Posted on 03/02/2008 10:35:00 AM PST by MeanGreen2008
Yes, I understand this to a small degree. And I know I need to get a portfolio started. Just not sure who to trust to get me started.
As I said in an earlier post, Exxon makes about .10 profit per gallon of gas, your state and federal governments make about .40-.50 per gallon.
If you mean that Exxon might make an extra penny or two per gallon when they can, then yes they influence the price of a gallon of gas. The WORLD MARKET decides the price of a barrel of oil.
Here endeth the lesson.
Ah well I’m happy to recommend Ameriprise Financial Advisors, tho I do suggest you choose one you find trustworthy after speaking in person with them.
One rule - never ever agree to a per trade fee or anything other than 1%-2% of total assets per year for all services (so called wrap fee). That pretty much ensures you will not be fleeced by your advisor (tho you may lose money in the market). To get started, go to www.investopaedia.com and read about investing 101 and retirement accts, like ROTH and traditional IRA. That way as you go see an investment advisor you’ll be relatively comfortable speaking about your options.
Index funds (such as S&P 500 index funds) are very cheap and conservative investments. When you get more comfortable and have built up reasonable portfolio (20-30k) you can start looking into allocations into more interesting things.
The complexity and sheer size of the system precludes any possibility of collusion. Not to mention the very high state of fear of lawsuits. You would not believe what we have to go through when consulting for the oil industry in order to ensure compliance with federal and state anti-trust requirements.
What makes you think our economy is ‘sinking’ ?
The declining dollar and the high fuel costs are beginning to take its toll.
Actually I think it’s the oil company that dictates the price that the store sells the fuel at the pump.
LOL... Ooook.
FYI, the declining dollar makes our goods and services more competitive with others, ie, is stimulative to the economy.
High fuel costs are negative, however, the economy of the US is far more energy efficient than it has been in the past. Almost 3x more than in the 70s and the energy cost vs the GDP is almost at the all time low.
Another fun fact - the US *manufactures* 25% of the worldwide manufacturing output as measured in the value of manufactured goods. More than the next 3 nations combined. More than Japan, China and Germany put together. That has not changed since the 70s. And we’re far more energy efficient these days.
In geopolitics/related macroeconomics, perception is *NOT* reality, nor is the reality shaped by perception. Perceptions sooner or later meet reality, not the other way around. The fact is that our economy is the largest and most vibrant and diversified economy on the planet. All the negative doomsday thinking won’t make it otherwise.
ROFL well ready my earlier posts on this thread regarding this completely mythological view of the energy supply chain.
At present I commute around 100 miles one way to get to work. I've had to find an inexpensive living arrangement near where I work to cut down on costs, but riding a bicycle to work on Monday, and home on Friday would just be too much to ask of me. My next option is to move closer to where I work, and I'm working on that. Unfortunately, because the area around where I work is not a good location to live, moving down here will probably end up meaning driving more miles per week than what I currently do.
The selling price to the station owner is set before it reaches the pump, and gas stations tend to price their existing inventory high enough to pay for the inventory that's on its way, with a (meager) profit margin built in. That's not the same thing as the distributor "setting" the price at the pump, which would be illegal unless the distributor also owns the station.
I’ll check to see if Ameriprise is on the list of approved TSA’s for the company I work for. I need to get some investments going, and soon. Thanks for the tips regarding per trade fees and the internet site. I’ll check it out and then look for an investment company.
Believe me I understand! Not to mention living closer may cost more. Housing may be more expensive.
Actually, housing is less expensive in some areas closer to where I work, than where I live. I work near the Sacramento Metro area, and the housing market here has taken a real beating on the foreclosures. Thus, it has become a buyer’s market (for those who can afford to buy a home).
Erm... what’s wrong with the stock market ?
DOW Jones is up 50% in last 5 years (that’s including the recent decline from 14000 to 12500).
Energy costs are NOT out of control at all. They’re right for the current market conditions. If the economy slows down they will fall. Since when is a recession a bad thing ? Recessions make economies more efficient.
There are two views regarding economy in general that people often confuse. The larger, strategic view, and the smaller, tactical, current quarter/year view. Usually everyone talks about the small tactical view because it directly affects their lives, and that in turn is perception they get from the media and/or their own personal financial state. Then, those views are projected onto the strategic level without realisation, and then we arrive at the ‘our economy is sinking’ and ‘we’re all doomed’ etc.
Our economy is ROCK SOLID and heavily diversified, and is the pillar of the world economic system. It goes through business cycles which go up and down. The down cycles make it more efficient (as wasteful/inefficient activities/companies are eliminated) and enables the next cycle of expansion.
High energy costs impose high efficiency standards on companies. Some will be able to do it, some won’t. Those that can’t will be replaced by those who can, and then the remaining ones (or the new ones that came in to replace the older, inefficient ones) will proceed to do very well (even better) in the future.
Only if they own the local gas station; otherwise that would be illegal. They can only determine the price the station can buy it at - the wholesale price. The owner of the station determines the retail price, subject to the obvious competition and supply/demand concerns.
No problem, happy to help. Honestly, there are number of larger companies providing personalized investment advisory services as well as 1000s of independent financial advisors that can fit your needs. Aside from Ameriprise (what I use for my personal finances), there’s Fidelity, JD Edwards, Prudential, and myriad others. As long as the fee is a wrap 1% to 2% annual, it’s all the same. They’ll all put you in a set of mutual funds depending on your goals and risk tolerance. Furthermore, they’ll help you plan for the future and help you understand what you can do and expect.
I think you are right!
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