Personal Finance Lessons from the iPhone 5 Release

OMG! OMG! APPLE HAS A NEW PHONE! iPHONE 5! WOOO!

Chill out people. It is just a phone.

[Read more...]

As Seen On TV: The Business Behind The Products

Last night, I watched a fascinating CNBC show about “as seen on TV” product that are sold primarily through infomercials. I have never bought anything from an infomercial, but apparently a lot of people have. Those TV products have made a lot of people a lot of money.

[Read more...]

How FOREX Works

If you have ever heard about people making millions (or losing millions) of dollars on currency speculation, you are not alone.  I have read stories about being making and breaking the bank by investing in Euros, Pounds, Yen, Shekels, Yuan, Baht, Pesos, and a slew of other currencies.  From the grand entrance of the Euro to the Asian Currency Crisis in the 1990s, the Foreign Exchange, or FOREX, markets are an important investment opportunity.

[Read more...]

Solving Homelessness in America

Denver recently passed an “outdoor camping ban” which, in practice, is simply a law making it illegal to be homeless. This is far from a solution to the homelessness problem, it will just move the homeless to surrounding cities and states. It made me think about actual solutions to homelessness in America.

[Read more...]

The Global Economy – Sponsored Video

For a long time, I have been a fan of the Financial Times. I rank it as a top global financial publication next to the Wall Street Journal. While in business school, I often turned to the FT for my global financial news. Today, they are sharing a new video on the Global Economy.

[Read more...]

Berkshire Hathaway 2012 Shareholder Meeting

“If you buy a business for less than it’s worth, you’re going to make money.” –Warren Buffet

This year, I made my third trip to Omaha for the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholder’s meeting. Warren Buffet are Charlie Munger took center stage and shared their wisdom on investing, business management, and the economy to a packed house that included billionaire Bill Gates and rock superstar Bono.

While I will drip some of the wisdom into many posts for months to come, here are some top gems that made me think, laugh, or learn from the Oracle from Omaha.

[Read more...]

Why I Hate People Who Give Bad Tips

I recently read a post with an interesting theory on tipping. I like and respect the author of the post, Len Penzo, though I disagree with his opinion this time around. However, it was when I read the comments I wanted to scream and start punching people. Here is what you really need to understand about tipping and the service industry. [Warning, angry rant ahead]

[Read more...]

What Recession? The Economy is Awesome

What Recession? The Economy is Awesome
evidence

If you follow the Republican presidential campaign, you have undoubtedly noticed that the candidates are trying to sell you a story about how horrible the economy is and why you need to elect them to fix it. I think they are dead wrong, the economy is great. Here’s why.

[Read more...]

Investing in the Cruise Industry

After the recent, highly publicized crash of the Costa Condordia, people around the world are looking hard at the cruise vacation industry. While everyone is focusing on the problems today, it might be a good place for you to invest for tomorrow.

[Read more...]

The Meteoric Rise and Fall of Netflix

The Meteoric Rise and Fall of Netflix
NFLX from BigCharts.com

In 1997, Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph created a company called Netflix. Hastings was angry about a late fee charged when he turned in the movie Apollo 13 after the due date. His business was about to change the entertainment industry forever and evolve into one of the most recognized brands in North America.

[Read more...]

Occupying America

Occupying America
occupytheliving

While they are not in all the headlines anymore, the Occupy movement is still going strong around the country. From Occupy Wall Street in New York to Occupy Denver in my neighborhood, the movement has gained media attention and thousands of supporters, but what are they really doing and what are they all about?

[Read more...]

Fixing Your Own Economy

If you read the news today or listen to talk radio, you will most likely hear some mention of unemployment and how bad the economy is. I disagree, the economy is in great shape. You just need to look after yourself to ensure your personal economy stays on top.

Education

Education is the core to most people’s financial success. If you look at top CEOs today, almost every single one has a college degree. Many of them have master’s degrees. Most of them went to business school or have an MBA. This is not a coincidence.

If you want to keep your economy stable, you need an education and a degree that will lead to the future you want. I am thrilled that so many people want to be social workers, but a $60,000 master’s in social work from a private university will likely make you $25,000 per year. Is that warm fuzzy feeling worth it?

The same university offers an MBA for the same cost. That degree will leave you making double what a social work degree will make you.

History degrees, art degrees, English degrees, and other liberal arts do not have a bright future today. Unless you want to be a teacher or go to grad school, these degrees will help you land a job with good benefits at Starbucks. Make sure you know what you are getting into when you pick a major.

If you don’t believe me, this graph from the Department of Labor breaks down the numbers.

[Read more...]