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Working on Your Goals and Expressing Gratitude Everyday

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“With whatever you are struggling to master in your life, create a small habit or routine that gets you one step closer to it each and every day. ” Brendon Burchard

Now more than ever is the time to really appreciate the small, meaningful moments in life. It’s time you stop waiting for ” the anvil of purpose” to fall onto your head and suddenly everything, like life’s vision, purpose and meaning, become clear!

Instead, sit down with yourself and really think about what that purpose, that meaning, that vision for your life can really be.

There is no better time than the present to start this journey of self-exploration and find the ways in which you can truly feel alive, fulfilled, and happy in this life.

Thus, it’s important to make getting better everyday and self-improvement a way of life. It’s important to:

  • Begin the journey to think about and clarify your life’s vision, purpose and meaning.
  • Focus more on expressing gratitude and incorporating everyday wins back into your week and taking the time to appreciate them and let them sink in.
  • Focus more on your habits and long-term goals, and connecting back to your vision and purpose.

In the past, how many times did you achieve something or have special moments with your kids, spouse or friends, only to quickly move on to the next thing?

Life is so short to breeze by these special moments and not appreciate them. Really take the time to feel the day and fill your heart with gratitude. You’ll be happier too!

There’s still time to reclaim your day and schedule activities that add real value and meaning back into your routine. By pursuing your dream for 2 minutes or even 30 minutes every single day.

Don’t wait until next weekend when you might have the time for your goals and vision. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and that big dream of yours isn’t going to materialize if you keep pushing it off.

Break down your big audacious goals into quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily goals. Work on your goals every single day and you will move the needle in your progress and success.

Additionally, if you want to achieve your goals, you should develop a growth mindset. A growth mindset allows you to explore more, take more risks, try new things, and grow more into what you’re capable.

The Power of Reflection

Clarity only happens when you reflect on your long term goals, habits and relationships — daily. It might be time to take a hard, unflinching look at your own performance in these important areas of your life.

When you live a life with intention each day, that brings about true purpose and meaning to your life. And when your days are filled with more purpose and meaning — more happiness and fulfillment tends to follow. And isn’t that the ultimate goal? To live a happy, purposeful and meaningful life.

Personal growth, goals and purpose are things that must be worked on everyday, otherwise you will lose touch with them.

Your Wealth Building and Financial Freedom Coach,

References:

  1. https://growthday.com
  2. https://www.growthday.com/hps-v4

Small, daily actions can gather momentum to become an unstoppable force of change.

  • Outcome – goals and vision
  • Process – habits and systems
  • Identity – mindset, beliefs and thoughts

It’s not too late to prioritize your health and wellness, explains Brendon Burchard,

! If you haven’t already, put your health at the forefront and do everything you can to get your healthy eating, sleep, and exercise routine in place. Because small, daily actions can gather momentum to become an unstoppable force of change.

Inflation is a Tax and Loss of Purchasing Power

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“The American people now believe that inflation is the most important issue facing the economy and the country, and they don’t think that President Biden is paying attention to it. This explains why so many Americans disapprove of his economic performance—and why it is undermining his presidency.” ~ The Brookings Institute

It only takes a visit to a grocery store to see the highest inflation in four decades in action. A pound of bacon costs 29% more today than a year earlier, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, while beef prices climbed 19% in the same period and so have baby formula—that is, if you can find any. Inflation is tracked through the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the cost of a basket of 175 consumer goods and services—everything from food items to healthcare to housing prices.

In a recent CBS/YouGov survey, 58% of Americans said that President Biden wasn’t focusing enough on the economy and even more—65%—said this about inflation. Only 33% say that Biden and the Democrats are focusing on issues they care about the most.

According to a CNN poll, 7 in 10 Americans think the government isn’t doing enough to reduce inflation and to relieve disruptions in the supply-chain.

Many economists and the Federal Reserve argued for a year after prices began rising that inflation would be “transitory”. Their views of inflation changed abruptly when the annual rate of inflation reached 7.5%. The news vindicated the views of dissenting economists such as Larry Summers and Jason Furman that inflation was likely to be persistent.

Recent surveys show that inflation has become the dominant factor determining the midterm voters’ view of the economy. Asked to identify the “best measure” of how the economy is doing, 52% those Americans surveyed pointed to the cost of goods and services, compared to 17% for unemployment and jobs and just 6% for the stock market.

