The Last Capitalist in Chicago

Why is it is going to be hard to get your car fixed People are used to being able to just drop their car off at the mechanic and get it fixed, but that is going to be increasingly difficult for the next couple of months. Not only is there a shortage of car parts, but there just are not enough mechanics and technicians to do the actual repairs. You will have to wait longer to get your car back and pay a lot more money for those repairs. The average auto repair took more than 17 days last year which is a 65% increase from 10.3 days in 2019 according to CCC Intelligent Solutions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average cost of a repair increased 19.7% over the last year. Maintenance and service costs increased 9.9% over the last year. The average age of a vehicle in the US is 12.5 years according to S&P Global Mobility. Supply chain fluctuations continue the plaque the automobile industry which reduces inventories of key components for repair shops from everything from computer chips to tires. Semiconductors are integral to modern car systems for things like blind spot detection and automatic braking. During the pandemic, semiconductor factory shutdowns brought auto manufacturing to a grinding halt. Although the computer chip shortage has largely eased, other supply chain issues and logistical snags are continuing to persistent. Technicians make the bulk of their pay for a per job basis rather than an hourly wage. Therefore, more time intensive jobs for customers translates into making less money. Dealerships and repair centers are offering more flexible work schedules, better benefits, and significantly higher pay. Legacy automakers are using their network of thousands of dealership service centers as an advantage versus companies like Tesla and Rivian do not have franchise dealers. Ford has been working with its dealerships to offer mobile service at customers homes for things like oil changes, tire rotations, and other repairs. Works Cited: https://www.wsj.com/articles/car-repair-shortage-service-e1e06b0f?mod=hp_lead_pos7 Tags: auto repair,auto repair shop,auto body repair,car repair,repair,auto,auto collision repair,car dent repair,car body repair,how to repair car,collision repair,car scratch repair,vehicle body repair,auto repair tips,scam auto repair,free car repair,auto repair shop business,the sims 4 auto repair shop,repair car,auto body,car repair for kids,how to repair rust on a car,car repairs,car repair fail,auto painting.,car repair fails

How Binance jeopardizes efforts for a spot Bitcoin ETF The dominance of Binance in the Bitcoin market jeopardizes the applications of multiple firms to get a spot Bitcoin ETF approved. Binance controls more than half of the cryptocurrency market. The SEC requires the majority of bitcoin trading on venues that are both regulated and significant. Therefore, Binance needs to be eliminated and other venues like Coinbase need to take its place in order for a US Bitcoin ETF to get approved. The SEC sued Binance in early June for operating an illegal trading platform, as well as misuse of customer funds. Binance was founded in Shanghai in 2017. It has approximately 120 million users and 7,400 employees. Binance.com is the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. It processed $65 billion a day last year. It dominates the crypto market by controlling more than half of it. Binance is a private company, and its finances are a secret. We do not know its true revenue, profit, or even cash reserves. Binance jeopardizes progress towards a US Bitcoin ETF because it controls more than half of the market. Binance either become regulated by the US government, or it must be stopped. It is impeding the profit of making Bitcoin mainstream. For Bitcoin to gain wider adoption, we need Bitcoin ETFs that boomers can invest their retirement savings in. To accomplish this, Binance must either be regulated, or dismantled. Works Cited: https://www.reuters.com/technology/binance-worlds-top-crypto-exchange-center-us-investigations-2023-03-27/ Tags: bitcoin etf, bitcoin, bitcoin news, blackrock bitcoin etf, bitcoin price, bitcoin spot etf, bitcoin today, bitcoin news today, fidelity bitcoin etf, bitcoin etf news, btc etf, bitcoin analysis, bitcoin price prediction, blackrock bitcoin, bitcoin prediction, buy bitcoin, spot bitcoin etf, bitcoin price analysis, bitcoin etf blackrock, etf, bitcoin crash, bitcoin price today, etf bitcoin, bitcoin bullish, bitcoin trading, bitcoin technical analysis, altcoin

Should you get a fund manager for your investment or retirement account? A fund manager is going to cost you anywhere from 0.5% to 1.5% of your account value annually. A fund manager is going to then turn around and just purchase index funds and bond funds that you have access to yourself on an online brokerage account. Personally, I would not pay for a fund manager or pay the ridiculous fees they change. Managed accounts do not outperform the market. In fact, the fees you pay for someone to manage your account will result in you underperforming the market. You can invest in the same index funds the fund manager is going to choose anyways most likely. Probably the most common index funds are ones that try and reflect either the S&P 500 index or the total market index. The latter being different in that it incorporates more mid-cap and small-cap companies. The total market index is going to probably reflect the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index, which represents the performance of a broad range of U.S. stocks. Tags: active management, management, active, active fund management, active investment management, active management of third stage of labor, active management of thrid stage of labour, active management of third stage of labour, check active management (amt)option in f10, portfolio management, practice management, active investing, active fund managers, asset management, labour management, broadriver asset management, active managed fund vs passive, actively managed funds

