Weekly Articles by Osbon Capital Management:
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Exercise in Relaxation
September is National Yoga Month. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi, or completely inexperienced, New England has something to offer you this month. Check out the sprawling resort of “Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.” Located in Stockbridge at the base of the Berkshires, the 150-acre compound is nationally regarded as one of the best yoga retreat destinations for practitioners of all skill levels.
Peak Passive? Not so fast.
The FT ran a story this week asking if we’ve hit “peak passive.” Similar to peak oil, peak “X” refers to an asset class hitting a sort of critical mass or market saturation. It also vaguely implies that there is no more room to grow and down is the only direction possible. With millions of investors relying on portfolios of passive index ETFs, this could be a mass catastrophe in the making. Or is it? Let’s take an objective look at the perils and possibilities of passive.
All Politics is Local
Take the opportunity next Tuesday, September 4th, to have your voice heard in the Massachusetts 2018 primary elections. Voter turnout was less than 50% in the last Massachusetts midterm election however, Boston has a strong record for showing up to the polls; In 2014, 83.65% of the 383,702 registered voters cast a ballot.
Determining your liquid assets
Between boomers wrapping up careers and entrepreneurs thinking about new ones, many are considering retiring from current roles to follow other pursuits, passions and opportunities. For these folks, a critical question is how much cash to hold. Cash reserves provide a sense of security, a buffer against a challenging investment climate and dry powder for interesting one-off opportunities. How much is enough? Is there such a thing as too much? The answer is often a dynamic moving target. Here are some considerations:
Broadway in Boston
The world-renowned Broadway musical, The Book of Mormon is in Boston for a limited time. Deemed “The Best Musical of this Century” by the New York Times, this is definitely a show you should see. Performances will be happening daily until closing night on Sunday 8/26. For ticketing information, click below.
All You Can Eat
This Saturday, August 18th, from 11 am – 3 pm Verrill Farm in Concord is celebrating their 100th anniversary. For just 12$ per person, visitors will have all you can eat access to over 30 varieties of locally grown tomatoes, corn on the cob and vegetable dishes. Live bluegrass and pony rides will also be present throughout the feast!
The Incredible Shrinking Market
The New York Times published a feature article last week on our shrinking US stock market. It’s true that the number of publicly listed US securities has dropped from over 7,000 in 1996 to fewer than 3,800 today. That sounds like an economy that’s becoming less diverse, less innovative and less competitive. Is that really the case? Are these numbers a warning sign for investors? Let’s sort it out with some added context:
Four Books for Your Summer Reading List
I chose these books to address four themes that I think are valuable for successful investors. The first will help boost your optimism by viewing our progress as a society through a broader lens and a fresh perspective. The second will inspire you to be more effective when getting together with people to share ideas, investment or otherwise. The third, one of Warren Buffett’s all-time favorite investment books, will help you focus on the most effective attributes of a successful CEO. The last, by my favorite futurist, a local Boston VC, will expand your view on the real-life science fiction that is happening today in biology and genetics. Read more to see how these relate back to investing.
New Bites
Pammy’s in Cambridge was just placed on Bon Appetit’s “50 best new restaurants in America.” Designed, operated and managed by husband and wife team Chris and Pam Willis, Pammy’s has become a hot spot for fresh pasta lovers in Cambridge. The decor can be described as comfy living room meets neo-gothic Italian with marble statues, woodburning fireplaces, and a large communal…
