ValueSide

For most of us, COVID feels like a thousand years ago. Vague memories of lockdowns, social distancing, and mask-wearing haunt our memories. Something we would as soon forget. However, for the financial world, the lingering effects of COVID remain very real, impacting our finances daily.

For most of us, COVID feels like a thousand years ago. Vague memories of lockdowns, social distancing, and mask-wearing haunt our memories. Something we would as soon forget. However, for the financial world, the lingering effects of COVID remain very real, impacting our finances daily.

For most of us, COVID feels like a thousand years ago. Vague memories of lockdowns, social distancing, and mask-wearing haunt our memories. Something we would as soon forget. However, for the financial world, the lingering effects of COVID remain very real, impacting our finances daily.

For most of us, COVID feels like a thousand years ago. Vague memories of lockdowns, social distancing, and mask-wearing haunt our memories. Something we would as soon forget. However, for the financial world, the lingering effects of COVID remain very real, impacting our finances daily.

Some of your actions have confused me lately. Three times, I've voted for “Trump for President,” and I thought I had a pretty good idea of your finances. However, recently, it's become apparent that you may be experiencing some financial difficulties and are compelled to take up some part-time work.

Some of your actions have confused me lately. Three times, I've voted for “Trump for President,” and I thought I had a pretty good idea of your finances. However, recently, it's become apparent that you may be experiencing some financial difficulties and are compelled to take up some part-time work.

Some of your actions have confused me lately. Three times, I've voted for “Trump for President,” and I thought I had a pretty good idea of your finances. However, recently, it's become apparent that you may be experiencing some financial difficulties and are compelled to take up some part-time work.

Some of your actions have confused me lately. Three times, I've voted for “Trump for President,” and I thought I had a pretty good idea of your finances. However, recently, it's become apparent that you may be experiencing some financial difficulties and are compelled to take up some part-time work.

Over the weekend, Treasury Secretary Bessent and President Trump suggested that the solution to Walmart's higher prices is simply to have Walmart pay for the new tariffs.

Over the weekend, Treasury Secretary Bessent and President Trump suggested that the solution to Walmart's higher prices is simply to have Walmart pay for the new tariffs.

Over the weekend, Treasury Secretary Bessent and President Trump suggested that the solution to Walmart's higher prices is simply to have Walmart pay for the new tariffs.

Over the weekend, Treasury Secretary Bessent and President Trump suggested that the solution to Walmart's higher prices is simply to have Walmart pay for the new tariffs.

We are the world champions in consumption, mainly due to an outstanding group of retailers that serve our every need. Names like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot provide us with the goods and products that are the envy of the world.

We are the world champions in consumption, mainly due to an outstanding group of retailers that serve our every need. Names like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot provide us with the goods and products that are the envy of the world.

We are the world champions in consumption, mainly due to an outstanding group of retailers that serve our every need. Names like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot provide us with the goods and products that are the envy of the world.

We are the world champions in consumption, mainly due to an outstanding group of retailers that serve our every need. Names like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot provide us with the goods and products that are the envy of the world.

However, for many, life comes with a different perspective, a unique way of seeing things. For the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, all that came into focus yesterday, May 8. The College of Cardinals elected a new Pope, Pope Leo XIV.

However, for many, life comes with a different perspective, a unique way of seeing things. For the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, all that came into focus yesterday, May 8. The College of Cardinals elected a new Pope, Pope Leo XIV.

However, for many, life comes with a different perspective, a unique way of seeing things. For the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, all that came into focus yesterday, May 8. The College of Cardinals elected a new Pope, Pope Leo XIV.

However, for many, life comes with a different perspective, a unique way of seeing things. For the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, all that came into focus yesterday, May 8. The College of Cardinals elected a new Pope, Pope Leo XIV.

It's been a month since “Liberation Day,” the day that President Donald J. Trump announced that we would emerge from the oppression of foreign manufacturing. For years, the President declared, we've been “ripped off” by the Chinese and others who have moved American jobs to their shores, producing the goods and products that you and I consume daily.

It's been a month since “Liberation Day,” the day that President Donald J. Trump announced that we would emerge from the oppression of foreign manufacturing. For years, the President declared, we've been “ripped off” by the Chinese and others who have moved American jobs to their shores, producing the goods and products that you and I consume daily.

It's been a month since “Liberation Day,” the day that President Donald J. Trump announced that we would emerge from the oppression of foreign manufacturing. For years, the President declared, we've been “ripped off” by the Chinese and others who have moved American jobs to their shores, producing the goods and products that you and I consume daily.

It's been a month since “Liberation Day,” the day that President Donald J. Trump announced that we would emerge from the oppression of foreign manufacturing. For years, the President declared, we've been “ripped off” by the Chinese and others who have moved American jobs to their shores, producing the goods and products that you and I consume daily.

Relatively few investors are day traders, yet most of the technical market indicators are computed daily. This leads to a very myopic perspective — it's like driving a car with a microscope. You'll eventually see the oncoming traffic, but it may be after you crash.

Relatively few investors are day traders, yet most of the technical market indicators are computed daily. This leads to a very myopic perspective — it's like driving a car with a microscope. You'll eventually see the oncoming traffic, but it may be after you crash.

Relatively few investors are day traders, yet most of the technical market indicators are computed daily. This leads to a very myopic perspective — it's like driving a car with a microscope. You'll eventually see the oncoming traffic, but it may be after you crash.

Relatively few investors are day traders, yet most of the technical market indicators are computed daily. This leads to a very myopic perspective — it's like driving a car with a microscope. You'll eventually see the oncoming traffic, but it may be after you crash.

