Stock Market is the bottom in?

[Jerry-B-WI]

Our country for the most part has become soft and lazy. Gonna be hard to get back on track especially with all of the technology that creates lazy people. Times are different for sure. It used to be that people would honor verbal contracts and a handshake meant something. Those days are gone in my opinion. The vast majority of today's youth has no idea what hard work is.

Technology hasn't created any lazy people. Technology was created to replace people.

 

[Jerry-B-WI]

Just spent a few minutes with google to see what pay and expenses are in China. Basically seems like most wages and expenses may be 1/4 or less of that in the USA. Tho....it has been rising faster than the USA.

Information Technology

Scientific research and technical services

Financial activities

Health care and social work

Supply of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning

Culture, sports and entertainment

Education

Transportation, logistics and storage

Mining and quarrying

Wholesale and retail trade

Leasing and business services

Manufacturing

Construction

Water, sewerage and waste management

Fishing, agriculture and forestry

Accommodation and food

https://wagecentre.com/work/work-in-asia-and-oceania/salary-in-china. <------- Edit: The copy and paste was all screwed up. Do a search and read some interesting data here:

AVERAGE SALARY IN CHINA BY INDUSTRY*​

Simply because we're not a developing nation.

 

[Jerry-B-WI]

Anyone else remember the products that were labeled “made in Japan” from back in the 50’s. At that time most Japanese products were cheap, easily broken and absolute junk. How about some of those early model Datsun and Toyota pickup trucks and cars? Horrible products that the paint would fall off and there’d be rusting out after a year of service. But, Japanese quality programs changed things immensely and in the 80’s and 90’s began showing our auto industry (for example) how they could build great products. I think the same can be said for China with just a bit more time. The USA has been sucking hind tit since these times……and unless we take some drastic actions we will continue our path to the bottom. MAGA

EDIT: In the 1970's I worked for a company called Elixir Industries that made and sold a wide range of products to the Recreational Vehicle and manufactured housing markets. In my part of the world....we sold nearly all that galvanized roofing that would go on the early model mobile homes. We also imported a number of other products. Millions of pounds annually of 30 gauge galvanized roofing (with a G90 coating no less). We would bring barge loads of large steel coils that originated at National Steel in Japan.....and we would roll-form it and assemble 3' wide panels into a single roof sheet all rolled up. I think American made steel was about 25% higher at that time.....and we were the low-cost supplier. So many things were going off shore in those times and beyond.....all due to lower wages, benefits, insurance, power costs, and regulation. Also.....the USA labor didn't have enough people to do all that needed to be done. At the same time the Information and digital age was upon us......and as said.....the US chose the digital revolution. Likely a smart play in those times......but as always.....we went too far.

I retired 3 years ago and probably 3-4 years before that we were buying components from China that were equal in quality to the ones we used to make ourselves, and the company was looking at buying the next size up in our product line.

 

[Jerry-B-WI]

Do you hold any stocks?

I can't imagine any retirement fund/account that wouldn't hold stocks, domestic and foreign.

 

[Turkish]

I can't imagine any retirement fund/account that wouldn't hold stocks, domestic and foreign.

Or course. My point was, if you’re poo-pooing the fact that companies may look for low cost suppliers in order to provide shareholder value …. And you’re a shareholder, then the company isn’t necessarily the problem.

I’m part of the same hypocrisy.

 

[wooduck]

I can't imagine any retirement fund/account that wouldn't hold stocks, domestic and foreign.

Dont own any retirement accounts ,, been dollar cost averaging for 30 plus years and still hold some of the orginals , No taxes on gains same as a 401 but no restrictions on sale time ,, i always assumed the retirement accounts were a slight ponzie scam ,,, eventually the tax man is going to look at that big pile they have their fingers in and want more , just too much wealth there not to claim more over the whole ira deal,,

 

[Foggy47]

Dont own any retirement accounts ,, been dollar cost averaging for 30 plus years and still hold some of the orginals , No taxes on gains same as a 401 but no restrictions on sale time ,, i always assumed the retirement accounts were a slight ponzie scam ,,, eventually the tax man is going to look at that big pile they have their fingers in and want more , just too much wealth there not to claim more over the whole ira deal,,

We have limited our IRA holdings for this reason.....and have shifted some to Roth over time. Under "current tax regulations" The Roth $ can be held from one generation to the next without paying the tax man....or withdrawing those $. But you never know when the laws will change and you goose gets cooked. Happened to too many other methods over time. Freaking democrats find another source to tax and spend your hard earned money...one way or the other. We also have nearly all our assets in a trust which will provide some benefits on our demise. ....done our share of planning over time.

I retired over 20 years ago. We've spent 20+ years now giving forward to our family via gifting, college educations, and generation skipping methods. We also contribute a petty good amount to our chosen charities each year. My kids future is pretty solid...and they will do the same for their kids / grandkids....and charities. Gratifying. I do not know how we could have done more without causing mega tax issues. We certainly work on it...even now.