Fidelity Funds: FSKAX vs FXAIX FXAIX is the Fidelity 500 Index Fund. FSKAX is the Fidelity Total Market Index Fund. These two are some of the largest mutual funds in existence. I will argue that they can form the core of an investment account for all sorts of people. They both have an extremely low expense ratio of 0.015%. They are both tax efficient. Both FXAIX and FSKAX are large, core funds that act and appear very similar. Given how similar they are, I would say you don’t need to worry too much about which one is the right choose, but let’s still discuss it. Despite similarities, including similar returns, they are different. So let’s explore these differences! The largest difference between the two funds is how much exposure they have to large-cap stocks. FXAIX is the Fidelity 500 Index Fund is a large-cap and mid-cap fund. It was launched in 1988. Most of the S&P 500 is large cap stocks, but there are some mid-cap stocks. It will have almost no exposure to small-cap stocks. FSKAX is the Fidelity Total Market Index Fund and is a total market fund as its name suggests. It was launched in 2011. FSKAX is going to include a lot of mid-cap and small-cap stocks. If we consider the sector weights of both funds, they are nearly identical. The largest sector is going to be technology at ~24%, followed by healthcare at ~15%, and then financial services at ~14%. If you have an investor account with Fidelity, it should be free to trade these two funds, but other custodians will likely charge you a feed to trade Fidelity mutual funds, in which case it may make more sense to consider another total market ETF or large cap ETF rather than FSKAX or FXAIX. Works Cited: https://thoughtfulfinance.com/fskax-vs-fxaix/ Tags: fidelity mutual funds, fidelity index funds, best fidelity index funds, fidelity index funds for beginners, fidelity, fidelity funds, mutual funds, how to invest in fidelity index funds, index funds, best fidelity index funds for beginners, fidelity investments, how to buy fidelity funds, how to buy fidelity index funds, best fidelity index funds to buy now, index funds vs mutual funds, fidelity index funds review, best mutual funds, top fidelity index funds

Why do audiobooks cost as much as paperback books? Audiobooks are more costly than is immediately obvious to consumers. They are narrated by a processional voice actor, or the author, who had to sit down and read the entirety of the book. That individual would need to be compensated for their time. An audiobook takes considerably more time to produce than the actual audio time, often several times that length just to record the audio alone. The most efficient of voice actors or narrators will need to record at least two hours for each one hour of audio that makes it into final production. There will likely be several takes of certain lines, paragraphs, and section to get the audio just right. In addition to a narrator, you may also require a recording artis, a mixing artist, an editor, and a director. The publisher is going to be paying all of these costs. In the case of Audible and Kindle books, some also has to synchronous the audio reading with the e-book text. There are also pricing considerations. If the actual paperback book costs $15, you can’t price the electronic book for $10, because you will effectively be directing consumers towards the e-books instead and be losing paperback sales. The price points need to be essentially the same. There was a time when audiobooks were on CDs. Back then, the price of audio books was very expensive. These days you have an entire industry devoted to producing audiobooks with dedicated studios and professionals. Therefore, you don’t have multiple businesses like radio advertisements and musicians, competing for the same studio space. The audiobooks have their own dedicated recording spaces. Audiobooks can be treated as a way to expand the catalog by companies like Audible. A large volume of audiobooks keeps customers subscribing. The vast majority of books are unprofitable. A tiny minority are profitable enough to keep book companies afloat and subsidize the losses create by the majority of publications. A publisher is effectively lumping all formats together when considering a book. If one format, say print, earns more than the other format, say audiobook, then the former is effectively subsidize the latter. There is a common misconception that physical media, like paperback books, is much more expensive than digital productions like audiobooks from Audible. As with most goods, the vast majority of the cost is labor related. Just because a company is saving a couple dollars from not having to produce a physical copy of a book, does not mean that physical formats are less costly than digital formats. Chat GPT: Why do audiobooks cost as much as paperback books? Audiobooks often come with a price tag that might seem high to consumers. This is due to several factors that are not immediately apparent. Firstly, the narration of an audiobook requires the services of a professional voice actor or even the author themselves, who spend significant time reading the entire book aloud. Naturally, these individuals need to be compensated for their time and expertise. Furthermore, the production of an audiobook takes considerably more time than the actual audio duration itself. In fact, it often requires several times the length of the final audio to complete the recording process. Achieving the perfect audio for an audiobook involves multiple takes of lines, paragraphs, and sections to ensure high quality. Additionally, apart from the narrator, other professionals such as recording artists, mixing artists, editors, and directors may be involved in the production process. All of these costs are borne by the publisher. In the case of Audible and Kindle books, there is an added complexity of synchronizing the audio reading with the e-book text. Price considerations also play a role. If the price of a paperback book is $15, setting the price of the electronic book at $10 would inadvertently encourage consumers to choose the e-book format over the paperback, potentially leading to a decline in paperback sales. Therefore, price points for both formats need to be essentially the same. In the past, when audiobooks were distributed on CDs, their prices were notably high. However, today there is an entire industry dedicated to producing audiobooks, with dedicated studios and professionals. This means that audiobooks have their own dedicated recording spaces, separate from other businesses such as radio advertisements and musicians, reducing competition for studio availability. Audiobooks also serve as a means for companies like Audible to expand their catalog and retain customers. Offering a large selection of audiobooks keeps subscribers engaged and satisfied. It is important to note that the profitability of books, in general, is a challenging endeavor. The majority of books are not profitable, with only a small minority generating enough revenue to sustain publishing companies and offset the losses incurred by the majority of publications. When considering a book, publishers effectively bundle all formats together. If one format, such as print books, earns more revenue than another format, like audiobooks, the former essentially subsidizes the latter. This ensures that all formats can coexist and contribute to the overall success of the book. There is a common misconception that physical media, such as paperback books, is inherently more expensive than digital productions like audiobooks from Audible. However, the cost of labor plays a significant role in determining the price of goods. While producing a physical copy of a book may save a few dollars, it does not necessarily mean that physical formats are less costly than digital formats when considering all the related labor expenses. 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Why are car insurance premiums soaring? Car insurance premiums have increased 17% in the last 12 months to May, which is four times the overall inflation rate of 4%. Georgia alone saw a 40% increase in premiums by Allstate. What is driving these soaring premiums: higher repair costs, bigger medical bills, and increased litigation. Insurers have suffered big losses. Car insurers lost 12 cents on the dollar for every premium written last year. The largest car insurer in the country, State Farm, lost 28 cents on every dollar of premium written resulting in a $14 billion underwriting loss. Inflation and a rising number of accidents are resulting in big losses for auto insurers. Hurricane Ian brought a strong storm surge that resulted in widespread inland flooding and devasting losses. If states push back too hard on insurance companies, they will just up and leave which results in consumers having less choices. Businesses can not be expected to operate at a continuous loss by the government and the public. At some point, a business operating at a loss year after year will be insolvent and go out of business. Works Cited: https://www.wsj.com/articles/car-insurance-rates-are-soaring-with-little-relief-in-sight-66138e2a?mod=hp_lead_pos7 https://www.wsj.com/articles/allstate-loss-highlights-struggles-among-insurers-11666287036?mod=article_inline Tags: car insurance, car insurance quotes, auto insurance, insurance, best car insurance, cheap car insurance, car insurance calculator, insurance premium, car insurance price, car insurance premiums, car insurance quote, car insurance rates, car insurance premium, car insurance factors, car insurance explained, best car insurance rates, motor insurance, best car insurance in india, what determines car insurance premiums, vehicle insurance

