Ask Rande 10,000+

Top 546. Nov 21, 2001 9:57 AM

» AmatY - Re: Re: Please Check My Math

In response to message posted by Rande:

Rande and Kirk - Thank you for your replys. I think that my sister will be ok with her plan. One thing that I did not mention, when she turns 65, she will start receiving a pension of $58,000 from the company that she worked for. I know that $58K may not be a whole lot in 17 years, but I think with her investment portfolio income, it should give her some extra insurance. Thanks again.

Amat Yolinda

-- posted by AmatY

Top 547. Nov 21, 2001 1:24 PM

» Rande - FINANCIAL TRIVIA TIME!

FINANCIAL TRIVIA TIME!

As we take a well-deserved break for Thanksgiving (Happy Thanksgiving!, the stock market resumes trading on Friday for a shortened session), test your knowledge:

1. What percentage of lottery players account for over half of all lottery sales?

2. What is the per capita annual spending on lottery tickets (in dollars) for high school dropouts?

3. What is the per capita annual spending on lottery tickets (in dollars) for college graduates?

4. What is the average number of credit cards the typical graduate student leaves school with?

5. Who works more hours per year, Japanese workers or American workers? How many more hours?

6. What percent of seniors over age 60 will experience poverty at some point?

7. In what year did Social Security issue its first official Social Security cards?

8. In what year did the Dow Jones Industrial Average first close above 5,000?

9. What percentage of investors describe themselves as "religious?"

10. Which is better: buy-and-hold or trying to time the market?

Okay, the last one was a trick question. smile Anyway, good luck! Answers and sources forthcoming. And, once again, have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

-- posted by Rande

Top 548. Nov 21, 2001 6:10 PM

» pjstack - Amat Yolinda's sister.

Amat, are you SURE your sister doesn't want to marry? I'm single and just happen to be looking for a gal with 1.6 million! Does a sincere interest in $1.6 Mil count as adequate qualification for a suitor? Just asking (hoping).

Happy Thanksgiving!

-- posted by pjstack

Top 549. Nov 21, 2001 7:34 PM

» Rande - Re: FINANCIAL TRIVIA TIME!

In response to message posted by Rande:

Not too many takers, eh? Okay....

1. What percentage of lottery players account for over half of all lottery sales? 5% (Ryan Sager)

2. What is the per capita annual spending on lottery tickets (in dollars) for high school dropouts? $334 (National Gambling Impact Study Commission)

3. What is the per capita annual spending on lottery tickets (in dollars) for college graduates? $86 (National Gambling Impact Study Commission)

4. What is the average number of credit cards the typical graduate student leaves school with? 4 (Nellie Mae)

5. Who works more hours per year, Japanese workers or American workers? How many more hours? On average, Americans work 100 hours more per year than their Japanese counterparts (International Labor Organization)

6. What percent of seniors over age 60 will experience poverty at some point? 40% (AARP)

7. In what year did Social Security issue its first official Social Security cards? 1936

8. In what year did the Dow Jones Industrial Average first close above 5,000? 1995

9. What percentage of investors describe themselves as "religious?" 79% (Opinion Research Corporation International)

10. Which is better: buy-and-hold or trying to time the market? Are you kidding me?

All (except #10): Journal of Financial Planning, November 2001

HAPPY THANKSIGIVING! Let’s face it – you have a lot to be thankful for.

-- posted by Rande

Top 550. Nov 22, 2001 7:24 AM

» AmatY - Re: Amat Yolinda's sister.

In response to message posted by pjstack:

pj - I am sure that you would make a good husband. I will let her know of your interest. She might insist on a pre-nup agreement though.

Happy Thanksgiving To You
Amat Yolinda

-- posted by AmatY

Top 551. Nov 22, 2001 11:43 AM

» Gadfly - bonds for current income

I hold some bond funds for current income, and
my concern is maintaining a consistent amount of
current income from those funds. When interest
rates inevitably rise, and bond yields rise, and
bond principal decreases, does the math support
the conclusion that the amount of interest in-
come should remain pretty stable?

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving,

Gad-

-- posted by Gadfly

Top 552. Nov 22, 2001 11:47 AM

» DanG_6 - Re: Re: FINANCIAL TRIVIA TIME!

In response to message posted by Rande:

Rande, I didn't know the answers to very many of those trivia questions, but I do want to say that I have an enviable rate of return on my lottery play. I have never bought a ticket yet, but many years ago I won a "scratcher" ticket and it turned out to be a $2 winner! On a zero investment! I was of course thrilled and went to the local drug store to collect my winnings. The lady handed me two more lottery tickets, assuming I'd want to parlay my small fortune into a much larger one. She was somewhat surprised and annoyed when I asked for the $2 instead. Gee, I still wonder what might have happened had I made the other choice!

-- posted by DanG_6

Top 553. Nov 22, 2001 7:03 PM

» smile_1 - Re: Annualized Return & XIRR (excel function)

In response to message posted by smile_1:

only problem with using XIRR is it only accepts values & serial dates for the function argument, & not cell references.

not true, it does accept cell references

Boo Bill... Bummer man...

my bad Bill & Co.

I'll check to determine if there is a work around...

no need for a work around.

-- posted by smile_1

Top 554. Nov 22, 2001 9:45 PM

» Happy - Re: bonds for current income

In response to message posted by Gadfly:
To answer your question look what happens to a $10,000 , 6% US bond. It pays $600 per year. Period. Now the yield will change as the bond goes up and down with interest rates. However, it will still pay you $600 per year. Nuff, said.

-- posted by Happy