What I have learned today [2015/4/11]

 
1. According to Nicholas Megalis, one of the most popular vine artists, vines take a lot of effort to make and many do not even see the light of day....I thought that vines where just simply made and posted but it turns out that it requires tremendous effort and creativity. Say good bye to living off simply shooting short videos and expecting to live off vine.

2. Small cap premium may not be so strong. Damodaran discusses how the small capital premium is not as big or robust as it seems. Yet investors and analysts are slow to abandon the idea due to mmm....inertia and bias. Well, more trading opportunities for me :D


3. According to a human resource survey, Tuesday is the most productive day. Monday, you have the Monday effect and likely to have bunch of meetings. Tuesdays, you can really do work. Wednesday, you can still do work. Thursday and Friday? Well, weekend is just around the corner so...

4. An email is a binding contract. I guess it is written and get verified so...better be more careful with email.

5. According to a survey by UBS, wealthy clients thinks that an individual has to have at least $5 million and $1 million in cash to be "wealthy." I think five million is enough for you to lead a comfortable life even if some disastrous event happens. Assuming a conservative 3% return on your wealth, you make $150,000 which is enough for a decent life. Also, one million cold cash can be either used for emergency or to make killing when there is blood on the streets (e.g. financial crisis).


*From Snapshot Serengeti

What I have learned today [2015/4/6]

1. Let the body set the flow. Thinking too much hinders playing music. Researchers find that children may be able to learn music faster because their prefrontal cortex has not been fully developed yet, enabling the motor and visual parts to learn the music more efficiently. This explains why I am so bad at music....part of it at least.


2. Audit firm partnership have rotating boards comprised of partners and partners share the profits according to the ownership stake. Wow, partnerships do really seem like a good deal with skin in the game and active monitoring.


3. Use credit card balance transfers wisely for free financing. Make sure you don't miss a payment because your interest rate will skyrocket. I suggest that you don't max out your balance transfer but transfer the amount that you can pay off during the promotional period. This way you save on interest payment and avoid the potential spike in the interest rate.

Still a busy week, I will try to upload what I have learned today before I go to bed :D

Please share what you have learned today ^^

What I have learned today [2015/4/5]

Man...yesterday was busy due to deadlines but I did manage to learn some new things :D


1. Ants travel more efficiently by going at a constant speed and not overtaking each other. Well, we actually kind of knew this...everyone just abided by the laws, traffic would be much better but it is those people who drive like they are in Fast and Furious just screw the system. Today, I saw a car stop in a middle of a 4 way intersection. Wow...thank God nobody crashed.

Ohh by the way, traffic will be worse in 30 years with more people driving. Time to raise gas prices, car prices, build public transportation, and sharing rides...

2. CA coming back to senses about the impending water crisis. It is great that people are starting to save water but really? People from other countries saved water since well...quite a long time. But it is great that people are realizing that water is not cheap and without water Cali is screwed. Now would people please stop buying bottled water....

3. Pension footnotes are really difficult to comprehend. I felt like I was being punished for whatever sins I have committed...actually, it is just mostly convoluted accounting and let's-give-you-a-headache disclosure.

4. Jesus died for our sins and resurrected because He had no sin. I have learned that this is true grace. God sacrificing His own son to save us all. I knew this fact with my head but now I know it with my heart more :D

What I have learned today [2015/4/1]

1. There is a great variance in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler's pay. The range can vary from basic $50K to 1mil+. Is this a fair pay? Well, I can't really tell but WWE mentions injuries and lawsuits related to brain injuries in its 10-K's risk factors. So it is definitely a dangerous job...

2. Tania Head claimed to be a 9/11 survivor and defrauded 9/11 victims and practically everyone. Her fraud was only discovered when NYT did some fact checking. Wow...talk about wanting attention...The lesson here is that trust but always verify, verify, and verify.

3. I have learned that my Homedics massager has a nice lower back routine!! Wow, it only took six months to realize and only by accident...

4. I have learned that trash really travels far and often recycled trash is sent to China as China lacks natural resources. Also, I have learned that recycling is heavily affected by prices (of course)...and if the recycled materials are too expensive then buyers won't buy and the recycler will not recycle. For instance, plastic is not being as recycled as much due to the low price of oil! (talk about unintended consequences...sigh). 

5. From the Book of Revelations, I have learned that Jesus has great plans for us at the end of the world. We will worship God and give Him praise. We don't know everything but just being able to be closer to God and being in His presence is exciting and awesome ^^ Jesus, we know that we have a lot of things to do before You return. Please give us the strength and wisdom to accelerate Your return. Let us not be lazy but a good and faithful servant. Thank You and we love You :D


*From Snapshot Serengeti

What I have learned today [2014/3/31]

Another busy day but thank You God for giving me another beautiful day.

1. Enhance your speech for better outcomes. Get a deeper voice and speak clearly with not much agitation.

2. Before the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, stock exchanges had somewhat strict disclosure standards but they were rarely enforced. Yup, we need some regulation but not too much.

3. Discover Card has great customer service. They picked up my call, were cordial, and resolved my problem.

4. MyHabit.com, run by Amazon has great deals. Well, I shopped at MyHabit.com before but while I was shopping today, I realized wow, the products have been consistently getting better.