Why is Russia buying so much gold? In 2022, central banks purchased the most gold since 1967, a total of 1,135 tons. In 1967, European banks were purchasing gold because of currency devaluation and US deficit spending which eroded the link between the dollar and gold. The price of gold ran up and resulted in the collapse of the London Gold Pool of reserves. This was a group of eight central banks consisting of the US and seven European countries that cooperated to maintain the Breton Wood System of fixed rate convertible currencies. Foreign currencies had fixed exchange rates, and all these currencies were required to be convertible for physical gold. The US Dollar would be the designated anchor currency of the Bretton Woods system pegged at $35 US dollars per ounce of gold. The US Dollar was the world’s reserve currency. Foreign banks were willing to hold US dollars because they were readily convertible into gold upon demand. Back in 1967, all of these frenzied gold buying hastened the eventual demise of the Bretton Woods System that tied the value of the US dollar to gold. The similarity between 1967 and now is concerns regarding the US dollar, but the nature of those concerns are different these days. Countries are diversifying away from the US dollar due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. The US dollar is perceived as risky given the United States inclination to sanction nations that are not aligned with its interests. I do not think it is much of a stretch to say the United States “weaponizes” the dollar and arguably abuses its dominant position in the financial system to further its interests. Early into the invasion of Ukraine, the United States and its allies froze Russia dollar reserves. The flight of central banks to gold suggests a geopolitical environment characterized by mistrust, doubt, and uncertainty. These elements have often characterized the market conditions in which gold has done well in. Gold purchases by central banks suggest the dollar’s dominance is eroding, however slowly that may be. Russia bought a record amount of gold in 2022. Russia is encouraging citizens to purchase gold by providing incentives. Moscow eliminated its 20% VAT on physical gold for individuals to redirect citizens away from US dollars towards precious metals. People were also exempted from paying income tax on profits from selling gold. A significant proportion of gold sold was large bars suggesting that rich Russians are the ones doing most of the purchasing of precious metals. Gold does not generate passive income like investments in stocks and bonds do. Gold, instead, represents a store of value and a way to save money. It is essentially a defensive play. The more countries can reduce their reliance on the dollar, the less effective sanctions by the United States and Europe will be in the future. Gold also has industrial uses beyond its financial utility. The three major uses of gold are 1) jewelry 2) as a currency hedge, 3) industrial applications. Gold is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It is also highly resistant to corrosion. It is used extensively in electronics like printed circuits and transistors. Applications of electronics that use gold include aviation and medical devices. Works Cited: https://www.numismaticnews.net/coin-market/the-failure-of-the-1960s-london-gold-pool Tags: gold reserves, gold reserves by country, gold reserves in the world, world gold reserves, largest gold reserves, gold reserve, gold, countries with the largest gold reserves, gold reserves comparison, us gold reserves, countries with largest gold reserves, countries by gold reserves, biggest gold reserves, countries by gold reserves 2022 list, central bank gold reserves, top countries gold reserves, reserves, world gold reserves by country, rbi gold reserves

