Mario666

This story just does not "Ring true" on so many levels, but without repeating or going in to details covered by others, this Guy is not a "Newbie".

If he doesn't like bars, drinking or doing drugs then what the "Fluck" was he doing on Soi 4 Sukhumvit?

Maybe he was looking for sex (which is not mentioned by the OP), but my guess is he is well practiced at DIY anyway if he expects anyone to believe this SH!TE? 

15 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I made 36,000% in 2017 with XRP. It's about to start the next bull cycle. 

Well good luck with that! I hope you do well, but it's far too risky for me!

https://coinrivet.com/xrp-predictions-is-there-any-hope-for-2020/

I prefer a little better odds!

11 hours ago, rickudon said:

Glad to see some people are making money.....

 

My experiences of investing ......

 

1. Took out a 15 year life insurance with dividends in the early 80's. When it matured, the return was hallf of the amount 'promised'. I worked out i would have done better with a building society!

2. An IFA tried to get me to take out an endowment mortgage in the early 90's. If i had followed his advice the mortgage would never have been paid off.

3. Tracker funds - i invested in one in 2001 and made about 90% profit in the next 7 years - in the next 8 years still at the same level! So i  cashed out. it went up a bit afterwards but in the last 5 years has only gained less than 20% - mostly due to the Brexit devaluation pushing up stock values. In the last 3 years it has been negative. I reinvested my tracker money in international funds, they did well and made about 25% in the last 3 years - even up in the last year.

 

4. IFA again, I was made redundant in 2007, the IFA told me to put  all my redundancy money into unit trusts (just before the 2008 crash!). I would have lost half my money. I put it all into long term Fixed interest and made 25% while the unit trusts were recovering. Pity that because they were long term deposits didn't have the cash to reinvest in 2009 ...........

 

So my experiences are never trust an IFA, be wary of tracker funds (The FTSE has basically gained nothing since 2008) and always look for a good but safe interest rate for short to medium term money (although this year the last of the above inflation accounts have all put rates down to under 1%). Future - now is the time to spend it before capitalism collapses?

 

 

Wow!....That's a "Hell of a Ride", but could have been much worse!

Many have lost "The Lot"!

Sounds like you got away in time though?

I agree indexing is boring but I like ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ$$$$$$$$$$$$ZZZZZZZZZZZ$$$$$$$$$$$$$...

I get my excitement from Natasha, Olga, Gina, ...:-)   

Now you're Talkin" 

1 hour ago, Why Me said:

Have you looked at the data in Random Walk and Jack's articles? There's solid numbers to back up their thesis. Ain't no kool-aid, kid.

 

Can you define "less efficient":-)? In any case I would index only in mature markets. You need a diverse base of big companies for indexing to work. E.g., a developing economy like India where the Nifty has 50 cos. and the Sensex 30 is a lousy target for indexing. Could you get rich investing there? Sure but you or your fund manager would have to have access to a lot of opaque data. And then the exchange rate could bite you.

 

I started off investing in individual stocks and actively managed funds myself, including offshore, and then quit after years of doing ok but not great. When I saw the numbers re indexing ten years ago I switched over every penny, tripled my worth to well over a mil and sleep easy to boot. No sweating market ups/down or individual company prices. I would strongly recommend this strategy to others, simple and safe.

 

Like Jack said, why look for the needle in the haystack when you can buy the whole haystack:-)

Yeah but ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ! 

35 minutes ago, The Theory said:

Very smart, but not enough. What you could do right after was opening 5 year CD accounts @ 2.5%. Global economy won't recover soon, IMO at list takes 5 years. 

Well admittedly with 20:20 hindsight I could have done better, but I am pretty pleased with where I am compared to where I could have been.

My surname is not Buffett, Rockefeller or Soros, but I did retire at 46, put my kids through university and have travelled extensively and enjoyed a good standard of living ever since!

I welcome your input and agree the Global economy will not recover for at least 5 years or maybe even longer.

1 hour ago, kenk24 said:

Mario - as you, I saw problems ahead w/corona - what I did not see was the manufactured bounce back in US Equities... I got out early March and might be about even if had stayed in or not... I was out for the big plunge but not in for the make-up s*x... 

 

I have been an investor, mostly by and hold for many decades... now, as you, I am mostly in cash getting very little intere am just glad I got out when I didvested in the market and can pull the plug at any moment though I expect that the markets will be kept high through until the election... 

 

I do have a specific play ready for the end of October... 

 

The last 2 years have been great for me - this year, I am totally off kilter... not getting much of what is going on... printing money used to be the definition of inflation...?? I am gradually bringing more funds to Thailand - I don't expect to move. 

 

Good luck and maybe the best I can say is that not knowing - is to know.  

Thanks for your reply.

I'm just glad I got out when I did. I called my mate (IFA) yesterday and for the first time ever he did not have any ideas about where to invest.

I think I will just sit tight for now. The 2nd Covid wave is already there in the UK and I expect it will soon hit many other countries.....