The invisible regressive tax of rising inflation has harmed working and middle-class Americans. In economic terms, inflation is the loss of purchasing power over time that’s reflected in rising prices for a broad range of goods and services. It’s typically expressed as the annual percentage change in the prices of those items. Purchasing power means how much your money can buy—its “buying power.” You lose purchasing power when prices go up and gain purchasing power when prices go down.

The trillions of dollars in fiscal spending and money printing from the Federal Reserve has had a dramatic effect on the price of ordinary goods and services. In short, inflation has become a economic menace for every working American.

Most Americans believe that there is a correlation between increased fiscal spending, monetary loose policy, and inflation, and the administrations’ tone deaf argument that its legislative agenda, which includes Build Back Better, is anti-inflationary has been viewed with skepticism.

Although the Biden administration wants Americans to focus on rapid job creation and the sharp decline in unemployment, it seems that the people are more likely to emphasize rising prices until the pace of inflation abates.

With delays receiving goods ordered online, restaurants unable to fully staff, and skyrocketing gasoline prices, Americans care more about rising prices than falling COVID-19 infection rates.

In the absence of a high-profile anti-inflation effort, Americans are reaching their own conclusions about the administration’s agenda and efforts to focus on what’s most important.

In reality, surging inflation is being caused by an imbalance between supply and demand. Emerging from the pandemic, we are in a period of high demand boosted by unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus. Basically, people have money and now they’re spending it.

Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Jerome Powell called these supply chain disruptions temporary “bottlenecks” – such as the shortage of computers chip that is limiting automobile production.

The primary driver of the current inflation comes through money printing by the Federal Reserve. The Fed nearly doubled its bond purchases since the beginning of the pandemic, pumping almost $4 trillion into the economy, according to The Hill. The Fed effectively monetizes the federal government’s debt, creating both a cover for higher deficits and increasing the money supply further.

The second means of inflation comes through massive fiscal spending. Between several “emergency” pandemic measures hastily passed,the economy is looking at the potential for 1970s economic stagflation.

In essence, there is far too much money in the hands and bank accounts of Americans chasing an increasingly limited supply of goods and services, whether it is food, used cars, gasoline, houses, restaurants tables, airline seats or more. This is the textbook definition of inflation.

“You lose money every day your money is in savings since inflation erodes the real purchasing power of your cash.” Ramit Sethi

References:

  1. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2022/02/17/why-inflation-is-president-bidens-biggest-political-problem/
  2. https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/552890-growing-inflation-is-bidens-hidden-tax-on-working-americans/
  3. https://www.acorns.com/money-basics/the-economy/what-is-purchasing-power-and-how-does-inflation-affect-it-/

Tax Refunds Equivalent to Six Weeks Pay

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A tax refund is essentially an interest-free loan from you to the government.

Tax refund time is a major cash-flow event for many U.S. households. Past JPMorgan Chase Institute (JPMCI) research has shown that a tax refund was “the single largest cash infusion of the year for 40 percent of American families”.

More than three in four taxpayers get refunds, and the average amount they get back is close to $3,000, according to IRS data. That means that for many Americans, their annual refund is the biggest single check they’ll get all year.

Key tax season takeaways ascertained from JPMorgan Chase Institute research entitled “Will this tax season be a boost or bust?”:

  • Roughly four out of five (~78%) of filers receive refunds during tax season.
  • The average tax refund is equivalent to nearly 6 weeks pay.
  • Tax refunds are essentially zero interest loans by taxpayers to the federal government.
  • Tax refunds are perceived as forced savings (at zero interest) by most taxpayers.
  • Taxpayers spend tax refunds differently than they spend regular salary and wages.  Studies show that many taxpayers use refunds to pay off high interest credit card balances.
  • Historically, families depend on the cash infusion from tax refunds to fuel spending. Cash withdrawals, durable goods purchases, and credit payments all increase by 85 percent or more in the week after a tax refund.
  • Families use their tax refunds to meet basic needs, such as healthcare expenses and groceries. Families increased expenditures on out of pocket healthcare costs by 60 percent in the week after tax refund receipt.