What is a “stalking horse bid” This term comes from the idea of a hunter hiding behind a horse to get closer to their prey without alarming it. In business, it is a strategy to set a floor to the bidding process and attract other bidders. It occurs in a situation where a company in financially distressed like in bankruptcy. A potential buyer is selected and they offer the initial bid known as the “stalking horse bid.” This becomes the starting point for other parties if they want to place a bid as a floor is formed in regards to price. It is meant to encourage competition. We are discussing this term because Overstock.com placed a stalking horse bid for the intellectual property and digital assets of Bed Bath & Beyond. No other bidders exceeded the stalking horse bid, and therefore, Overstock.com won. This deal does not keep the Bed Bath & Beyond stores open, so there won’t be any more of those stores anymore. Works Cited: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/overstockcom-wins-auction-bed-bath-s-intellectual-property-digital-ass-rcna90550 Tags: what is stalking horse offer, what is the stalking horse strategy, what is the meaning of stalking horse offer, what is the definition of stalking horse offer, stalking horse, what is a stalking horse bidder, stalking horse bid, what does stalking horse offer mean, stalking horse offer meaning, what does stalking horse offer stand for, stalking horse bidder strategy, stalking horse example, stalking horse bidder whose, stalking horse offer explanation

Why you need to know about the inverted yield curve Typically, long term government bonds have higher yields than short term bonds to compensate for the added risk of tying up investor money for a longer period. This normal, upward sloping yield curve, reflects the expectation that the economy will grow over time, and inflation will increase. An inverted yield curve occurs when short term interest rates on government bonds are higher than long term interest rates. This indicates a negative outlook on the economy. Inverted yield curves are historically associated with economic recessions. The expectation is that central banks will be forced to lower interest rates to counter an economic downturn. The expectation for interest rates being decreased in the future results in the long term yields dropping and this creates the inverted yield curve. Economists, policymakers, investors, and regular people like you and me should monitor and consider an inverted yield curve as a potential indication that the economy will contract. While it does not guarantee a recession, it is a warning sign, and an important tool to be considered. Tags: inverted yield curve, yield curve, yield curve inversion, inverted yield curve explained, inverted yield curve recession, yield, flat yield curve, yield curve recession, bond yield curve inversion, yield curve inversion chart, bond yield curve, yield curve inverted, yield curve explained, inverted yield curve 2018, inverted yield curve 2022, inverted yield curve 2023, inverted yield curve 2019, the yield curve, flattening yield curve, yield curve and interest rates

How to lock in tuition prices: Private College 529 Plan While the Private College 529 Plan is not as popular as traditional 529 plans, it is a risk-free investment vehicle that is guaranteed to keep up with the increasing costs of college tuition. Whether your child is young or about to go to college, you can prepay tuition and hedge against tuition inflation. Families can lock in tuition by buying prepaid tuition certificates at the current price. You can lock in tuition for whatever you are able to contribute. Around 300 private colleges participate in this tax-advantaged plan. The price of tuition at private colleges increased on average of 4% between 2000 and 2020. The average account size is $45,000. Going this route forgoes potentially larger market returns from traditional 529 savings plans where savers will typically choose from a list of mutual fund investments. The private prepaid plan only covers tuition and fees which is why it is a good idea to also invest in a traditional 529 plan. Net assets for the Private College 529 Plan were just $334 million versus the $408 billion for all 529 college savings plans. My opinion is this is an extremely conservative approach with little risk, and little potential return. The longer your timespan, the more sense it makes to be invested in the stock market. Works Cited: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/1/529plan.asp https://www.wsj.com/articles/tuition-saving-private-529-plan-stanford-georgetown-princeton-2e19eca7?mod=hp_lead_pos8 Tags: 529 college savings plan, 529 plan, saving for college, 529 plans, college savings, 529 plan explained, 529 college savings plan explained, college, how to save for college, college planning, best 529 college savings plan, college save 529 plan, private college 529 plan, college savings plans, 529 college savings, 529 college savings plan tax benefits, save for college, college savings plan, how to pay for college, college savings tips, 529 college savings plans

How do high interest rates help home builders? Usually high interest rates are bad for home builders, but for now, it is working to their advantage. If you have been house shopping recently, you might have noticed that the supply is low. The reason for that is because no one wants to give up their historically low mortgage rate on their current house to purchase another house and get a new mortgage at a higher rate. The average rate for a 30 year fixed mortgage is now 6.7%. Compare that to some homeowners with mortgages below 3%. There are about half as many homes on the market now than there was in 2019. This shortage means that it is easier for home builders to sell what they build. Home builders make new supply of homes. There are still people in the market to purchase homes like cash buyers who are usually older Americans that have paid off their mortgages. In May, there was a large month over month jump in the number of homes started. We will see how long market conditions favor home builders, but for now, they should do well. Works Cited: https://www.wsj.com/articles/home-builders-learn-to-love-high-rates-c4e2adb7?mod=hp_lead_pos3 Tags: real estate, real estate investing, real estate agent, how to invest in real estate, real estate market, real estate business, real estate crash, real estate investing for beginners, invest in real estate, new real estate agent, commercial real estate, real estate 101, texas real estate, real estate ninja, real estate bubble, real estate basics, real estate canada, houston real estate, how to do real estate, toronto real estate, real estate investor

