<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776</id><updated>2012-01-30T18:36:11.546-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Rags 2 Riches 2 ??? Financial Blog</title><subtitle type='html'>A personal journal documenting the path from financial freedom to true wealth. This blog explores what to do AFTER making the first million.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>44</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-4672456277396225485</id><published>2007-04-10T15:20:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-04-10T15:37:07.628-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Happy with $200 K tax bill</title><summary type='text'>I've entered in all of my major numbers from 2006 into Turbo Tax. My tax bill for 2006, including federal and state, will be roughly $200 K. This is a huge number, but I am absolutely thrilled.I was mentally expecting a $600 - 700 K tax bill, due to the gross proceeds totals on my 1099's. I was saved by the AMT cost basis on my sales of company ISOs. Because of the AMT cost basis, my effective </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/4672456277396225485/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=4672456277396225485' title='9 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/4672456277396225485'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/4672456277396225485'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/04/happy-with-200-k-tax-bill.html' title='Happy with $200 K tax bill'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>9</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-6088406920606638301</id><published>2007-04-01T09:06:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-04-01T12:02:08.589-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Asset correlation</title><summary type='text'>I've commented a few times about how correlation between asset classes (international vs domestic market, commodities vs overall market) has risen in recent years. I see a couple of decent articles on this topic:http://www.ssga.com/library/resh/ericbrandhortsinternationaldiversification71502/page.htmlThere is good data in this article, but I'm not sure I agree with all of the author's conclusions</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/6088406920606638301/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=6088406920606638301' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/6088406920606638301'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/6088406920606638301'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/04/asset-correlation.html' title='Asset correlation'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-9050154335726896682</id><published>2007-03-30T23:16:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-03-30T23:38:51.591-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Search for financial advisor kicking into high gear</title><summary type='text'>Remember when I started looking for an advisor many months ago before I got buried in my job? I kicked my search back into high gear today by making appts with financial advisors over the next couple of weeks. For kicks, I'm throwing in a couple of interviews with high net-worth advisors highlighted in Barrons' most recent Top 100 list. I'll have a little fun with this, and see for myself if a "</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/9050154335726896682/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=9050154335726896682' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/9050154335726896682'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/9050154335726896682'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/03/search-for-financial-advisor-kicking.html' title='Search for financial advisor kicking into high gear'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-2598167186770564468</id><published>2007-03-30T00:24:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-03-30T00:56:56.844-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Reviewed my uncle's finances</title><summary type='text'>I spent an afternoon last week reviewing my uncle's finances. He is about to retire in a couple of years. I had gifted him some stock a few years ago which we finally sold last year, so I wanted to make sure everything was in order for his tax filing.The cost basis of the gift stock was essentially zero, but I found that he didn't have to pay any capital gains tax at all because he had </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/2598167186770564468/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=2598167186770564468' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/2598167186770564468'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/2598167186770564468'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/03/reviewed-my-uncles-finances.html' title='Reviewed my uncle&apos;s finances'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-1892335795815310621</id><published>2007-03-29T11:24:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-03-29T11:27:15.736-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Covered half my shorts</title><summary type='text'>I don't mean to turn this blog into a trading diary, but I just covered half my short positions. We're not oversold yet, but after putting out a sizeable short position last week and watching the market trend down for 5 days, I didn't want to be greedy.We will probably be in oversold territory next week.I see some comments I haven't responded to. Will get to them later today, I'm late for </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/1892335795815310621/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=1892335795815310621' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/1892335795815310621'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/1892335795815310621'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/03/covered-half-my-shorts.html' title='Covered half my shorts'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-5550237275959436006</id><published>2007-03-27T11:10:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-03-27T11:30:22.604-07:00</updated><title type='text'>A trip to the bank</title><summary type='text'>I had a 100K 6.45% CD mature today, so I took a trip to my bank to deposit the proceeds. Since I do all of my regular banking transactions on-line, whenever I go into a branch office, it is invariably for a transaction involving a large dollar amount. I get the same predictable comments every single time. For withdrawals or wire transfers:"Congratulations, buying a home?"For deposits:"Getting </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/5550237275959436006/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=5550237275959436006' title='9 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/5550237275959436006'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/5550237275959436006'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/03/trip-to-bank.html' title='A