under market. + +I kept rehab affordable by doing mainly cosmetics. I left the galvanized piping, old electric, etc. Did not move any walls. Layed vinyl on top of old flooring, repainted the trim and skim coated any really bad areas. I went for the all white look (white quartz, white paint, white backsplash) which is what sells right now. The $1250 units both rented first 2 weeks could probably of gotten even a little higher. + +Cash out refi: I was able to pay myself back 100% of what I put in. I may flip the property at some point so want to keep exact budget confidential. 30 year fixed at 3.5% on the refi. + +Before photo: [https://ibb.co/Y8C5Vh6](https://ibb.co/Y8C5Vh6) [https://ibb.co/jvYh5tF](https://ibb.co/jvYh5tF) + +After photo: [https://ibb.co/JvFG5Hy](https://ibb.co/JvFG5Hy) [https://ibb.co/259FyLV](https://ibb.co/259FyLV) + +Rehab surprises: When I bought the property, it had a layer of cement that looked OK but over the winter this layer started to crack everywhere. I ended up having to spend $3700 on cement. + +If any questions please feel free to reach out by PM. House hacking is what I recommend anyone looking to invest with low down. I turned my house hack into a BRRR. It works out to living free now. For management and tenant screening I use Cozy which has been awesome service. +I’ll level with you all: We’ve weathered some rough years and need real advice to help us dig out of our debt, change our habits and get some financial stability. I’ve been following this group for a while but after looking into debt consolidation and bankruptcy and realizing how devastating it would be on our already bad credit, we’ve decided to finally bite the bullet and ask you all for help. + +Background: My family spent a few years homeless following one huge and several small layoffs for both my wife and myself in a very short period of time. We lost our home, our vehicles, everything material and moved 6 times in just a couple years (always sleeping on couches or sharing one bed with our four kids… whatever it took) in pursuit of stability and jobs that always ended up falling through. Three years ago a local program helped pay the deposit on an apartment and provided interview clothes and within days I landed a reliable job working for our county and we’ve been in that apartment and I’ve been working at that job ever since. I’m even expecting a raise in November. My wife recently went back to work part time to help us catch up on payments. Unfortunately she can’t work full time because we have to rely on family members for childcare for our four children. + +Two of our children overcame some pretty serious medical conditions during these past few years of stability, requiring us to live at hospitals for long periods of time. Having only recently started working and barely moving into an actual apartment at the time, we relied heavily on credit cards to stay afloat during those periods, even taking out several cards and maxing them out to cover living expenses, groceries and even our own costs while staying with our children at the hospitals. I know, I know: It’s bad. And just when we were finally financially recovering from the first child’s medical situation, our youngest ended up in the hospital (recently) and we dug ourselves back into credit card debt all over again. + +We want to have an emergency fund. We want to have savings. We want to have financial stability and maybe even eventually buy a house. So we’re asking for your help. Any guidance and suggestions is deeply appreciated. + +So far, we’ve downsized as much as we can at the moment. We live in northern California and our family of 6 lives in a tiny 800 square foot 2 bedroom/1 bath apartment. Our internet/cell phone bill is the minimal speed and data plan needed for my wife’s job, which requires her to work from home fairly often. Basic cable comes with the apartment for free. We are also responsible for maintaining a storage unit until a family dispute has been resolved and the contents can be distributed, most likely in a couple months. We have one vehicle that we bought used about a year ago and have never been late paying on. It has $4,500 remaining to pay it off and is really only used to take the kids to school and get groceries since we walk to work. We get an excellent rate on car and renters insurance through my work, which is deducted from my paycheck with my other benefits and therefore not reflected in the following breakdown. And yes, we know the payday loans are bad but they are another product of our daughter’s recent hospital situation but we are forced to renew it for the smallest possible amount each month until we can pay them off in full. We regret ever taking them out but are stuck until we can inch them down to an amount we can afford to payoff in full. At the time, it was the only way to pay rent while sleeping on folding chairs in a hospital several hours away from our home and our other children while our baby was fighting for her life. Here is the complete breakdown: + +**Income:** + +* $1,075 and $400 (so $1,475 total) bi-weekly (which will go up to $1,675 in November) + +**Expenses:** + +* $880 Rent + +* $600 Food ($150 per week for a family of 6) + +* $450 Credit card payments ($11,000 spread over 13 cards) + +* $225 Car payment ($4,500 remaining balance) + +* $150 Electricity + +* $250 Other necessities (Diapers, wipes, toiletries, school needs, medical copays, gas) + +* $100 Propane + +* $100 Phone/Internet + +* $90 Storage unit + +* $88 monthly fees for rolling payday loan + + +Like I said, we understand the credit cards are the biggest problem but we need advice on the best way to tackle them and start a savings so we can build an emergency fund and never have to rely on cards and payday loans again. My wife does all kinds of odd jobs from home when she can (independant writer, mystery shopper, making things to sell, you name it) to bring in bits of extra money when possible while avoiding us from having to pay for childcare for her to work full time. We did the math and she would be actually making significantly LESS than she does now if she worked full time and we paid for childcare. I’ve also been submitting applications for higher paying positions, so fingers crossed one of those comes through. In the meantime I need advice on how to tackle our situation. I’ve read all the guides and links in this group but we’re so overwhelmed I’m not sure where to start. Any help is appreciated. THANK YOU. + +*Edit: Formatting* + +**EDIT: A lot of people are asking why we don't qualify for more benefits or assistance programs and I realized I wasn't very clear: The income amount I provided is our NET income. Our gross income is much higher but 72% of our income goes to benefits and taxes. Yes, I know it's a lot but the net pay is still better than I've found anywhere else (so far). Our health insurance alone (just for my wife and I) is $750 each pay period (bi-weekly) for the minimal required coverage (per ACA Regulations). The kids still qualify for medi-cal but won't once my scheduled raise goes through in November. Our younger two will also lose WIC in November. We don't qualify for SNAP or any other programs.