9. Special topic – Wealthsteading Podcast

Episode 154:  In response to listener questions, here are my thoughts on the myRA program- it’s a good account for the beginning SAVER. PROs: There are no minimums, no fees, and the principle is guaranteed ; like a ROTH the gains are forever tax free and the principle is always available without penalty.  Long term interest is paid with the benefit of short term liquidity.  [NOTE- because the inve...

Episode 153:  Two topics in this episode: This very resilient market is firing on all cylinders because of a convergence that I don’t think will last- Terrorism in Europe has helped Aerospace/Defense and Energy stocks; Fed interest rate hike is helping Financials; Dollar is strong because of Housing and Consumer Discretionary. But expect the volatility to continue because these are not supportive,...

Episode 152:  Two topics in this episode: As a follow up to Reading Beyond the Headlines- ignore Economic indicators (GDP, Unemployment rates and other contrived statistics) and pay attention to MARKET indicators (the actual price of things- gold, oil, the S&P500). Track them using simple moving averages. Unrealistic stock market expectations- since the year 2000, real GDP has only averaged 1....

Episode 151:  In this episode I discuss why it’s important to read beyond the headlines by researching the actual facts. For example, much is being made that 2015Q3 earnings are “beating estimates”…but they’re only beating because the original estimates have been consistently revised DOWN all year long.  S&P500 earnings are in the range of <$110 but last year they were estimated at over $1...

Episode 150:  Step-Up Bonds (notes) are a form of corporate debenture (debt instrument) that has a variable interest rate generally increasing over time.  Personally I don’t like them- the notes are Callable, thus diminishing the likelihood that higher rates will be paid if lower market yield exist.  To be charitable, in my opinion it’s a form of “sleight of hand.” All this and more in this episod...

Episode 149:  Debt is bondage and it’s crucial to your financial independence that you set yourself free. —————————————————————————————————– 10 Wealth Building Principles:  https://www.wealthstead...

Episode 148:  There are two wealth myths that hold people back: I can’t become financially independent I can get rich quick Frequently people oscillate between the two, like manic-depressants.  They fall for a get rich quick scam and then become discouraged and apathetic, setting themselves up to be taken advantage of by another scheme. The truth of the matter is…you CAN become financially indepen...

Episode 147:  In this episode I discuss the three most important sectors of the stock market- Energy, Financials, & Technology.  They are crucial because they are the origin of a modern day economy.  All the other sectors play a supporting role to these three. Important to today’s discussion is that only a very limited number of Technology stocks are showing strength and leadership; thus my pe...

Episode 146:  In this episode I discuss the recent plunge in Walmart and rationale for holding the stock long term.  Disclosure- I’m long Walmart for approximately the past 3 months. ———————————————————————————————...

Episode 145:  Part 2 of my explanation of a possible double top and a resulting market pullback. Reference- 100 day moving average as an early warning system: http://www.investablewealth.com/swing-trading-in-one-chart/   ————————————————————————&#8212...

Episode 144:  The S&P500 has behaved well the past two weeks; it is currently trading above 2000 which was a key point of resistance.  From a technical perspective, the market may be forming a double top…meaning that the next move is down.  The S&P500 high point since the correction (Aug 24&25) was an intraday high of 2020.86 on Sep 17.  During the past three sessions, the S&P500 h...

Episode 143:  An audio recording of a presentation I gave at the TSP October Workshop. View the video at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRGfmeo_MdE Slide deck for this presentation is available at:  https://www.wealthsteading.com/podcastepisodes/TSP%20Pugliano%20Oct%202015%20Fall%20Workshop.pdf   —————————————&#8...

Episode 142:  This is part 2 of a two part series.  The S&P500 is hovering around 1950, more than 7% below its previous baseline; three rally attempts have quickly faded.  A successful fourth attempt can only occur if Q3 earnings are favorable.  In this episode I discuss signs that I see as weakness and postulate about further declines, possibly in the 1700 range. ————&...

Episode 141:  This is part 1 of a two part series.  The S&P500 is hovering around 1950, more than 7% below its previous baseline; three rally attempts have quickly faded.  A successful fourth attempt can only occur if Q3 earnings are favorable.  In this episode I discuss signs that I see as weakness and postulate about further declines, possibly in the 1700 range. ————&...

Episode 140:  A stock’s price always fluctuates around the perceived value…BUT the variation can be huge.  This irrationality can be frustrating to investors, so in this episode I explain things from the perspective of human nature…beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For reference you might also want to listen to Wealth Building Principle #4 How to identify value: https://www.wealthsteading.com/...

Episode 139:  Discipline is the key to building wealth.  From the discipline to save more than you spend to the discipline to control your emotions while trading stocks.  I often speak of patience, today I’ll cover the other side of the coin- PROCRASTINATION. ————————————————————...

Episode 138:  Buy & Hold strategist sweat through a market correction, while market timers consider corrections an opportunity to build a watch list.  In this episode I discuss my thoughts on building a watch list and the discipline of patience. —————————————————————&#8...

Episode 137:  With Warren Buffett’s recent acquisition of Phillips 66, many of you are asking if this means that oil has bottomed out and it might be a good time to start buying into the energy sector.  NO…I think it means exactly the opposite.  Furthermore, with Buffett buying a refinery, he must assume that the oil export ban won’t be lifted anytime soon. —————&#821...

Episode 136:  In this episode I discuss the Media & Wall Street obsession with Federal Reserve policy on interest rates.  Our economy and stock market are on fragile ground, Fed policy is of the least concern.  Watch for commodity debt default(s) to trigger a global recession and liquidity crisis. —————————————&#8212...

Episode 135:  In this episode I review recent comments from former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan- he’s extremely concerned about the unsustainable debt caused by entitlement & defense spending. —————————————————————————————&...

Episode 134:  As expected, during this correction some of the key defensive “sin” stocks are holding up fairly well- for example alcohol & tobacco stocks Altria and Constellation Brands.  However, neither of these stocks are trading at favorable multiples.  Altria is having difficulty at its 50dma.  If this correction gets worse, these stocks will also roll over. A gloomy, but bright spot in t...

Episode 133:  With the market in correction, this is a good time to reflect on your trading strategy and investment approach.  How’s it working out for you? —————————————————————————————————– 10 W...

Episode 132:  In this episode I explain why I remain long the US Dollar and discuss why I believe this market is likely to drop 15-20% with a good value (buy in) on the S&P500 at around 1810-1705ish. But it’s not all gloom…this is a resilient market and any credible rumor of the Fed intervening with QE4 will bounce the market up. —————————&...

Episode 131:  Please pardon the poor audio quality of this episode.  Join me as I illustrate the problems with the global economy with a comparison of what’s happening in the solar bond market. Fortune reference article:  http://fortune.com/2015/08/07/this-is-why-elon-musks-spacex-has-been-buying-up-solarcitys-bonds/ ———————————&#82...

Episode 130:  The indexes sold off hard today in above average volume.  The decline was felt across the board, with media stocks getting hit particularly hard…Disney plunged 11% in the past two sessions. In this episode we discuss some of the fallout and what to watch for. ——————————————————...