trip to the bank'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>9</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-3784459295885240021</id><published>2007-03-27T09:30:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-03-27T10:27:36.265-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Every asset is a bubble</title><summary type='text'>I read a blog entry today by Cramer that I couldn't agree with more. It's the reason that in my earlier blog entries, I couldn't find safe yield for my cash. He writes:"Everything's a bubble. Mortgages? Bubble. Private equity? Bubble. Buybacks that lever companies? Bubble. Copper? Bubble. Corn? Bubble. Farm land? Bubble. Ethanol? Bubble. Solar? Bubble. Tech without earnings? Bubble. Office real </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/3784459295885240021/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=3784459295885240021' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/3784459295885240021'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/3784459295885240021'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/03/every-asset-is-bubble.html' title='Every asset is a bubble'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-7219668664399789361</id><published>2007-03-26T08:23:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-03-27T11:42:01.578-07:00</updated><title type='text'>A word about charity</title><summary type='text'>So far, I haven't written anything about charity since I view it to be a very personal issue. But since this blog is anonymous and nobody reads it anyway, I'll talk about charity and what I think about it. I think charity is important, but it's up to all of us to make our own personal choices about charity.I remember my first experience with charity, my school was collecting donations to feed the</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/7219668664399789361/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=7219668664399789361' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/7219668664399789361'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/7219668664399789361'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/03/word-about-charity.html' title='A word about charity'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-327576548587655235</id><published>2007-03-26T07:35:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-03-26T07:41:38.254-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Amazing luck streak continues</title><summary type='text'>OK, I'm sure I've doomed myself by claiming a luck streak, but how amazing is that? One trading day after raising the highest % of cash in years in my brokerage account, and shorting DIA/QQQQ, we get a down 100+ day so far.I'm not really into day-trading, so I don't plan on covering anything yet. Will wait patiently for bigger gains. At least till the 10-day average oscillator swings back into </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/327576548587655235/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=327576548587655235' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/327576548587655235'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/327576548587655235'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/03/amazing-luck-streak-continues.html' title='Amazing luck streak continues'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-5167944303703237875</id><published>2007-03-26T01:12:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-03-27T10:36:00.299-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Financial decision history</title><summary type='text'>I've been meaning to post a history of critical decisions in my financial life. I saw Frugal Zeitgeist's history at http://frugalzeitgeist.blogspot.com/2007/03/stupid-things-i-have-done.html and decided to follow the same format.Age 12: Orphaned as a child, I had to start working at age 12 to support myself. I learned about minimum wage, sweatshops, and standing on your own two feet. Didn't learn</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/5167944303703237875/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=5167944303703237875' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/5167944303703237875'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/5167944303703237875'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/03/financial-decision-history.html' title='Financial decision history'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-4550080270672911848</id><published>2007-03-22T11:58:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-03-22T12:44:49.582-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Finished housecleaning</title><summary type='text'>The market didn't tumble from profit-taking today. I felt strangely out of sync with the market as I sold off anything that wasn't bolted down today. I'm up to 25-30% cash from 10% in my diversified stock portfolio (I was at 15-20% cash before buying into the market ~3 wks ago). This is my highest cash position in years in this account. What's everyone else doing? It doesn't seem like there are </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/4550080270672911848/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=4550080270672911848' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/4550080270672911848'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/4550080270672911848'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/03/finished-housecleaning.html' title='Finished housecleaning'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-1450938448576890833</id><published>2007-03-21T23:33:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-03-30T01:16:34.896-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Preview of early retirement</title><summary type='text'>After requesting a leave of absence 8 months ago, my company finally let me start it. Today was the first workday since age 12 that I didn't work (other than weekends, holidays, and vacations of course).What was the first thing I did? I went out and bought a monthly planner/journal. I've never owned one before. After detoxifying for the next few weeks by doing nothing, I want to make sure I don't</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/1450938448576890833/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=1450938448576890833' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/1450938448576890833'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/1450938448576890833'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/03/preview-of-early-retirement.html' title='Preview of early retirement'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-4425317630072429502</id><published>2007-03-21T23:14:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-03-22T01:00:47.474-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Trimming positions in the morning</title><summary type='text'>Wow, I did not expect the big stock