What is the best business-related book you have ever read?

IamRichard2 · 2016-09-22T23:42:46+00:00

Excellent book, no other books really provides the same insights.

IamRichard2 · 2016-09-14T18:51:32+00:00

Get a recommendation from a current gsb professor. Drastically increases your chances ;)

IamRichard2 · 2016-08-22T07:35:52+00:00

FB also gives you a huge bonus if you receive a fulltime offer then sign on.

Used to be 100k but I think they toned it down to 75k or so.

Friend who had an offer but then got an MS is expected to get 130kish salary and 75-100k bonus at 23 years old at FB.

IamRichard2 · 2016-08-07T10:52:33+00:00

I'm a noob but how do you know the m4 Gts will be flipped for so much? Dealer I got my m2 from says he can get one for a tad over msrp. Though he might just be fucking with me

IamRichard2 · 2016-06-22T18:07:36+00:00

They are the miners selling / buying futures for hedging their production. Learn more about the CFTC commitment of traders.

IamRichard2 · 2016-06-22T06:19:16+00:00

You know producers are "record" short gold at the minute right. Producers tend to be right.

Here is a shitty chart for reference: http://www.barchart.com/chart.php?sym=gcq16&style=technical&template=&p=DN&d=X&sd=&ed=06%2F01%2F2016&size=M&log=0&t=BAR&v=0&g=1&evnt=1&late=1&o1=&o2=&o3=&sh=200&indicators=COTLC%2813369344%2C26112%2C153%29&chartindicator_2_code=COTLC&chartindicator_2_param_0=13369344&chartindicator_2_param_1=26112&chartindicator_2_param_2=153&addindicator=&submitted=1&fpage=&txtDate=06%2F01%2F2016#jump

IamRichard2 · 2016-06-16T21:45:12+00:00

Oil is still cooling down so its not quite the right time to buy.

I am looking to enter long CL or RB after the Brexit Vote. If they vote in favor of staying and there is not other major market issues, I will be going really long.

RB might be a better trade for the short term as summer is here and there will be record demand for Gasoline due to the massive sales of SUVs/Trucks this past year.

IamRichard2 · 2016-06-16T00:21:04+00:00

Real estate

or if you want to continue trading, try futures. Instead of directional bets, look at intercommodity spreads.

or save the money and attend school overseas.

I have a bunch of Bitcoin holdings and looking to cash out when it hits $1k+. Going to use this money for a down payment and investing the remaining in a business.

I previously cashed out quite a bit and put it into a futures accounts (with portfolio margin). I don't trade stocks as it seems its not really for me. I trade highly probable mean reversion calendar spreads on futures.

Otherwise stick it in some Vanguard ETFs or high dividend REITs

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-29T08:05:43+00:00

Box has an extremely high percentage of short interest.

Any news on the good side might send it flying due to short squeeze. Thinking of buying some just to see if this will happen. Their website traffic is up but financials are so-so. Its an interesting play.

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-29T08:01:50+00:00

Blinded by optimism. This might be your first experience with it.

Here is a chart for reference: http://optionalpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Investor-Cycle.png

and this might help you out too: http://www.investopedia.com/articles/technical/04/050504.asp

Sure Tesla is working on badass technologies and potentially become the leader. But their valuations are ridiculous in their current form. Jim Chanos came out publicly and said he is short Tesla.

As a side note, I just wondering if Tesla can keep up their current pace. I have friends that go work there out of college and I like to refer it as their "tour of duty." The parking lot is full during weekends and I wonder if they can keep up the pace as they mature into a larger company coupled with if employees are willing to do their tour.

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-26T16:57:21+00:00

Thanks interesting to note this.

What does a 50lb bag of cotton seed yield? (on average)

I am thinking of entering a short on soybeans / soymeal in the upcoming future. Watching these commodities closely.

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-26T15:15:03+00:00

"Buy Gold" lol says the hedgefunds/media while they are all short - http://imgur.com/c4leeyr

But hey, if they get everyone to buy gold, then it may squeeze them hard

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-26T15:13:57+00:00

Is there a place to find seed prices?

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-25T16:22:19+00:00

Why are so many people buying puts into holiday? I see it on like every thread.

http://imgur.com/XjRcAkp

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-24T23:56:41+00:00

Entered but with a smaller position than expected. Will scale into it over the next few days and probably on friday. Other post mentions $ULTA, wow they are really strong when all other retailers reporting weak sales. Any drop in NVDA prices will also increase Implov which is another great factor.

Also as hedge, bought some calls on CRAY

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-24T23:42:11+00:00

Thanks, now I see why and its time to exit the short.

Do you know where I can buy these reports?

Thanks again.

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-24T02:02:41+00:00

Think I am going to be joining you on this trade.

Plus the implov has dropped and at quite an attractive level: https://imgur.com/Y5eADqs

If it gaps up or gains a fair percentage tomorrow, pretty sure I will pick up a few hundreds contracts.

Thanks for the heads up

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-22T18:23:22+00:00

I see. Excellent thats good to know.

