Gubmints Personal Finance for Federal Employees, Veterans, and sometimes Everyone

Book Report: The Alternative Answer by Bob Rice

Book Review: The Alternative Answer: The Nontraditional Investments That Drive The World’s Best-Performing Portfolios by Bob Rice.

Bob is the Alternative Investments Editor for Bloomberg TV and is the Managing Partner of merchant bank Tangent Capital, and serves on boards of investment management firms with over $2 billion of ‘Alternative’ assets under management.

The Alternative Answer is divided into multiple sections:

The Alternative Manifesto
Major Alternative Strategies
Major Alternative Structures
Higher, Inflation-Protected Income (Job 1)
Broadening the Base for Risk Reduction (Job 2)
Long-Term Growth Enhancement (Job 3)
Purchasing Power Protection (Job 4)
Big Picture
At the Dealership
References/Glossary

Manifesto: There are four mandatory tasks for investments:

Job 1: Generate income that is greater than typical fixed income (bonds), with focus on income that rises with inflation.
Job 2: Reduce overall risk by diversifying broadly across different strategies and asset classes.
Job 3: Enhance long-term growth with opportunities that have more upside than traditional investments (stocks).
Job 4: Protect Purchasing Power from inflation, currency devaluation and panics.

(Continue reading…) →

GubMints Military to Civilian Career Advice (Part 2)

Now, some targeted advice for folks leaving the military and pursuing a Federal career. How do you find a gig with Uncle Sam?

The first thing I would look for is a Command/Agency with a positive working environment. This is a place where employees feel that they can make a difference and they are not just an insignificant cog in a machine trying to push against a rope. Small commands (or even small detachments of large commands) frequently fit in to this category- In a small command, standout performers are quickly recognized and non-performers have no place to hide. (Continue reading…) →

GubMints Military to Civilian Career Advice (Part 1)

It’s GubMints Mailbag time again! This time the topic is Making the Transition from Military to a Civilian/Federal Career. GubMints reader ‘Woop’ writes:

Sir,

I have been following your blog for a while and appreciate the time you take to distribute this information. I am… hitting my 6 year active duty mark this month in the Army. (I have an) undergrad degree … and I recently earned an M.S. degree in Engineering Management.

I… have been considering a transition to the NG or Reserves. Additionally, I would like to transition my skills into a federal job and pursue a federal retirement much the same as you. I have been on the USA jobs site looking at positions and I realize I don’t have a great understanding of the variety of positions or the process.

Did you utilize the site in your job search or is there a better way? I also have my concerns over seeking federal employment during the current federal financial situation as I have read your entries over the sequestration and possible furloughs. I have next to zero experience with federal jobs and would appreciate any advice you may have as I consider making the leap.

Thanks again,

‘Woop’.

Woop - Thanks for Reading GubMints!

My response is long, but distinguished. It’s going to take multiple posts- For the First Post, here’s some generic career search advice that can apply to just about anyone.

A job hunt is a lot like fishing- There are many ways to catch a fish. (Continue reading…) →

If Buying a New TV was like Purchasing HealthCare...

[RANT]

Health Care rationing is in everyone’s future- The only question is whether or not the rationing will come via nationalized/socialized medicine (a “Single Payer” system like Medicare), or if the health care rationing will come via self-discipline (Consumer-Driven or High Deductible Health Plans).

I’ve read a few decent books touting the virtues of High Deductible Health Plans with Health Savings Accounts. The first book is “Skin in the Game” by McKesson CEO Paul Hammergren. Hammergren’s key point is that there is zero transparency in true health care costs under the current system, and that consumers have no ‘skin in the game’ unless they are on a high-deductible health plan or consumer-Driven health plan. (Continue reading…) →

GubMints

Book Report: The Alternative Answer by Bob Rice

GubMints Military to Civilian Career Advice (Part 2)

GubMints Military to Civilian Career Advice (Part 1)

If Buying a New TV was like Purchasing HealthCare...

Subscribe

Recent Posts

_

BogRoll

GubMints Topics