market ramp today, so it warranted a review of my stock holdings at the end of the day. Thanks to some lucky side trades around my core positions during the volatility of the last few weeks, I'm back at all time highs in my diversified stock portfolio. All the recent fear-mongering over subprime amounted to much ado about nothing (for now). Looks like a golden </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/4425317630072429502/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=4425317630072429502' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/4425317630072429502'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/4425317630072429502'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/03/trimming-positions-in-morning.html' title='Trimming positions in the morning'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-6019783778215339192</id><published>2007-03-08T00:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-03-10T09:11:56.553-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Choose to be rich</title><summary type='text'>People often wonder how other people get rich. There aren't any secrets to becoming rich, you can get rich doing anything, even if you have no business sense or entrepeneurial spirit. You just need to make choices to give yourself the opportunity to be rich.Recently, I've seen two examples of just such a choice. Let's call them Candy and Samantha (I changed their names, but they are real people).</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/6019783778215339192/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=6019783778215339192' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/6019783778215339192'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/6019783778215339192'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/03/choose-to-be-rich.html' title='Choose to be rich'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-8851738202859851260</id><published>2007-02-28T21:10:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-02-28T22:32:02.383-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Finally, a stock market test</title><summary type='text'>After months and months of smooth sailing on the markets, we finally got a little test yesterday with the Dow falling 546 points at one point.I don't receive CNBC-TV, but I don't sense any fear in the air. The market simply corrected a bit from a massive months-long run-up. Unlike other big corrections over the past 10 years, this one generated almost no water cooler talk. My co-workers didn't </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/8851738202859851260/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=8851738202859851260' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/8851738202859851260'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/8851738202859851260'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2007/02/finally-stock-market-test.html' title='Finally, a stock market test'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-116555688058742841</id><published>2006-12-07T21:39:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-12-08T07:17:07.643-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Net Worth Update for November</title><summary type='text'>Out of curiosity, I went back and cleaned up my networth spreadsheet for the last few years. I'm including the most recent 6 months below. Performance has been outstanding, to the point that I lost what little sense of urgency I had in interviewing financial advisors. I will get back to interviewing in the next few weeks.The main (only?) move I've been making is further diversifying out of my </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/116555688058742841/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=116555688058742841' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116555688058742841'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116555688058742841'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/12/net-worth-update-for-november.html' title='Net Worth Update for November'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-116555580988956717</id><published>2006-12-07T21:20:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-12-07T21:30:09.900-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Window into the assets of the rich</title><summary type='text'>Interested in how rich people allocate their assets? Just check out the 2005 detailed personal financial disclosures of the richest Congressmen:http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/overview.asp?type=W&amp;cycle=2005&amp;filter=AAlso, it's interesting to compare these disclosures against earlier years. Many Congressmen have doubled or tripled their net worth in the last 3 years thanks to booming stock markets </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/116555580988956717/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=116555580988956717' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116555580988956717'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116555580988956717'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/12/window-into-assets-of-rich.html' title='Window into the assets of the rich'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-116239866390378459</id><published>2006-11-01T07:45:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-11-01T08:31:04.330-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The wealthy get bad advice, too</title><summary type='text'>A friend of mine has most of his assets with a private wealth management group at a large financial services institution. I have no idea how much my friend is worth, but I do know that the minimum account size at this private wealth group is $25 million, and that they have managed his money for 8+ years.A few months ago, The India Fund (IFN) announced a rights offering for current shareholders. </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/116239866390378459/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=116239866390378459' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116239866390378459'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116239866390378459'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/11/wealthy-get-bad-advice-too.html' title='The wealthy get bad advice, too'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-116083993591475741</id><published>2006-10-14T08:17:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-10-14T13:14:13.440-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Notes on selecting a money manager</title><summary type='text'>Additional questions to ask financial advisor:1. What is the highest yield offered on money market-like instruments? (needs to beat CPI after tax)2. What is the (lowest discounted) fee for equity and income assets for a $1M portfolio?3. What are your views on MPT?4. How many accounts are you currently managing?5. What do you have to offer vs XXX financial institution, or vs XXX group