The Vehicle that I use for my bitcoin is....IBIT. This is a BlackRock product that I hod in my Schwab account.
Seeing a couple of the posts regarding bitcoin….made me think of a couple of co-workers. They are constantly raving about it and seem to want to convince others to follow their lead. I’m not sure, but I think they have a significant amount of their portfolio allocated to it. They have approached me a few times to discuss it. I just say not interested, which usually leads to how rich they are going to be. Who knows….maybe they are or will be. I did read up a bit when some of the major brokerages started offering it in sort of a ETF wrapper type deal. I still wasn’t overly interested, especially after reading the prospectus. Oddly enough, they seem to get almost offended when I mention no interest in it. I know some stock holders get very personal about their specific holdings, but coin holders seem very annoyed if you do not show the same interest. No, I’m not trying to disrespect any holders….so no flame necessary…the posts just reminded me of my interactions….lol
Anyway, nice little day in the market. Looks like the ATH’s are showing up nicely with different companies. Maybe this trend will continue.
No disrespect taken. BUT....some day when my 1/100 of one Bitcoin is worth $120,000,000.....YOU will be very sorry. Lets see....right now my position is worth about $1,200. SO.....I just need to multiply that by....about....100,000. I will be there in no time.
Actually......I do wish I still had my SINGLE bitcoin that I sold. I bought it at about $2500 if my memory is right. I think I sold somewhere between about $9000 to $12000. If I had just held onto it I would now have about $112,000. BUMMER. That is my Bitcoin story. A sad tale of woe.
Bitcoin is speculation not investing. There! I said it! Do people make money with it? Yes, some have. I'm sure for every one person that struck it big there are 10 that lost their shirts. What If I told you that you could own a large Cap, American Company, with transparent ER, world class leadership and solid future projects that would have a better return than a high risk, volatile untangable coin? NVDA 5YR: 1,454.2% BITCOIN 5YR: 1,101.1% Let that settle in. I have owned the stock for over a decade and will continue to hold it as a cornerstone in my brokerage account.
I tend to agree with most of the above on Bitcoin. It has been around a long time now and I have yet to see anything that makes me see it as an "investment". I really dont know what it is....since it has no real value behind it and how or why it goes up or down is totally obscure. It generates no dividends or earnings. There are no assets backing it up....unless you call block-chain an asset. It is constantly subject to massive fraud and criminal activity plaguing owners. Although I will admit that there are also many other very speculative....so called...... "investment products" that have been approved over the last 20-30 years that I believe are simply GAMBLING. About all I can say about it is that it appears to be an alternative currency.....not backed up by the government or any sort of full faith and credit. As long as it is subject to CAPITAL GAINS taxes....I consider it unusable in any day to day function. I am certainly not going to use Bitcoin to pay for anything when I am going to have a capital gains nightmare at the end of the year trying to calculate my long and short term capital gains for buying a pizza.
I have been reading and watching the markets since before the open today....as usual. A typical NOTHING day today. Although some earnings are starting to come in. The media will start to give some focus to earnings next week when the BIG BANK earnings start to come in. I notice that one of my two favorite airlines....DELTA is doing well. My two FAVORITE airlines for domestic travel....DELTA and JET-BLUE. Delta stock soars after earnings beat, reinstated guidance; CEO says tax bill and trade deals are removing uncertainty Delta CEO Ed Bastian says the name of the game is premium, and the airlines that can provide experience — at the right price point — will thrive. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/delt...NjkhKeeD921JNsfT7Iwaj_I5aN1VhcSltGk41SkL6KN6I As an aside.....my LEAST favorite airlines.....that I NEVER fly if I can help it.....American and United. HORRIBLE fees and service......I hate them both. American charges $80 to check a single bag......ridiculous.
