Print Story You say tomatoe I say your hair looks like crap
Diary
By Bob Abooey (Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 10:08:32 AM EST) Here's mud in your eye (all tags)
The B.A.D.tm
Under promising and over delivering since 1977...


I "bought" the new RadioHead CD yesterday. I don't know, I just don't get it. I've never been a fan, so I'm coming from an unbiased position here, but, well, I still don't get it. Frankly I don't see much difference between their stuff and U2's stuff and every Holiday Inn lounge band on the planet. That's not to say I think it's bad, and there is one song that's okay - Jigwsaw Falling into Place - but the rest seems like a bunch of aimless wandering to me. I suppose it would be better after a couple blunts.

In other news the HuSi Maulers continue to MAUL roll along:

I got lucky a couple times as my running game hasn't been producing as it should, but hopefully that ship will right itself for the stretch run. I've got a couple more bye weeks to deal with then it's time to start gearing up for the playoffs, which, should go well for me as I'm deep enough to work for the best matchups barring any unforeseen injuries. LONG LIVE THE MAULERS!!! FEAR THE MAULERS!! BWUAHAHAHAHA!!

In other news this is the coolest thing I've seen in a while. As a ex smoker I can tell you that the threat of death isn't, for the most part, enough to make a bloke stop smoking (cause death only happens to the other guy doncha know) but that's just great.

Speaking of smoke - my dad is still a smoker. I went down to visit him last Sunday and we were hanging around on his patio (before the football games started doncha know) and he was doing what smokers do on patios, and just being around the second hand smoke was making me half dizzy and giving me a headache. Ugh - I could never go back to smoking - thanks be to Allah. Even Dad is making noises about quitting. I told him at his age if the cancer is baking in his lungs it's too late now but he mentioned there are other health benefits gained which is quite right. I don't give him much hope though, he's been smoking since he was 15 and he's like 800 years old now.

Right. I've got craploads to do today and I better get at it as I'm leaving a bit early today for some kind of dinner party or whatever.

Update [2007-10-24 10:57:51 by Bob Abooey]: - Oh yeah - I forgot about this. Has anyone ever dealt with these blokes or know of anyone who has? I'm really starting to like the idea of letting some other noodnick take care of that investing crap and it seems to me the only people you can trust are those how get paid as a percentage of your profits as opposed to paid by the trade.

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You say tomatoe I say your hair looks like crap | 21 comments (21 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback
wow by cam (2.00 / 0) #1 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 10:17:24 AM EST
sack the manager of the whammos. He stinks.

cam
Freedom, liberty, equity and an Australian Republic


Aye by Bob Abooey (4.00 / 3) #4 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 10:28:09 AM EST
You're still in the playoff hunt if you can go on a run. I'd suggest you spend less time looking for a job and more time working on your fantasy football team.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

How's my blogging: Call me at 209.867.5309 to complain.
[ Parent ]

cam no longer has that excuse by discordia (2.00 / 0) #21 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 06:35:55 PM EST


[ Parent ]

dinner party ? by sasquatchan (2.00 / 0) #2 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 10:19:04 AM EST
Bob, is this teh fiancees and youses rehearsal dinner party ?

And what'd gramps abooey die of ? Not the cancer sticks, if I recall correctly. Maybe just old age and leecherage.



He was 98 by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #3 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 10:26:20 AM EST
He just plum wore out.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

How's my blogging: Call me at 209.867.5309 to complain.
[ Parent ]

Finding an investment buddy on the internet by debacle (2.00 / 0) #5 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 11:11:30 AM EST
I smell failure.

"I'm very responsive to certain stimuli, and pain is pretty much at the top of that list." - BadDoggie



Eh? by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #6 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 11:28:51 AM EST
Every company advertises on the Internet these days.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

How's my blogging: Call me at 209.867.5309 to complain.
[ Parent ]

You feel that heat behind you? by Gedvondur (2.00 / 0) #7 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 12:17:12 PM EST
That's the Gladiators getting ready to set you on fire!

I'm gonna be really interested to see when our teams  meet up.

Gedvondur
"It is virtually impossible to effectively aim a jellyfish, a creature created by God almost solely for the purpose of not flying."- CRwM


Getcha popcorn ready... by Bob Abooey (4.00 / 1) #14 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 01:49:49 PM EST
I kind of see it as the Patriots vs the Colts, with me being the Patriots of course.

Fair warning though - the FantsyChefs fell from 3d to 7th after the severe beating I handed out to him. In fact I don't know that he's posted anything since the devastating loss, he may still be in bed nursing his wounds...

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

How's my blogging: Call me at 209.867.5309 to complain.
[ Parent ]

Our financial advisor... by toxicfur (2.00 / 0) #8 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 12:27:14 PM EST
works for Ameriprise. Seems to be a flat fee sort of thing? I'm actually not clear on that, but I do know that it isn't a by-the-trade deal. One of my good friends uses Edward Jones -- similar thing, I think. I'd ask around for a recommendation, and then interview the advisor person. The good thing is that our dude knows what our financial goals are and updates the portfolio based on that. It's much better than anything I could do on my own, for sure.