Why is the Japanese stock market booming again? 1) Pro-market reforms force companies to improve shareholder returns. Japanese companies have traditionally hoarded cash which increases their book values by provides little actual return. Almost half of companies on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and a price to book ratio below 1.0. The Tokyo Stock Exchange now requires companies wishing to list to boost their P/B above 1.0. This will be accomplished by putting cash to work on stock buybacks and other measures that should improve shareholder returns. 2) Japan’s GDP growth rate exceeds the US and other group of seven. Japan’s GDP growth rate is an annualized 2.7% in Q1 which exceeds economists’ forecasts of 1.9%. The GDP growth is likely driven by inflation. In April, inflation was at 3.5% which is above the Bank of Japan’s target of 2%. 3) Japan should benefit from de-risking of supply chain in Asia. Japan represents a low-risk investment destination. The industrial sector of Japan is uniquely suited to provide construction equipment, trucks, robots, and machine tools as supply chains move from China to emerging and frontier markets in Asia. We are seeing iPhone manufacturing moving to India. We are also seeing more investment in Vietnam. Japan will be able to benefit by supplying equipment and machinery for these operations in other Asian nations. 4) Monetary and fiscal policies. The Bank of Japan has not raised rates this cycle despite inflation surpassing their 2% target. This policy helps stocks despite hurting their currency, the yen. Japanese banks have not suffered the rising interest rate shocks that have plagued American banks. If the Bank of Japan raises interest rates, the yen should strengthen and it will lead to Japanese investors moving money from offshore banks into Japanese stocks and bonds. The Japanese economy and stock market should experience steady growth over the next quarters and years fueled in part by the factors we have just discussed. Warren Buffet is placing a bet on Japan with his purchase of Japanese trading firms. These firms provide everything from energy to minerals despite Japan having new natural resources. These companies derive most of their revenue from non-trade activities. They have built up interests in a wide range of things from logistics to real estate. They are playing an increasing role in EVs and renewable energy. Works Cited: https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/japan-reclaiming-lost-decades https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/05/why-warren-buffett-is-keen-on-japans-versions-of-berkshire-hathaway.html Tags: stock market, japanese stock market, stock market news, japanese stocks, japan stock market, japan stock market crash, indian stock market, stocks, japan - stock market, japan stock market news, japan stock market 2023, finance stock, japan stock market bubble, india vs japan stock market, japan vs india stock market, japan stock market crash 1989, why did japan stock market crash, japanese stock market bubble, stock markets, japanese stock market history

Why are Black Americans leaving northern and western cities for the south? Many African Americans are leaving cities in the north to go to suburbs and metro areas in the south. The shift is especially pronounced among young, college educated Blacks. The primarily motivation to migrate south is driven by rising housing costs and concerns about crime. This demographic shift has been happening for decades. Major cities that have been especially impacted include Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Oakland. Philadelphia and Baltimore experienced steep declines in black residents in the last census. An influx of black voters are turning formerly republican dominated areas democrat. During the Great Migration that began in the early 1900s, millions of Black Americans left the South in search of economic opportunities in industrial northern cities. When people leave the inner cities, neighborhoods and businesses are hard hit. Blacks have not suburbanized at the same rates as the broader population. 44% of blacks live in metro suburbs versus 33% two decades ago. During that same period, blacks living in central cities decline from 57% to 54%. Works Cited: https://www.wsj.com/articles/black-americans-are-leaving-cities-in-the-north-and-west-c05bb118?mod=Searchresults_pos1&page=1 Tags: african american, black history, the great migration african americans, black americans, african americans, why black americans are leaving africa, the black congregation, american, black, black excellence, retirement cities in america, south africa, african americans in ghana, living in ghana, americans in east africa, retiring in the us, black migration from the south, the history of american, african americans in africa, leaving north Carolina

Silicon Valley is filling with vacant office space Companies in Silicon Valley are abandoning office space at an ever increasing rate. Google and Facebook both have closed locations. Tech giants dominate the Silicon Valley office real estate market. They are traditionally slow to surrender space because the market has been tight historically. Tech companies went on a hiring spree during the pandemic and continued to hold onto office space despite the majority of employees working from home. Retailers, restaurants, and other small businesses are starting to panic. Silicon Valley office vacancy rates were 17% in June versus 11% in 2019. There is a record 7.6 million square feet of office space available versus 2.7 million in 2019. In areas like Menlo Park and Mountain View, the vacancy rate is over 20%. Google made 1.3 million square feet of office space available recently. However bad the situation in Silicon Valley is, its still not as bad as San Francisco where the vacancy rate is more than 25% driven by small firms that were quick to cancel their leases. Analysts predict that vacancy rates in Silicon Valley will continue to increase as tech companies continue layoffs and shed office space. Works Cited: https://www.wsj.com/articles/vacant-offices-are-piling-up-in-silicon-valley-68e19f7?mod=Searchresults_pos1&page=1 Tags: real estate, commercial real estate, office real estate, real estate investing, commercial real estate 2023, real estate office, office real estate news, real estate offices, real estate market, real estate forecast, real estate analysis, real estate business, commercial real estate news, retail real estate, real estate broker, chicago real estate, real estate 2023, real estate crash, real estate sales, real estate agent, canada real estate, real estate bubble