Still, we have lived a very good life (despite failing more times than I can count...and been knocked to my knees more than I care to admit) ...and while we still do not always eat fillet mignon and I have never tasted cavier'.....there is little that we could want for.....other than a thirdy point buck....and a warm bed each nite. I suppose we could drive Mercedes, BMW, or a Jaguar....and such....but that is not who we are. We are quite blessed...and remind ourselves each day: "We are the lucky ones"....tho our time is running out. God Bless A"Merica....and hard work and the free enterprise system. MAGA

 

[bwoods11]

Dont own any retirement accounts ,, been dollar cost averaging for 30 plus years and still hold some of the orginals , No taxes on gains same as a 401 but no restrictions on sale time ,, i always assumed the retirement accounts were a slight ponzie scam ,,, eventually the tax man is going to look at that big pile they have their fingers in and want more , just too much wealth there not to claim more over the whole ira deal,,

I agree on the non Roth IRA … I’m limited to X on my contributions, it’s a joke.

My Apple stock will generate such a large tax bill if I sold it — I just won’t sell —so dang it Tim Apple (keep the company alive and quit relying on China so much)

I put a good amount of $$ in non qualified accounts with the goal of accumulating enough $$ to just live off the dividends. Hopefully that strategy will work over time !

 

[Westwind]

We need to put tariffs on everything coming and going from California next. IDIOT TAX. jmo

Too late. Many have already escaped.

 

[buckvelvet]

I put a good amount of $$ in non qualified accounts with the goal of accumulating enough $$ to just live off the dividends. Hopefully that strategy will work over time !

If a large portion of $$ like yours is put on stuff like ZIM, CVI, & ET, man it sure would think like your dividend pay outs will be large.

 

[jsasker007]

Too late. Many have already escaped.

Escaped is the perfect term for it.

 

[Bill]

My Apple stock will generate such a large tax bill if I sold it

Sounds like my Lockheed stock. I've had some for over 18 years and layered more on over the years. Uncle Sam would love me to sell but I ain't doing it.....Well I may start a little at time.

 

[OakSeeds]

Sounds like my Lockheed stock. I've had some for over 18 years and layered more on over the years. Uncle Sam would love me to sell but I ain't doing it.....Well I may start a little at time.

Well done my friend .... QCDs or tax liability averaging; the opposite of dollar cost averaging are a couple of options to lower your tax liability in comparison to a big dump (obviously, you know all that) ... would be nice if DJT lowered the cap. gains rate instead of the corporate rate so you could benefit; however, with the GOP now comprised of a greater number of middle class folks (including lunch bucket brethren) I wouldn't be surprised to see some movement to actually increase the tax load on passive income in the not to distant future. If the cuts benefit mainly the wealthy, the GOP might lose enough voters to change the intended outcome of many of the close races. Your problem - while a nice problem - can be tricky to navigate. Recently, more folks with mutual fund retirement accounts have investigated the Roth option while taxes are relatively low, compared to historical levels, as a tax strategy.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

The paperwork from the 70 country line begging for tariff deals must be on Pam bondi’s desk next to the Epstein files
Trump needs a slump buster. Can we just strike a deal with like Botswana just to get on the board

 

[Westwind]

^^^Don’t forget the shocking new revelations in the Kennedy assassination files.

 

[PatinPA]

If a large portion of $$ like yours is put on stuff like ZIM, CVI, & ET, man it sure would think like your dividend pay outs will be large.

Pretty sure CVI ended their dividend just an FYI.

 

[bwoods11]

The paperwork from the 70 country line begging for tariff deals must be on Pam bondi’s desk next to the Epstein files
Trump needs a slump buster. Can we just strike a deal with like Botswana just to get on the board

It sometimes takes a year to get a trade deal, lots of paperwork. It appears we have a base agreement with Japan .

Israel & Australia should all be easy, no real tariffs present.

The EU is a big one that are in the discussion phase.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

It sometimes takes a year to get a trade deal, lots of paperwork. It appears we have a base agreement with Japan .

Israel & Australia should all be easy, no real tariffs present.

The EU is a big one that are in the discussion phase.

I hope it’s going better than it appears

https://archive.is/AMfV4

 

[jsasker007]

I just had a company ask me if I'd try some of their welding wire from INDIA to see if it's as good as the wire we've been getting from them that comes from CHINA. Told them we would gladly try it out and let them know what we think of the India wire. They sent out a roll for us to try and it seems to be every bit as good as the China wire. Hopefully that works out and the prices are competitive. It would give me great satisfaction to buy from India if they can compete. Sent them a message a little while ago and waiting to see what they think the price will be. China might just have lost a good sized market there if word catches on. Maybe China thinks they more leverage than they really do?

 

[buckvelvet]

Pretty sure CVI ended their dividend just an FYI.

Yeah they suspended it, not sure how long it will last on the suspension or if its considered permanent.