No More F**** To Give About T****

Over the years, I've made fun of people who consistently make, and make public, their New Year's resolutions.  I've probably even made fun of them in some previous blog post.  I'm all for improvement via positive self-talk, but the vast majority of these resolutions are forgotten within a couple of months, even though the initial self-affirmations remain on social media accounts forever.

That said, this year I'm going to join the crowd, and publicize my own resolution.  It's very simple: I'm not going to remain silent or try to change / avoid the subject the next time I hear anyone, speaking to me in person or in a group, tries to defend the worst, narcissistic, racist, xenophobic, homophobic, misogynistic, grifting, criminal, fascist president in U.S. history, Donald T****.

In retrospect, it's a shame I put so much effort into not confronting people on that topic before now.  It seemed like such a waste of time and energy, trying to use truth and facts to explain something to the unwilling and unknowing.  Changing the subject was a more rational approach than trying to change a mind warped by far right-wing media platforms, which supported / support  T**** and the republican party (small caps on purpose) at all costs.

It was also a function of my professional life, to try to maintain neutrality.  I have clients from all walks of life, although they are overwhelmingly white Iowans.  It sort of reminds me of the famous Michael Jordan quote from a simpler time, when he was asked why he didn't use his platform for social change.  "Republicans buy shoes, too," was his reply.

During the Black Lives Matter protests of last summer, it started to dawn on me that silence wasn't the correct option.  That's the 'white privilege' way of doing things.  Silence can be taken as complicity.

So coming into this year, I decided I wasn't going down that path anymore.  After last week's crazed insurrection movement that killed people at the U.S. Capitol on 1/6/2021, I have extra motivation to not be silent when others are saying and doing ignorant, deranged things.  Put less politely, I don't have anymore fucks to give about those people.

I'm not going out on a limb by putting this in writing on my little unknown blog.  But if anyone reads it and disagrees, or anyone is offended by my verbal pushback someday, I'm ready to move on without them as clients or friends.

I decided long ago I'd reached the point where I really only want to be around people who improve me personally and professionally.  T****-lickers don't do that, and after last week, it's embarrassing to even be around them.

Everything's Coming Up Roses

I traveled to Los Angeles over the New Year's holiday weekend, for a bucket list trip to attend the Rose Bowl and Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.  With the Iowa Hawkeyes playing (Standford) in the bowl game, I figured I wouldn't have a better chance to go, along with 30,000 or so other Iowans (some of whom I knew and bumped into there).

My observations, in chronological order:

* The Santa Monica Pier, and surrounding city and beach, was a great place for us Midwestern tourists to gather.  Seeing the sunset over a beach on New Year's Eve isn't normal, but I could get used to it.

* Pasadena is a tree-filled, skyscraper-less suburb that could pass for a thousand other college towns anywhere in the America.  (Cal-Tech is at its center.)

* The parade exceeded my expectations.  The route is 5.5 miles long, so it isn't that hard to find a spot to watch as long as you aren't near the start.  Standing among the locals around the parade mid-point was perfect.  The colors, the music, the floats, the celebrities -- it was all very cool, and the two hours went by very fast.

* If you go to the parade, and then the game, there isn't a lot of transition time between the two.  Driving or shuttling to the game was almost impossible with the traffic, so most parade attendees made the 2+ miles walk.  Couple that with extremely tight security at the stadium gates, and it takes a while to get to your seat.

* The Rose Bowl Stadium experience was second-to-none.  Not sure there is any other 100,000-seat stadium in the world in such a park-like setting.  Factor in that I'd seen it on TV dozens of times on New Year's Day, but always in the cold and dark of an Iowa winter, when it looked like it was on another planet.  The game outcome may have been awful for Iowa football fans, but at least the Stanford band was entertaining.

* So many freeways, so many cars in LA.  And this was a holiday weekend.  Let's just say that Google maps and traffic came in very handy.

2016

It's once again time to review my 2015 list of things I'd like to see happen, and lay out my hopes for 2016.  Here's the 2015 list, with new notes in ALL CAPS:

-Less glorification of big butts.
I'M DECLARING VICTORY ON THIS, BECAUSE IT MOVED FROM A 9 TO AN 8 ON A SCALE OF 1-10.

-A Final Four for Iowa State men's basketball, and an NCAA tournament berth for both Iowa and Northern Iowa men's basketball.
OH, SO CLOSE.  THAT IS, IF YOU CAN CALL ISU LOSING IN THEIR FIRST NCAA TOURNAMENT GAME AS A 3 SEED 'CLOSE'

-More action, less inaction by the U.S. Congress.
A PERPETUALLY WASTED HOPE.

-Stephen Colbert dominating late night television, with Conan and Fallon and Stewart right behind.
OTHER THAN JON STEWART RETIRING, I FEEL THIS IS STARTING TO HAPPEN.

-Common use of Apple Pay.
NOT AS COMMON YET AS IT SHOULD BE.