Diana Farrell, founding president and Chief Executive Officer of the JPMorgan Chase Institute

It’s important to understand that the tax refund check you receive from the government is the byproduct of your overpaying on your taxes. Getting a refund means that, throughout the year, you paid more of your income in taxes than required by law to the IRS, and after you file your tax return, the IRS returns your money (or overpayment) back to you.

But losing that money for months and months cost does you something — goods and services you were not able to buy (and hence benefit from), investments you didn’t make, debt you didn’t pay down, savings you did not accumulate, etc.

Nearly 40 percent of American households carry a credit card balance, and those loans carry high interest rates. . . If instead of getting a $3,000 refund come April, you’d been able to pay off $250 in credit card debt each month (or put $250 a month less on your card), you would have avoided more than $300 in interest expenses by Tax Day.

A tax refund is essentially an interest-free loan from you to the federal and state governments.

References:

  1. https://www.jpmorganchase.com/institute/research/household-income-spending/tax-time-fy22
  2. https://fee.org/articles/tax-refunds-your-interest-free-loan-to-the-government/

Teddy Roosevelt’s Quotes – Dare to be Great

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Theodore Roosevelt, known as “Teedie”–later “Teddy”, was frail and sickly as a boy. As a teenager, he followed a program of gymnastics and weightlifting to build up his strength.

Roosevelt, not quite 43, became the 26th and youngest President in the Nation’s history (1901-1909). He brought new excitement and power to the office, vigorously leading Congress and the American public toward progressive reforms and a strong foreign policy.

Early in his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt sparked a scandal when he invited the African-American educator Booker T. Washington to dine with him and his family; he was the first president ever to entertain an African American in the White House.

During the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt was lieutenant colonel of the Rough Rider Regiment, which he led on a charge at the battle of San Juan. And, as President, Roosevelt held the ideal that the Government should be the great arbiter of the conflicting economic forces in the Nation, especially between capital and labor, guaranteeing justice to each and dispensing favors to none.

Roosevelt steered the United States more actively into world politics. He liked to quote a favorite quote, “Speak softly and carry a big stick. . . . ”

Aware of the strategic need for a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific, Roosevelt ensured the construction of the Panama Canal. His corollary to the Monroe Doctrine prevented the establishment of foreign bases in the Caribbean.

He won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War, reached a Gentleman’s Agreement on immigration with Japan, and sent a fleet of sixteen warships on a world tour. The ships were painted white to symbolize peace, and eventually they became known as the “Great White Fleet.” Roosevelt viewed the tour as part of his “Big Stick” diplomacy.

Theodore Roosevelt believed that we should all work hard and devote ourselves to a worthwhile cause. He showed incredible wisdom and insight. His quotes continue to inspire many Americans to work hard on their dreams:

“The person who succeeds is not the one who holds back, fearing failure, nor the one who never fails but rather the one who moves on in spite of failure.”

“Dreams are a dime a dozen. it’s their execution that counts.”

“If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.”

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

“The chief factor in any man’s success or failure must be his own character — that is, the sum of his common sense, his courage, his virile energy and capacity. Nothing can take the place of this individual factor.”

“To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”

“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”

“We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage.”

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”

“The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first and love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life.”

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”

“Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.”

“We cannot do great deeds unless we are willing to do the small things that make up the sum of greatness.”

“Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.”

“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.”

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

Roosevelt was big on taking full responsibility for your life and making a valuable contribution to the world. Nothing worth having comes easy but if you’re working toward a purpose and love what you do then you’ll enjoy the journey. For success is a journey.

References:

  1. https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/theodore-roosevelt/
  2. https://www.nps.gov/thri/theodorerooseveltbio.htm
  3. https://succeedfeed.com/theodore-roosevelt-quotes/
  4. https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/theodore-roosevelt
  5. https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/44567.Theodore_Roosevelt

Know the Value of Stuff; Not Just the Price

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“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” Warren Buffett

A father said to his daughter “You have graduated with honors, here is a car I bought many years ago. It is a bit older now. But before I give it to you, take it to the used car lot downtown and tell them I want to sell it and see how much they offer you for it.

The daughter went to the used car lot, returned to her father and said, “They offered me $1,000 because the said it looks pretty worn out.”

The father said, now “Take it to the pawn shop.” The daughter went to the pawn shop, returned to her father and said,”The pawn shop offered only $100 because it is an old car.”