Online retailers are shifting back towards brick-and-mortar stores Digital startups assumed their brands could make more money online rather than relying on traditional retail stores. However, once marketing, shipping, and other costs were factored in, many of these brands ended up losing money. Whole is the practice of selling goods through a third party like a department store of a mall chain. This is almost immediately profitable. However, the trade off is that the third party department store or retailer owns the data on what people are buying which results in less visibility. Some contracts with third parties require the brands to make up for any shortfalls in expected sales. Brands also lose control over how their products are displayed. Many digital brands never reach profitability because marketing expenses are so high to acquire customers. During the low interest rate environment that persisted after the 2008 financial crisis, many venture capitalists funded digital startups and prioritized growth rather than profitability. Expenses to acquire customers online has risen. Many startups competed against each other for Facebook ads and other digital marketing which increased the price. After tech companies, like Apple, made privacy changes, this further increased the costs for online advertising. Now that interest rates have risen sharply, investors are less likely to fund risky ventures that are not profitable. Many companies are returning to the brick-and-mortar mode by opening physical stores. These physical storefronts expose brands to potential customers in a less costly manner than online marketing. Nike will resume selling apparel and other gear via Macy’s in October. This is a reversal from its 2021 decision to stop selling most products at chain stores to focus on its own locations and website. Works Cited: https://www.wsj.com/articles/brands-wanted-to-cut-out-stores-not-anymore-817b3809?mod=Searchresults_pos1&page=1 Tags: brick and mortar business, business, small business, small business tips, online business vs brick and mortar, online business, should i start a brick and mortar business, small business marketing, starting a business, how to start a business, bricks and mortar business, how to convert your brick-and-mortar business to e-commerce, brick-and-mortar, business tips, business ideas, what is a brick and mortar business, starting a brick and mortar business

Why is iPhone manufacturing shifting away from China towards India? Bank of America is forecasting that 18% of global iPhone manufacturing will be moved to India by 2025 based on targets from Apple’s contract manufacturers like Foxconn. India is offering a productive-linked incentive scheme for smartphones to attract electronics manufacturing to the country. India has made rapid advances in the last five years in electronics manufacturing. While labor is cheaper in India, that is not the whole story here. It is about having an alternative supply versus China given the high tensions right now. The reason there is so much electronics manufacturing in China is because of a city called Shenzhen. There are supply chain advantages there that cannot be found anywhere else. You have an entire city that specializes in electronics manufacturing with thousands of companies located in one geographic area. There are these massive marketplaces with hundreds of vendors that allow you to purchase small samples of components or have something custom made. Apple is seeking to diversify its supply chain away from China for business continuity reasons. India is the logical second choice after China. Another reason is the new international minimum corporation tax deal incentives companies to have factories and offices in countries where they are making profits so they can offset taxes. You see this with US companies increasing headcount in Europe. Works Cited: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/mobiles-tablets/apple-to-shift-18-per-cent-of-global-iphone-production-to-india-by-fy25-report/article66967446.ece Tags: apple manufacturing in india, iphone manufacturing in india, iphone india manufacturing, iphone 13 made in india price, apple india manufacturing, iphone, iphone 14 india, iphone 14, apple iphone, india, apple iphone made in india, iphone 13 made in india, iphone manufacturing, india manufacturing, iphone 14 manufacturing, iphone latest news india, made in india iphone, iphone 14 pro max, tata to make iphones in india, iphone india, manufacturing in india iphone

What is the world’s largest cruise ship? This ship is scheduled to sale of the PortMiami in early 2024. This Royal Carribeean ship will have 20 decks with 7 swimming pools and 6 water slides. It will have the tallest waterfall, tallest water slide, and largest waterpark, as well as the first suspended infinity pool on any ship. The Icon of the Seas will be powered by liquefied natural gas. It will have a gross tonnage of 250,800 GT. The crew will number 2,350 with a capacity of 5,610 passengers at double occupancy or 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity. The Icon of the Seas is part of the new Icon class of ships which will include at least two other ships. The second one is under construction and is expected to enter service in 2025, and the third will enter service in 2026. Tags: icon of the seas, icon of the seas construction, royal caribbean icon of the seas, icon of the seas royal caribbean, icon of the seas update, icon of the seas tour, icon of the seas youtube, wonder of the seas, icon of the seas reveal, icon of the seas news, icon of the seas sea trial, icon of the seas sea trials, icon of the seas construction update, icon of the seas 2023, icon of the seas features, icon of the seas latest news, icon of the seas updates