** +I joined this sub just over a year ago and it's had such a huge positive impact on my life already, so I wanted to sum up and share to help/inspire other newcomers. + +&#x200B; + +* **Investing:** Firstly making investing so straight forward. I'd never done any investing before because of the hassle/risk/time involved with choosing individual stocks (which I thought was the only way to do it) so finding out about index funds, Vanguard, etc. from this sub has made me start investing not just saving. Without this my money would just be sat in standard bank savings accounts, being eaten away by inflation. +* **Early retirement:** It's taught me to improve my retirement plan. I'd never heard of a SIPP before and thought LISAs were just for buying a house, but now I put any income taxed at 40% in my SIPP and then fill up my LISA with money taxed at 20%. This means I'll be able to retire far earlier than I thought, as prior to this I just relied on my employer pension, which would've meant a standard retirement age. My dad recently had a heart attack at 61 (luckily is ok now) but it's reminded me that 67+ is too late to retire. I don't want to go from the office to the cemetery. Now I'm aiming for 55-60, which is achievable thanks to this sub. +* **Saving money:** one example of this is a post I made in the past about buying a new kitchen and asking ways to save money on it. Various people recommended DIY Kitchens, which ended up costing £8.5k for the same kitchen that Wren were quoting £10.5k for. Also advised to go with a local builder vs Wren's installers, which saved another few thousand. In total, it saved me over £4k just from making a single post on this sub. +* **Making money:** I made a post earlier in the year about a big life choice, where I was interviewing for high-pressure £80-90k jobs vs my current low-stress £50-60k job. People on this sub gave great advice, that the extra money wasn't worth the long days (12 hours), long commute, high stress, not seeing family as much, etc. and looking back that was 100% the right call, as I would've been miserable. Some people then recommended that I should use my excess time and energy (thanks to my low-stress job) to do freelance work on the side instead. I'd never considered freelance work before, but I've given it a go and now in the first few months I've got a few contracts which have almost totalled my full-time salary and take my income for the year to £100k, all whilst working from home (software engineer) so still spending time with my family, no commute, I choose my hours, etc. It's best of both worlds (high pay + flexible, low stress) and I wouldn't have even thought about pursuing it if it wasn't for the helpful people on this sub. + +&#x200B; + +So thank you all for all of the free and helpful advice and guidance you share on here and for making it such a supportive and inspiring little spot on the internet. It really does change lives. +My mate goes into her account and is about to buy another share of GME and notices this: + +https://preview.redd.it/31faaek4mie91.jpg?width=899&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5e40d36a9ff58954cf2403c26ad151d884c53786 + +What's that you might ask? + +Look closer. + +https://preview.redd.it/cirshkqoqie91.png?width=348&format=png&auto=webp&s=fa73316307361944d8eb6a92b76fe272797df057 + +You're probably thinking to yourself, where have I seen this before. I got you there bro: + +u/StupidMonsters + +[**https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/wb19r2/wtf\_is\_happenening\_ibkr\_removed\_my\_splividend/**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/wb19r2/wtf_is_happenening_ibkr_removed_my_splividend/) + +u/Fit_Cryptographer_96 + +[**https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/wayyix/the\_ibkr\_saga\_continues\_i\_woke\_up\_to\_being\_short/**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/wayyix/the_ibkr_saga_continues_i_woke_up_to_being_short/) + +These are just two examples of, I'm sure, many other instances (**please** **check your accounts**) + +So of course she messages IBKR and they openly tell her that a short position on her account has magically happened due to 'corporate action': + +https://preview.redd.it/9tp27j27fie91.jpg?width=2242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aebb12dbd3d142d89bff0410cc6947bc238a5ad8 + +Dramatic close up: + +https://preview.redd.it/gxzfcfdbgie91.png?width=980&format=png&auto=webp&s=784a894e39dbfc4c8d47af6633ee177da70a2fd2 + +For reference, the purchasing timeline for my friend is as followed: + +&#x200B; + +* 11th July - Open account, 1 GME share purchased +* 14th July - 1 GME share was requested to be DRS’d +* 20th July - 1 GME share arrives in Computershare, leaving IBKR + +*\*\*22nd July - Stock split dividend is issued, but at this time, no shares remain in her brokerage account or can be split so how can this be affected by 'corporate action'.* + +* 26th July - 1 GME share brought, as currently settling in IBKR (ready for DRS) +* 29th July - Short position has been created (by IBKR, without clients prior knowledge or consent) for -3 GME shares. + +&#x200B; + +So this is in no way possible, right? She's got a **cash account** and is a long term value investor. There weren't even any GME shares in her account during the dividend - look at the timeline! She's come to me for help, so we're attempting to reach IBKR to see what they have to say about this. + +They've so far logged us out twice, shut down a conversation with this pop up and now they won't connect us to an advisor at all. + +https://preview.redd.it/wm3etyrrfie91.png?width=1138&format=png&auto=webp&s=561574b0db5df08ba012fbb9dc05e3357e845320 + +Will update as more progress occurs but there's some serious fuckery here people. **Check your accounts.** + +EDIT: + +Speaking to a customer advisor now (I'm helping my mate) - will post update shortly. + +https://preview.redd.it/k4a931tukie91.png?width=1860&format=png&auto=webp&s=58ecb37d7f8286344a3100fe6d79655402b3f2ab + +https://preview.redd.it/cw4ctcfelie91.png?width=1846&format=png&auto=webp&s=2baa7860d9c7b5488f4bc28a169ec32f50222c8b + +Note how they say others were affected by this. I wonder just how many.... I'm inclined to think A LOT. + +Still waiting... + +**UPDATE**: + +**They have removed the short position**. Asked them why they were there in the first place, and what excuse they come up with since 'corporate action' isn't really flying. + +https://preview.redd.it/hk2epkannie91.png?width=1008&format=png&auto=webp&s=b5aebc544cd51af4f1f9e09b74abfc5892c096ef + +I'll let you know what they say. + +**UPDATE (Final)**: + +They didn't want to answer the question, surprising that. + +https://preview.redd.it/lhm3rreooie91.png?width=1004&format=png&auto=webp&s=3c3c69831ee5a551203d619f3b00a50cc0501c5f + +**EDIT**: + +Adding in here - Queen of the Apes, Dr. Susanne Trimbath herself shares her thoughts, as below: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/wbesg3/those\_who\_suddenly\_have\_short\_positions\_in\_their/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/wbesg3/those_who_suddenly_have_short_positions_in_their/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) + +https://preview.redd.it/ej0vcqvyvke91.png?width=938&format=png&auto=webp&s=601b381b6fbd3ce91cd17cf2a7546e80ca1c4eca + +"**Wait,...what?** + +**You had 1 phantom share for which broker did not get any split shares. So, they marked your account as owing them 3 shares?