Entries marked as 'Columns'

Thumbnail

The Imprudent Child

Billy is about to receive a large inheritance, but he isn’t good with money. A trust can help, as explained in this 1990 column.

Read more...

Thumbnail

Letter to a Grandson

Dear Henry, At your christening the other day, I told a story that I asked your godparents to repeat to you at the right time. A Miss Gresham of Richmond Virginia, who was a friend of the family, once described for me the christening of her father, in about 1870. During the ceremony, General Robert […]

Read more...

Thumbnail

Visiting Harvard

I graduated from Harvard College in 1950, and can probably say that if it weren’t for the buildings, an old grad of my vintage would not recognize the place today.

Read more...

Thumbnail

How Real Are The Deficits?

In the old days in the investment business when you were studying a company you would sometimes send a young fellow out back of the factory with a clicker to count the widgets emerging to be shipped. Easy enough to check production. Quite different now!

Read more...

Thumbnail

The Shortest Possible Course in Reading a Financial Statement

To invest sensibly you need to understand what the company is trying to tell you in its financial statement. Though the elements are fairly simple, I observe that many of my clients have trouble reading one. So here is a simple guide to help get started.

Read more...

Thumbnail

Protect Yourself Against Yourself

Column in Forbes explains two ways to protect ourselves when we aren’t able to handle our financial affairs.

Read more...

Thumbnail

The Case for Studying the Classics

In school the subjects you learn are less important than developing character and learning how to think. Working your way through classical texts forces you to be accurate in a way not required in any other study except math.

Read more...

Thumbnail

Twelve Choruses of a Market Cycle

Major market cycles have a life of their own, like the ups and downs of a manic depressive patient. The choruses sung at each stage are not based on objective data. They are just rationalizations.

Read more...

Thumbnail

C. Northcote Parkinson – An Appreciation

Few management philosophers have combined so much wit and wisdom, and none was as charming, as Professor C. Northcote Parkinson.

Read more...

.