Life & Politics

Two examples of symbolism. From CNN: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky compared the damage in the eastern city of Bakhmut to the destruction wrought on Hiroshima after it was hit by an atomic bomb, as he denied Russia had captured the frontline city. Zelensky’s comments came days after the chief of the Russian mercenary group Wagner claimed that his fighters had seized Bakhmut — a statement met with counterclaims from Ukraine. If confirmed, the capture of Bakhmut would mark Russia’s first gain in months, but the city’s symbolism always outweighed its strategic importance. Moscow has thrown huge amounts of manpower, weaponry and attention toward the city but… Read more »

Victoria Day holiday in (parts of) Canada today. The Toronto Stock Exchange is closed today, Victoria Day, not on the US Memorial Day holiday. There is no good reason for this difference in holiday dates. When politicians are boastful of billions of dollars of daily cross-border trade, think about this week’s unnecessary inefficiencies. It’s unnecessary because (1) if you ask them, not 1% of Canadians know who Victoria is, although some might understand that she was the Queen of England in a past century, and (2) they don’t know Victoria Day is a statutory holiday only in three of ten… Read more »

Life under WEF control. For decades I have railed against Public Private Partnerships as the slippery slope to our loss of freedom. The cross-over individuals and organizations — BlackRock, Larry Fink, Mark Carney, Al Gore, and their kind that populates the WEF membership — enrich themselves with hands in both pockets. They go where the money is. The rest of us pay the bills while the rich get richer. Articles like this one by Doomberg address the futility of our situation. The takeover of our capital markets (and democratic system) is what irks me. This is another warning. Open in… Read more »

Peterson and Schiff.

This 100-minute video of a discussion between Jordan Peterson and Peter Schiff introduces a concept foreign to those who control your independence, which is the simple truth.

Understanding fact-based truth and ignoring sell-side narratives is the first step to financial independence and free capital markets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbi-_nn4zaw&t=65s

Punxsutawney Siegel

Hey, they both come from Pennsylvania, and every time I watch Professor Siegel predict the economy or the market or whatever on CNBC — as I just did over lunch — I think of Punxsutawney Phil.

Today the Prof told his audience that maybe the US will have a recession, and maybe it will be mild. And I’m thinking, what does Phil have to say?

Now, back to work.

Just 18.1% of Financial Advisors are women, a figure that must increase. When I started in the business on Jan. 2, 1981, there were very few women FAs. The women worked in administrative positions. There were almost no racial minorities in any role, but that is another story. When I started Canaccord in Eastern Canada in 1986, I admit to hiring no women as FAs. I didn’t know any, and none were applying for a job. However, almost all the assistant FAs, back office, and administrative staff I hired were women. Today, the percentage of women FAs is still short… Read more »