-Might as well go for it again -- at least medicinal marijuana legalization in Iowa.
C'MON, MAN! PROGRESS IN SOME OTHER STATES, BUT NOT IN IOWA.

-A vaccine against Ebola.
DID NOT HAPPEN, STILL WORKING ON IT.

-A week-long vacation for me.
DID NOT HAPPEN, STILL WORKING ON IT.

For 2016 I'd like to see:

At least some progress, not regress, on medicinal marijuana legalization in Iowa.

Chris Christie versus Hillary Clinton for president, with ? winning.

A higher stock market.

Just one actual, even very minor piece of legislation to make it slightly more difficult to buy a gun.

The personal, financial, and political implosion of Donald Trump.

A way to charge devices without a wire.

An à la carte option for cable and satellite TV channels.

More time for eating right, less time for exercise.

2015

As with last year, let's review the things I said I'd like to see in 2014, with my new notes in ALL CAPS:

-The (continued) fall of the so-called Tea Party conservatives.
(NOT REALLY.  GIVEN THE OUTCOME OF THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS, THEY'VE AT LEAST HELD AND MAYBE GAINED STRENGTH.)

-Less Kanye / Less Miley.
(NO FOR KANYE, YES FOR MILEY.)

-Apple TV.
(NOPE, BUT WE GOT APPLE PAY AND WE'RE GETTING THE APPLE WATCH.)

-NCAA basketball Sweet 16 trips for either Iowa and Iowa State.
(NO FOR IOWA, YES FOR IOWA STATE.)

-Better football from the Cyclones and Vikings - the bar is incredibly low.
(NO FOR THE CYCLONES, YES - BARELY - FOR THE VIKINGS.)

-Warmer Spring weather, at least where it doesn't snow again in May.
(IT WAS DEFINITELY BETTER.)

-More legalization of marijuana beyond what's happening in Colorado on 1/1/2014.
(YES, SORT OF.  THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PASSED A VOTE TO LEGALIZE IT.  BUT STATES LIKE IOWA STILL CAN'T BRING THEMSELVES TO EVEN LEGALIZE MEDICINAL USE.)

-A la carte cable TV channels.  It's only a matter of time before cable providers will have to do this to compete with computer streaming.  Why not in 2014?
(NO AGAIN, ALTHOUGH COMPANIES LIKE NETFLIX AND AMAZON PRIME ARE INCHING US CLOSER TO IT.)

For 2015 I'd like to see:

Less glorification of big butts.

A Final Four for Iowa State men's basketball, and an NCAA tournament berth for both Iowa and Northern Iowa men's basketball.

More action, less inaction by the U.S. Congress.

Stephen Colbert dominating late night television, with Conan and Fallon and Stewart right behind.

Common use of Apple Pay.

Might as well go for it again -- at least medicinal marijuana legalization in Iowa.

A vaccine against Ebola.

A week-long vacation for me.

2014

As with last year, let's review the things I said I'd like to see in 2013, with my new notes in ALL CAPS:

-Me take more time off.  A repeat.  Hoping it happens this time.
(I'M GOING TO STOP WRITING THIS ONE.)

-Compromise in the U.S. Congress.  After all, it's not an election year.
(NOT COUNTING THE ALLEGED DECEMBER BUDGET COMPROMISE, TEA PARTY REPUBLICANS TOOK US FARTHER FROM COMPROMISE, NOT CLOSER.)

-A reduction in U.S. government spending and subsidies
(SMALL REDUCTION OF WIND AND ETHANOL SPENDING, BUT THIS IS A FAIRY TALE.)

-Fewer reality TV shows starring hillbillys.
(COULD NOT HAVE GONE MORE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.  THEY ARE MORE POPULAR THAN EVER.  JUST LOOK AT MY PREVIOUS POST.)

-Successful planning and execution of all family weddings.
(NAILED IT.)

-An end to the central U.S. drought.

(A LESSER DROUGHT IS NOT AN END TO THE DROUGHT - BUT FARMERS BROUGHT IN A RECORD CROP SO I GUESS IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT MUCH ANYMORE.)

-The siding on my house to be repaired.
(GOT DONE IN OCTOBER, BUT ONLY THANKS TO MULTIPLE CALLS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.)

For 2014 I'd like to see:

The (continued) fall of the so-called Tea Party conservatives.

Less Kanye / Less Miley.

Apple TV.

NCAA basketball Sweet 16 trips for either Iowa and Iowa State.

Better football from the Cyclones and Vikings - the bar is incredibly low.

Warmer Spring weather, at least where it doesn't snow again in May.

More legalization of marijuana beyond what's happening in Colorado on 1/1/2014.

A la carte cable TV channels.  It's only a matter of time before cable providers will have to do this to compete with computer streaming.  Why not in 2014?

2013

Around this time last year, a blog entry about a few things I'd like to see in 2012. Let's review what happened, with my new notes in ALL CAPS:

I said I'd like to see:

-Me take more time off.  (DIDN'T HAPPEN.  WENT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.)