🥴 Seems that "short" is internal to them, & should never have shown on customer statement. But, "it happened" & you have the document**." + +Can anyone smell panic? +Been shopping at thrift stores my whole life, this time of year thrift stores always have better than average quality of stuff. People donate older stuff that is still nice, just to make room for stuff which is brand new. It’s especially good if you want new clothes and shoes, there’s always lots of clothes still with tags people got as gifts but don’t like. Good luck! +I don’t know shit about fuck, but with all this BCG talk and now Elon and Gates public feud over “philanthropy” makes me ask the question, what the fuck is going on??? BOA, AAL, Blackrock, BCG, HSBC, JPM……reads like a who’s who of fuckery. Anyway, probably nothing. + + +https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/10/bill-gates-bec-climate-fund-plans-to-invest-15-billion-in-clean-tech.html +********* I am not a financial advisor, this is not financial advice********** +(Posting this on mobile so can’t upload pics 🥲) + +You probably saw the headline: + +“US hedge funds Melvin Capital and Light Street suffer further losses” + +The article says that the losses are purely driven by meme stocks. IMO this is huge, bigger than yesterday’s meeting/announcements. This is definitive proof that shorts haven’t covered. Literally everyone in financial media, even the boomers, have said that shorting meme stocks is stupid. The fact that they’re still in IMO means they never left and can’t get out (like my DDs have said). The fact that their losses have climbed while all meme stocks are climbing further shows that the meme stocks are indeed related. This also gives more credence to the idea that those midday spikes in volume are short covering to remain net positive on the day. + +Most importantly, this article only covers two HFs. There could be and probably are more. HOWEVER, it doesn’t cover MMs because they are better able to evade reporting requirements (ie 2sigma, Susquehanna, citadel, etc probably have high SI as well but are hiding it like they did in January). So what we got from this article was: shorts have no covered and there losses are a magnitude higher than what’s available to the public. + +Finally, I saw a really interesting post yesterday about the 25% decline possibly being GME doing the share offering. Whoever thought of this is genius and that would make total sense because of how much it dropped but how controlled the drop was. I also saw a post showing that last earnings we dropped 30% then made it back the next day. DO NOT expect that today because last time that was an FTD cycle day. + +That’s all for now. You’re all sexy as hell. + +********* I am not a financial advisor, this is not financial advice ********* +There’s really no reason for the price to be going up right now. Last week we had the news of inflation hitting a 40 year high, and all markets were resilient. The economy is still in terrible shape, yet the stock market and crypto market are doing good. + +I was thinking it’s just a pump and dump but it’s been going up for almost a week. Any thoughts? +SHIBA is up 37% in 24 hours, while the rest of the market struggles to break resistance. I can’t find any news to see if any announcements happened, so it looks like it just may be a random pump. Thoughts? +Holy 5#!T…. + +(I’m 25) + +It’s official I’m finally debt free. The early hours this morning (29th November) I finally reduced my student overdraft to £0.00. Sitting here looking at it - it genuinely doesn’t feel real. + +This time last year I was living at home £3000 in debt with a student overdraft, no savings, living paycheque to paycheque at what I felt was a dead end job that I absolute hated. Thank you for messing up my initial plans COVID. + +My mental health was down the drain, had talking therapy sessions and life just seemed… shit. + +Fast forward today, I’m working at a well known tech company who look after me very well, I now live with my girlfriend full time and to be frank im giving all credit to her. I think I can even say I think she saved my life. She has supported me absolutely from the get go from day one and she is the reason why I am debt free. + +When we moved in together we calculated finances and both agreed on the amount we’ll each pay. From a previous relationship her credit score wasn’t the best as he had taken credit out in her name (story for another day), so I had agreed to transfer rent and my cut of bills to her in order to help build up her credit rating through direct debits etc. + +Little did I know she was tucking a little bit of my commitment away into her savings and putting it aside and has been cutting down on the food shop etc to balance out the difference. + +I went to her to talk about finances as she had said she wanted to go to winter wonderland in London and I had mentioned how I wanted to clear this burden off asap and get the ball rolling with savings. And yeah she said well it’s sorted and transferred me the money and said “you can finally close it and we can start saving for the future.” + +Where do I get this women an engagement ring she deserves? +This is the official $GME Megathread for r/Superstonk. Please keep ALL conversations contained to Gamestop and related topics. + +**Not enough karma?** Here's a [**quick guide**](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-get-karma-on-reddit/) on how to get it. + +# [announcements](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/wiki/index/announcements) + +* Make sure to check the Announcements regularly. 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No confirmation that you want the dealerships to contact you about this specific car or anything like that. + +I saw the initial disclaimer saying that this would give them the ability to send my info to the dealerships, but stupid me thought that meant I would select that option once I actually knew what I wanted... + +And the big kicker is they have “no way” to cancel an account for their service. That is the answer customer service gives you... I would understand them saying that my number went out and they can’t stop them from calling me but to not be able to cancel my account at all... + +Utter bullshit that will allow me to never use the service for anything again. + +So save yourself and do not make an account. +Please. + + +In David Attenborough's latest documentary: A Life On Our Planet, he touches on the idea of people investing in their future but most often, those investments don't ensure that there is actually a future to be had. + +Obviously, we are all investing in the hopes of having a more financially independent future. We want enough currency to live the life we choose. + +But since seeing the doco, I've been pondering more on whether the companies and index funds I invest in, in the hopes of having a better future, actually contribute to their being an actual future for me and others to enjoy or for the future to be of a higher standard than is currently experienced, both technologically and environmentally. This also includes what our superannuation funds are being invested into. + +Is this something you take into consideration when choosing your investments? +Do you think of the ethics and sustainability of a company or index fund before you support its growth with your money or are you more interested in getting the biggest return on your investment, regardless of the impacts it has on the Earth and it's/ our future? + +I hope this to be a conversation, not an attack. Anyone who just wants the biggest returns, what are your thoughts/ beliefs that make you feel little regard for a companies impact on the environment? + +Thank you for the discussion. +So I've had my Capitol One Venture card for about 4-5 years now and I'm very happy with it. It does have a yearly fee, but I get x2 points on all purchases, has some nice concierge/protection services, and I use it for EVERYTHING. Literally all purchases I make I use this card, earn up them points, and pay it off in full each month. I've never carried a balance on it, and earning the points has been great--I paid for our entire round-trip flights for my honeymoon! + +I keep getting ads though for other types of credit cards with new customer bonuses and all that and I'm debating if it's worth it. On the one hand, it seems like I could really take advantage of those sign up bonuses and higher point return percentages (Venmo has 6% on whatever your highest spending category is!), but on the other hand, losing out on points on my "main card" and