Want to know how Big Al invests? Here it is
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Hi Dagen,
Thanks for the insight. I do not disagree with anything you said.
We baught the condo because it is a damn nice place to live. I am pretty convinced that it will not go down in value. But, who knows, I could be wrong.
Selling stocks to live on? Yep, eventually I am right there with you my friend.
Not a whole lot of inheritance, yep. My wife and her brothers inherited a beach house worth probably 1.2 mill. Will my wife and I ever see a penny of that? Nope!
Many thanks for listening. PLEASE keep your comments coming.
Big Al
Dagen,
I agree with you…..
AL,,,, CHECK OUT THE BOOK…”The GREAT BUST AHEAD” byDanial Arnold.
Okay,
Big Al
AL..By the way ,,, I agree with you regarding “another place to park your money”
meaning diversification,,,and not putting all you eggs in one basket.
Housing will come back…and all real estate is location,location,location
and we all need shelter, so that said,,, real estate is an investment,
and as you said may be early stages,,,and no one can pick the bottom
and only time will tell….
Hi Jerry,
Bought the condo not for appreciation, but for what I hope will be a safe place to “park” a couple of bucks.
Have a great weekend,
Big Al
Thanks for the information on how you invest. Will check out TD bank stock.
I was very interested in TD and Bank of Montreal (BMO) stock. It seems though that an American investor is subject to Canadian income tax withholding of something like 15% or 25% of dividend payments without a way to recover that unless you file a Canadian income tax return for other investments like rental property in that country. If anyone knows more about this, please share!
Here is what I know.
I pay U.S. income tax on capital gains. Short and long term demending. If I get any dividends, yep, I pay tax on them.
Who cares?
BigAl
With bank interest rates so low, “small” investors and retired persons who rely on dividend income care if their dividend payments are reduced 25% by a foreign income tax that is not refundable. The IRS allows a Foreign Tax Credit which helps address double taxation, especially for Americans with higher incomes; for those in a lower tax bracket (under 25%) the credit helps recover less of the foreign withholding amount or none at all. Either way, it’s just something a dividend-oriented investor should consider.
Hi Charles,
I am not a tax expert. I do know that with the reciprocal tax treaty between the U.S. and Canada I am obligated to pay capital gains on my investments in Canadian public companies. Regarding dividends, TD Bank is the first dividend paying investment that I have ever purchased in Canada. I will let our CPA handle that.
Thanks for the comments,
Big Al
I bought it because I think it is solid. Appreciation? I don’t know. But I bet the money will be there when I need it.
Big Al
Are you sure that it is a wise idea to invest in TD bank stock? Personally, I would not touch it with a thousand foot pole. After all, the CEO of TD Bank Financial Group attended the 2010 Bilderberger meeting — what does that mean? Not sure, but it does not sit well with me.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/bilderberg-2010-final-list-of-participants.html
…as did the “Deputy Chair” of the TD Bank (Bilderberger 2010)
Good Morning Bentnail,
Thanks for letting me know.
Big Al
The great Jim Sinclair agrees with Al:
“How do you answer fools?
You can never convert the party that thinks US T bills are no risk, and gold is a risk. They have been socialized into Financial Terminal Ignorance (FTI, an incurable virus that affects sheeple only).”
Yep, That seems to be the truth.
Big Al
Agree on precious metals. Agree on TD. BNS (Bank of Nova Scotia is also right up there and a nice dividend). No REEs? Rare earths are the next big thing. Don’t agree on real estate. No one has any money. Apartments are the big thing in Seattle. They are almost bulldozing entire developments right here in Washington State. Real estate has a long way to go — down, especially after QE dries up or interest rates climb. YOu did say you are diversified but then you say that you are 60% in PMs?!!?Thanks for sharing.
I am not sure man. My daughter, Sarah, is getting married to a really good guy later this year. They are looking to buy a house. How aboutWallingford? Nothing under $6oo K. Holy smoke, when I grew up in Seattle you could buy anything in Wallingford for $20K. Greenlake? They put up an offer on a “fixer upper” (Z2 bedroom and 1 bath) Their offer was $525K and they were too low.
Rare earths? I am invested there.
Diversified? Yep. 60% in precious metals (both stocks and commodities); 30% in various mutual funds and about 10% in real estate. Sound diverisfied to me.
Jed, keep the comments coming.
Big Al
Al,
Here’s something interesting. $20K when you were growing up was more money than $600K today. At $35 per ounce, $20K was 571 ounces of gold. Today, at $1500/oz, that’s $856,500! I’m sure more people could afford $20K back then, but that’s because the middle class hadn’t been gutted yet. Inflation adjusted wages were, on average, much higher.
This is not appreciation…..this is hyperinflation of real estate…
as one great spokesman said… It is still a house,,,the same old
house that has been around since 1970, the square footage
cost has gone up ,, but the overall quality has fallen.
all due to the decrease in the dollar.,nothing more.