AMEN. Become An Investment Hermit https://tonyisola.com/2025/07/become-an-investment-hermit/ (BOLD is my opinion OR what I consider important content) "Withdrawing from the noise leads you down a path toward clarity. Recently, at a party, I was told, “I need to get out more,” because I wasn’t aware of a local restaurant. Do I? At 61, I’m not looking to add many things to my life. It’s a better use of time to maximize what I already have. I love to work out in my home gym, constantly trying to perfect techniques and routines, which takes up a lot of bandwidth. My second favorite pastime is working in my garden. Growing food and flowers isn’t an idle pastime and takes up considerable resources. Both of these pursuits are solitary endeavors. Communication with others is rare while undertaking them. I came across a word I had never heard of the other day, Eremition. It’s a rare or archaic term that means withdrawing into solitude, especially for religious or spiritual reasons. If I ever got a tattoo (I won’t), I think I would get this across my back in big, dark, gothic letters. When my battery depletes, engaging in solo hobbies like gardening or working out re-energizes me. Being around new people or finding the latest place to eat does the opposite. Not meaning to be Judgie, everyone charges their battery differently. To each his own. My worst nightmare is networking events. I despise making small talk with strangers. I’m pretty sure if a networking event were on a cruise ship, I’d take my chances by jumping overboard at some point. Returning to the original premise, I don’t need to get out more. I’m happy spending time with my new favorite word, Eremition, but thanks for your suggestion. Speaking of unwanted opinions, Investors would do well to bring more Eremition into their personal finance hygiene. One could do worse than becoming an investment hermit. It is wise to avoid the herd mentality and base your investment choices on research and long-term goals rather than hype. Solitude fosters reflection and long-term vision and helps investors avoid the temptation to trade their accounts frequently. Time in the market, not timing the market, is carved into the cave walls of any investment hermit worth their salt. Hermits live, focusing on the essentials. This trait is a perfect analogy for keeping your portfolio simple with diversified low-cost index funds, which regularly trounce the performance of high-cost complex hedge funds over long periods. Source: Mark J. Perry Taking a step back from the world allows for clarity and recalibration. Applying this philosophy to your investments negates the need for constant monitoring, which usually leads to poor, emotionally driven choices. Whether it’s Middle East Wars, Tariffs, or whatever else is not on 2025’s Bingo Card, investment decisions that are calm and thoughtful rather than reactive tend to result in superior long-term returns. Embrace the spirit of Eremition! Getting out more won’t bring clarity, discipline, and control to your personal and financial life. The habits needed to arrive at this place lie inside your cave, not someone else’s." MY COMMENT I TOTALLY agree. Outside of this site and my immediate family.....I dont talk about investing with anyone. ALL of my investing thinking is done in solitude and this has always been the case. I LOVE the chart above about HEDGE FUND returns......notice that the average Heddge fund just about NEVER beats the SP500.....at least over the past 14 years. I remember when Hedge funds first appeared many years ago. People were clamoring to get into a Hedge Fund.....simply because you could not get into one....they were an elite little club. It was classic human behavior. NOW....it is obvious that most of them are.....NOTHING.
The FREE MARKET at work. The early winner in the 'Dexit' war for corporate relocations: Nevada https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-...r-corporate-relocations-nevada-080015108.html
The markets today. Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq stall as Nvidia milestone, Trump tariffs vie for focus https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live...ne-trump-tariffs-vie-for-focus-221228309.html (BOLD is my opinion OR what I consider important content) "US stocks were mixed on Thursday, putting a Nvidia-fueled (NVDA) rally on pause as Wall Street weighed Delta's (DAL) upbeat earnings amid fresh tariff threats from President Trump. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose 0.4% on the heels of a winning day for the major gauges. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) was flat and tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell 0.3% after notching a record high in the prior session Markets are regrouping after Trump's latest salvos on tariffs, which have done little to sap the ebullient mood that has pervaded for more than two months. After Wednesday's market close, Trump issued his most stringent threat yet, threatening Brazil with rates of 50% on its imports. Before the bell, Delta (DAL) kicked off second quarter earnings season with its report, in high focus after the airline pulled its guidance last quarter due to Trump's trade moves. Its profit and revenue narrowly beat Wall Street expectations, and its shares jumped 12%. At the same time, and carrier restored its earnings outlook, citing "greater clarity" as trade deals get done. Market focus remains on potential trade pacts with bigger US trading partners, such as the EU, India, and Canada. While Trump has said a pact with India is close, the odds have narrowed after he warned of an extra 10% tariff on BRICS members. Amping up the pressure for deals, Trump has sent 22 letters to the heads of countries this week. Each has a similar formula, dictating the tariff rates he says will apply to their imports starting Aug. 1. Meanwhile, eyes are back on prospects for AI after the Nasdaq Composite clinched a new record close on Wednesday, thanks in large part to a continued surge from Nvidia. The chipmaker's stock rose early on Thursday, set to build on an all-time closing high hit after Nvidia became the first public company to cross a market value of over $4 trillion. In other news, jobless claims for the week ending July 5 were 227,000, a 5,000 decline from the previous week's revised level. The update comes as investors look for signs of how quickly the labor market is cooling as an indication of when the Federal Reserve will move to cut rates. Few Fed policymakers were open to a July start to lowering rates at their June meeting, according to minutes released on Wednesday." MY COMMENT As I noted earlier really NOT MUCH going on today. Although the big averages are very slowly moving toward the positive. the DOW and the SP500 are now both GREEN and the NASDAQ is moving in that direction.
The REAL story of the week....perhaps the story of the month and the year. Nvidia stock eyes more gains after chipmaker becomes first company to reach $4 trillion market value https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nvid...-reach-4-trillion-market-value-141526893.html
Yes they are.....who would have guessed. Treasury yields are steady on more signs of solid economy https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/10/us-treasury-yields-trumps-trade-war-intensifies-.html
I am backing off from some of my nice gains yesterday since i currently only have TWO of NINE stocks in the green.....HD and AAPL. As has been the case for the past six months or more.....COST stock....continues to linger in the face of great earnings. In my view.....a perfect example of the DANGER of refusing to split a stock that is now too expensive on a price per share basis.....not on a fundamental basis. With this stock not being a sexy tech stock....$1000 per share is just not attractive to the average buyer.....regardless of the fundamentals. The average retail investor....on a psychological level....is not going to put what is for them a HUGE chunk of money.....$5000 or $10,000....into a stock and only have 5-10 shares siting in their account. WAKE UP COST MANAGEMENT....you are SCREWING your current shareholders. Considering that a stock split is ....."supposed"...to be neutral event....there is absolutely no reason not to do a split. If it was up to me I would do at least a 5 for 1 split. I might even do a 10 for 1 split.....IMAGINE the media BUZZZZZ and PR this would create for the stock and the company.