then having to worry about paying off two cards makes it sound like it's more work for not enough payoff. Not to mention that splitting my reward points between two cards may limit my ability to use them, the knock against my credit score, etc. + +Am I missing any advantage to getting a second card? Anyone have any experience where having a second credit card was actually really helpful for point accumulation? Or am I just better off sticking with my card that I'm happy with? + +Would love to hear opinions! +This is my first time posting on Reddit btw. With all of my investments and savings we have about 130k saved. I have 50k in an acorns account and another 18k in Robinhood investments. Do you think we should buy a house to rent out while we travel or just keep saving money until we eventually do decide to settle down. Also any other financial advice is welcome. +TLDR: I used this method to **DRS X,XXX Traditional and XXX Roth IRA shares to ComputerShare**. I was able to Vote directly from ComputerShare and received my 4-1 share dividend promptly on 7/21 in ComputerShare in these accounts. This method utilizes a Non-Broker custodian and avoids any potential tax hit. That's right, No Tax Hit. There are other methods (LLC and distribution) but I prefer this method for my personal situation. + +**The key takeaway is that I used a custodian to DRS. My shares are not at the custodian now, they are with ComputerShare and Gamestop. They have been withdrawn from the DTC** (see screen shot below). + +GameStop said they appreciate efforts to get ComputerShare to provide IRA accounts, however ComputerShare is not a custodian. + +From the Share Holder meeting June 2, 2022, GameStop addressed one burning question we all have. Why won't ComputerShare offer IRA accounts so we can DRS those shares. The answer was simple "We appreciate the enthusiasm to DRS IRA shares with ComputerShare, but the transfer agent is not a custodian." + +So what I'm hearing is, the effort is appreciated, but we need a custodian to DRS IRA shares. Well here you go! + +**This is not financial advise, just my experience, and I'm zen af rn.** + +**Visual Guide followed by FAQ** + +[IRA AND DTC STOCK WITHDRAWAL](https://preview.redd.it/xjl484ko7pj91.png?width=771&format=png&auto=webp&s=16bd2a110a0d6b8a57e444991c852a667f917354) + +The overall steps are: + +&#x200B; + +1. Choose a non-broker custodian willing to direct register (DRS) your IRA shares, while remaining the financial custodian, and adding you as the registered owner - in the form of: Custodian Trust For Benefit Of "your name" IRA. +2. I chose to work with Mainstar Trust ([https://mainstartrust.com/Contact](https://mainstartrust.com/Contact)) based on post and recommendations I've found. So far they have been extremely knowledgeable, responsive and helpful throughout this learning process. +3. Once you've made your selection, based on your DD, **setup a like-in-kind IRA account** with your non-broker custodian. These will be standard new IRA Account forms. like-in-kind means Traditional account for Traditional IRA and Roth account for Roth IRA. +4. Once the accounts are created, you will **fund them via a standard Transfer request.** The non-broker custodian will supply these and you can fill them out with your broker account information that you are transferring from. You don't need to contact your broker, unless you want to inform them to expect the request from your non-broker custodian. +5. Once the shares are in your non-broker custodian account, **request via email that they direct register them, for benefit of you, with the transfer agent** \- for Gamestop, that is ComputerShare. They should be familiar with this process. +6. Request they also scan and **email you the DRS Advise letter** when they have confirmation. +7. The **DRS Advise letter will contain two pieces of information you need** to create your ComputerShare account for your IRA shares: + 1. **Zip Code on file** (this will be your non-broker custodians zip code on the letter) + 2. **Holder Account Number** (starts with C00 on the letter) + +[Use the Zip Code and Holder Account Number from the DRS Advise Letter](https://preview.redd.it/yvcutwz78pj91.png?width=772&format=png&auto=webp&s=380e7fdddbdeece35aa4fe5893a8181b16309b5f) + +&#x200B; + +8. To initiate the ComputerShare account creation process, go to: [https://www-us.computershare.com/Investor/#Home](https://www-us.computershare.com/Investor/#Home) + +9. Click the **Register Now** link under Login + +https://preview.redd.it/l245h62b8pj91.png?width=600&format=png&auto=webp&s=1473bc45adcc3530282d7df94f3ff0b76814b3e1 + +10. Under Confirm your details, choose **Holder Account Number Option on Second Tab** (Don't choose Social Security Number (SSN) option). + +11. Enter your **Holder Account Number and Zip Code on file from the DRS Advise letter.** + +https://preview.redd.it/crlsdtlc8pj91.png?width=620&format=png&auto=webp&s=d4d8ba1fdd6845534db0566c99e3872b7fde0c93 + +12. Fill in the rest of the details, stock name, email (**use a different email** if you already have an existing ComputerShare account for non IRA shares, I created a new one with IRA at the end), password, and click Register. You will receive a confirmation and a notice that your **Account Verification Code** will me mailed to the address on file. + +13. Contact your non-broker custodian and **ask them to forward you your Account Verification Code from ComputerShare**. Mainstar did this for me in less than a week. + +[Note your Verification Code - and that Mainstar's PO BOX number is 420 - nice](https://preview.redd.it/2uhgt3ze8pj91.png?width=638&format=png&auto=webp&s=82206f9c7686285e3637f814b3cd3a575fbbdc19) + +14. When you receive the Account Verification Code go back to [https://www-us.computershare.com/Investor/#Home](https://www-us.computershare.com/Investor/#Home) \- this time choose **Login** + +https://preview.redd.it/d72ufbjg8pj91.png?width=609&format=png&auto=webp&s=ba251f27d1eaac9eab5f18a32be02f104b4da7e0 + +15. Use the Username and Password you created earlier. + +16. When prompted enter the **5 digit verification code** that was forwarded to you. + +17. Welcome to your IRA ComputerShare Account! Congrats, you made it! Now things to do: + +* Update your email preference in your Profile +* Manage your investment plan +* **VOTE**! - You can vote directly from ComputerShare! + +https://preview.redd.it/3bz7t6qk8pj91.png?width=1166&format=png&auto=webp&s=33dbaea95d8ebd765e4fd82b0218b6f448e94407 + +**IRA DRS FAQ:** + +Q: How long does the overall process take? + +A: 10-20 business days. Things will go much faster if you contact Mainstar in advance and ask them to DRS the shares as soon as they get them, and to scan and email you the DRS Advice letter plus the ComputerShare verification code you will need to activate your account. Follow up with them, they are very helpful. + +Q: How much does it cost? + +A: Mainstar is $110/per account/per year. So if you had a Roth an Traditional loaded with GME it would be a total of $220 per year. Complete info on fees ([https://mainstartrust.com/Portals/0/adam/DocusignForms/VK1rKbuoYEOqpIOY\_EdUkg/File/20220307095230-Fee%20Disclosure.pdf](https://mainstartrust.com/Portals/0/adam/DocusignForms/VK1rKbuoYEOqpIOY_EdUkg/File/20220307095230-Fee%20Disclosure.pdf)) + +Q: Why do I need to use a separate email if I already have a ComputerShare Account? + +A: You do not want IRA shares mixing with non retirement shares. That could be a distribution, I'm also not sure ComputerShare would even let you and that could delay your whole process. + +Q: Can I sell directly from ComputerShare? + +A: No you need to use Mainstars online system (Trust Reporter, you can setup after accounts are created) or call or email. They