The father asked his daughter to go to a car club now and show them the car. The daughter then took the car to the club, returned and told her father,” Some people in the club offered $100,000 for it because it’s a Nissan Skyline R34, it’s an iconic car and sought by many collectors”

Now the father said this to his daughter, “The right place values you the right way,” If you are not valued, do not be angry, it means you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you……Never stay in a place where no one sees your value.”

Don’t force yourself to stay where you are not regarded….

Stay where you are appreciated.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/743724219/posts/10159846889864220/

Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rates

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“Inflation remains elevated, reflecting supply and demand imbalances related to the pandemic, higher energy prices, and broader price pressures.” FOMC Report

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates 50 basis points (1/2 percent) on Wednesday in an effort to tame inflation that’s soaring at a 40-year high. And, the Fed anticipates that ongoing increases in the target range will be appropriate.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is highly attentive to inflation risks. The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run.

Short-term borrowing was nudged up a half a point, and consumers are going to feel the increase in their bank accounts.With a 50 basis-point interest rate hike, you can expect higher costs for:

  • Credit Cards – Your credit card’s interest rate will likely increase slightly within a couple of billing cycles. The size of that increase can vary based on your credit score and credit card provider. A 1% interest rate increase will likely only add a few dollars to your monthly interest payments on a few thousand dollars of outstanding debt. Current average interest rates are close to 16%, but they could be as high as 18.5% by the end of the year.
  • Mortgages – Mortgage interest rates are calculated based on multiple factors, like inflation and the housing supply — but they’re also affected indirectly by the federal funds rate, which influences how much banks pay to borrow money. When that rate increases, the interest on adjustable-rate mortgages tends to follow.
  • Other loans – The federal funds rate is used to calculate the lowest interest rate offered for loans, known as the prime rate. Any loan tied to the prime rate, known as adjustable-rate loans, will likely have a slight increase in interest rates.

If you currently have a fixed-rate loan, your payments won’t change. If you have an adjustable-rate loan, you should take some time to look at its terms, says Jacob Channel, a senior economic analyst at LendingTree: “The last thing you want is to think, ‘Oh, I have a few months before my rate goes up,’ and realize that the rate hike will kick in much sooner.”

References

  1. https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20220504a.htm
  2. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/04/3-things-thatll-get-more-expensive-after-the-feds-historic-rate-hike.html

Gratitude, Winning and Success – Cael Sanderson

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The foundation for success and winning is based on gratitude.

Cael Sanderson has dominated the wrestling world over the past two decades.

Cael, the collegiate wrestler, went a remarkable 159-0 at Iowa State from 1999-2002, winning four wrestling Division I NCAA National Championships, winning the NCAA Most Outstanding Wrestler award all four years, the only wrestler to ever achieve this distinction and three Dan Hodge trophies.

Cael is the only college wrestler in NCAA history to never lose a match over a four-year career — considered the No. 2 achievement in college sports history, according to Sports Illustrated. (Surpassed only by Jesse Owens’ four world records in 45 minutes as an Ohio State Buckeye track and field phenom.)

Cael, the Olympian won a Gold Medalist, (at 84 kg, during the 2004 Athens Olympiad).

And finally, there is Cael Sanderson, the Coach of the Penn State Nitty Lions Wrestling Team.

Cael arrived as head wrestling coach at Penn State in April 2009. Since then, Cael’s Nittany Lions have won an unprecedented 11 NCAA team national championships in 15 seasons (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024), the most recent this past spring, when six Penn State wrestlers made the championship finals and four walked away with championships.

Also, during the fifteen seasons, he coached Penn State program to:

  • 38 individual NCAA national titles through 2024.
  • Named Big Ten Coach of the Year 13 times and National Coach of the Year 9 times.
  • 132 All-American honors awarded.
  • In the 2023-24 season, his team went 16-0 in duals, won the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, and claimed their 11th NCAA team title.
  • Dual meet record at Penn State through 2024 is 277-39-2.

His overriding philosophy is that everything in life and sports — peace of mind, happiness, getting the most out of what you have — springs off an ‘attitude of gratitude.’

Gratitude is right at the foundation of all things, especially his remarkable success and winning as a wrestler and head coach.

What does gratitude mean?

For Cael Sanderson, it means that “you think less about yourself. If I’m grateful, I’m going to think less about myself and more about others, and the opportunities I have.”