within your </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/116083993591475741/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=116083993591475741' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116083993591475741'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116083993591475741'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/10/notes-on-selecting-money-manager.html' title='Notes on selecting a money manager'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-116083897460982121</id><published>2006-10-14T08:10:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-10-14T09:51:30.820-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Wealth Allocation Framework Part III</title><summary type='text'>I haven't documented my networth since my May posting. So here's a quick update:This simple little chart actually took a while to generate, because there is too much going on between the lines. I'm happy to be reorganizing my finances, because it just shouldn't be that complicated.Some things going on between the lines:1) Company stock shows $3M from May to Oct, which suggests I had no gains. But</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/116083897460982121/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=116083897460982121' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116083897460982121'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116083897460982121'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/10/wealth-allocation-framework-part-iii_14.html' title='Wealth Allocation Framework Part III'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-116083767732640149</id><published>2006-10-14T07:51:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-10-14T07:54:37.330-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Wealth Allocation Framework Defined Part II</title><summary type='text'>I'll briefly go over the basic concepts of the Wealth Allocation Framework, and refer you to Ashvin Chhabra's "Beyond Markowitz: A Comprehensive Wealth Allocation Framework for Individual Investors" for details.The reason the Wealth Allocation Framework appeals to me is because while reading the article, I realized that I had already started implementing this framework. The article formalized the</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/116083767732640149/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=116083767732640149' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116083767732640149'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116083767732640149'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/10/wealth-allocation-framework-defined_14.html' title='Wealth Allocation Framework Defined Part II'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-116072308962153820</id><published>2006-10-12T23:15:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-10-13T00:07:17.100-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The Answer to Asset Allocation: Wealth Allocation Framework Part I</title><summary type='text'>I had a follow-up meeting with Merrill Lynch and found this meeting to be very informative.In the past, I have been uncomfortable with asset allocation, because asset allocation goes hand in hand with diversification. And diversification is a means for preserving wealth or for growing it slowly. No one will get rich with diversification in a 20 yr timeframe.Although I have sold most of my company</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/116072308962153820/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=116072308962153820' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116072308962153820'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/116072308962153820'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/10/answer-to-asset-allocation-wealth.html' title='The Answer to Asset Allocation: Wealth Allocation Framework Part I'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-115824828083325252</id><published>2006-09-14T08:36:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2006-09-14T08:38:00.846-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Put a little cash to work</title><summary type='text'>The only reason I was looking for alternative investments when I started blogging is that I couldn't find any good investments with decent yield.The environment has changed quite a bit in just a few months. For one thing, I found a 7-month CD yielding 6.45% at a local credit union, so I put 100K into it. I would have put a lot more into it, but didn't because of the 100K FDIC limitation.I put 50K</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/115824828083325252/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=115824828083325252' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115824828083325252'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115824828083325252'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/09/put-little-cash-to-work_115824828083325252.html' title='Put a little cash to work'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-115824810366168130</id><published>2006-09-14T08:34:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-09-15T19:13:46.100-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Diversification, again</title><summary type='text'>I came across a blog I found interesting:http://uhnwi.livejournal.comHe discusses some topics I wish I had exposure to several years ago.But I'm practically screaming, "Are you crazy?!! Sell, sell, sell!!!!!!"I guess the author probably has ~$30 million or more concentrated in company options, and doesn't want to sell because of capital gains taxes. For some reason, he seems to think his company </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/115824810366168130/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=115824810366168130' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115824810366168130'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115824810366168130'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/09/diversification-again_14.html' title='Diversification, again'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-115721930485136739</id><published>2006-09-02T09:27:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-09-02T10:48:24.976-07:00</updated><title type='text'>My date with Merrill (Lynch)</title><summary type='text'>Has anyone seen "My Date with Drew"? I thought it was a cool movie, shows how someone can achieve what seems to be impossible on nothing but desire and tenacity.I spent over an hour interviewing a financial advisor from Merrill Lynch's private client group. The goal of the meeting was to find out what Merrill could do for me, and his proposal for financial strategy.I had given him a list of some </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/115721930485136739/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=115721930485136739' title='48 