In 2020 Shaperfunds generated a total return of 36.6% versus 17.88% for the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index with dividends included.  I made some colossal mistakes in 2020 and I’m not kicking myself. It was a difficult year personally and it was challenging providing financial advice when there was so much confusion and dissonance.  2020 […]

On this day in history, December 18th 1865, Slavery abolished in America with adoption of 13th amendment. Following its ratification by the requisite three-quarters of the states earlier in the month, the 13th Amendment is formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution, ensuring that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States, or […]

On this day in history, Millions stolen from JFK Airport in infamous ‘Lufthansa heist’ – On December 11, 1978 half a dozen masked robbers raided the Lufthansa Airlines cargo building at JFK Airport in New York, making off with more than $5 million in cash ($21 million in today’s dollars or 1,166 Bitcoin) and almost $1 […]

A large portion of my adult life is spent researching publicly traded securities. I’m a value investor in my free time and my profession is financial advice. While there are some great companies at reasonable valuations in this market, Bitcoin is the most exciting opportunity that I’m aware of. In 2017, I conflated cryptocurrencies with […]

Hello Friends, On this day in history, December 4th, 1907, Well-known psychiatrist W.H. Rivers presents his report The Repression of War Experience, based on his work at the Craiglockhart War Hospital for Neurasthenic Officers, to the Royal School of Medicine, on this day in 1917. Craiglockhart, near Edinburgh, was one of the most famous hospitals used […]

Happy Friday the 13th in 2020,  On this day in history, Wednesday, November 11th 1953, Indiana Textbook Commission member charges that Robin Hood is communist. In an example of the lengths to which the “Red Scare” in America is going, Mrs. Thomas J. White of the Indiana Textbook Commission calls for the removal of references to the […]

On this day in history, November 06, 1860 – Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th president of the United States over a deeply divided Democratic Party, becoming the first Republican to win the presidency. Lincoln received only 40 percent of the popular vote but handily defeated the three other candidates: Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, […]

Since I whined about performance on 08/25/20, I’ve had a pleasant bout of outperformance. In early September I had nearly hedged out all of my long exposure.  I ended September with a 4.75% return, compared with -3.92% for the Standard & Poor 500.  While I am happy I stuck to my guns, I think the […]

On this day in history, October 23rd 1981, the US National debt officially hits $1T. Remember when that used to be a lot of money? Today in history, the yield curve is back to the highest level since late March: Economic Data Today: News of the Day:   Stocks rally, Treasury yields hit highs on […]

On this day in History, October 9, 1967, socialist revolutionary and guerilla leader Che Guevara, age 39, is killed by the Bolivian army. The U.S.-military-backed Bolivian forces captured Guevara on October 8 while battling his band of guerillas in Bolivia and executed him the following day. His hands were cut off as proof of death […]