Author: RP

Past Returns Do Not Predict Future Performance – Not Even for Indexes

“Returns represent past performance, are not a guarantee of future performance, and are not indicative of any specific investment.” We’ve all seen these disclaimers a million times before. Most people who are financially savvy nod along when they hear this, and think they have fully internalized this. But in truth, most haven’t.  The majority of … Continue reading Past Returns Do Not Predict Future Performance – Not Even for Indexes →

Nonqualified Dividends – You’re Probably Paying Too Much in Taxes

Disclaimer: This discussion centers around American tax law. If you aren’t American and don’t live in America, you may not get much value out of this. Real talk. I thought I knew a lot about personal finance. I thought I knew everything I practically needed to know to minimize my tax bill as an average … Continue reading Nonqualified Dividends – You’re Probably Paying Too Much in Taxes →

How to Get Yourself Stuck in a Political Quagmire – Why Nothing Will Change after Tyre Nichols

If you haven't been living in a cave, you've likely heard recent news involving an innocent black man being brutally beaten to death by multiple police officers. As someone who supports greater oversight and accountability for police officers, let me make a prediction. Any bipartisan outrage that currently exists, will in time be replaced by … Continue reading How to Get Yourself Stuck in a Political Quagmire – Why Nothing Will Change after Tyre Nichols →

Don’t Get Triggered by Analogies – They are a Powerful Tool for Logical Reasoning

I was recently reading a book by US General McChrystal, and his experiences fighting the Al Qaeda terrorist insurgency in Iraq. In the book, he brought up something that I found particularly interesting. The world has become “flatter” and faster. People are more connected, more mobile, and move faster than ever before. These changes have … Continue reading Don’t Get Triggered by Analogies – They are a Powerful Tool for Logical Reasoning →

Buy vs Rent – Ignore the Rent on the House You’re Looking To Buy and Live In

Buying a house is a huge financial decision that will impact your life for over a decade. It is far too important to be left to folksy catch-phrases. If you’re debating whether to buy a house or continue renting, you should definitely spend some time looking into buy-vs-rent calculators, of which there are many: NerdwalletNYTimesRealtor … Continue reading Buy vs Rent – Ignore the Rent on the House You’re Looking To Buy and Live In →

Competition is Good, Cartels are Bad, and so too are Unions

As a lifelong liberal, I’m firmly of the opinion that America needs to do more to shore up its middle class. I’m strongly in favor of taxing the rich, cutting taxes on the middle class, increasing the EITC (or at the very least increasing the minimum wage), and beefing up social services such as public … Continue reading Competition is Good, Cartels are Bad, and so too are Unions →

Would you get Blood on your Hands to Save a Life?

I was recently debating a philosophical conundrum with some friends, when I realized that something that seemed morally obvious to me was actually considered abominable by others. Something that made me realize that our common understanding of morality may not be nearly as common as I had thought. Some tangential context that sets the stage. … Continue reading Would you get Blood on your Hands to Save a Life? →

The Fall of Afghanistan shows the Failure of Democracy

As we watch the shocking videos of Kabul falling to the Taliban, the seeds that led to this disaster become clear.  confidential effort on “Lessons Learned” conducted by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, an agency created by Congress, painted a devastating picture of corruption, incompetence, lack of motivation and other … Continue reading The Fall of Afghanistan shows the Failure of Democracy →

GaME On – Big Corporations are Harmful to the Free Market

In past articles, we have discussed how big-corporations, particularly in the financial industry, put at risk our economy and financial system. Recent events around Gamestop trading, have served as a perfect illustration of the risks and dangers inherent to Big Banks. Context: There has recently been a frenzy of trading activity in shares of Gamestop. … Continue reading GaME On – Big Corporations are Harmful to the Free Market →

Meritocracies Are Unfair – And That’s The point

When your father suffers a heart attack and needs emergency surgery, who would you rather have operating on him? An inspiring doctor who lost an arm in a tragic car accident, and still heroically manages to attain an average level of success as a surgeon?Or the son of a multimillionaire who has breezed through life … Continue reading Meritocracies Are Unfair – And That’s The point →

Both Parties Support Wealth Redistribution – They Just Disagree On Who Should Get It

Conventional opinion says that there are 2 main camps in American politics, when it comes to wealth redistribution. You have one camp that is opposed to wealth redistribution as a principle. They believe that economic policy should be designed to generate as much aggregate wealth as possible. And when it comes to distribution, let the … Continue reading Both Parties Support Wealth Redistribution – They Just Disagree On Who Should Get It →

A Radical Proposal for Legal Reform – Equal Representation

If you're a single-digit millionaire like Hulk Hogan, you have no effective access to our legal system.Peter Thiel If I didn't have some money, I would have no chance at all.OJ Simpson A patent troll is a company formed for only one purpose—to purchase patents and assert them broadly against real, productive companies. The point … Continue reading A Radical Proposal for Legal Reform – Equal Representation →

Quantifying Racial Segregation by State and City

I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.Martin Luther King Jr. One of the disappointing aspects of race discussions in the media today, is that they predominantly focus on anecdotes and sensational examples. Stories are wonderful at illustrating truths, … Continue reading Quantifying Racial Segregation by State and City →