Also anything could happen in the US Election.

Who knows we might even see global "Deflation" which will somewhat upset the Capitalist model?

I am lucky living here on Samui and even though it is more expensive than many parts of Thailand it is far cheaper than the UK unless I indulge in Western products which I do occasionally.

If you ever venture down this way give me a shout and we can meet for lunch and a few beers....if we can find anywhere still open??? 

Good luck to you too! 

Zero Emissions Underwear ???? ????????????????????????

Just to get this thread going again did you see this???

https://weissratings.com/articles/risk-on-risk-off-what-s-the-story-with-gold?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWmpSbVpUUTJPRGMzTldWbCIsInQiOiJnR0tkTkpvczdrR0ZsT2ZhS1wvZTJBTDUxeDFLZ09BQjByNzY2VG1TZHNTenk4dUFKK1FaXC9IQytObjU4R3gxSFZvQWkzT0JNaFNRcytZYTFydEhjQWwrZlpCZ1RvUDZWZEFtVSsyTHlVT3FnaEpaa2FocWY5QXZKWGRPWGpJdmNOIn0%3D

15 minutes ago, Stocky said:

I've never let a financial adviser anywhere near my money, I just take their advice, or not, but they don't get to play with my money.

Well my IFA is my Best Mate from school and he doesn't charge me anything and has taken care of me for 35 years plus.

His advice is "Stay in Cash and WAIT!"

He has several millions (Sterling)....I have less than 2 so maybe I should not have even started this thread and just taken his advice????

Been fun though!

Thanks again to all for your input! 

35 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

Do you understand you don't lose a thing when the market shifts, (unless you sell), you are only losing value on paper.

Thank you for your incredible advice.

Now, why didn't I think of that? 

Perhaps???????

9 hours ago, tweedledee2 said:

  You saw the market spiraling downward on Feb 18, but didn't forecast the turn around in mid-May. Sorry, but you lost money. You should have bought instead of sold. It will cost you more money to reinvest. I learned many years ago to never try to predict the market. Even experts fail. 

   I have an IRA with TRowe Price that has a 1-year return of 15.44%, a year to date of 7.81% and the last quarter of 25.45%. This IRA was rolled over from my self funded TRP 401k company retirement plan account and I haven't withdrawn any money since opening the original 401k.     

Many thanks for your reply.

On the contrary if you check back you will see that at the time I withdrew to cash the markets were peaking......But I was watching the Wuhan situation daily and realised that the Sh!te was going to hit the fan sooner or later!

At the time it wasn't being widely reported in the West and so the markets were a little slow to react. I have no regrets about getting out of the "Blue-Chips" I was in as even now I would have taken a severe battering.

Obviously, it would have been great to have some "Crystal Ball" to predict the TECH STOCK rally, but I am not clairvoyant and also notice that tech stocks have also taken a big hit again now!

Wouldn't it be great to invest now in the "Bio-Tech" company which eventually produces the "Magic Pill"? 

However, these are unprecedented times in terms of world markets. There may never be a cure, vaccine or call it what you want and so to point back and say the markets will recover based on history is not really the answer I was looking for.

I own 2 large properties in the UK which provide me with a generous income (ironically they are rented by medical doctors) so that is fortunate under the circumstances....I do not think they will be getting laid off anytime soon!

Those who point back to historical market trends and say stay in for the long term and you will make money may be right, but I am 62 now, so just how "Long" is the "Long Term"?????

As my Nan used to say "There are no pockets in a shroud".

You wrote "I have an IRA with TRowe Price that has a 1-year return of 15.44%, a year to date of 7.81% and the last quarter of 25.45%. This IRA was rolled over from my self funded TRP 401k company retirement plan account and I haven't withdrawn any money since opening the original 401k."

That sounds great. Please can you explain to an amateur like me exactly what that means?

Many thanks again in advance for your next reply.

2 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I am sticking with cash for the time being. I have some funds in peer - to -peer lending, still doing OK. As loans get paid off there,I don't re-invest it.

No money in the share market. I'm expecting serious convulsions during the presidential elections, and I have target prices on the quality stocks I will buy in the event of a severe downturn.

Thanks for your reply.....I agree and can stay in cash for a year or two or as long as it takes?....As a friend of mine said it is better to stand still than go backwards during these times!

It was just bred into me to make the money work for you once you have made it, but these are unprecedented times! 

I wish you all good luck! 

17 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

A friend of mine who is the author of 4 financial books (more coming) and a PhD, has made over US $1,000,000 in the stock market since COVID started. He is in his early 40's and retired doing nothing but authoring books and making a mint in the market.

 

That's the difference between a world class expert and someone who saw a financial tsunami coming.

 

Thank you for your reply.

I am sure your Doctor friend also saw the "Financial Tsunami" coming?

Perhaps you could share his name and his "bibliography" for the benefit of the Forum???