For over half a century, China has produced items that American consumers want to buy, from early, inexpensive toys and gadgets to today's high-tech personal computers, smartphones, and advanced equipment and machinery.

For over half a century, China has produced items that American consumers want to buy, from early, inexpensive toys and gadgets to today's high-tech personal computers, smartphones, and advanced equipment and machinery.

For over half a century, China has produced items that American consumers want to buy, from early, inexpensive toys and gadgets to today's high-tech personal computers, smartphones, and advanced equipment and machinery.  

For over half a century, China has produced items that American consumers want to buy, from early, inexpensive toys and gadgets to today's high-tech personal computers, smartphones, and advanced equipment and machinery.

For over a millennium, the Chinese Merchant has been the most revered and feared force in the Far East. They are revered for their wide array of trade goods and products, but feared as agents of control and subjection. Throughout Southeast Asia, China exerted its political control over countries like Korea and Vietnam by first using humble Merchants to infiltrate each society.

For over a millennium, the Chinese Merchant has been the most revered and feared force in the Far East. They are revered for their wide array of trade goods and products, but feared as agents of control and subjection. Throughout Southeast Asia, China exerted its political control over countries like Korea and Vietnam by first using humble Merchants to infiltrate each society.

For over a millennium, the Chinese Merchant has been the most revered and feared force in the Far East. They are revered for their wide array of trade goods and products, but feared as agents of control and subjection. Throughout Southeast Asia, China exerted its political control over countries like Korea and Vietnam by first using humble Merchants to infiltrate each society.

For over a millennium, the Chinese Merchant has been the most revered and feared force in the Far East. They are revered for their wide array of trade goods and products, but feared as agents of control and subjection. Throughout Southeast Asia, China exerted its political control over countries like Korea and Vietnam by first using humble Merchants to infiltrate each society.

What is apparent is that the price of many of the products and goods we rely on will have substantially higher costs, resulting from increasing tariffs. Or, in the most extreme cases, it may not be available at all. Potential shortages should be our primary focus.

What is apparent is that the price of many of the products and goods we rely on will have substantially higher costs, resulting from increasing tariffs. Or, in the most extreme cases, it may not be available at all. Potential shortages should be our primary focus.

What is apparent is that the price of many of the products and goods we rely on will have substantially higher costs, resulting from increasing tariffs. Or, in the most extreme cases, it may not be available at all. Potential shortages should be our primary focus.

What is apparent is that the price of many of the products and goods we rely on will have substantially higher costs, resulting from increasing tariffs. Or, in the most extreme cases, it may not be available at all. Potential shortages should be our primary focus.

It's easy for Investment outsiders to underestimate the pressure to perform on Wall Street. From the largest Mutual or Hedge Fund Manager (with the greatest AUM) to the lowest regional Stock Broker, the demand to produce solid returns year after year is intense. It's the reason many financial professionals hang up their careers prematurely.

It's easy for Investment outsiders to underestimate the pressure to perform on Wall Street. From the largest Mutual or Hedge Fund Manager (with the greatest AUM) to the lowest regional Stock Broker, the demand to produce solid returns year after year is intense. It's the reason many financial professionals hang up their careers prematurely.

Investors' concern is palpable. This week, stocks declined sharply, especially after Wednesday's rollout of President Trump's Tariff Program. The decline in the NASDAQ Index has been especially pronounced, which, up to now, has been leading the markets to higher prices. However, a careful review of this index shows that this week was merely the exclamation point of an ongoing decline.

Investors' concern is palpable. This week, stocks declined sharply, especially after the roll-out of President Trump's Tariff Program on Wednesday. Especially pronounced has been the decline in the NASDAQ Index, which, up to now, has been leading the markets to higher prices. But a careful review of this Index shows that this week was merely the exclamation point of what has been an ongoing decline.

Investors' concern is palpable. This week, stocks declined sharply, especially after the rollout of President Trump's Tariff Program on Wednesday. Especially pronounced has been the decline in the NASDAQ Index, which, up to now, has been leading the markets to higher prices. But a careful review of this Index shows that this week was merely the exclamation point of what has been an ongoing decline.

On April 2, 2025, from the White House Rose Garden, President Donald Trump announced the third era of American Tariffs. It was a much-anticipated event, with the global financial world holding its collective breath. Seemingly, no one knew the details of these new taxes on imports.

On April 2, 2025, from the White House Rose Garden, President Donald Trump announced the third era of American Tariffs. It was a much-anticipated event, with the global financial world holding its collective breath. Seemingly, no one knew the details of these new taxes on imports.

For anyone who's ever had a bank loan, from a credit card to a home mortgage, you know the chill that runs up your spine at the mention of a phone call from your favorite bank lender. The thought that you've missed a payment, or even if you're late, brings in all the ramifications of a loss in credit score, or, even worse, a hefty penalty or, worst still, a foreclosure.

I first heard the term "Helicopter Money" in November 2002 when a trader friend of mine called and said, "Did you hear what that new guy on the Fed said last night? He said we should drop money, as if from a helicopter if we ever get as bad as the Japanese. LOL!"

On Wednesday, March 19, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee made its latest decision on interest rates: "Steady as she goes," said the Fed, a succinct decision that led to one of the shortest Fed statements in recent memory.

We started following Warren Buffett's cash position a year ago. At the time (the end of 2023), he had accumulated $163 Billion, an unheard-of sum. Many felt that the “Oracle from Omaha” had reached his limit, that he'd gone as far as he would. However, it turned out that Buffett had only just begun raising cash. By the end of 2024, Berkshire Hathaway's cash position had risen to $334 Billion—incredible!