My mom is still a smoker -- about 2 packs a day, I think -- and she's smoked for 35 years or so. I don't give her any grief about it, though, since she has cancer, she's not going to get better, and quitting wouldn't make her life any better (probably make it worse, actually). I don't really like coming  home from her house with my luggage smelling of tobacco, but that's something I can deal with.
-----
If you don't get a Bonnie, my universe will not make sense. --blixco


Aye by Bob Abooey (4.00 / 1) #13 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 01:44:58 PM EST
I've done alright investing on my own but I have no doubt there are investment pro's who can do a whole lot better for me. I just have a real hard time trusting anyone in that regard.

re: At least Dad doesn't smoke in his apartment. He's pretty considerate of others wrt his smoking.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

How's my blogging: Call me at 209.867.5309 to complain.
[ Parent ]

With a few exceptions by ad hoc (2.00 / 0) #15 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 02:21:38 PM EST
I've been sticking to ETFs and funds of a similar nature.
--
Heat, pressure, and time: the three things that make a diamond also make a waffle.
[ Parent ]

Aye by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #16 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 02:27:49 PM EST
I've got some indexed mutual funds but quite frankly they're underperforming when compared to other funds I have. I like the safety factor in the indexed funds but I think they should only be a small percentage of my portfolio.

What percentage of my crap should be at what risk level etc etc - that's more the place I need help.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

How's my blogging: Call me at 209.867.5309 to complain.
[ Parent ]

I think this is the future teller paradox problem by garlic (2.00 / 0) #20 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 05:02:29 PM EST
if they can tell the future so good, why are they making a living having you pay them to tell the future instead of making money doing the things they're advising you to do.

[ Parent ]

ING Direct does Mutual Funds now. by miker2 (2.00 / 0) #9 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 12:58:59 PM EST
 The website doesn't say what the fees are, but it's not per trade.  Knowing ING, it's probably half of what any reasonable place would charge.

Ah, sociopathy. How warm, how comforting, thy sweet embrace. - MNS


Aye by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #11 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 01:39:22 PM EST
I can buy and sell mutual funds now through my Merrill Lynch and UBS accounts for no charge - I'm thinking I could do better by paying someone to make those decisions for me. Someone who doesn't get paid by making a trade but rather as a fee based off the profits they generate for me. i.e., someone who is motivated to make money for me as opposed to someone who is simply motivated to buy and sell crap.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

How's my blogging: Call me at 209.867.5309 to complain.
[ Parent ]

Things have probably chaged since 1995 by lm (2.00 / 0) #17 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 03:39:27 PM EST
But the last time I worked for a securities broker, most professional money managers that worked solely on commission on net gain rather than per trade required a stake of at least USD 100k.

Also, I think someone posted a holiary trying to get your attention.


There is no more degenerate kind of state than that in which the richest are supposed to be the best.
Cicero, The Republic
[ Parent ]

Aye by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #18 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 03:53:18 PM EST
The Mutual Fund Store only requires 50K up front.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

How's my blogging: Call me at 209.867.5309 to complain.
[ Parent ]

In that case, the arithmetic is fairly simple by lm (2.00 / 0) #19 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 04:41:16 PM EST
Look at their annual return minus commissions and see if, long term, it matches the mutual funds you've picked out in the past. You may (or may not) be surprised that quite a few money managers don't count their commission when reporting their returns. Also, don't forget to compare long term results against your present basket of funds. Just because one of the funds isn't doing well this year doesn't tell you much.

Other than that, it's basically the same thing.

Well, not quite. For example, a mutual fund will usually only buy companies of a certain size because they have a pool of X zillions of dollars and want to a position of Y percent of X zillions of dollars. As the fund increases in size, fewer securities have a high enough volume.

But there are other considerations too. Make sure this place offers the same sorts of information that the law requires a mutual fund to release. If they give out the name of the actual money managers, you can also check out whether there have been any complaints filed against them with the SEC.


There is no more degenerate kind of state than that in which the richest are supposed to be the best.
Cicero, The Republic
[ Parent ]

What I've learned by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #12 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 01:41:36 PM EST
I don't have the power to make my dad do anything he doesn't want to. I've accepted that and as such our relationship works pretty well.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

How's my blogging: Call me at 209.867.5309 to complain.


I suppose it would be better after a couple blunts by ShadowNode (2.00 / 0) #22 Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 10:21:26 PM EST
I think you do, in fact, get it.

As for investing, it's more to do with the trustworthiness of the adviser than how they get paid. A slimy one will find a way to skim no matter how it's arranged. Find someone you can trust.

That said, I'm 99% sure they all get commissions, as they're paid directly by the mutual fund companies. I can probably find out if you want.

Don't bother with these discount brokerages, though, unless you just want to play. Talk to someone who knows what they're doing about what your long term plans are.



You say tomatoe I say your hair looks like crap | 21 comments (21 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback