Substack Library
GlossaryTightening and War
January 30, 2022There are times when it is easier to make money investing and times when it is harder; this is a time when it is harder. Investors (savers) need to simultaneously navigate a) less Fed money printing and b) a potential war—while not losing sight of the big picture, which is a transformative wave of innovation.
The Tide Goes Out
January 23, 2022If the rest of 2022 looks like January, most savers are in for some pain. Asset prices (stock indexes and bonds) are down and inflation is up. In real terms (after inflation), the typical saver has a lot less money, like about 8% less just this month. If this continues for the next six months … that is a meaningful decline in real wealth.
Jail Break
January 16, 2022The tricky thing about investing is there are no fixed truths. There is common sense—buy low, sell high—but the game shifts because we shift. The market is people and our attitudes toward saving evolve, particularly after ruptures like depressions, wars and pandemics. This is evident in the “big quit;” millions of people suddenly leaving their salaried jobs, myself among them.
A Sunday Off
January 9, 2022As noted in my New Year’s Day post, I took this week off from writing a longer essay and will return Sunday, 16 January. We are hard at work lining up and recording guests for Season #4 of our podcast, figuring out an interactive graphic to help you keep score of your money and editing, editing, editing book #2, tentatively called Mister, Minion. If you have questions about any of this, reach out.
The Stories We Tell
December 26, 2021We are wired for story. Stories can be conveyed in a cave painting, from the pulpit, a book or a podcast. Story is the way we share meaning and truth. Today’s post is about key lessons that emerged from Season #3 of the Things I Didn’t Learn in School podcast.
Wins and Losses
December 19, 2021For those of you new to Things I Didn’t Learn in School, welcome. You can read about what these posts and podcasts are about here. While the topics I cover range, one of them is sharing how I invest. This is something I didn’t learn at school and I hope being transparent will both force me to be more thoughtful and allow you perspective on how another person is managing to navigate, in practical terms, a complex world. If I write something confusing, reach out.
Will the US System Snap?
December 5, 2021If you are new to Things I Didn’t Learn in School, welcome! You can read about what I am up to here. I welcome and learn from your questions and feedback. If someone forwarded this to you, consider signing up.
Inside a Georgian Kitchen (Take #2)
November 24, 2021Oops! I earlier sent out a draft note without a live link and chart. Apologies. (Thus take #2).