Birchtree's Account Talk

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Birch,

I am curious why you are leaning towards the C fund over the S fund? Are you seeing a shift? The S fund out performed the C fund last year and the early trading this year as well.
 
I've never found it wise to invest with the rear view mirror - the small stocks did infact rally hard off the March bottom and may continue to outperform awhile longer pulling many into the possible head fake - you can see it on the board. I'll take the contrarian play at this point and reduce my S position by 5% sometime in February. If we continue with the credit crisis many small companies will find themselves constrained when it comes to growth. The S&P folks have access to cash and the global economy so they may grow faster with their earnings and collect more investor attention.
 
Birchtree said:
pigeonguy,

I'm still basically a buy and holder with my tugboat account - only moving 5% per month as we move to higher highs - it will take me until June to reach 30%. You can certainly adjust your position but it will cost you an IFT - I'm more heavily weighted toward the C fund as this bull moves forward and will eliminate my S fund and I fund positions by June. When the correction come I'll absorb the pain and then put the 30% back to work - how much I may leave on the table is the questionable sacrifice. No one knows where the intermediate term top may reside - we may actually not get one all year if we follow 1995 or have several if we follow 2004.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input BT. Sounds like a good path down the road.

I'll contemplate moving a little off the table each time I transition more towards C to cover both with 1 IFT.

It would be nice to still be unfettered though.:suspicious:

Thanks again,

Mark
 
Steadygain said:
I thought about you a lot last night. I'm back in The Unit -- Birch -- so will talk with ya later and fill ya in ---- hopefully before you take off.
Click to expand...

I think it largely boils down to Integrity Birch -- bottom line is that more than anything else is what makes a Marine (Soldier) what he or she is -- and once you've really got that grounded and saturated throughout -- you are what you are.

So when I came to the VA - it was with the exact same mindset I always have -- This is 'My Mission' and I will not fail in my endeavor to give the Veterans everything possible.

Same mindset you had Birch - and probably still have.

I started off by giving them my BEST -- and in order to keep that going I had to change the way a number of things were done to maximize care and eliminate a lot of redunant appointments. As my work progressed they had to keep hiring others to keep up with everything I was generating.

My Main GOAL - from Day One - was to set the BAR -- show all the Vets what the best service is and make sure they demand the same from everyone else. I'm always thrilled to push others to better performance Birch -- always will be.

Latest hire - a position identical to mine - He's a Major. Years of military experience ~~ more doctor/administrative ~~ whereas I'm forever hardcore Soldier. But this guy is good Birch - very committed, hard working, dedicated and refuses to give anything less than his best.

So he came to me recently -- frustrated with all the work piling up and feeling like it's time he fights back... The 2 Things you never want to tell me is: 'I can't ... and I won't' :mad::mad:

Poor guy surely thought I'd respond differently. Probably had it all thought out before he came to my office. ;) So I told him you'll do whatever they tell you to do - that's your job. Stressed that his most important job is to Raise the Bar -- That he is exactly the same as me and that more than anything else is why we are here. The level of care that is established and will be expected from all the others has to start with us.

So that's how it happened Birch. The guy is just amazing and now I all the more see how the others acknowledge me. I honestly feel like I'm back in The Unit Birch -- really do -- and it's a good feeling.
 
Birchtree said:
I've never found it wise to invest with the rear view mirror - the small stocks did infact rally hard off the March bottom and may continue to outperform awhile longer pulling many into the possible head fake - you can see it on the board. I'll take the contrarian play at this point and reduce my S position by 5% sometime in February. If we continue with the credit crisis many small companies will find themselves constrained when it comes to growth. The S&P folks have access to cash and the global economy so they may grow faster with their earnings and collect more investor attention.
Click to expand...


Makes sense. Thanks.
 
Steady,

I used to tell Buzz that you never know who is looking at you resume. Military folks will help look out for each other because they understand the required sacrifice. So on her last face to face job interview it happened that one of the interviewers was a retired LTC. He told her at the end that she had his vote. She is now being scheduled after the wedding for a face to face with the company president. I told her if he asks what her biggest flaw might be to tell him she has none. She told me she would tell him her biggest flaw is her ambition. She'll do just fine.
 
It's too early. After the 2001 recession small caps outperformed in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. Watch interest rates. They are still low and the small caps will benefit. When rates start to rise, then you can consider "the switch".

I'm not in any one allocation long enough to care about the long-term return, but right now when in stocks, the S-fund is still very much in play for me.

just an opinion.

Asking Birchtree which fund will perform best, is like asking George Steinbrenner which baseball team is the best. :D
 
Birchtree said:
Steady,

I used to tell Buzz that you never know who is looking at you resume. Military folks will help look out for each other because they understand the required sacrifice. So on her last face to face job interview it happened that one of the interviewers was a retired LTC. He told her at the end that she had his vote. She is now being scheduled after the wedding for a face to face with the company president. I told her if he asks what her biggest flaw might be to tell him she has none. She told me she would tell him her biggest flaw is her ambition. She'll do just fine.
Click to expand...

