Finance

When prices are set by companies that can profit by manipulating or rigging them, we’re screwed. This “harvesting” of our money in ever-more-creative and hard-to-detect ways is not just stealing by reaching a hand into our pocket and taking out money, but stealing in which banks can hit a few keystrokes and magically make whatever is in our pocket worth less. This is corruption at the molecular level of the economy - space age stealing - and it’s only just coming into view.

Everyone must be wondering where this "unprecedented global financial crisis", (the World Bank's words), is heading. What follows, for what they are worth, are my cogitations on this crisis. Words: 1641

Switzerland is considering providing a monthly income to every citizen, no strings attached, no matter how rich or poor, how hardworking or lazy, how old or young. Should our government do the same? 84% of respondents to one poll said "Yes!" What about you?

Just 10 years ago, most Americans felt confident they'd hang up their hat by the time they turned 60. Now the average working stiff expects to retire at age 65 due to the housing crisis and credit crunch, among other nest egg busters....Experts are predicting that the trend will continue, thanks to the Great Recession so, for now, Americans are just focused on keeping their day jobs. When will you retire? Check out the graphic below to find out.

If you don't know much about investing, you may feel overwhelmed or bewildered by the choices. Enter annuities. The best of them are easy to understand, even by financial novices: "Give us your money, and we'll give you this much money per month until you die." That sounds simple - but simpler isn't always better [so let's review] whether they're needed in a retirement plan or not.

Even the foremost experts in most fields are no better than a flip of the coin at predicting what’s going to happen in their particular area of expertise. In fact, in one study those with 80% confidence in their forecasts were only right 45% of the time, so even worse than a coin flip.

Hong Kong is an excellent place to bank. One of the best in the world, in my opinion. Why? Because the banks are strong, stable, innovative, and well-capitalized [and account holders] are free to choose what currency to accept (and save), whether HK dollars, US dollars, Chinese Yuan, gold, or anything else.

Two weeks ago a new bill was introduced on the floor of Congress that, just like all the other really dangerous legislation, i.e. USA PATRIOT Act, this bill has a catchy acronym. It’s called the SAVE UP Accounts Act, which stands for “Secure, Accessible, Valuable, Efficient Universal Pension Accounts Act”. I just tasted vomit in my mouth.

In consultation with highly experienced ex-pats who have lived and/or live in the places that I rate here I have come up with the following list of the top 10 places in Mexico to live and retire and the reasons why:

Russian Roulette: Put one bullet in the cylinder of a revolver, spin the cylinder, point the gun at YOUR head, and pull the trigger. Most revolvers have 6 chambers, so your odds of surviving are 5 in 6, IF you quit after pulling the trigger once. Press your luck, spin the cylinder, point the gun, and pull the trigger again. It might be okay. Try for a third time? Now let's play Russian roulette - derivatives style.