Why did a Spotify executive call Harry and Meghan “grifters”? Bill Simmons is a podcaster, sportswriter, and founded of a sports website called the Ringer. He also is a Spotify executive. Bill Simmons said on his self-titled podcast Friday that “I wish I had been involved in the ‘Meghan and Harry leave Spotify’ negotiation.” He also said in January 2023 that “What does he do? It’s one of those things where it’s like, what’s your talent? Why are we listening to you? So you were born in a royal family and then you left … You live in f**king Montecito and you just like, you sell documentaries and podcasts and nobody cares what you have to say about anything unless you talk about the royal family and you just complain about them.” Despite recent gains, the Meghan and Harry are both quite unpopular. Meghan Markle is disliked by 34% of people and liked by only 39%. Her husband, Harry, is even less popular if that is possible. Works Cited: https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/19/media/prince-harry-meghan-spotify-bill-simmons-intl-scli/index.html Tags: harry and meghan, meghan markle, harry and meghan markle, prince harry and meghan markle, prince harry, harry, meghan, harry and meghan spotify, harry and meghan latest news, meghan markle and prince harry, prince harry and meghan markle spotify, meghan markle podcast, prince harry meghan markle, meghan markle prince harry, maquicienta harry y meghan, prince william and harry, megan markle, prince harry meghan markle latest, meghan sacked, meghan markle archetypes

How to get the airlines to credit you if the price of your tickets goes down This little secret is confirmed to work for American Airlines, Delta, and Southwest. After you purchase tickets for a flight, do price tracking on Google and make sure you set it, so you receive updates as prices fluctuate. At some point you may get an alert that the price of tickets has dropped significantly. At that point, call up the airlines and ask for flight credit for the discrepancy. Now you will have credit towards a future flight. All it takes is some extra monitoring and a 30 minute call to a customer service agent. You will be surprised how helpful they can be! This works even for tickets that are nonrefundable. This will not work for basic economy tickets because a lot of airlines restrict those. Also, if your plans are flexible, you can check with the airline to see what options you have for changing your flight. This trick will also work at some hotels. Monitor those prices as well and call for a price adjustment. Tags: flight booking, airline ticket booking online, airline, booking airline ticket, airline booking hacks, airline tickets, airline booking mistakes, cheap flights airline tickets, how to book cheap airline tickets, booking, airline ticket booking process, flight booking online, airline ticket, airplane ticket booking, booking flight tickets online, philippine airlines, budget airlines, cheap airline tickets, online booking, airline pricing, online flight booking

Wealthy Americans are flocking to the dollar store! There has been a 4% increase in the share of people making over $100,000 to the dollar store. Six figure households are 15% more likely to shop at the dollar store than last year. The rate has increased from 39% to 45%. There used to be a stigma around shopping at the dollar store but that has largely gone away as people search for good deals despite inflation. Aldi is expanding into more prosperous areas. It plans to add 120 new US locations this year. Last year, it either opened or remodeled 139 stores. 9.4 million new US customers visited in 2022. Social media is playing a part in making dollar and discount stores cool. Aldi is similarly seeing an increase in high income shoppers. Works Cited: https://www.wsj.com/articles/dollar-store-shoppers-wealthier-6e08ce1f?mod=wknd_pos1 Tags: dollar store, dollar tree, dollar store haul, dollar tree haul, dollar tree hacks, dollar tree secrets, dollar tree diy, dollar store finds, dollar store near me, dollar tree finds, dollar store with liza, dollar tree organization, dollar tree haul 2023, dollar tree must haves, vivian tries dollar tree, what to buy at the dollar store, dollar, dollar general, dollar tree shop with me, dollar stores, new at dollar tree, dollar store diy, dollar store food

The Largest Deal in Aviation History Indigo is an Indian low-cost airline. It is the largest airline in India in terms of both passengers carried and fleet size. It has close to 60% of the domestic market share in India. Last year, the airline had $3.3 billion in revenues and 101 destinations. Indigo agreed to buy 500 Airbus jets which makes this the largest commercial jet deal in civil-aviation history. The order is worth $50 billion before customer discounts. This will more than double the airline’s fleet of 300 aircraft. The planes are scheduled to be delivered between 2030 and 2035. I am bullish and optimistic regarding India. It has a growing population, and I think the GDP per capita could rise a lot. I think travel is something that makes you a more well-rounded person. As people have more disposable income, they are going to want to travel, first domestically within their own country, and then internationally and overseas. However, the airline industry is cutthroat with thin margins and little room for error. I do not like airline companies. I think Airbus and Boeing is a better play than an actual airline operator. Works Cited: https://www.wsj.com/articles/airbus-sells-500-jets-to-indias-indigo-in-record-aircraft-deal-76a215bb Tags: indigo airlines, indigo, indigo airline, indigo airlines jobs 2023, indigo airlines job for 12th pass, indigo airlines job vacancy in delhi, indigo airlines job vacancy 2023 for freshers, indigo airlines flight, indigo flight, airlines, indigo airlines inside, indigo airlines review, indigo airlines travel, indian indigo airlines, indigo airlines hacked, indigo airlines success, indigo airlines pakistan, indigo airline food, indigo airlines travel video

Using PTO as an Emergency Fund Most companies offer formal paid time off (PTO). Paying out terminated employees’ accrued and unused vacation time isn’t regulated by federal law, so it is a state by state issue. There are about 20 states that require PTO payout. In states where PTO is required to be paid out to terminated employees, this could be used as a partial security cushion or emergency fund. Florida, Georgia, and Texas do not require PTO to be paid out upon termination. However, you should still have funds set aside for emergency events such as a roof leak or the car breaking down. While you can view your accrued PTO as part of your emergency fund, your emergency fund is not just for job loss. Personally, I like to carry as many PTO days as possible. Then I note my companies rollover policy for the new year as far as how many days I can carry. If I can’t rollover my accrued PTO, then I try and take vacation in December. A lot of companies slow down during the holidays so this can be a good time to take vacation anyways. Works Cited: personal finance, personal finance tips, personal finance management, personal finance 101, personal finance for beginners, finance, personal finance basics, personal finance for dummies, personal finance books, personal finance advice, personal finance dashboard, personal finance for high school students, personal finance club, personal finance excel, personal finance canada, personal finance course, personal finance lessons, warikoo personal finance

What is at the root of San Francisco’s decline? 14,700 San Francisco taxpayers with AGI of $415,000 exited California in 2020 and 2021 according to the IRS. Tens of thousands of people have fled San Francisco for Bay Area exurbs. San Francisco has lost 7.5% of its population since 2020. Families and workers left San Francisco to live in places with more freedom, less crime, and lower housing costs and taxes. The lockdowns were lifted in May 2021, but few former residents chose to return. The pandemic led the city to reduce the jail population by 40%, releasing hundreds of inmates. These inmates were far more likely to die from drug overdoses than covid. In one hotel alone, 18 homeless people died of drug overdoeses. There has been roughly $45 million in hotel damages from homeless people in settlement payments which the city has asked FEMA to reimburse. Some hotels are so bad that the homeless refuse to stay there. While hotel occupancy nationwide has returned to pre-pandemic levels, this is not the case in San Francisco. San Francisco struggles to hire police officers despite generous pay. The average police officer was paid $104 an hour in salary and benefits a year, or $216,320 a year. One third of police officers have made more than $200,000 last year. Works Cited: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-root-causes-of-san-franciscos-disorder-crime-homeless-911-auto-theift-public-disorder-a45b170c?mod=hp_opin_pos_2#cxrecs_s Tags: san francisco, san francisco homeless, san francisco news, san francisco crime, francisco, san francisco crime news, downtown san francisco, san francisco crime rate, san francisco crime wave, san francisco crime 2023, san francisco crime problem, life in san francisco, san francisco exodus, san francisco economy, san francisco shoplifting, gavin newsom san francisco, san francisco policies, san francisco stabbing, san francisco 2021, san francisco store closures

Why do so many people dislike Mark Cuban? A lot of his wealth was generated through selling broadcast.com which was essentially radio via the internet. He sold the company to Yahoo, which ultimately wrote down the acquisition to close to nothing after just 18 months. Yahoo is known for making a series of terrible investments and acquisitions in the past. Some people might argue that he effectively conned Yahoo into purchasing a terrible business. Mark Cuban was named in a lawsuit that alleged Voyager Digital was a Ponzi scheme. Cuban promoted Voyager, and Voyager even sponsored his team, the Mavericks. Cuban invested in Dogecoin. The SEC filed a civil suit against Cuban in 2008 for insider trading of shares of Mamma.com, which was ultimately dismissed by the court. The SEC appealed, and a federal jury ruled in favor of Cuban. In June, Cuban argued that companies like Target and Bud Light going woke was just good business. However, the data does not seem to support this argument. For all these reasons, and more, some people would argue that his insight is does not add much value to conversations about current affairs. Tags: joe rogan, joe rogan experience, rogan, joe rogan podcast, joe rogan fan page, joe rogan mma show, rogan podcast, joe rogan ufc, joe rogan shorts, theo von joe rogan, joey diaz joe rogan, joe rogan joey diaz, joe rogan elon musk, rogan shorts, the joe rogan experience, joe rogan rfk, joe rogan rfk jr, rfk jr joe rogan, joe rogan bible, joe rogan camaro, joe rogan stand up, joe rogan theo von, elon musk joe rogan, refuting joe rogan, debating joe rogan

Boomers refusing to divest of stocks despite market pivot. Nearly two thirds of US adults age 65 and older own equities versus about 50% before the 2008 financial crisis. It’s commonly held that investors should pivot towards bonds as they get older. For almost a decade, the stock market has been the only place to get good returns because interest rates were near zero. The S&P 500 has returned more than 700% since it bottomed in March 2009 versus the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond index’s return of 46% over that same period. Now, interest rates have risen dramatically which makes bonds a more attractive investment. It shouldn’t be surprising that individuals that have seen high stock market returns report higher financial risk tolerance and are more likely to invest in the stock market. Many baby boomers started investing during the rise of index funds which provided diversified, passive investment options. The Vanguard 500 launched in 1976 and was the first index mutual fund. The first exchange traded fund was the SPDR S&P 500 ETF which launched in 1993. Employer funded pensions began to decline in the 1980s and the focus shifted towards self directed investments. Most baby boomers didn’t get a defined benefit plan and were responsible for their own retirement. Tags: retirement, retirement planning, retirement stocks, dividend stocks, retirement income, best dividend stocks for retirement, retirement dividend stocks, best stocks for retirement, dividend stocks for retirement, stock market, best retirement stocks to buy now, stocks, retirement stock portfolio, early retirement, dividend stocks to buy for retirement income, retirement savings, best dividend stocks, retirement investing, investing in retirement