are still the financial custodian and need process the sale. + +Q: How long does it take to sell? + +A: It takes 3-5 days to transfer back to Mainstar. You could do this tax free in advance when ready to sell. From there you can make immediate market orders or limit orders. + +Q: What happens to my funds after I sell, do they go back into my IRA? + +A: Yes, money goes back into your IRA at Mainstar, maintaining its tax free or tax differed status. + +Q: Can I vote directly from ComputerShare? + +A: Yes you can vote directly in ComputerShare, Mainstar also forwards you any documents they receive. + +Q: Why Mainstar Trust? + +A: u/winebutch posted about their successful experience months ago. I decided to pull the trigger myself. Since then I've heard nothing but good experience from other apes that have followed this guide. Mainstar reps are extremely helpful and familiar with the IRA DRS process, especially for GME! They do not use Apex and when I asked Dr Trimbath on Twitter about IRA DRS she recommended to try a NON BROKER custodian and work with small businesses. + +&#x200B; + +Feel free to ask more questions and I'll research/update the FAQ as I go. The best way to get questions answered is to email/call Mainstar directly. Again, this is not financial advice. In fact, I strongly recommend to interview your own brokers and custodians, consult with your CPA, and consider your situation and what works best for you. My goal is to share my experience and what I have learned based on months of research and push back from brokers. Share knowledge and experience, be kind, be excellent to each other! + +&#x200B; + +Hope you enjoyed, SHOP, DRS, HODL, LFG! +(Throwaway account because nobody knows) + +About me, current CA resident looking to move to WA, $6M NW, w/ $4M in recently IPO stock and $1M stock from attempting to diversity from the IPO. + +I'm not sure how to best ask this question, but I'm considering making an offer on a $1.8M house in WA and I am wondering if I have more options as a higher NW individual. The two routes I am aware of are: + +1. Sell the stock. But then I get hit with a big cap gains bill, and I've already taken >$1M in profit this year from selling and diversifying. I'd also like to stay in the market. +2. Take a margin loan. But I'm not as familiar with margin, and this feels risky due to margin calls. + +Are there other kinds of loans I have access to without being subjected to margin risk? What are their tradeoffs? + +&#x200B; + +Thanks in advance! + +&#x200B; + +Edit: Thanks for all of the responses everyone! There's a lot of good information in here, and I just wanted to distill it up top for future reference. + +With rates as low as they are now, the most recommended course of action was to stick with the traditional mortgage, and borrowing against my portfolio for the down payment. As for that, the two options are either margin loan, or a [pledged asset loan](https://www.schwab.com/pledged-asset-line) (also available at other banks under a different name). These seem to be variable, based on SOFR, rate, indefinite term loans. Both are subject to a maintain-a-minimum-account-value-or-pay-up type of mechanism. [Getting a big margin loan on a single stock position is pretty risky](https://www.reddit.com/r/fatFIRE/comments/p6c0q4/financing_options_for_a_5m_stock_portfolio_on_a/h9cm9he?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) though, so it may be the better way (if not only way), to put 20% down, rather than $1M to optimize interest deduction benefit. + +IBKR ([https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/home.php](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/home.php)) also seems to be pretty popular, and their rates for margin lending are at least lower than schwab. I should still continue to do more research on them, and margin in general. +&#x200B; + +[No problem here. ](https://preview.redd.it/2k359lm3tf371.jpg?width=1366&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9fe0a12d5bef1c8610ba126551a1aef98a827460) + +Ponder with me for a moment: + +A Tsunami is coming to hit New York but the *public has no idea*. + +The Weather Channel has spent weeks bringing in experts to talk about anything else. + +They know. + +Hours of experts discussing how dry it is out west. + +They know. + +Charts and clips showing how beautiful the oceans are. + +They know. + +Any mention of troubled seas is blamed on amateur back-yard weather boys and the gamification of storms. + +Do meteorologists have a legal obligation to tell us? Maybe not. Do they have a moral obligation? *Damn right they do*. It’s people’s livelihoods after all and we have given this topic a platform for all to see. Farmers, Charter Captains and my mothers prize orchids *depend* on them. They welcome the content into our home. + +I’m a smart Ape, I get my weather info from reliable sources. Unfortunately, I’m competing against lies and manipulation as I try to get my family to higher ground. “It’s dry, the oceans are perfect.”, they say. + +I just want to save my family from this impending tsunami but they trust the Weather Station after 20 years. They love me but I’ve only been a weather-boy for 6 months so they want to wait and see. After all, even the warning signs would be obvious. There’s no way the Weather Channel would hide all of it. + +Last week the oceans receded and there’s a wall of water headed to crush my community. + +Meanwhile, the Meteorologist reads his teleprompter: *“Don’t say Tsunami, Don’t say Tsunami, Don’t say Tsunami.”* + +&#x200B; + +***“Tsunami, Yeah.”*** + +&#x200B; + +Burn it all down. +It will be interesting to see just how much this massive dip is bought. Let’s build each other up with some hopium since the price is tanking. Reply to this with nothing but the shares you bought today. Doesn’t matter if it was cs drs or any broker out there. Maybe one of you smart apes can run the total numbers at the end of the day. 200 words yada yada yada yada yada. + +Edit: I just want to add you all are awesome. The last couple weeks have been rough but scrolling through these numbers is just amazing. Keep holding, keep buying, keep drsing! We are all in this together and not going anywhere! +I've been researching real estate investing for several months now while I've been saving enough capital to get in the game. + +Everyone says don't invest in real estate if you'll hate being a landlord. I was chatting with my father in law who owns 5 SFH. He barely knows anything about real estate, doesn't know who his tenants are, and never has to do work on his properties. The reason for this is because he pays a property management company 10% of the rent to manage everything for him. + +I get that some people want to do it themselves and save that 10% but how have I never read about people doing this on here or on bigger pockets? It seems like this would be a popular route for people who want to be less involved + +Edit: thanks for the replies guys! It sounds like I want to be a "semi-passive" investor. Other key comments: I can probably fine a manager that charges less than 10%. Property management is more useful for out of state investing, but if your properties are within an hour, it's worth it to just do it yourself because it doesn't take much time anyway +Saw this company “UpandUp” had just raised a few hundred million in equity and debt from prominent VCs: +https://upandup.co/founders-letter + +Essentially as a renter, instead of a security deposit, you put two months worth of rent into a “wallet” that earns you some share of rental profits with the landlord (the startup) with the idea being that you can share in the upside of being a landlord as a renter https://upandup.co/faqs + +But here’s the catch…now that you get to play landlord as a renter you also share all the repair and maintenance costs with the company! If you need repairs then your “wallet” will be deducted some portion of the costs on their terms. + +And what happens to the wallet once you want to exit your lease? Well you can transfer it to another of their properties or cash out…but only for *up to* 90% of the value. + +Is this the state of real estate and fintech innovation is this country now? This just sounds like a massive grift to push maintenance costs onto to renter while charging full rent prices under the guise of “sharing upside” when you could’ve just put extra savings into the S&P and not take on any of the repair liability as a renter. +Since the start of the year i have sold covered calls on some of my stocks. So far I average 70.00 per week ( I sell weekly covered calls). 