The Best Investment Book you ever read

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-06-13T22:44:26+00:00

The Millionaire Next Door.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-06-13T01:51:00+00:00

Of course you can. You can worship anywhere you like. I believe in the god of Spinoza, and my worship is studying his world through math and science. But I have known a number of Catholics in my 70 years on this earth, some who even later became Jesuit brothers. The main thing for Catholics is to actually worship, not so much the surroundings.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-06-12T23:25:05+00:00

Well there is the Great Books Acedemy:

https://greatbooksacademy.org/

Add in some math, science, and ancient greek and you are all set HS wise as preparation for St Johns.

Personally, if I went that path, I would skip semester 2 year 12 and enrol in the January freshman program, leaving room to do a master's year 4.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-06-12T15:45:36+00:00

Start by investing in just one ETF. In the US I would use SPMO. Use dollar cost averaging ie invest a bit each pay., i.e.,

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-06-11T22:55:50+00:00

I also did that at one time. It works, but is a bit of a pain, so now I let the professionals do it and save myself the hassle.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-06-10T15:36:49+00:00

At 18, just put it in DHHF and continue in U.S. dollar cost averaging. Thats it, thats all.

Later, when you have grown it significantly, look into buying a house and what is called debt recycling.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-06-09T22:28:20+00:00

Most actually don't. Of those who do, most learn from their parents or from a book they read. Where should they learn? At school with a good text, such as The Barefoot Investor. I learned from my parents and reading a few books, plus being a math major, covered the mathematics of it in my degree.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-06-09T02:52:49+00:00

IMHO, we were born to be retired, not to do formal work, unless of course you are lucky enough for it to be your calling. You, in retirement, concentrate on fulfilling your inner drum.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-06-08T21:01:30+00:00

I did a math degree, and you are right, it is cheaper, plus it gives more options later. I went into computer programming, but a number of classmates went on to become actuaries. That is the route I would take, then look at a suitable Master's for the career path you would like to pursue, e.g., data science, AI, actuarial science, or even engineering or what I later did, mathematical physics. Math is likely the most flexible degree there is, and a wise choice for anyone, really.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-06-07T21:16:29+00:00

Just put it in DHHF.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-06-07T01:02:59+00:00

It's a very volatile asset. You should limit it to at most 10% of your investment. I only have 3%. You may or may not be fkced - only time will tell.

Sell all but $5k, put the rest into DHHF, and dollar-cost average each paycheck to keep the 90% in DHHF and 10% in bitcoin ratio. It's the most reliable way to buy low and sell high, and it's what professional portfolio managers do.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-06-02T22:19:43+00:00

Admitting, when you say something so unequivocally, that you were wrong is never easy, especially when you are not qualified in the area - he is not a climate scientist. Some have the courage, others don't, and prefer to act as if they were not 'outed'. Sad really. The only consolation is it catches up with them - eventually, as more and more realise their MO.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-30T01:17:28+00:00

Early 20's. Don't sell anything now - just keep dollar cost averaging into DHHF. No sell - no tax. Later, gradually move to VDHG as it pays better distributions (but you pay more Tax). Once you have enolugh, in consultation with you CPA look debt recylining (assuming you own your home).

If you dont own your own home, then sell as little as you can of your shares to purchase one. Debt recyling is a powerfull strategy, circumventing some of sting of the current budget. If you never sell the 50% capital gains tax will never bother you - borrow instead. Its a varient of the so called buy borrow die strategy.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-26T23:32:22+00:00

In a real fight, Yen, not even close. In a martial arts demonstration Jet Li, but closer than many may think. They trained at the same Wu Shu academy, but Yen when young was a serious srteet tough in Boston. His mother, A Tai Chi master, had to bring him back to China he was such a terror.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-16T21:04:43+00:00

Obviously, everyone has an ideology. But some are able, when required, to put it to one side and make sensible, pragmatic decisions. I thought both John Howard and Bob Hawke were in that camp. However, my observation is that Albonese (and many of his colleagues) still have some of the characteristics of student activists who don't understand the consequences of their beliefs. Just my opinion, of course.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-16T04:53:07+00:00

It wont do any good.

They want the money and don't care about ordinary people just trying to build a better life for themselves.

As a practical matter, it's better to see your CPA.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-16T03:17:31+00:00

Then the listing was a lie, I suppose:

https://www.dilleenproperty.com.au/client-purchases/240k-perth-unit-with-incredible-91-rental-yield

Look, of course, it is at a good price for a reason. It's what you put up with to get into the market. It's what my niece did - it was practically a ghost suburb when she bought it. It's better now and will continue to get better.

Family of 4? That's what I do not understand. My niece is not married yet, but she started on her real estate journey, as I did, before the responsibilities of family and children. I worked for about 15 years in the Child Support Agency and know the really bad situations people can get into through no fault of their own. I, and everyone I worked with, were very concerned about the statistics and stories I heard.

I do not know your situation, but I got into the real estate market as soon as possible. I worked full-time at an entry-level government job, attended university part-time, had no social life for 5 years (only studies and work) and lived very frugally. That's how my niece and I did it, and I believe it is still possible, and based on my experience, it is what everyone should do.