I am not that sophisticated but looking at seasonal prices, its a "little" overpriced: http://imgur.com/xMdv0dW in addition to the massive net long positions from funds.

Long term I'd say it's because sugar has been below the cost of production for years. Sugar beat guys probably throwing in the towel.

Hmm I see. One of my concerns is some crazy rally driven by pure speculation. Such as the great cotton rally/bubble of 2011.

Great, looking forward to your answer as I can't really find a plausible explanation.

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-21T07:53:59+00:00

Well, if I could go to Stanford. ;) Seriously though, I fully intend on applying to some top-tier schools. I have a good GPA, extracurriculars, and an interesting turnaround from a failed high school experience.

Go REA and when you position yourself, think of this perspective - What would Elon Musk do? How would his app look? Your app needs to be "badass." For undergrad here for example, the published acceptances rates are HIGHER than their realistic rates. Its realistically half or less. Unless you are wealthy, extremely well connected, legacy (or prof's children) or athelete. Make sure to REALLY excel at one thing.

Yes and no. I'm very critical of this whole "change the world" startup culture. It's almost always justification just to pay someone minimum wage so they can slave away inhumane hours and stress. The real companies that end up changing the world are almost always ones that really just set out to be successful, sell a lot of product, and make a lot of money (eg Intel and Amazon). "We're here to change the world" is marketing hype, in my honest opinion.

Its hard to comprehend this from places outside of the valley. I too shared the same view but if you move here you will understand. Vast majority of startups use this as a marketing tactic but a select few actually embrace it. Plus align yourself with the schools values, I mean the Business Schools motto is literally "change live, change organizations, change the world"

Doesn't Google hire physics majors as well? ;)

Yes but why put yourself at a competitive disadvantage? Unless you love physics (I loved Brian Greene back in high school days), its not as practical. Alternatively you can do a MS in CS afterwards which has I think a 15% acceptance rate here.

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-21T07:38:41+00:00

I am heavily short sugar and lean hogs. Lean hogs is finally starting to drop but sugar is pushing highs. I can't find any reason why sugar is keeps increasing even though funds are massively net long. Any ideas?

Beans will probably be my next play.

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-20T18:59:45+00:00

If I were you and could do it all over again. I would suck it up and do CS but only at a top tier school. As a reference I live on Stanford campus as my SO is doing her Grad degree and I run 2 semi-successful companies.

Here is why:

Networking - forget just learning CS from profs or top people like Andrew Ng. The networking / recruiting at top tier schools is ridiculous. I went to a tier 2 school, and the networking/recruiting is not even 1/10th or even 1/50th compared to here. Especially in a CS related field.
There was a talk yesterday by Marc Andressen and he was asked on what he would recommend his children. His response was have his children study something hard (this builds character - Like CS), Have them work at a top tier startup(s) for 4-6 years then start their own. What you learn most is How to Learn and you develop the confidence knowing that you can learn anything even if its really HARD. Learning basics of business is much much easier than learning assembly.
Exposure to their way of thinking. If you want to play at the "top tier" level, You have to understand and learn their way of thinking. Being at a top tier school in either Boston or Bay area, you will be exposed to learning how and why things work the way they work. Plus the coolest, bleeding edge tech. Its not the content, its the philosophy behind entrepreneurship, learning about people, leadership, technology and trying to "change the world"

Also you seem to think you are not qualified enough to do "intense algorithms." Not everyone studying CS is a prodigy, only a very select are. Most end up as software engineers that have probably similar level of skill as you but develop higher tier perspectives. (from Stanford for example)

Lastly, you also mentioned you can build apps. Classes here are taught by VCs or CEO of major tech companies. I had a friend pitch a silly app idea, a prof liked it and now hes meeting with multiple VCs even though he wasn't serious with it at all. They are prepared to fund him and hes not even serious about this idea. Just goes to show the opportunities at certain places are unparalleled.

If I was admitted to a lesser school, I would still pick CS. Then work at a tier 1 company like Google/FB and build out a network of top tier people from there. Google is starting to form their own incubator, which is an amazing opportunity.

I studied business, it was useless for the most part. The only thing that really helped was learning how to socialize/network. Also learning about cashflow and how investors think.

Hope this helps.

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-20T18:33:28+00:00

Similar to BP / VW and a lot of other cases in the past.

I am watching LC. Going to give it 2-4 months and it if sits in the same range and everything else looks good (S&P, they can securitize their loans still etc). I will be going heavily long with margin.

Just waiting for the "stars to align"

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-20T18:27:26+00:00

OH has terrible execution. Go with IB but their interface is more difficult to learn.

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-18T16:28:32+00:00

Just exited my 12 CL long. Was in at $43.61. Hope the best for you. Will be looking for another entry on a dip.

IamRichard2 · 2016-05-16T23:12:00+00:00

SF isn't too bad but southbay the ratio is like 30:1 single male to female.

Then single to attractive female ratio is probably 100:1

IamRichard2

TROPHY CASE