-The insurance industry get into trouble for the individual products they sell to people as 'investments.'  (DITTO.)

-A warmer and earlier Spring.  (THIS WORKED OUT WELL.)

-The Minnesota Twins and Vikings not being among the worst teams in their respective sports.  Talk about low expectations!  (TWINS NO, VIKES YES.)

-The rejection of social conservatism.   (QUALIFIED YES TO THIS.  AT LEAST IOWA AND THE COUNTRY SEEMED TO VOTE THAT WAY.)

-The rejection of any further extensions to to unemployment benefits.  In other words, that my tax money stops being used to pay people to not work.  (THIS JUST IN - NO.)

-Jersey Shore get canceled when one or more of the cast is arrested and/or goes to rehab.  (OK, that is actually a prediction, not exactly something I want to see happen.)  (YUP, SAW IT.  I'D LIKE TO THINK SOMEHOW I MADE IT HAPPEN!)

-The Mayans exposed as just goofing around with their calendar.  (YES, SORT OF.)

So let's try the same exercise.  For 2013 I'd like to see:

-Me take more time off.  A repeat.  Hoping it happens this time.

-Compromise in the U.S. Congress.  After all, it's not an election year.

-A reduction in U.S. government spending and subsidies

-Fewer reality TV shows starring hillbillys.

-Successful planning and execution of all family weddings.

-An end to the central U.S. drought.

-The siding on my house to be repaired.

2012

The beginning/end of every year gives everyone a chance to make resolutions or predictions for the next 12 months.  Instead of doing either of those things, which will inevitably come back to haunt, I'll just set out a few things I'd like to see in 2012.

I'd like to see:

-Me take more time off.

-The insurance industry get into trouble for the individual products they sell to people as 'investments.'

-A warmer and earlier Spring.

-The Minnesota Twins and Vikings not being among the worst teams in their respective sports.  Talk about low expectations!

-The rejection of social conservatism.

-The rejection of any further extensions to to unemployment benefits.  In other words, that my tax money stops being used to pay people to not work.

-Jersey Shore get canceled when one or more of the cast is arrested and/or goes to rehab.  (OK, that is actually a prediction, not exactly something I want to see happen.)

-The Mayans exposed as just goofing around with their calendar.

Resolutions For Investing

The start of a new year lends itself to making personal and professional commitments for the future. Here are a few resolutions that might be helpful anyone's plans for financial success:

Ignore the financial media. Like others in their field, the financial media want to tell the extraordinary story, something that will increase their audience. Fortunately for them, there are many ‘experts’ claiming an extraordinary ability to predict the future direction of markets. Unfortunately for investors, such stories mask the truth – no one can accurately predict the future. Identifying and ignoring this hype allows investors to make investment decisions based on personal needs, instead of the biased opinions of strangers.

Determine your risk tolerance. One of the cornerstone concepts of investing is that risk and return are related. Investors who seek higher returns can only do so by accepting more risk, but more risk also increases the possibility of a negative outcome. It’s crucial for investors to decide how much volatility they are willing to accept over both short and long-term periods. Only then can one construct an asset allocation that is right for their risk tolerance. This is the cornerstone of investing, yet it is often overlooked.

Do not attempt to time the market. In 2010, the broad stock market hit its low point around July 1. If you would have left the market at that time, and followed the conventional wisdom of a double-dip recession, you would have missed the subsequent broad stock market rally of 20%+ over the last half of the year! Plus, now you would have to decide the ‘right’ time to reinvest. While it’s human nature to follow the latest investment fad, this is yet another example of the outcome an investor can expect when trying to time the market.

Focus on what you can control. Worry is a useless emotion, especially in financial markets, where movements are largely based on unpredictable and uncontrollable events. Investors who focus on that uncertainty are sure to have anxiety over what the future holds. That unease can be avoided by concentrating on financial planning items that can be controlled, such as discretionary spending and desired risk. Investors cannot control the market, but they can control making emotional decisions related to it.

Just as an exercise partner will help someone keep a resolution for a healthier future, I tell people that I will be their investment partner to keep these resolutions for their financial future. Here’s to good health and good wealth in 2011!

Goodbye 2010

Things I didn't know much about at the start of 2010, that I know too much about now:

Vuvuzelas
Icelandic volcanos
Top-kill
WikiLeaks
Beiber
Chilean miners
Bed bugs
Glee
Jenn Sterger
Four Loko
"Taking My Talents to South Beach"

New Year's Eve

Things I like about New Year's Eve:

The [insert pop culture item here] Year in Review lists.

Bowl games!

Tomorrow = holiday and more bowl games!

Guilt free consumption of food and beverages.

Things I don't like about New Year's Eve:

Drunks.

The cold.

Tax season starts again the next day.

It will be 5 months to the next holiday weekend. (Unless you are a civil servant in which case you get a holiday weekend roughly every four weeks of the year!)