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115721930485136739'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115721930485136739'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/09/my-date-with-merrill-lynch.html' title='My date with Merrill (Lynch)'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>48</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-115358917153357860</id><published>2006-07-22T10:23:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-09-14T08:50:44.333-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Cash flow update</title><summary type='text'>Most blogs I've seen publish a monthly balance sheet with assets and liabilities. I think a more useful financial statement for me is the cash flow statement. This statement is what I've been working on improving the past month or so. Here is an estimate of where it currently stands:Without a lot of work, I've gotten my estimated annual cash flow up to a decent amount already. I am using the </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/115358917153357860/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=115358917153357860' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115358917153357860'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115358917153357860'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/07/cash-flow-update_22.html' title='Cash flow update'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-115358862917747425</id><published>2006-07-22T08:51:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-09-02T09:11:28.033-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The biggest roadblock to wealth</title><summary type='text'>I think the biggest roadblock to wealth is a person's own mind, and way of thinking. The most common emotions that get in the way are fear and apathy. Here are some common reasons that prevent people from investing or making more money:some examples of fear:1. I don't have much. I don't want to lose it.2. That's too risky.3. I'll invest once I make more money.4. I remember the last time I took a </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/115358862917747425/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=115358862917747425' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115358862917747425'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115358862917747425'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/07/biggest-roadblock-to-wealth.html' title='The biggest roadblock to wealth'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-115355527418275901</id><published>2006-07-22T00:49:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-07-22T01:03:47.853-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Life changing events</title><summary type='text'>So I decided to take a leave of absence from my corporate job and move in with my out-of-state girlfriend. She offered to support me financially. This is one of those life-changing events that all the planning in the world can't totally prepare you for. I've been spending the last couple of weeks cleaning up clutter from all those years at the same company. I've never been without a job since I </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/115355527418275901/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=115355527418275901' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115355527418275901'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115355527418275901'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/07/life-changing-events.html' title='Life changing events'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-115087136989533351</id><published>2006-06-20T23:16:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-06-20T23:35:38.456-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The power of pooled money</title><summary type='text'>I would like to discuss what I believe is an important point, and that is the value of pooled money. An investment group can accomplish so much more than an individual. From what I have seen so far, in general the larger the deal, the greater the profit. A primary benefit of pooling money together is that it provides financing for projects that I would not be able to undertake as an individual, </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/115087136989533351/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=115087136989533351' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115087136989533351'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115087136989533351'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/06/power-of-pooled-money.html' title='The power of pooled money'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-115086976564496391</id><published>2006-06-20T22:40:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-06-20T23:40:41.606-07:00</updated><title type='text'>To post or not to post?</title><summary type='text'>I haven't posted in a while, but have actually been quite busy with both financial and personal activities. I have hooked up with an investment group that has access to a lot of projects and development deals, and have begun to actively participate.While I think I have some unique experiences to bring to a financial blogging community, I am struggling with the issue of privacy. I want to provide </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/115086976564496391/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=115086976564496391' title='11 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115086976564496391'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/115086976564496391'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/06/to-post-or-not-to-post.html' title='To post or not to post?'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>11</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114788264984235762</id><published>2006-05-17T09:14:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-17T09:17:29.860-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Economics of buying a rental property</title><summary type='text'>Here is a great analysis on buying a rental property, which is entirely applicable to my area. I have gone through a similar back-of-the-envelope calculation and came to the same conclusion: now is not the time to buy a rental property and hope to generate cash flow on it, unless you are buying a foreclosure.http://www.oftwominds.com/blogmay06/housing-rents1.html</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114788264984235762/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114788264984235762' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114788264984235762'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114788264984235762'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/economics-of-buying-rental-property.html' title='Economics of buying a rental property'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114724593416817151</id><published>2006-05-10T00:07:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-10T07:11:53.250-07:00</updated><title