HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bakken@cs.arizona.edu (Dave Bakken)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Investing for a default (was Re: Social Security is a Tax?)
Keywords: n
Date: 15 Oct 92 22:14:03 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: U of Arizona CS Dept, Tucson

In article <1992Oct15.155309.12966@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com> upp@ssd.comm.mot.com (Steve Upp) writes:

>If bonds crash (an understatement), stocks won't be far behind.  I'd like
>to hear some discussion on how an investor might protect himself in the
>coming times.

I too an worried about the solvency of our government, bank
failures, etc.  I think that the dollar could only go up 10%-20%
and has an awful lot more downside.   Any crisis could either
be inflationary or deflationary; my guess is that if the gov.
didn't try to ``print dollars'' or otherwise undermine the
dollar it would be deflationary.  (Hyperinflation scares me
a lot more than deflation, BTW.)  I'm not prone to apocalyptic
scenarios, end times prophecies, etc., but I just see things
out of control here.

So if I had a wad to invest and hoped to do OK if things
cruised along normally but try to cover my tail if the
crap hits the fan here in the states, I would probably do:

	20%-30% non-collector gold coins (Krugerand, etc.)
	30%-40% German and Japanese government bonds or CDs from good bank
	30%-50% CD here from highly-rated banks

The gold is a US hyperinflation help, and probably won't do too bad
anyway (there was an article in the Economist 2-3 weeks ago on this).
The foreign bonds should help in US hyperinflation.  The American
CDs help in case of deflation.

I might try to get the foreign accounts directly, since bond funds
may hedge (but then if the dollar dives I'm OK??).  And in all
categories I would try to diversify among different institutions.
I like the Dmark and Yen because they seem sound.  The Japanese
even have budget surpluses, but they don't have a lot of natural
resources and depend on trade a lot, so the Yen could have some
problems in a global economic crisis.  The Germans have had to
borrow a lot for reunification but are fiscally prudent.  Both
currencies could have problems, but would probably do a lot
better than any others (save the Swiss Franc?) in a global
crisis (which a US crisis would turn into ASAP).

Interestingly, I think that you can put IRA money into gold coins
if they're issued by the US government.  Don't we still have
some sort of eagle gold coins?  Might be worth putting some of
one's retirement nest egg into as a precaution.

Comments?  This is not an academic question for many...
--
Dave Bakken                               Internet: bakken@cs.arizona.edu
Dept. of Computer Science; U of Arizona   Voice:    +1 602 621 4098      
Tucson, AZ 85721; USA                     FAX:      +1 602 621 4246
The fact that you're paranoid doesn't prove they're *not* out to get you.
From: wlb@progress.COM (Warren Bare)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: Agencies that Reduce C-Card debt
Date: 9 Oct 92 14:53:57 GMT
Organization: Progress Software Corp.

gary@cdthq.UUCP (Gary Heston) writes:

>My "Scam Alert" is sounding.


I'm not sure I would sound the alert before getting more information.
Many C-card companies will negotiate with bad debt holders to reduce 
the outstanding debt in return for a commitment on fixed payments
and discontinued use of the card.

I met a financial planner that did just this for his clients.
One example he used was something like a $5000 debt being paid back
at $200 per month for 20 months.  Not bad! I think he gave another
example where the company settled for a lump payment of about $.50
on the dollar.

Of course this guy was not saying that he would consolidate and
charge 8%.  He layed everything out specifically, and charged a 
flat rate.

I can not imagine this type of stuff doesn't hurt credit, however.

I am not saying that these folks are reputable, and I do agree with Gary
that I would look into it closely.

Warren

--
Warren L. Bare                UUCP: mit-eddie!progress!Warren.Bare
Progress Software Corp.   Internet: Warren.Bare@progress.com
14 Oak Park                    FAX: 1 617 275 4595
Bedford, MA  01730
From: an241@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Joe Jurczyk)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Wall Street Investment Challenge
Date: 12 Oct 1992 01:22:46 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc10.ins.cwru.edu


             WALL STREET INVESTMENT CHALLENGE  
            NOVEMBER 1, 1992 - JANUARY 31, 1993
 
Where the sharpest and savviest investors of the future pit wits
against the market and each other.  You should be part of the
action.  Start with $1,000,000 in a fictional account and for three
full months (11/1/92 - 1/31/93) you can buy, sell or short any
NYSE, AMEX and OTC stocks.  You'll rely on your judgement, your
strategy and perhaps some luck.  
 
