Comments for Guzzo the Contrarian

Comment on The MacGyver Of Finance by Guzzo

Guzzo — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:06:15 +0000

Here's what the SEC says they're doing to beef-up enforcement, including incentivisation. Does anyone really believe they'll actually live up to their enforcement pledges?

Comment on VantageSouth Bank by Guzzo

Guzzo — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:35:52 +0000

Well, it looks like a done deal according to Alamance County's local newspaper, The Times-News. According to this article:

A Piedmont investment group announced Friday that it purchased almost two million shares of stock in a Burlington-based bank. Piedmont Community Bank Holdings purchased about 1.8 million shares of preferred stock issued by VantageSouth Bank, which converts into a majority stake in VantageSouth. The stock cost $4.35 per share. The bank’s assets were $94 million Friday afternoon, Jennings said.

It's strange, but as a shareholder, one would think that I would have been mailed details of the event, but I haven't received anything in the mail from VantageSouth since I wrote this post. I'm going to have to look into that. Here's some more info about Piedmont Community Bank Holdings - Private Equity-Backed Piedmont Eyes Buyouts

Comment on My Vanguard 529-Plan by DG

DG — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:59:16 +0000

Today I was this close to doing what you did. I decided before rolling my upromise money over to the Vanguard Nevada and adding enough to meet the $3000, I’d better see if I was missing anything. You just saved me a headache. Thanks.

Comment on Weekly Wrap by Guzzo

Guzzo — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:05:05 +0000

In one month’s time since this post, all three major stock indexes are in the black again, and even more economic data is pointing towards a slow recovery. So for now, it seems as though the forecasting ability of someone who claims to be an amateur-individual investor was accurate, AGAIN.

Wow, how embarrassing for you “Mike”. Do you have any money left? Hopefully, you’re not managing other peoples’ money and only posted your comment here out of petty jealousy or a misguided feeling of superiority.

While I don’t mean this in a bad way, instead of telling me how I should write my blog, maybe you would be better served generating your own independent thought and analysis, and making your own investment decisions, instead of regurgitating what you hear or read from sources that you perceive to be credible or looking out for your best interests.

Until you’re capable of independent thought and action, here’s an idea -

Consider allocating any of the investment savings that you have left into an age/risk appropriate, low-cost index mutual fund. Then, perhaps create your own weblog in an effort to “paint the entire picture” for your own readers. Monitor your progress and grade your own performance based on listening to those “experts”.

Give it some time to see how that works out and discover for yourself if you would be better off leaving your investments in an that index fund or managing them yourself.

Oh yeah, what am I thinking? That probably won’t happen because then you’d have to lose some of your anonymity and be held accountable for your actions.

Anyway, good luck to you again “Mike”. I want to thank you for providing an example of what I try to share with to my readers.

Comment on Bonds And Interest Rates by Guzzo

Guzzo — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:49:20 +0000

Here's some good input about I-Bonds from that Bogleheads diehard and all around nice guy, Mel Lindauer. Let Us Buy More I Bonds

Comment on Bonds And Interest Rates by Guzzo

Guzzo — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:45:28 +0000

Food for thought - The Paradox of Toil (pdf).