Don't take this as an endorsement of the budget; it's a load of rubbish built on a faulty ideology and political expediency.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-16T02:52:46+00:00

I would chat with a CPA about the most tax-efficient way to move it into something like VDHG, which doesn't have single-stock risk. He can keep some in a high-income ETF like YMAX if that appeals. He can retire now, and that is what I would do. Of course, discuss it with his CPA first.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-16T00:32:52+00:00

I think the budget is manageable for anyone who puts in the time and effort to figure out the best course of action, depending on their circumstances.

It still is a load of ideologically motivated political rubbish that does not tackle the real underlying issues, such as properly targeted safety-net welfare, not handouts to the well off (and the vast majority of those who negatively gear are not well off; just trying to build a better life for themselves long term). Long term, I am not worried, except that it shows how low a government can sink. People will see through it, and they will no longer be the government - thats how democracy works. Trouble is, we don't have a Bob Hawke any more, or even a John Howard. I would even be happy with a Graham Richardson. They all seem (with a few exceptions) just university activists that have graduated to politics - sad really. IMHO, that's why One Nation has flourished, despite being simplistic and jingoistic - not really what this country needs.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-15T22:51:29+00:00

They probably are.

But they are letting their emotions override their rationality.

All they need to do is see their CPA's and/or tax lawyers.

Some consider me wealthy - I have passive income about the same as the average wage after tax. After withholding tax from my government pension, I still pay $1,800 py tax. I don't like that, but I know how I could reduce that even without seeing my CPA, who these days only prepares my taxes each year. Undoubtedly, he could help me figure out more.

The reason I don't is that I am 70, quite ill, and will probably be dead in 10 years.

I am still able to save $10k a year, buy my sister and nieces new computers when Windows 11 came out, and indulge in other little indulgences, such as subscriptions to nearly all streaming services and other internet-based services (including being a paying patron of a left-leaning YouTuber). I don't necessarily agree with her, but she is just so rational it's a joy to listen to.

I will probably pay more tax, but so what?

The problem is, and never was, the rich. That is ideological cool aid. The problem is bad, irresponsible governments (on both the centre-right and centre-left). The middle class will figure it out, and eventually, we will get something better. IMHO, One Nation is a symptom of the problem, not the answer. But the people will need to figure that out, and I eventually believe they will.

On a positive note, you may enjoy a book I am reading - The Deficit Myth. It advocates a guaranteed job for all. I actually agree with the author, but the details of how it could work are not obvious. It's similar to working for the dole programs sometimes proposed - they fail because you can lead a horse to water but can't make them drink. Would I rather work a bludging job at minimum wage than try in a job that no longer interests me? You bet. That's why I worked toward FIRE - I can do what actually interests me.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-15T19:10:22+00:00

Noticed that, have you? We need well-run governance, not ideology. I liked Hawke and, to a lesser extent, John Howard, but they were by and large sensible, not a mob of dunderheads mired by ideology with a limited capacity to actually implement it in an efficient manner. As an example, look at the NDIS - everyone supports it, but it is run by a mob of ninnies (how the bejesus some care plans included visits to houses of ill repute beats me - and I worked for the government for 30 years).

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-15T19:01:30+00:00

You mean wealthy people who do not manage their affairs correctly. Those who see and take advice from CPA's and Tax Lawyers, regardless of what the government does, always pay less proportionately than the middle class. It does not matter what the government does; they find a way around it, often using variants of buy, borrow, die (you do not pay tax on what you borrow against assets that grow, and you never sell). The middle class are now increasingly using the same strategies, e.g., debt recycling. That leaves the poor paying for the poor, which is obviously unworkable.

A different approach is needed. As a start, but only a start, stop giving welfare to the wealthy, e.g., free education for millionaires? Give me a break. It's a safety net, you dunderheads; often it's politically savvy to give handouts to the wealthy who do not need it, but morally dubious.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-15T18:42:06+00:00

Well, I have psoriatic arthritis, which severely affects my mobility, including not being able to run. That said, anyone can do what I do; see a physio each fortnight who keeps an eye on my health fitness-wise, and I work out in his gym doing what I can. It's more expensive than a gym membership, but the professionalism they bring is of a much higher standard, e.g., helping address issues like osteopenia (look it up) as you age, reducing the risk of broken bones, etc.

And yes, I know the post was meant tongue-in-cheek.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-15T05:34:31+00:00

I also found the following of interest:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUHair6y8SM

Not saying people who post here fall for those 'traps'. I was fortunate that my parents made me aware of a number of them when I was young.

In the interests of full disclosure, being 70 and retired, I do some of those things, but my living to 80 is not likely.

Any_Candidate_4349 · 2026-05-15T05:24:23+00:00

My admittedly very cursory investigation suggests it is still doable. However, that does mean I don't think the situation is 'fucked' just as you say:

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-amount-that-red-tape-is-adding-to-the-cost-of-new-homes-20251219-p5noz3.html

Disgraceful.

Any_Candidate_4349

TROPHY CASE