“You count your blessings and then you make your blessings count”, says Sanderson.

True gratitude isn’t just if you win. “True gratitude is based on all things — success and failure”, says Sanderson. “If you’re truly grateful, you’re going to maintain that sense of gratitude regardless of the outcome. Otherwise, it’s not gratitude.”

He opined that gratitude is a foreign idea initially to five-star college wrestlers. “Especially when you are a superstar athlete and everybody is kind of serving you and it’s about you. That’s instead of taking a step back and saying, ‘Wow, look how blessed I am.’”

“Getting the most out of yourself and the most out of the blessings that you have.”

When you can take a step back and look at life like that, it can change your perspective. It takes the pressure off. You’re just trying to get the most out of yourself and the most out of the blessings that you have.

Additionally, Sanderson explains that gratitude is remembering that, ‘I do want the pressure. I do want the opportunity to compete for a national championship. I’m grateful that I have this pressure right now because if there is pressure it means I am not quite there yet.’ You can’t forget who you are and what you truly want.

And winning is what you want to do. Gratitude helps you remember why you got into this, to begin with. It’s not about being cool or winning for any other reason — like picking up Twitter followers or anything like that. Who cares about that? If you care about those things, they will steer you away from your true goal.

Gratitude and humility are blood brothers

Gratitude and humility go hand-in-hand. Those two terms are going to help an individual become the best he can be. Because if you’re grateful, you’re humble. You’re always seeking a better way and seeking to improve. You’re willing to be coached, explains Sanderson.

That’s not a common trait. “I coach college wrestling and I have been in the sport my entire life”‘ says Sanderson. “There’s a lot of different levels of coachability. Our best kids are the ones who buy in the most. It means you think of others, you think about the team.”

References:

  1. https://test.statecollege.com/the-word-on-coaching-penn-states-cael-sanderson-on-gratitude/

The 2% Solution: Driving Action for Real Change l

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“The problems of racial injustice and economic injustice cannot be solved without a radical redistribution of political and economic power.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The 2% Solution grew from the idea that lasting, generational change is possible only through a major investment by U.S. companies in economic justice and development for Black communities.

Inequitable access to capital has impeded the ability of Black entrepreneurs to maintain positive cash flow and cover operating costs in their businesses, explains Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners.

A key factor in this disparity is the lack of major financial institutions in Black communities.

“Only 53% of Black households are properly banked, compared to 80% of white households.”

As a result, Black business owners often rely on Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) for support. However, these institutions are also often underfunded and lack modernized and digital systems.

Supporting CDFIs and MDIs is one of the key pillars of the 2 Percent Solution. By investing capital in these institutions, we’re also investing in Black entrepreneurs and businesses.

The 2 Percent Solution asks U.S. companies to invest 2% of their annual profits over the next 10 years into communities where systematic inequities have hindered progress, says Smith. These investments aren’t acts of charity. They are reparative, enabling lasting generational change and bringing economic justice for Black communities.

“I think that [The 2% Solution] will show Americans there is hope, there is an opportunity for the American dream to now be revitalized. And frankly, to give us all confidence that we can actually make this a better country and a better place to live.” ~ Robert F. Smith, Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy

The 2% Solution has the ability to make lasting change in Black communities with a focus on four main pillars of action where an investment’s impact would be long-lasting and broadly felt within the Black community. These main pillars are:

  • Supporting CDFIs & MDIs
  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Technology and the Digital Divide

The 2% Solution will benefit all Americans. A 2019 McKinsey Global Institute analysis found that eliminating the racial wealth gap would generate $1.5 trillion in GDP, and we can use The 2% Solution to help close the gap between Black and white households.  

References:

  1. https://robertsmith.com/2-percent-solution/
  2. https://robertsmith.com/about-robert-f-smith/

Inflation Swindles Almost Everybody

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“If you feel you can dance in and out of securities in a way that defeats the inflation tax, I would like to be your broker — but not your partner.” Warren Buffett

During 2022 Berkshire-Hathaway’s annual shareholders meeting, chairman and CEO Warren Buffett stated, ‘Inflation swindles almost everybody’. Inflation is the decline of purchasing power of the U.S. dollar, the U.S. unit of currency. The rising prices of goods and services, often expressed as the inflation rate, means that a unit of currency effectively buys less than it did in prior years.