Well.....I still have a MILD loss today. BUT....I have now improved to three....yes three....stocks in the GREEN......HD, AAPL, and NVDA. A small step in the right direction on a mild and no-energy day.
WOW....silver is just slightly under a five year high....at $37.20. I have....a nice little HOARD of gold and silver sitting off site in a big safe. I actually have a nice profit......but.....no compounding. If that money had been in stocks it would have grown significantly more than it has in the silver and gold. BUT....I did not buy the silver as an "investment". I bought it for FUN and secondarily as a disaster hedge. I have not bought any silver for a while. I do continue to buy some gold once in a while....usually one or two American Gold Buffalo coins per year. Although I did not buy any this year.....I had other cash flow uses for the money. My habit when buying silver and/or gold is to buy at the start of each year in January. We continue with our long term tradition of giving each adult in the family......my kids and spouses.....one American Silver Eagle coin on their birthday and at Christmas. Those coins are starting to pile up for my kids and spouses.....each couple probably has about 75-100 coins now. Of course we also give each of them a check and gift for each occasion. This family tradition was started by my parents giving me, my spouse and my sibling a 1 OZ silver coin each year for birthday and Christmas. At this time our normal gift habit is to give each child and spouse a check for $400 plus a gift costing about $150 for birthdays. We do a check for $500 each and a gift up to about $150 for Christmas. This is a continuation of what my parents did for us over many years. My sister and I and my spouse would normally get a $500 check from my parents plus a gift for birthdays and Christmas. In the final 10 years of their lives my parents boosted those checks to $1000. I post this to show how.....in our family....we have continued TRADITIONS aimed at the younger generations that were started by my parents and grandparents.....and...even my Great Grandparent. We have continued those traditions as a way to CONNECT the younger generations to family history and honor those generations that are no longer with us......and....at the same time help the new, young generation. We ALSO continue the family tradition started by my GREAT GRANDFATHER.....of the whole family, the older generations,......making sure the current young generation is college educated with NO debt. This college education tradition started with my GREAT GRANDFATHER putting all 7 of his children through college.....males and females.....back from about 1918 to early 1930. We are NOW in the process of educating the latest young generation.....my Grandchildren.....with the first one now a sophomore in college. She will graduate with NO debt. This family tradition now spans......SIX GENERATIONS.....unbroken....in my specific branch of the family.
Speaking of FAMILY TRADITION.....we have another one that goes back to my parents. Christmas and Thanksgiving English Crackers. NO....not the kind you eat.....but these: History of Christmas Crackers https://www.oldenglishcrackers.com/faqs/history-of-christmas-crackers/ They used to be hard to find...but now we often get them at COSTCO. This tradition was started by my parents....I think some time in the 1970's and has continued till now unbroken. Each Cracker has a paper crown in different colors, a little gift of some sort, and a little sheet with some bad puns or jokes. If people could see us at Thanksgiving or Christmas they would think we were NUTS....all sitting at the dinner table wearing paper crowns through dinner. Once in a while my parents would have custom Crackers made at Harrods or other places in England with special gifts inside. We have continued this family TRADITION with our kids and grandchildren now that my parents are gone. We are HOPEFULLY INFECTING our kids and grandchildren with this family custom. We have a good amount of English heritage in my family so I guess it is appropriate. Tradition, family values, habit, and reinforcing behavior of the young generations through family history and tradition is very important. When someone new comes to our house for Christmas or Thanksgiving...it is definately a surprise. We have had a number of visitors that have made it a tradition for their family. We even had one visitor.....a Doctor and his wife....that made it a tradition for the dinner that they host for his new Residents in his hospital residency program. A good way to break down the stress and barriers of dinner with your "boss" and fellow residents (strangers). TRADITION and FAMILY history....very important in educating your kids. Especially when it comes to money and investing. (there you go investing content). All of the little things in a family like....a gift of a silver coin....or a Christmas or Thanksgiving tradition....help to UNITE the generations in common experiences...which opens the door for communication on more important issues....like...money and investing. That is the way that....."I"....see it.
As to the above....we do bring a bit of "money" into Christmas besides the checks and silver coins. I usually buy a festive looking $10-$20 scratch off ticket for each dinner place setting...kids included. Unfortunately no one has ever won more than $50.
So...enough. Lets see if we can keep the markets GREEN till the close in about an hour. Last I looked I did have a nice GAIN in my account with five stocks UP. SHOW ME THE MONEY....again.
