So, we’re in a crazy political period, and it’s hard to know just what is true in a political ad and what isn’t true. In the investment business, however, we have extensive rules on disclosure to investors, and those rules are in place to provide all stakeholders- including investors- enough to information to make informed […]
The Rear View Mirror and the Tree: An Accounting Story
in Stories: Accounting and Finance/by Kenneth W. BoydAuthors’ note: Explaining accounting and finance can be pretty dull. That’s a problem, if you need to learn accounting or finance. On a plane from St. Louis to Seattle, I decided to try and fix the problem. What if I could wrap some accounting concepts inside of a quirky (funny?) short story? My […]
What The Rio Olympics Teaches Us About Personal Finance
in Personal Finance/by Kenneth W. BoydMy favorite Rio Olympics-related headline so far: “Olympic kayaker possibly capsized by couch in Rio de Janeiro” Priceless. Now, the story isn’t confirmed, but it illustrates all of the controversy related to Brazil’s preparation for the Olympic Games. This situation is a great analogy for personal finance, because it helps us think about the answer […]
What a 4 Year Old Teaches Us About Earnings Per Share
in Personal Finance/by Kenneth W. BoydSo, I overheard a Dad say something interesting to his 4-year old son (at least he looked to be about 4). His son asked him a question and he said: “I just answered that question, so I’m not going to answer it again”. That approach would have saved me a lot of time when my […]
What A Telsa Car Crash Teaches Us About Investor Disclosure
in Personal Finance/by Kenneth W. BoydSo, how much information do you need to make an informed decision? Unfortunately, Tesla’s Motors problems with autopilot cars provide a great discussion about required disclosure to investors. This CNBC video with a former SEC Chairmen discusses whether or not Telsa had a duty to disclose a car accident that occurred with an autopilot vehicle […]
Warning to Investors: Contribution Margin Is Not Company Profit
in Personal Finance/by Kenneth W. BoydSo, we’re in a crazy political period, and it’s hard to know just what is true in a political ad and what isn’t true. In the investment business, however, we have extensive rules on disclosure to investors, and those rules are in place to provide all stakeholders- including investors- enough to information to make informed […]
3 Little Known Factors That Can Affect Your Portfolio: Quandl’s Guide
in Personal Finance/by Kenneth W. BoydSo, I saw something the other day that I’ve never seen before. I was coming out of a grocery store that was up a hill from a major street, and a truck was approaching the intersection. The truck was hauling a bulldozer on a flatbed trailer and, as the truck approached the intersection, it […]
4 Customer Service Must-Haves For Investors
in Personal Finance/by Kenneth W. BoydSo, we’ve all been in these places… It’s the quirky restaurant that every city seems to have, and the service isn’t very good- but all the diners think it’s part of the charm. They’re willing to put up with it, so they can feel like they’re “in on the joke”. They’re typically a tourist destination, […]
5 Reasons Why You Should Care About A Bond Credit Downgrade
in Personal Finance/by Kenneth W. BoydIs it really necessary to have a TV at a gas pump? I’m seeing these more often, and I think that I’m against the concept. Like many Americans, I like to stare off into space while I’m pumping gas- a bit of a mental break. Well, at least gas prices are at historic lows, which […]
3 Reasons Why Goldman Sachs Wants To Pay You More Interest
in Personal Finance/by Kenneth W. BoydI saw a brand new Mercedes truck that has been customized into an ice cream truck. A real ice cream truck- driving down my street playing music to attract people. What’s the breakeven on the cost of a Mercedes ice cream truck? Seems that you’d have to sell a ton of ice cream… Have a […]
What A Cold Shower Teaches Us About Financial Planning
in Personal Finance/by Kenneth W. BoydThere’s no hot water….. So, I’m in a shower at the gym and the hot water goes out. The shower is getting colder by the second. Do I switch showers, or just grit my teeth and finish where I am? Tough call (I stayed in the same shower). This same scenario and be applied to […]