70 bucks isn't much but if you add it into my monthly income from dividends its pretty good. It increased my monthly passive income by about 20%. my way isn't going to get me rich quick, and it is hard to see the impact. But like dividend investing, I believe giving it time, will show its significance later down the road. + +Example. Sold a call on AT&T for a whopping 2.00. I net 1.35 after fees. $1.35/$2100 (T is 21.00 a share) = .0064\*100= .064% return (for 1 week). do this 50 weeks=3.2%. I have added, what i view as a "dividend", 3.2% yield to what i currently get from T. + +\*UPDATE\* I realize this is a dividend group. My post was here to spark curiosity in people who haven't ventured in to selling covered calls (like myself prior to this year). From here, people can go seek other groups to help them out. + +\*UPDATE on covered calls for week of 6/21/2022\* This week i sold covered calls on: OXY, MPC, HAL, T, ABBV, DFS, PFE, INTC, VLO, My total came out to be $66.00 (Yes this is below my average of 70 but market was closed Monday). All of them will expire worthless . + +&#x200B; +*6/23 update: I counted my checks from years prior and there's always 24 so I think I actually haven't had wages stolen... He definitely is screwing me with several hundred dollars in taxes by not running this check through payroll and I don't understand why the dates are allowed to be so off with the payroll company. I still haven't deposited the check as I'm not sure what to do next. + +I quit the job I've had for a decade recently and my boss immediately took me off of payroll. He decided that my last check would be written by hand, and I would be paid as an independent contractor. (This was a sneaky way for him to get out of my IRA match.) When I received the check, I compared it with my last check and calculated over $700 missing. + +The last check I received was for the pay period that ended on 5/23 (according to my pay stub). The amount of this check is the correct amount for 5/23-6/6, however I also worked 6/8-6/10. When I asked my boss about it, he claimed that since I was a part time salaried employee, the pay period on our pay stubs is not correct. Instead he says that I get 2 checks per month and that he actually paid me through 6/15. + +At this point I'm incredibly confused and not sure what to do. Is it normal for salary employees to have different pay periods? + +Edit 1: wow my head is spinning from the comments. thanks to everyone for being supportive. i'm trying my best to read everyone's comments. here are some clarifications: + +-i work from home and all of my work was done on slack, google drive, and email, all of which I am locked out of. i do have files saved on my computer that show what day they were made. i don't clock in or out (thus salary). i also have a screenshot of my slack message to him letting him know when my last day would be. + +-when i got the check, i emailed him with an explanation and he emailed back. all of that communication is on my personal email. + +-apparently the pay period is wrong even for hourly employees. i reached out to someone and they said that every pay period they have to go to another manager and find out which days they were paid for. idk how a payroll company can operate like that. + +-there is no HR. lol my boss is HR + +-the best explanation that i can come up with is that he took my yearly salary and divided by 24, thus sending 2 checks per month. if this is what he has done, it's legal, right? if this is the case, i *really* don't want to file a wage claim and be told that i'm wrong. + +-thanks to everyone for pointing out how paying me as an independent contractor is illegal and also screws me over. this seems like a more solid issue right now than the pay since i'm still not totally sure i was shorted. + +i think that covers everything for now but i'll probably try to get in touch with an employment lawyer again tomorrow (i am definitely worried about legal fees). also an important note is that my boss has a lot of money and lawyers in his family and friend group so i am quite sure he'll go all in... + +thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to comment. + +Edit 2: I live in Iowa and i haven't cashed this check yet... +I recently saw some comments discussing the $20M in pulte homes puts bought shortly after pulte was threatened by the hegies. They were along the lines of buying pulte stock instead of $GME wouldn’t that be a great distraction to get apes to let up on our deathgrip of $GME? Get the apes so enraged at the hedgies play that they fool themselves into buying something other than the stock that they’re so afraid of apes buying holding and drs’ing that they directly threatened a u/realpulte just for mentioning he supports? Think about it apes, it’s another distraction. Don’t fall for the mind games, if they divide apes up into smaller groups it’s easier to deal with them. The king must fall first then the armies will scatter, the king is the uncovered naked shorts of $GME, DO NOT LET UP. THERE IS ONLY ONE STONK, APE NO DISTRACT APE. BUY HODL DRS. + +Edit: some apes are getting the wrong idea of the message so here’s the TL;DR: BUY HODL DRS sorry if I didn’t make that clear earlier +Aside from solar panels, driving an electric car, and having a charging station at our house... What are some other ways to reduce our cost of living long term? +I am relatively new to having a substantial amount of discretionary funds, and I find myself wanting to treat my friends more. This usually just involves paying for some shared expenses in full (e.g. meals out, ride-sharing, Airbnb, etc.). I think part of this is because I don't know what else to spend my money on, and I want them to enjoy the experience without worrying about the expense. And, of course, it does feels good to do something nice for the people I care about. + +However, I'm worried that this might start to feel patronizing or uncomfortable for my friends. I don't want this generosity to come across as showing off my wealth. Trying to balance this is always on my mind. + +So I'm curious, what was your most generous act with your friends (non-family members)? And how did you do it in a way that was not obnoxious or patronizing? Or maybe it was? +When I opened my investment dashboard today was surprised to see near zero loss in my portfolio , when checked it was due to 6 dynamic bond funds which I hold and all of them had a sharp rise in their NAV yesterday. + +I checked some liquid funds like Axis Liquid fund , it has also risen sharply yesterday. + +One more fund i hold ICICI Prudential Bond has increased its NAV by 3.27% yesterday. + +Is it because of RBI pumping 30k Crores for bond markets? +https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm + +You can see a very specific breakdown per item here: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t02.htm + +>The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.2 percent +in March on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.8 percent in February, +the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, +the all items index increased 8.5 percent before seasonal adjustment. + +>Increases in the indexes for gasoline, shelter, and food were the largest +contributors to the seasonally adjusted all items increase. The gasoline +index rose 18.3 percent in March and accounted for over half of the all items +monthly increase; other energy component indexes also increased. The food index +rose 1.0 percent and the food at home index rose 1.5 percent. + +>The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3 percent in March following +a 0.5-percent increase the prior month. The shelter index was by far the biggest +factor in the increase, with a broad set of other indexes also contributing, +including those for airline fares, household furnishings and operations, medical +care, and motor vehicle insurance. In contrast, the index for used cars and +trucks fell 3.8 percent over the month. + +>The all items index continued to accelerate, rising 8.5 percent for the 12 +months ending March, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending +December 1981. The all items less food and energy index rose 6.5 percent, the +largest 12-month change since the period ending August 1982. The energy index +rose 32.0 percent over the last year, and the food index increased 8.8 percent, +the largest 12-month increase since the period ending May 1981. +I am a 3xxx hodlr. Back in October I DRSd some of my shares. I felt then that diversifying my holdings into multiple accounts, I’d have the best chance at selling during a squeeze. + +Today I realized there are probably a lot of people like me out there. Wanting that diversification as a safety net. + +All that said. I’m going to DRS everything but 1 share. Locking up the float is possible. Quicker that happens, the quicker these shorts get burned. I’m invested in gme as a company and I am firm believer in Ryan Cohen. I suggest others do what they feel +Is necessary. But also to do what is right. + +Edit for you introverts: I was able to DRS everything through fidelity and schwabs online chat. Didn’t even need to pick up the phone. + +Edit 2: For those of you that think I’m full of shit, I will post my positions once they transfer. +So in the attempt to save money and help pay down my credit card more, once again I have had the willpower to not buy fast food for the entire week. +On Sunday, I went to Aldi and bought $100 worth of groceries to hopefully last me for 2 weeks. + +Sunday night, I made a take and bake pizza from Aldi (I didn't really like it. The crust was kind of doughy and the sauce was too sweet for my liking but considering my roommate caught our oven on fire last week, the doughy crust might be a result of that.) + +Monday, I just ate leftover pizza before one of my final exams. Even though I didn't like it, I didn't want to waste food. + +Tuesday, I made a simple oven bake Campbell's skillet meal type thing. It was literally two chicken breasts, one potato cut in half and I poured the sauce over it. Baked in the oven at 400 degrees for 50 minutes and it was delicious. It was perfect considering I had 2 final exams on Tuesday. + +Wednesday, I had my last final exam. I utilized my crock pot and made a pot roast with carrots and potatoes. Cooked on high for 6 hours. + +Thursday, had leftover pot roast. Was even better the day after. + +And Friday, I made cheesy chicken and rice. Utilized the crock pot again. I have enough leftovers to last me the entire weekend. + + +I'm really proud of myself again for not buying fast food. Especially with it being finals week and the end of my school's semester. My roommate isn't paying her share of the utilities (sigh. Cannot wait for March) and while that's stressing me out big time, I didn't give into temptation of buying out as "treat". I'm able to pay the utility bills in full this month since my roommate is being a a-hole and refusing to pay her share. + +I can give more detailed recipes for what I made this week if anyone wants them! And if anyone has some easy recipes to share, please send them to me! +The sheer volume of red tape associated with programs like EBT and medicaid is mind boggling. I had some life changing events happen over the summer and as a result, of course, I'm in financial straits again. + +I haven't qualified for foodstamps for a long time. My household was right in that sweet spot of too much gross income to qualify so every last red cent after bills went into groceries. We lived paycheck to paycheck with no hope of saving and no luxuries like vacations and only absolutely needed expenses. + +I'm used to living like this. I think a vast swath of people my age are as well, I know everyone here knows what I'm talking about. And now we're down to one income. It took two months (others gracefully lent a hand to feed the boys) before I felt emotionally ready for this wonderful welfare roller coaster so many believe the poor take joy in riding. + +I applied mid August. It's taken up until today to gather all the needed documentation. Part of that was switching the electricity into my name to prove I pay utilities. The very last bit of info I needed was a bill for electricity. I go to the office to pick one up, since everything is pay-as-you-go and paperless now. + +My account is too new to have generated a bill. So she gives a membership to the coop document. Seriously? I've given you people $175 dollars over the course of almost three weeks and you can't even print out a paper saying I've paid you!? + +Nope, sure can't. Have a nice day. + +So I take this to the local foodstamp office and drop it in the box. My money (that doesn't exist) says that it won't be accepted. I need to call and speak with them to get an extension on my case until the electricity people decide to create a statement. + +I have to be at work in ten minutes, the wait time is 62 minutes to speak to a rep. + +FML. I'm so close to calling it quits and raiding food pantries to keep us fed instead. The issue with that is around here, most food pantries require either a foodstamp card or proof of income. + +So more documentation either way I go. A few check stubs sounds much easier though. I do like to sleep on my days off, since I don't get to during the work week but I don't have that luxury either I guess. + +Edit: Stop telling me it's on purpose. I know it's on purpose. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't need to. This is a vent. I know why they do it, I didn't ask why. I know. Please stop. This is mostly about not being able to get a paper saying I pay for electricity. I understand why the system treats the poor the way they do. + +Glorious additional update that is life changing for the good: + +My boss just formally offered me a better paying position tonight! A few kinks need to be ironed out but in the near future, I'm trying out for a position that will hopefully have me back at what I lost! Back to the sweet spot but better than feeling like shit for being on the draw! +Hey guys, this isn't a dig at anyone, I just want to clarify a few inaccuracies about atobitt's new post - some have tried mentioning in the comments of the post itself but they got buried, and I don't think atobitt saw. I'm also not disagreeing with the idea of Bofa becoming insolvent. + +&#x200B; + +1. **The 1 trillion in high quality capital requirement isn't for individual banks**, it is a *1 trillion pool of money that all banks contribute funds to*. The minimum capital requirement stands at 4.5%, the stress capital buffer at least at 2.5%, and if applicable, the C-SIBs at least at 1.0% [Source.](https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20210805a.htm) For more details there is [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/q1csrw/banks_dont_need_1_trillion_cash_bankings/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share). +2. **The 75% likelihood of insolvency figure attributed to BofA is also false. Here it says it's actually** [less than 49%](https://www.macroaxis.com/invest/ratio/BAC/Probability-Of-Bankruptcy)**.