An unlimited number of trades can be made through a touchtone phone
operated system open 24 hours each day.  (The first 50 trades can
be placed over a toll free 800 number.)  You will receive a monthly
account statement listing all trading activity during the month,
current portfolio holdings and standings information.
 
The Wall Street Investment Challenge offers a large number of cash
prizes for the best performing portfolios:
 
                        GRAND PRIZES
      First Place                         $25,000
      Second Place                          4,000
      Third Place                           2,500
      Fourth Place                          2,000
      Fifth Place                           1,500
      Sixth - Twentieth Place               1,000
                       
                     DIVISION CHAMPION
Each participant is assigned to a division.  Each division has 100
participants.  Whenever possible, participants from the same school
or same state will be assigned to one division bearing the name of
the school or state.  Each division champ will receive a $500 cash
prize.
 
                 BEST TRADER IN YOUR LEAGUE
If you and your friends register together with at least 10
portfolios, you can form a league with a name of your choice.  The
best trader in your league will win a $100 cash prize.  
 
NOTE: there is a limit of one cash prize per portfolio.
 
The only people NOT allowed to enter are financial professionals.
Personal investors, students, professors and all others are 
welcome.
 
The cost to enter is $49.95 + $5.00 shipping.  if after receiving
the complete contest package you decide, for any reason, not to
participate in the Wall Street Investment Challenge and you have
not made any trades in your account, simply return the package
before December 1, 1992.  Your registration fee, less the shipping
charge, will be immediately refunded to you.
 
For a free informational brochure or to register, call 
1-800-964-6463.  When asked where you heard about the contest,
please give them my name (Joe Jurczyk) or say ("the rep from
Oberlin College").

Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: wouk@alumni.cs.colorado.edu (Arthur Wouk)
Subject: Re: Inheritance exemption to be reduced to $200K??!!
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 04:28:46 GMT

In article <1992Oct8.143638.14548@news2.cis.umn.edu> schnepf@myria.cs.umn.edu (James A. Schnepf) writes:

>
>In addition, if I happen to work for the Federal government, I don't
>have to pay in at all since I have a separate retirement fund I pay
>into (After all, it wouldn't be fair for me to pay into two retirement
>funds would it?). 
>


not true at all. there was a major revision of the federal pension
system during the mid 80s. anyone hired on since about 1985 ( give or
take a year or so) must go under social security. those before
whatever that date was had to make a decision to choose between the
old system and the new one, which was much closer to the type of
pension system which is common at least in the universities and
certain parts of industry (management that is.) it mixed social
security with a defined benefit component much less favorable than the
previous system and a defined contribution component which was to
be invested among a group of options.  the new system was preferable
for those with a reasonably long period to retirement, and those
people did the calculation and moved over. the original system was
preferable for people who were close to retirement (i forget the brake
even point) and those did not switch over.

within about 5 years i would guess that almost all federal employees
will be paying fica.


-- 
arthur wouk 
internet: wouk@alumni.cs.colorado.edu
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: cthorne@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Charles E Thorne)
Subject: Re: treasuries
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 18:58:16 GMT

In article <92275.032411LEWCU@CUNYVM.BITNET> <LEWCU@CUNYVM.BITNET> writes:
>1)  I would like to know what is the process of buying treasuries
>    directly from a fed reserve bank.  I live in N.Y. There was a
>    Barron's article a few years ago and the procedure seems simple.
>    Is there a long wait.  Has anyone tried doin it by mail?  What
>    are 3 months, 2 yrs, 5 yrs, and 7 yrs goin for?

You can buy directly from the New York office of the Federal Reserve. 
I'd call them and get their exact requirements.  If you want a 90 day
T bill, you just send them a check for $10,000.  You will get the interest
rate which is an average of the "big" bidders.  They'll send you the
T-bill and a check for the interest.  In 90 days you can either cash it
or send it in for another one.  I imagine they mail them out within a
day or two of the auction.