type='text'>More concrete goal</title><summary type='text'>Well, my goal of finding high yielding investments isn't concrete enough for me to make measurable progress. So I'm refining my goal.My current base salary is $170K not counting bonus and stock options. With my current cash on hand of $800K, I want to generate enough cash flow to replace my base salary. So I'll set a cash flow target of $200K per year. Of course 25% return a year is impossible </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114724593416817151/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114724593416817151' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114724593416817151'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114724593416817151'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/more-concrete-goal.html' title='More concrete goal'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114724429999159600</id><published>2006-05-09T23:12:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-10T01:10:54.726-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Tax lien certificates</title><summary type='text'>I finished reading "Profit by Investing in Real Estate Tax Liens", by Larry B. Loftis, Esq. The author is an attorney and a member of the Florida bar. The subtitle says "Earn Safe, Secured, and Fixed Returns Every Time." The book teaches you how to "get fixed returns of 10 to 20 percent or more through tax lien investing," and how properties can be acquired for "10 to 50 cents on the dollar </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114724429999159600/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114724429999159600' title='86 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114724429999159600'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114724429999159600'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/tax-lien-certificates.html' title='Tax lien certificates'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>86</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114704283641225610</id><published>2006-05-07T15:32:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-09T20:05:48.180-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The dual-edged sword to "Diversify, Diversify, Diversify"</title><summary type='text'>I had been told by numerous financial advisors during my financial infancy to "diversify, diversify, diversify."Diversification is a tool for preserving wealth, or growing assets slowly and conservatively, but not for building great wealth. If you consider the list of richest people in the world, most did not attain their financial status through diversification.It is also in the interest of </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114704283641225610/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114704283641225610' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114704283641225610'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114704283641225610'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/dual-edged-sword-to-diversify.html' title='The dual-edged sword to &quot;Diversify, Diversify, Diversify&quot;'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114693709321101885</id><published>2006-05-06T10:34:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-06T10:43:01.820-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Real Estate Bubble Links</title><summary type='text'>This is a very comprehensive website on real estate around the country and around the world. It's updated daily, lots of good data in the links.http://patrick.net/housing/crash.html</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114693709321101885/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114693709321101885' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114693709321101885'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114693709321101885'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/real-estate-bubble-links.html' title='Real Estate Bubble Links'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114663204188738082</id><published>2006-05-02T21:27:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-02T23:45:04.076-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Consequences of switching mutual funds</title><summary type='text'>I mentioned in an earlier post that the tax consequences of trading in and out of mutual funds should be considered. I haven't seen analysis on this before, but I worked out some numbers. My assumptions are that you start out with $10,000 initial investment, and get 10% return per year, and remain fully invested for all cases:1. If you do no trading, at the end of 20 years, your investment will </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114663204188738082/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114663204188738082' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114663204188738082'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114663204188738082'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/consequences-of-switching-mutual-funds.html' title='Consequences of switching mutual funds'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114662178626971277</id><published>2006-05-02T17:51:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-11T22:37:33.736-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Initial money-generating ideas</title><summary type='text'>Here are the ideas I've started kicking around, in no particular order1. Buy one or more franchises - franchisor wins out big with $15,000-$50,000 initial franchise fees and 5-10% royalties on sales, franchisee profits are questionable. Depending on the franchise, I'd have to own 2-5 of them just to make up for my current salary.2. Start business either by myself or with partner - high chance of </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114662178626971277/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114662178626971277' title='28 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114662178626971277'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114662178626971277'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/initial-money-generating-ideas.html' title='Initial money-generating ideas'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>28</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114661732560553557</id><published>2006-05-02T17:42:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-02T17:48:45.616-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Money is boring</title><summary type='text'>Wow, I can think of 1000 things I'd rather be doing than thinking about and analyzing ways to make money from money. Money is boring. Analyzing how to make it is even more boring. (Spending it is not so bad!) But devoting a little time to it now will make the future easier.Take time out from a busy day to think about money issues you don't have time for. So you don't have to spend all your time </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114661732560553557/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114661732560553557' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114661732560553557'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114661732560553557'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/money-is-boring.html' title='Money is boring'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114659346692866633</id><published>2006-05-02T10:50:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-02T11:13:48.263-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Mutual Fund selection</title><summary type='text'>I believe the key to mutual fund investing is minimizing taxes and reinvesting returns. Many investors hold mutual funds either short-term or long-term, and sell them when they underperform to go after higher performance. The biggest performance killer is taxes, not fees. Even if you hold a mutual fund long-term before selling, you still pay 15% in long-term capital gains (reduced from 20% just </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114659346692866633/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114659346692866633' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114659346692866633'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114659346692866633'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/mutual-fund-selection.html' title='Mutual Fund selection'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114658674764272333</id><published>2006-05-02T09:07:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-03T08:02:45.106-07:00</updated><title type='text'>401k and ESPP Notes</title><summary type='text'>I've made max contributions to my 401K since my first job, despite never having an employer match. Call me an obsessive saver. Back then I had zero savings, but also no debt other than my auto loan.I highly recommend to anyone who is working full time for an employer who offers 401K, that you do all you can to contribute enough to at least collect the employer match. That is free money. If your </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114658674764272333/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114658674764272333' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114658674764272333'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114658674764272333'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/401k-and-espp-notes.html' title='401k and ESPP Notes'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114658579214516714</id><published>2006-05-02T08:45:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-02T17:49:56.313-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Starting Line</title><summary type='text'>I may eventually post my financial holdings in a spreadsheet format but this looks like it will be a time-consuming task, plus I haven't figured out yet how to include a spreadsheet :P. But to give an idea of my current starting point, here is a rough breakdown of my current holdings:$250,000 6-month laddered CDs yielding ~5%$170,000 401K (never had employer match at any of my employers)$900,000 </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114658579214516714/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114658579214516714' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114658579214516714'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114658579214516714'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/starting-line.html' title='Starting Line'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114658434195583644</id><published>2006-05-02T08:09:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-02T09:58:56.846-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Rich Dad, Poor Dad</title><summary type='text'>Has anyone read or considered reading "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Kiyosaki? This book was a #1 New York Times bestseller, and I think it is enjoying a recent resurgence and has a following with some of my friends/associates. It is the story of the author who was raised by two dads, his own highly educated but "poor" father, and the multimillionaire eighth-grade dropout father of his best friend. His </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114658434195583644/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114658434195583644' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114658434195583644'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114658434195583644'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/rich-dad-poor-dad.html' title='Rich Dad, Poor Dad'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114658439070088513</id><published>2006-05-02T07:55:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-02T08:39:50.700-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The "Simple" Life</title><summary type='text'>I am fiscally conservative to a fault. I live with no debt and no mortgage, have paid off my credit cards every month since I first obtained one in high school, and I own a small simple house. I worked every year of my life since age 12, paid for my own college expenses by working a lot of part-time hours, and graduated from college without any student loans.I drove the same old 1991 Honda Accord</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114658439070088513/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114658439070088513' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114658439070088513'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114658439070088513'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/simple-life_02.html' title='The &quot;Simple&quot; Life'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27419776.post-114658043276889416</id><published>2006-05-02T07:08:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2006-05-02T23:33:39.616-07:00</updated><title type='text'>CD Yields are going up</title><summary type='text'>I buy 6-month CDs at E-Trade Bank. These 6-month CDs are currently yielding 5.04% with APY of 5.17%. Not bad compared to what they've been yielding for the past few years.I follow a laddering strategy for CDs similar to what you would do for muni bonds. I spread out my CD purchases by purchasing $50,000 worth of CDs every month for the past 5 months. I will then have a maturing CD every month </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/feeds/114658043276889416/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27419776&amp;postID=114658043276889416' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114658043276889416'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/27419776/posts/default/114658043276889416'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rags2richesfinancial.blogspot.com/2006/05/cd-yields-are-going-up.html' title='CD Yields are going up'/><author><name>Rags 2 Riches</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07322791231190966685</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry></feed>