She's got plenty of flaws Birch -- but you either can't see them or you refuse to acknowledge them.

I have the exact same problem with my girls (Ella too).

Anyway -- tell her not to say 'her ambition' as that might make the president think she LACKS it.

Tell her to be as real as possible and honestly tell him:
'My biggest flaw is I don't know when to let up. The mistakes (even little small ones) look like mountains to me and I'm sure I often take them way to personally. So I'd say my biggest flaw is being too driven to be a perfectionist and it's hard for me to let those energies and endeavors lose their focus. I'm not sure how to put it but at times I wonder if I give it too much.'

Have her memorize this Birch ---- and practice saying it from the depths of her heart. ;)

She will do fine !!
 
tsptalk said:
It's too early. After the 2001 recession small caps outperformed in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. Watch interest rates. They are still low and the small caps will benefit. When rates start to rise, then you can consider "the switch".

I'm not in any one allocation long enough to care about the long-term return, but right now when in stocks, the S-fund is still very much in play for me.

just an opinion.

Asking Birchtree which fund will perform best, is like asking George Steinbrenner which baseball team is the best. :D
Click to expand...


Now that's funny. :laugh:

thanks for input all.

Mark
 
Steadygain said:
I think it largely boils down to Integrity Birch -- bottom line is that more than anything else is what makes a Marine (Soldier) what he or she is -- and once you've really got that grounded and saturated throughout -- you are what you are.
Click to expand...

Well anyway Birch -- last night -- all the more -- I realized how GOD never failed me in anyway and if anything HE would be most responsible for the Integrity I do have.

People are screwed up in general Birch and we can't blame Him; in fact we owe Him all the more for honestly granting us the freedom to live and do as 'we will'. Governments are messed up and every Nation is going to think their view is the 'right one'. I'm honestly sorry for all you had to go through Birch -- for developing such a deeply grounded belief of 'Charlie' and all the more for what you and all the others experienced. But Birch you have to know that GOD had nothing to do with all that stuff other than giving everyone the abilities they have. HE can't show 'favortism' BIRCH when we're all HIS Children. HE can not suddenly change the properties of Physics and Chemistry by which all got wounded and killed. He simply does not work magic like that Birch -- and to expect that is expecting too much.

What HE does give -- is the ability to lose the weight you refuse to give up; the anger and resentment that holds you back; the disappointments and failures from the past. He knows you better than anyone could possibly know you Birch and I absolutely guarantee HE is not holding anything against you. Totally the opposite my friend, would love for you to know HIS Peace and let HIS Love take over.

So Birch -- I don't want you to have any awkwardness next Saturday - don't want you to have the slightest conflict or let anything hold you back from being where you are when Buzz gets married.

I love you man -- you've got to know that -- and I hope the wedding is even beyond what any of you are expecting.

Take care my friend and drive safely.

Steady
 
Steady,

Thanks for the kind thoughts - I'm OK with everyting. I'll be just fine - no negative thoughts.
 
Doing a little buying ahead of INTC earnings: GRA, TEN, TCB, SXI, UDR. If my luck holds out tomorrow could be another good shopping day - then I'll rest for two weeks.
 
A friend of my wife bought Mindylou a cover - she bucked like a bronco but she did the same thing the first time she had her harness on. She'll get used to it when I take her walking in the snow for a few minutes. You've heard about educating Rita - I'm educating Mindylou - there is so much for her to experience. Treating my investment adviser with kindness. She told me she wanted to go on this trip and look at some lake property on the return trip. A realtor in Cashiers tells me prices are coming into the value zone. So I'll be looking around Lake Glenville and then around Lake Keowee in Senaca, South Caeolina.
 
I decided to take a dash of profit off of CNH and ASH today - will continue my buying program when I return to the markets.
 
Birchtree said:
A friend of my wife bought Mindylou a cover - she bucked like a bronco but she did the same thing the first time she had her harness on. She'll get used to it when I take her walking in the snow for a few minutes. You've heard about educating Rita - I'm educating Mindylou - there is so much for her to experience. Treating my investment adviser with kindness. She told me she wanted to go on this trip and look at some lake property on the return trip. A realtor in Cashiers tells me prices are coming into the value zone. So I'll be looking around Lake Glenville and then around Lake Keowee in Senaca, South Caeolina.
Click to expand...

Have a wonderful time Birch !!

Make sure you have klenex or a handerchief on hand cause you'll probably need it.

When my wife walked down the isle -- first time I saw her in the wedding dress and the way she beamed -- it was just too overwhelming that something that beautiful could happen to me and I started crying --- then it was hard to stop..:embarrest::mad:

And I never would have thought something like that would happen and so of course I had nothing .... when I desperately needed it...

... so if that can happen to a cold hearted man like me ~~ who lacks emotions and feelings ~~ and is more like a cold piece of steel ...

... it can happen to you .....especially with Honey Bee .... Buzzzing around like a woman ... totally grown up and starting her own family

Anyway --- take it from me -- have some klenex on hand..

Enjoy it all ... my friend ... and we'll see ya in a few weeks.
 
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