>3)  Savings bonds - I know these will be dumb questions.
>    From what i read, you dont receive interest until you cash them in.
>    Lets say u have a 100 dollar bond which u probably bought for 50.
>    It will double in 12 years.  There are other factors but if u redeem
>    it before 12 u don't get the 100?  What about after 12.  Do they start
>    paying you real interest after that?

They're also sold at a discount.  The interest rate used to be fixed but
now it isn't.  There is a minimum interest and they can tell you how long
it would take for it to mature.  It will continue to earn interest after
that at the going rate.  The early rate is not quite as high, but after
about a year, they pay the market rate (by their definition) until you cash
it.

Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: skrenta@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Rich Skrenta)
Subject: Getting a merchant visa account
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 19:26:29 GMT

[ I asked this over in misc.entrepeneurs, but there are more questions
  there than answers. ]

Briefly:  how I can get a merchant Visa account?  My local bank has
said "No".  They claim that only businesses with "store fronts" can
get them.  Can anyone suggest banks which would be willing to deal
with a small business run out of the home?

Is it problematic to bill someone regularly through a credit card?
For example, my health club took a swipe when I signed up, and charges
my credit card monthly for the price of the membership.  This seems like
an ideal way to bill people for subscriber services, since they don't
have to fill out and mail in a check each month.  Is this something that
a standard merchant Visa account allows, or is some sort of special
approval necessary to do this?

Any and all advice appreciated.  Thanks.

--
Rich Skrenta
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: jsosa@encore.com (Joe Sosa)
Subject: Re: Mutual funds with no-fee IRAs
Reply-To: jsosa@encore.com (Joe Sosa)
Organization: Encore Computer Corp
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 13:01:42 GMT
News-Software: NN 6.4.16
Keywords: IRA, mutual funds, fees

In <5b9ea36d.1b2f0@digital.sps.mot.com> chen@digital.sps.mot.com (Jinfu Chen) writes:

| I believe Janus also has no annual fee for IRA **IF** you pay them $100 (or
| $500?) one time fee.
| 
It's $100, I real deal if you ask me considering they have no-load funds.

Joe Sosa
From: chedley@carthago.intel.com (CHEDLEY_AOURIRI)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: Will '92 be anything like '76?
Date: 17 Oct 92 00:43:44 GMT
Reply-To: chedley@carthago.intel.com (CHEDLEY_AOURIRI)
Organization: Intel-Corp,_Hillsboro,_Oregon

In article <1992Oct14.124100.3168@lut.ac.uk>, C.V.Copas@lut.ac.uk writes:
|> Re the US election, and presuming a democrat win, I'm wondering what we can
|> learn from the Carter victory of the 70's. It seems to me that there are a 
|> number of parallels, ie, a situation of recession, and disillusionment with the
|> outgoing republican. How did the markets react back then (referring to both
|> equities and the dollar exchange rate)? Are the differences of '92 (eg, lower
|> inflation) likely to be significant?

Yes, the differences are very significant. Consider:

-- The huge debt overhang of both the public sector (goverment) and the
   private sector (companies and households)

-- The deflationary trend in the economy

-- The bursting of the real-estate bubble

..CHEDLEY..
..!{uunet|tektronix|ogicse}!littlei!chedley    chedley@carthago.intel.com     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard Disclaim: The above statements and opinions are strictly mine,
and do not represent any company or organization's position.
......................................................................

Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: rperry@bbn.com (Richard A. Perry)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Investment Foreclosure - Can they take personal property too?
Date: 12 Oct 1992 14:26:25 GMT
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com
Keywords: Foreclosure.


Article posted for a friend.  Please reply directly to newsgroup
as he doesn't have access.
Thank you,
Rich.

-------------------------------

Investors,

I have a question and I would like some feedback on.  I have a property
(investment) in one state and I have another property (personal) in 
another state.  The investment property has become a burden on me and I
can no longer afford the negative.  The investment property is in my
name only (mortgage & deed).  The personal property is in my wife's and I
name.    My question is this:
 
Can foreclosure of the investment property by the mortgage company give
them the right to go after my personal property?  By that I mean, Can they
force the foreclosure of the personal property to cover there loss or are
they only able to put a lien on it? How can I protect myself?
What can I do to minimize the damage on my credit?
 
