FOMO

FOMO is an acronym for “fear of missing out,” which is a social anxiety stemming from the belief that others might be having fun while the person experiencing the anxiety is not present.  Social networking may have broadened the opportunity to feel left out. FOMO may partly explain the social network driven dramatic increase in … Continued

The Beanie Baby Bubble

In light of the recent exceptional volatility in some investment opportunities, it might be worth remembering that bubbles have raised and dashed the hopes of speculators for centuries (see our blog Tulip Mania – A Reminder). One of my favorites is the great Beanie Baby bubble of the late ‘90s.  With no big-box distribution or … Continued

Investment Education

Recent events and media coverage surrounding the rise of Robinhood and Reddit suggest that many investors, particularly those recently attracted to stock market opportunities, may not only lack experience but also have a very limited understanding of the regulatory environment.  Individual and institutional investing activities are subject to a wide range of rules and regulations … Continued

Unintended Consequences

Thanks to Canada and the Jones Act, it now appears almost certain that Alaska’s cruise season will be canceled for a second straight summer. On Thursday, Feb. 4, Canada announced a continuation of prohibitions on cruise vessels operating in Canadian waters until February 2022. Under America’s Jones Act, (Merchant Marine Act of 1920) foreign-flagged ships … Continued

Coin of the Realm – Now India?

On Feb 16, 2018 and Jul 12, 2019 we posted blogs titled “Coin of the Realm” and “Coin of the Realm – Update” in which we suggested that legal tender is what the government says it is and governments don’t like competition. Government action has always been a risk factor for investors in cryptocurrency.  Recent … Continued

Investing?

If you are eager to “invest” in Bitcoin you can do it with your credit card.  According to wikiHow, the first step is to create a Bitcoin wallet, or software that stores Bitcoin and other digital currencies.  When you are ready to purchase, find an online exchange that accepts credit cards.  While purchasing Bitcoin with … Continued

Crowd Trading

Crowd trading is an extension of the concept behind crowd funding, which is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.  In crowd trading, a large number of people are encouraged to take a small position in a single … Continued