S

2 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Wish I could see that "Tsunami" coming as I am now 50% down on most of my blue chip stocks and most dividends have been cancelled too, that said, I have enough in reserves (bank) to keep me going for another 4 years before I have to start selling some shares at either a loss or profit, hopefully the latter.

 

Work out what it costs you to survive per month and maybe you will see that there is enough there for you to survive on till you pop your clogs so to speak.

 

Like I said, maybe start living off of your cash as I wouldn't be wanting to be investing in anything at the moment, too risky with a lot of the unknowns.

Thanks Mate,

I think you are right.....I am even holding cash in Sterling, Thb and US $ 

If they all go down the tubes I will have to go back to subsistence......Fortunately my house is on a beach on Samui so fishing it will be! 

3 minutes ago, GeorgeCross said:

stocks VWRL 70%

bonds VAGP 20%

10% gold hedge

 

cash split 3 ways - £ $ Bht

 

 

 

 

Thanks George, but please can you decipher for me...I was in software sales....not Finance???? 

Dear All,

We are all in a mire of Financial and Business uncertainty on a Global Scale.

Fortunately, I saw the Covid-19 Financial "Tsunami" coming and on February 18th moved all my stocks and pensions into cash.

However, I am still in cash and having retired some time ago I wonder what and where you might feel is a good place to invest.

My "Crystal Ball" has gone Murky! 

My investments/pensions were pretty much all FTSE based (UK) with some US stocks also, but I would have taken a massive hit if I stood still.

Now I have cash, but no income....I am not "Loaded" but comfortable!

Any ideas???

Most comments gratefully received I hope!...I have asked questions on here before! 

Thanks Keyser,

My problem is I bank with Barclays in the UK and Krung Thai in Thailand.

I don't want Barclays to know I live abroad permanently as they had a purge on a few years ago and made expats close their accounts if they were no longer UK residents. Barclays have no branches in Thailand.

I do not trust Thai banks as once a Thai GF managed to get my PIN Number (must have been the peeping over the shoulder at the ATM)....It was not until after we had split up that I found she had used my card to transfer over 60,000Thb to her account before she did a runner.

I went to my bank and they said it was my fault and did nothing!

Dear All,

In mid-February just as I could see Covid was breaking I released decent chunk of money from UK investments (long term) and now have some cash to play with.

The funds I was in were old school FTSE type shares which took a battering just after I got back in to cash.

I am non-resident for tax purposes in the UK. I have been trying to find a way to invest in potentially more lucrative, if risky "Tech Stocks" such as Nasdaq.

I have tried to open accounts with a couple of companies including Hargreaves Lansdown and Resolut, but they insist I must be a UK or EEC resident.

I am worried about using companies over here as they may not be FCA regulated and I don't want to lose the lot if the brokerage company goes bust or they turn out to be dodgy.

Can anyone in a similar situation advise as to where to set up an account in order to trade.

I could use my ex-wife's address in the UK to set up a trading account which I still use as my Bank and Credit Card billing address, but I am worried I might have to pay capital gains at source on any withdrawals and then have to claim it back when I do my tax return.

Also as you might guess me and the wife do not get on...I have lived in Thailand and been non-resident for UK tax purposes since 2011.

I still have to file a UK income tax return as I rent my house out there and pay tax on the income.

Many thanks in advance for any replies.

Is the Headline a "Typo"?

Should it have been "Police arrested for impersonating men in two robberies." ????

On 8/4/2020 at 1:38 PM, khunPer said:

Actually the affordable resorts are the ones that remain closed – the ones that many Western tourists normally stay in – whilst the high end resorts has reopened; apart from Chaweng Beach, where only very few are open. And the high end resorts have customers, some even busy during weekends. Some Thais can afford Samui, apparently enough people for up to six extra daily weekend flights, and some changed to larger aircrafts, and up to 5 hours queue-line by the ferries for cars without prior reservation, even after they changed from hourly to half hourly departure in weekends.

kuhnPer you may be right about the "High End" hotels being busy again, but in my experience the guests tend to remain in the hotels/resorts during their breaks....They do not go out to eat or shop....The streets are DEAD!

Samui is DEAD!....Take a look at this video.

The guy is not the sort of guy I would take at "Face Value" normally, but as they say "The Camera Never Lies"!

https://l.messenger.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNRMghPGnOP8%26list%3DPLaKCJOZV7OzC6V9heRun4jjcfFLwQMULL%26index%3D7%26fbclid%3DIwAR1XjxfnABkr7XXXuLzfzybT5iACuB54nBxpIoHPjzFRrL08MadztZcS-00&h=AT0sD4X_hNMe6f7VkaetzsFad4GSadXfMhrEP5vFyoRYB5Wn8i8rYG3_NPvcLU0YEt7GHrjr6JwPsWU_I6iLtjCTSbY4eAC66qcpaK2BGQZhWzQgEp85-GwJZjnnRYxFeYQ

Admittedly, this only shows Chaweng and Lamai, but I have driven right round the island several times and the word "Dodo" springs to mind unlike the video in which the word "D&ldo" springs to mind!