5. Book prices on Amazon drop pretty quickly! Whoa!

6. Putin may suffer a blow  in 2016 given his recent failures with Ukraine and the Russian economy. Well, time to think about investing in Russia. It is the cheapest BRIC by the way  :D

7. Reading the Genesis, I have learned that Jacob really worked hard under Laban yet God blessed Jacob so much!



*From Snapshot Serengeti

What I have learned today [2015/3/31]

1. I have learned the mosquitos are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale.

2. I have learned that Yale Endowment model is not for everyone. Yes, every endowment should create its own model.

3. I have learned that Korea Investment Company is trying to invest in LA Dodgers, which is really a bad investment given that sport teams are not really a good investment. Remember, most teams are owned by billionaires as passion/hobby, not investment purposes. Remember, the most important investing lesson is never lose money, never lose money, and never lose money. Why is Korea Investment Company investing in LA Dodgers? Because everyone loves sports and probably one of the managers want to get box tickets....a classical agency problem...

4. McDonalds has come up with a cloth line in Sweden. Ok, this is either a brilliant PR campaign or someone at the top has lost it, or McDonalds is being super innovative by venturing to untested areas by pilot programs.
 
5. Today, I have learned that Daniel the prophet from the bible used control experiments to prove his point (Daniel 1, 12-15)
 
[Experiment: Treatment and control group]

Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

[Experiment: Results]

¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 

[Policy Recommendation]

¹⁶ So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

Whoa! Daniel was so wise and soooo ahead of his time ^^

All wisdom comes from God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2, 6)

 

6. Jesus loves us so much that even before the end, He wants people to repent and receive His love and grace. Book of Revelations is scary but if you read it carefully, you also realize how much God loves us and want us to repent and come under His grace.




*From Snapshot Serengeti

Please share in the comments what you have learned today ^^

What I have learned today [2015/3/29]

1. Don't let email control you! Check email in given time slots to be more productive. Be proactive not reactive. Don't let email dictate your day.

2. Read the related party transactions in financial statements to see if there are funny things going on in the company. Footnoted creator, Michelle Leder advises investors to read the footnotes and also pay attention to weird management perks.

3.I have learned that coins have ridges because criminals used to shave gold/silver coins and sold those shavings. Ridges prevented criminals from shaving the coins. Well, since coins do not contain precious coins anymore, the mint can save money by not having ridges?

4. I have realized that I should workout more because my muscles are shrinking like a deflating balloon...Need more discipline.

5. I have realized to change one soul, we really need to love with all our heart and body. That means really caring about that person by serving and praying. We need to spend more time with the individual, and be concerned about him just as Jesus has loved us.

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27).



*From Snapshot Serengeti

What I have learned today [2015/3/28]

Another hectic day, and here are today's lessons

1. Conferences are mainly for networking and presenters benefit the most from feedback. The rest of us get back cramps, sleepy legs, and fat for sitting for so long. But the food was good :D

2. We still don't know much. Research has uncovered a lot in finance yet there are so many unanswered questions. Including...investor psychology, types of CEO compensations, and trade-marks.

3. I don't understand media companies....I missed out on a lot of media and cable companies, which were recommended by famous investors. I did not invest in them because I did not understand them and I still don't....Well, I am following Warren Buffet's advice on staying in the circle of competence. But I think I should try to at least understand those companies better.

4. You can create art using hydrophobic chemicals. Basically, create art using hydrophobic chemicals and then the art appears when the surface becomes wet. Pretty Clever! Check out rain.works.

5. I learned that there are a lot of pain in this world and many souls in dark. We must all push ourselves to be more loving as Jesus has commanded as to love one another ^^ Let us over flow with love.

PS
Many things I knew before but only with my head...not with my heart. Also, a lot of stuff, I had it in my head but never sank in deep. Thank You Jesus for Your wisdom.


*From Snapshot Serengeti

What have I learned today [2015/3/27]

Today was an interesting day with lot of work done and some learning :D

So here is what I have learned today.

1. Use your early hours (the precious few hours after you start your day) wisely. Plan your day instead of replying to emails and being reactive. This will ensure that you maximize your productivity and get things done [From Harvard Business Review Ideacast]

2. Compustat data has issues...if you are a financial researcher, you would know this but I realized one more time, with my friend....

3. Class Action  suits. You will be punished for omitted material information but you will be ok if you had subjective belief. Basically, if you thought your firm will do well despite challenging material facts, you will be fine. However, if you do not disclose those challenging material facts then you will be punished [From Bloomberg Law]

4. Learned that USC Tennis is really good. Wow, actually, it is the best in the US. Go Trojans!

5. I have learned that Jesus really wants us to pray and pray hard because often our hearts are hardened...and this drains love and joy in our lives. So I learned that we should really pray so we can guard our hearts and become the light and the salt of this world :D

What have I learned today [2015/3/26]

I used to write what I have learned today in my diaries but then I sort of got lazy and forgot. Well, I would like to bring back that decision by starting my "What have I learned today?"

Yes, this will force me to be more effective also crush my ego. No, I am kidding, I actually enjoy this sessions.

So here are some interesting things that I have learned today.

1. IPO underwriters can use the due diligence and reliance defenses when sued. Basically, due diligence defense states that they did a reasonable job checking and the reliance defense blames the experts.

2. I have learned that auditors get sued a lot but we never know what happens. I think they mostly settle.

3. Gold mining stocks are still going down and I have entered to early!! Ahhh...I think I will cut my losses. Remember, you can make up your losses later, stop the hemorrhage.

4. I have learned that chow mein is only about 500KCAL but gives me overwhelming energy to do pull ups like crazy :D Yes, when I really wanted to work out really hard in college, I would eat a Big Mac and go straight to the gym.

5. I have experienced the praying brings more blessing than you can imagine ^ ^


*From the Milky Way Project

****Please share what you have learned today :D****