Yes, but note that inflation of the currency is hiding what is really deflation. Priced in ounces of gold, nearly everything is cheaper today, especially houses. For those who know and respect what real money is, everything just keeps on getting more and more affordable. Few do however, so quality just isn’t available to most.
Mattew,
thanks for the follow up…
I am thinking on your reply….
My example would be….
1970 gold was $35 oz. ,a house,all brick, 1/2 acre ground,custom built,
nice neighborhood, $43,000. House price, divided by $35 per oz ,
equals 1228 oz of gold..
Today, same house 1800squares..$325,000 equals..224 oz($1450oz)
SO, IN 1970 it took 1228 oz , today it only takes 224 oz ,,so your statement is correct
that the cost of a house, is getting cheaper, for those who own gold.
So, lets go back to Al’s thought ,,,that real estate is a good investment
now…I still agree with Dagan concerning timing,
What say you…
I think virtually all real estate has much further to fall, especially in real terms. In fact it would not surprise me if Al agrees. Unlike TD Bank stock, a home purchase is decided upon by assessing a multitude of personal circumstances, the least of which may very well be financial considerations. In short, we all have a life to live. Al’s purchase can only be a mistake if Al say’s so. I doubt that will be the case.
HI AL. I respect your honesty. You seem to do well in what you do, Which gives a bit of a lead to the rest of us .You bought a second home, which i believe was a bit of a boo boo,at this time! but if the price was right, good look to you & Cathy. But at the end of the day its your money ,which you appear to work hard for, so enjoy it. GOOD HEALTH To you both, have a great Easter break. Still mad HaHa.
Hey man, I have been a mad man for about 50 years and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Regarding the second home, no, we didn’t buy a second home we bought a new first home. Boo boo? Maybe, but I am on the 16th green at Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club. Great friggin place to drink wine!
Crazy Al
Big Al,
I disagree with you for housing. U.S. will be going through austerity. Wages will be going down. Housing has to follow. Plus you don’t buy a house when mortgage interest rates are at all time low rates. You buy when mortgage rates are high, refi or sell when interest rates are low.
Happy renter since July 2006.
Hello Har,
We paid so little for our new place that it is almost a no-brainer.
Is it an investment ? Nope! Just a damn nice place to live.
Best,
Big Al
Nothing wrong in renting, Big Guy.
No reason to rent Little Guy, if a house is pocket change to someone. Candy bars are going to collapse versus gold too, but I’ll enjoy mine today, thank you.
Hello Har,
You make some good points. I agree with you on housing generally. However, in defese of Al’s decision to buy a house now, it is a judgement call, and of course different areas of the country are experiencing differing effects from this economy. If you’re buying a house as your primary residence and not so much as an investment, then that radically changes the justification factors. If you can pay cash and not have to finance it, that also changes the discussion. Everyone needs a place to lay his head and call home, and if you can find a place that you and the Mrs. likes, have the resources, and are happy with your decision when it’s done, then more power to you, is what I say. My only point of contention with what you said is that I don’t believe the US will go through any classical austerity program. “In economics, austerity is a policy of deficit-cutting, lower spending, and a reduction in the amount of benefits and public services provided. …” 1. I don’t see our Gov’t having the courage and moral character to “really” cut the deficit in any substantial way. 2. They won’t lower spending, which is counter-intuitive for Socialist/Fabian Gov’ts. Now, there is already an increasing reduction in benefits and public services, which has been going on for some years, but which has ramped up dramatically within the last 2 years. However, I believe this is intentionally done in some cases to scare the citizenry into giving the OK to Gov’t officials to raise taxes, in order to maintain vital services such as, Police, Firefighters, etc… This cabal of Banksters, Czars, and NeoSocialists are all to happy and willing to continue to print worthless paper and deficit spend, kicking the can down the road, over and over again until the “shell game” finally implodes. This gives us a little more time to get our houses in order and stash as much of the hard assets as we can, and don’t forget water, food, clothing, and energy for heating, etc.. Remember, the top gold/silver gurus are predicting that silver will outperform gold 3 to 1in this bull run.
Regards,
Dan
For every job, 6 people are looking for a job – no wage growth pressure for the sight to see.
You folks are all extremely insightful and I am proud to have you as contributors to our show.
Thank you,
Big Al
I disagree with your real estate assessment until after the next crash takes place. After all, the baby boomers are retiring which means more homes on the market (me). It will also mean the stock market will go down because the boomers will be selling their stocks to live on which will happen sooner than later (me). The generation coming behind the boomers also won’t be receiving a whole lot of inheritance either. It will probably be spent already by their parents who needed all of it to live on.
Hey…thanks for your shows…I listen each day. You’re helping people with the question on everybody’s mind, “What should I do?”