Buffett commented that inflation “swindles” equity investors. He elaborated that: “Inflation swindles the bond investor, too. It swindles the person who keeps their cash under their mattress. It swindles almost everybody.” Since inflation is largely a result of loose fiscal and monetary policy. This policy artificially inflated demand and effectively caused a supply/demand imbalance — the cure for which was rising prices to try and lower demand.

He stated that inflation also raises the amount of capital that companies need and that raising prices to maintain inflation-adjusted profits is not as simple as it may seem.

In Buffett’s opinion, “only gains in purchasing power represent real earnings on investment. If you (a) forego 10 hamburgers to purchase an investment; (b) receive dividends which, after tax, buy two hamburgers; and (c) receive, upon sale of your holdings, after-tax proceeds that will buy eight hamburgers, then (d) you have had no real income from your investment, no matter how much it appreciated in dollars. You may feel richer, but you won’t eat richer.”

Additionally, “High rates of inflation create a tax on capital that makes much corporate investment unwise – at least if measured by the criterion of a positive real investment return to owners”, states Buffett.

In a 1977 Fortune magazine article, Buffett conveyed his views on inflation: “The arithmetic makes it plain that inflation is a far more devastating tax than anything that has been enacted by our legislatures. The inflation tax has a fantastic ability to simply consume capital.”

He opined that the best protection against inflation is investing in your own skills.

During the shareholder’s meeting, Buffett observed that massive fiscal and monetary economic stimuli during the COVID-19 pandemic are the major reason for high inflation today: “You print loads of money, and money is going to be worth less.”

Buffett views inflation as a necessary consequence of the massive fiscal and monetary stimuli, which “artificially inflated demand and effectively caused a supply/demand imbalance”, to get the U.S. out of what could have been a COVID-19 induced depression.

“In my book, Jay Powell is a hero,” Buffett stated. “It’s very simple, he did what he had to do.”

References:

  1. https://www.investopedia.com/berkshire-hathaway-2022-annual-meeting-and-q1-earnings-5270362
  2. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/3-lessons-from-what-buffett-didnt-say-at-berkshire-hathaways-shareholder-meeting
  3. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/inflation.asp
  4. https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/04/04/warren-buffett-secret-to-getting-rich-is-simpler/
  5. https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/03/27/3-timeless-warren-buffett-lessons-to-apply-right-n/
  6. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/12/warren-buffett-explains-how-to-invest-in-stocks-when-inflation-rises.html
  7. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/topstocks/worried-about-inflation-heres-what-warren-buffett-says-berkshire-hathaway-is-doing/ar-AAWNjq6?ocid=uxbndlbing

Blackstone Group

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The Principles that Matter Most to Blackstone Group

Accountability • Excellence • Integrity • Teamwork • Entrepreneurship

Blackstone Group is the world’s leading alternative asset manager. Alternative asset investments refer to financial assets that don’t fall under the conventional categories like stocks, bonds, and cash. An alternative asset manager invests in things that average investors typically don’t have access to, according to Entrepreneur magazine.

Blackstone contends that everything they do is guided by these principles, which define their character and culture . These enduring qualities are the shared convictions that they bring to their professional and personal conduct. They are a fundamental strength of their business.

Some examples of alternative assets include private equity or venture capital, hedge funds, distressed debt, commodities, and real estate. Since they are complex investments that are not regulated by the SEC and can be illiquid, alternative investments are usually held by institutional investors or high-net-worth individuals.

Blackstone operates in four different segments:

  1. Private equity,
  2. Real estate,
  3. Hedge fund solutions, and
  4. Credit & insurance.

Many investors and institutions are looking to take advantage of alternative investments in the current low-interest-rate economic environment. With Blackstone, you have a team of financial asset management experts hunting down undervalued assets and making deals to generate returns for your portfolio. The company is known for delivering excess returns.

“Blackstone reported the best results in our 36-year history”, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman stated. “Earnings increased dramatically, and all of our key financial and capital metrics reached record or near-record levels.”

They can include private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, real estate, and derivatives contracts, which are investments that are typically intended for institutional or accredited investor. It’s an area of financial services that can be incredibly lucrative for investors.

References:

  1. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/392789
  2. https://www.marketbeat.com/originals/blackstone-group-nyse-bx-stock-a-buy-after-posting-record-profits/