Investing

Following Charlie Munger's advice to “develop into a lifelong self-learner through voracious reading; cultivate curiosity and strive to become a little wiser every day” this article presents my recommendation as to what books to read to learn more about financial market history and the basic math skills you need to be a good investor.

Is the current stock market correction simply just a dip within an ongoing uptrend OR have the “bears” finally awakened from their winter hibernation? [Below are my views on the subject plus those of several others to help you arrive at an informed conclusion].

Stocks are pulling back in preparation for one final mind-blowing surge to top off this five-year bull market. Gold, on the other hand, looks like it is setting up for a final bear market capitulation phase where every gold bug finally throws up their hands in disgust and jumps over to the stock market right as it's putting in a final bubble top. For those...that are sitting in cash, this final capitulation is going to represent one of the greatest buying opportunities of this generation.

The unintended consequences of five years of QE are coming home to roost! In May or early June the stock market parabola will collapse...followed by a massive inflationary spike in commodity prices - particularly gold & silver - that will collapse the global economy.

...Everyone is worrying that we are at or near a market peak and this has investors extremely hesitant to buy stocks for fear of a big decline or perhaps even a crash. Obsessing over the risk of a crash, however, could lead to analysis paralysis but there is a basic investing strategy that can save investors from losing too much hair as they make the decision to buy stocks. It's called dollar-cost averaging. Let me explain how it works and why it's great for investors with long-term investing horizons.

It is my contention that the move in precious metals...[from] late 2008 through 2011 was largely a result of the expansion in central bank balance sheets and the perceived threat of runaway inflation. Since 2011, [however,] we’ve seen economic growth improve and inflation rates across the globe subside. As a result, investment banks and market strategists are arguing against owning gold, and making the case that, with a lack of inflation and an improved economy, the need for owning gold as an insurance hedge against inflation and currency debasement is no longer present. I strongly disagree.

I'm not going to predict a speedy recovery for gold prices. That said, I continue to believe that gold offers investors safety in an uncertain world and, while I remain optimistic about the recovery of the U.S. economy and stellar financial performance of some companies, there is reason for concern on a global level. That's why I think every investor...must own gold.

Did you know that more gold has been found in the United States (followed extremely closely by Canada) than any other country? Read on to learn 9 more fascinating facts about gold that you may not have read anywhere else.

While the waterfall decline in gold stocks is painful for those of us already invested, the reality is that this is a setup we get a shot at only a few times in our investing life. It's a cruel irony that those who are fully invested are now faced with the buying opportunity of a lifetime; however, it would be a shame for anyone to miss this blood-in-the-streets opportunity.

We are near a low in gold and resource shares and, over the next few years, fortunes will be made by those investors staying the course and remaining committed to this investment sector. As Rick Rule says, “you have stayed for the pain, will you not stay for the gain?”