The investment property has been on the market for 6 months and not one 
showing.  The list price is already $20k below what I bought it for. 

Thanking you in advance,
 
John
Organization: Doctoral student, English, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 14:11:00 -0400 
From: Joel Bloch <jb6k+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Zweig

In defense of Zweig, I think he feels that it is impossible to predict
long-term market trends; that you should be responding to what the
market is actually doing and not what you think the market may do in
future. As far as getting stopped out, he feels that the key to market
is to maintain a discipline so that if your stocks are going down, you
should get out at a set price regardless of what the market is doing or
what you may think the stock will eventually do. There are always other
stocks and he will add new stocks if he feels the market warrants it.
The point is to discipline yourself not to fall in love with a stock.
----------------
From: suhre@meltami.dsd.trw.com (Maurice E. Suhre)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: Companies buying back their own shares
Date: 9 Oct 92 00:31:02 GMT
Organization: TRW, INC.

In article <1992Oct08.171058.11772@eng.umd.edu> anth@eng.umd.edu (Anthony G. Bradford) writes:
>
>When companies buy back their own shares is this always considered a
>good sign??

No.  But I'll explain :-)  The "bad sign" view is that the management
can't think of any more productive use of their surplus capital than to
buy back their own shares.  Not develop new products, expand markets,
make profitable acquisitions, etc.

The other side is that management recognizes that the market has
seriously underpriced their stock and this is really a good investment.

Take your pick :-)
-- 
Maurice Suhre
suhre@trwrb.dsd.trw.com
From: lwest@futserv.austin.ibm.com (Lynn West)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: safe money report
Date: 7 Oct 92 21:56:09 GMT
Organization: IBM Coporation - Advanced Workstations Division.

In article <BvD31p.5KL@news.larc.nasa.gov>, erlebach@fluke.icase.edu
(Gordon Erlebacher) writes:

> Does anyone have any opinions on Irving Weiss, veteran of Wall Street and
> creator of the Safe Money Report?
> 
> He advocates that the market will probably crash in the next year, following
> the elections, and that one should sell all stock?  Does anyone believe this?
> It is clear that stocks are overvalued, but will the market actually really
> crash?  And how bad will it be?
> 
>      Gordon

I have been following markets pretty closely for about seven years. 
During that time, one would be hard pressed to find a single week in
which some guru did not suggest that the market would soon crash, and
similarly another guru predicting that it would soon experience a fairly
healthy rise.  Most of the people who have made great wealth in the
stock market, I am told, do not believe anyone can accurately "time" the
market.

Lynn West
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: hicks@anakin.nrl.navy.mil (Bernie Hicks)
Subject: Re: Depression (Was: Income & Wealth & A Light!)
Organization: Naval Research Lab, Washington, DC
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 13:56:50 GMT

Regarding the current economic crisis, I remember in the depths
of my history training that one of the Greek philosophers (I
forget whether it was Socrates or Plato) predicted that 
democracy would never survive in the long run.  To wit, he said
that as soon as the masses discovered that they could use the
power of the vote to raid the public treasury and bestow 
virtually unlimited benefits upon themselves, then the seeds of
national bankruptcy were sown and it would only take time for
the nation to collapse. 

I'd love to look up the original reference.  Are there any
classics scholars out there who might know where to look?  Even
more apropos, does this look like what's happening today?
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: mikec@scripps.edu (Mike A Christensen)
Subject: Re: Mutual funds with no-fee IRAs
Keywords: IRA, mutual funds, fees
Organization: The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 16:56:09 GMT

In article <5b9ea36d.1b2f0@digital.sps.mot.com> chen@digital.sps.mot.com (Jinfu Chen) writes:
>
>GT Global's funds don't have any annual fee for IRA.  However, their funds
>have heavy front-end load (7.5%).

Check the numbers in their prospectus or the newspaper, the load is 4.75% (for
purchases under $100K).

Mike Christensen
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: pub@riscee.pko.dec.com (Publius)
Subject: Re: Federal Reserve: 'monetizing' debt
Keywords: monetization of debt, open market operations
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard MA
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 19:55:08 GMT

In article <23855@optima.cs.arizona.edu> bakken@cs.arizona.edu (Dave Bakken) writes:
>On a related note, what is stopping the US government from just
>printing checks (or some similar mechanism) to pay off its
>huge debt?  This would be tantamount to printing lotsa money,
>and would gut the doller and cause lotsa inflation, but is
>there any (non-political) reason that they couldn't just do this
>or some similar variant?  Just curious...

Well, this is because we have the separation of the fiscal authority
(Treasury Department of the US government) and the monetary authority
(Federal Reserve Board).  Only the greenback from the Federal Reserve
is recognized as the only legal tender of both public and private debts.
The Treasury Department has to pay its bills and service its debt,
including its debt held by the the Federal Reserve, by raising money
from the tax payers or the credit market.  It does not have the
legal authority to print money, period.  If the law is changed to
give that authority to the Treasury, there will be immediate loss of
confidence in the greenback and the Treasury bond, and the immediate
collapse of the world financial market as we know it.  So, that is
not really an option ...

As far as Federal Reserve's open market operation is concerned, it
does not reduce the debt burden of the Treasury.  Whether the open
market operation can increase the money supply really depends on
the ability of the banking system to loan out the money and the
availability of willing and qualified borrowers.  If the banks can't
find willing and qualified borrowers, they probabily will simply
use that money to bid up the price of the Treasury debt, and what
you will see is the drop in market interest rate but little increase
in money supply.

Regards,
-- 
-- Publius
Disclaimer: These opinions are mine, all mine, mine alone.
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
From: shawn@grok90.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM (Shawn Shealy)
Subject: house buy simple questions
Organization: NCR Corp., Columbia SC
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 14:12:18 GMT

A couple of simple questions:

- What rules governing MLS access?  Is it against some regulation
	for an agent to give out a copy of the MLS?

- What rules govern defaulting on a mortgage?  In particular, what
	determines when someone has defaulted if they were previously
	paying off the mortgage at an accelerated rate (paying more
	than the required amount or more often than required)?

Thanks in advance!
From: jfox@hooksett.East.Sun.COM (John Fox - SunExpress IR)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: financing land purchace
Date: 8 Oct 92 13:05:53 GMT
Reply-To: jfox@hooksett.East.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: hooksett.east.sun.com

In article 143530007@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM, duanej@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Duane Jacobson) writes:
>
>A few questions on financing the purchace of bare land ...
>
>1. I imagine that the interest rate on a loan for land is higher
>   than for a mortgage on a primary residence.  What is the typical
>   spread between the two (or what is the rate today for a loan
>   to buy land only)?
The spread varies, but is generally a point or 2 higher. I've never seen
fixed, long-term programs for land. Generally 1-3 year variables...
>
>2. Do lenders issue 30-year loans for land, or do they usually
>   require a shorter term?
I've anywhere from 10-30, but always variable rates.
Usually you need much more down than with a house. 30-50 percent is not
unusual. I've also seen minimum mortgage amounts, as small mortgages just
aren't cost effective.

>
>3. How do the closing costs differ (if at all) from those associated
>   with a home mortgage?
Pretty much the same.

>
>4. Does it make a difference to the lender if I am buying the land
>   as an investment, or as a building site, or for some other purpose.
>   Will they be more reluctant to issue the loan under some particular
>   cirumstances?
They may ask. I'd tell them it's for a primary residence. They may get a
little leary otherwise.


John
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
From: clak@calvin.edu (Kelly James Clark)
Subject: Driggs, ID
Organization: Calvin College
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 13:26:14 GMT

Any thoughts on the future of real estate in Driggs, ID?  Driggs is
across the pass from Jackson Hole, WY and has fantastic views of the Tetons.
Jackson Hole prices have skyrocketed which makes Idaho look like a relative 
bargain.  Any advice on purchasing land there?

Kelly James Clark
clak@calvin.edu (Internet)
From: aaron@iscp.Bellcore.COM
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Tax Certificate Sale
Date: 8 Oct 92 19:50:23 GMT
Reply-To: aaron@iscp.Bellcore.COM
Organization: Bell Communications Research (Bellcore)

I was reading about tax certificate sales.  Does anyone have any advice
for how to select a certificate that has sensible risk/potential for
being profitable?  How does the presence or absence of a bank with a
lein figure into the equation?

Thanks,

-- 

aaron@iscp.bellcore.com