April 2007 Archive
Investing in Water Stock: Options for Profiting from ‘Blue Gold’ - April 3, 2007
Until recently, few were aware of the large and growing worldwide shortage of clean, fresh water. Even in the U.S. water infrastructure is crumbling, and will soon require a major overhaul. Awareness of the problem is growing, however, and investing in water stock is now a hot topic among investors of all stripes. (Read Article).
2007 401k Limits - April 4, 2007
The 2007 tax return deadline is April 17, which is also the last day to make a contribution to an IRA for last year. We advise you to contribute to a Roth IRA for last year if you can, then turn your attention to maxing out your 401k. (Read Article).
Peak Oil is a Paranoid Delusion - April 9, 2007
Over the past few years, more and more apocalyptic stories have been
popping up about a supposed phenomenon known as “peak oil.” The
theory is that we’re running out of oil, the big powers are keeping it
quiet, and as supplies dwindle, world-wide economic chaos will ensue. In light of the facts, however, it’s clear that this fear is unjustified. (Read Article).
Our New Compound Interest Calculator - April 9, 2007
Have a financial goal you’re trying to achieve? Want to see how many years it will take you to get to a million? Want to figure out the rate of return you’ll need to get to retire at age 50? Use our new compound interest calculator to figure it out. You can solve for principal, total at the end of the holding period, the amount of time required, or the rate you’ll need to earn.
A Record Day for the Mailbag - April 11, 2007
I’ve been flooded with emails about my article on peak oil from a couple of days ago. The emails have fallen into three main categories:
- Hate mail from Conservatives calling me a “socialist” for mentioning that wacky global warming “hoax.”
- Hate mail from Liberals accusing me of being a right-wing big-oil apologist for casting doubt on the peak-oil theory.
- Messages criticizing my over-simplification of the peak-oil theory.
The first two have been entertaining. I figure any time I manage to anger both liberals and conservatives, I must be doing something right. At the same time, it’s a shame that so many people have such a hard time simply discussing the facts, and fall into idealogical rants. That’s why I was glad to get messages of the third variety. Here’s one example:
Your article on “Peak Oil Paranoia” misrepresents the theory - in the same way that most attacks on it do. It does not predict an end to oil, just a peak in production rate with a slow decline past the peak. Please note that it is PEAK Oil, not END OF Oil - why is this so hard to understand?
-Ross Amann
I thank all of you who pointed this out. I obviously oversimplified the theory in my brief description. But try to understand that I can’t write a treatise on all nuances of the theory in one brief article, and I have seen a great number of articles recently painting peak oil in extreme and apocalyptic tones. As I mentioned in the Seeking Alpha comments section, I’ve even read a newsletter article recommending stockpiling food and weapons in preparation for a complete societal breakdown because of peak oil. It is that kind of fear-mongering that I was responding to. I understand the frustration of more reasonable proponents of the theory with writers who appear to be setting up a straw man argument by exaggerating it. However, proponents of the theory are spreading the misunderstanding at least as rapidly as its critics.
Thoughts on Tort Reform - April 15, 2007
Your editor is excused from jury duty at the last minute, but can’t help pondering the asbestos-related mesothelioma case he might have sat on, and the ongoing debate over tort reform. (Read Article).
Ron Paul for President - April 20, 2007
Independent thinkers like myself and my readers often have a difficult time choosing whom to vote for. Neither national party truly serves the interests of liberty and individualism. Both are much more interested in maintaining their grip on power than in… (Read Article).
Insituform: A Blessing in Disguise - April 20, 2007
Warren Buffett famously says that the time to invest is when “blood is running in the streets.” Investing in great companies that have fallen on hard times has been shown to be a highly profitable strategy, but it takes courage. Every now and then, however, what the market views as bad news is in fact great news for a company. A contrarian lives for these situations, and it’s going on right now with Insituform. It’s time to buy. (Read Article).