** The 75% figure was seemingly to do with the ticker BAC-PD and not BAC itself. +3. One of the sources atobitt used ([here](https://franknez.com/bank-of-america-has-been-illegally-shorting-amc-stock/)) is from a site called [franknez.com](https://franknez.com), which is an amateur blog, which seems quite bias to me: + +[franknez.com homepage screenshot](https://preview.redd.it/clohr4kmujr71.png?width=731&format=png&auto=webp&s=b0d9bd5bc7cc84ee26192b7d65f8ea97630aa1bc) + +Be careful to take everything on board as fact apes. Again, no issue with atobitt, I like him. I just wanted to correct some errors in the post since it gained so much traction. + +&#x200B; + +**DRS. DRS. DRS. Not financial advice.** +TL;DR at the bottom. + +I've never experienced this situation before. The background information is one of my buildings is a 6-unit apartment building in a solid B class suburb of a mid-western city. It's been a pretty good investment since I've had it and overall I'm quite happy with it. In this area the owner (me) pays for trash services and water/sewer. Tenants pay electric and gas. My trash service was set up through a sales rep for the area who set me up with a contract and basically I call her directly if I need anything. She has been great and when my contract expired after two years and the company started raising my rates every month. I called her after the price went up 20% and she reset a new contract back at the rate I was at previously. The building has 4 trash totes and 1 recycle tote, and is 6 smaller units. I use a PM and have never directly interacted with any tenant. + +Background data out of the way, here's what happened. Last week I got an automated email from my bank that my auto bill pay for the trash at this location was rejected by the bank for exceeding the upper limit amount I had specified. I set all my owner paid stuff up to auto pay but use some limiters to catch when things go horribly wrong. The normal bill is $105 but my upper limit was $300. The bill was for about $310. Shortly after the email from the bank I get a similar notice from the trash company basically telling me the same thing. I called my sales rep at the trash company and she digs into the account and says "What did the call center say when you called them and added the two additional totes?" I say some version of "WTF? I didn't do that." The rest of the day was a bit of phone tag as she dug into the account to try and figure out what happened, I called my PM to see if they had made a change on my behalf. I didn't remember giving them permission to change things, but I couldn't 100% rule it out that maybe I forgot. Ultimately, I discovered the PM did not make any changes, and the trash provider's notes said the caller said their name was "Invest-O-Tron-3000" (my actual name) and a phone number was logged that was NOT my phone number and I didn't recognize. I assured her it wasn't me since I would have called her directly not to the company's 1-800 line. + +At this point I had the thought to check the phone number the call came from (thank goodness they had that logged) against all of my old and current tenant leases to see if it was a current tenant or disgruntled former tenant or something. I found that it matched one of the tenants currently living in that building. She is one of the newer tenants maybe 6 months or so. My PM gets back to me and plays detective going through all their email / phone conversation logs with the tenants in the building and we piece together basically that a couple of the newer tenants in the building (maybe others are involved too but two that I know of for sure) have had a bit of a spat over the trash bins, because one of them is on business travel most of the time and only is home a day here or there, and she says the people in this other unit use too much of the bin space and its sometimes full when she gets home and blah blah blah. + +At this point it's fairly clear that there has been some drama between two or more tenants about who is generating more than their fair share of trash, and instead of reaching out to the PM who would then consult with me, one of the tenants, possibly in collaboration with the other or perhaps on her own, called the 1-800 phone number for the trash company, gave them my name (which she would have had to look up through property ownership records as they are never given my name), the trash company call center has no safeguards in place to prevent such a situation, and requested two additional bins. Because this call went to the call center, it voided me out of my contract, and jacked my rate from my good sales-rep rate to "full retail pricing" on all my bins and I get a triple size bill, including "delivery fees" for adding the bins. + +The sales rep is going to get back with me Monday or Tuesday with options, which could range from removing the two extra bins (which incurs another charge), leaving things as-is, or converting to some other solution entirely like one large dumpster (which has other issues like people doing weekend moves pulling up and unloading their pickup truck beds into it.) + +I'm pretty sure that I can ultimately get the trash company to either wave all the unauthorized charges, or take it out of the tenant's account, so in the end I believe I can be made mostly whole. I wouldn't even have been opposed to re-evaluating the trash bin situation if it had been handled properly instead of people forging my identity and all of that. + +I'm not sure how hard I should come down on the tenant. One one hand tenants are often dumb, and basically need their hands smacked when they do something wrong in order to be retrained. But I also don't want to reward bad behavior and encourage this sort of thing. My gut reaction is something like sent general email to all tenants and have PM specifically speak to this tenant with stern "this is your one allowed screw up" warning, make her pay for any charges / increases I can't get reimbursed for, and move on with life. I don't personally feel like it's worth a turnover if I can get paid back, but maybe that's wishful thinking and this is a bad omen of things to come. + +TL;DR - One of my tenants who was unhappy about the # trash bins at the building, called the trash company pretending to be me, and ordered more bins, which screwed up my contract and jacked up my bill 300%. While I work on getting unauthorized changes undone and paid back for their costs, I'm debating how draconian to be with the tenant who did this. + +Edit #1 - This literally just happened Friday so I haven’t even found out for example if the trash company can get a recording of the call or not. + +Edit #2 - I feel bad saying this but I watered down what I said about my gut reaction. My true first gut reaction was to show no mercy. But my first reaction is often rooted in a sense of justice boner that isn’t necessarily conducive to turning a profit. So what I described as my gut reaction was really my tempered reaction. + +Edit #3 - I posted an update here: https://www.reddit.com/r/realestateinvesting/comments/immkel/update_unauthorized_person_tenant_modified_my/ +Okay… this is another one about Mello Token… Recently, I posted about why I’m holding Mello for the ultra long-term. To re-iterate those reasons: