Zaide on the Internet

ZAIDE ON THE INTERNET

“My favorite thing about your concept of a Clickle is that it sounds like Yiddish. I’ll bet my late Zaide (olov hashalom) could even have related to it! ‘Ich hob geshikt finf clickle oy’fn Internet….'” — Dr. Steve Rosenbach

I speak no Yiddish, but I’m guessing olov hashalom has to mean “rest in peace.” It is from meshugganah insights like this that the Rosetta Stone was ultimately translated.

PAY OFF CAR LOAN OR INVEST?

“My wife and I, 40 and 45 years old, have about $300,000 in 401Ks and regular mutual fund accounts, $80,000 home equity, and no debt except for our mortgage and a car loan. We’ve got some cash, and can’t decide whether to pay off our $8000 8% car loan, or try to invest the $8000 in something that would make more than 8% after taxes. I see some bond mutual funds yielding 10 – 13%. What would you do?” — Bruce

Unless there are prepayment penalties, pay off your car loan.

The bond funds only “yield” that much because interest rates have been falling, which makes the value of the bonds they hold go up. The actual yield — interest payments less management fees — will be much lower unless they are investing in wildly risky bonds. Of course, interest rates could continue to fall, though not below zero I think, but they could also rise. With the car loan, not having to pay 8% is the equivalent of a guaranteed tax-free 8%. Outstanding.

SOON WE’LL BE OFFERING THE CROATIAN TOUR

“Hi, Andy. When you said your agent sold the Croatian rights to your book, did you mean the rights to sell the book to Bosnian Croats or to sell the book in Croatian in Croatia? If you meant the latter, then I am surprised that you are surprised! There is a vast class of very wealthy people in Croatia, and most of the country, except for the southern coastal resort towns, was barely touched by the war. Zagreb, the capital, has been a prosperous cosmopolitan city for quite some time, with a cost of living comparable to that of most US cities. People in Croatia seem eager to adopt anything American, and there is no reason that market investing should be any different! Croatians are quite well off as an immigrant group in this country as well. I’d say there could well be a market for the book in Croatian except for one thing — most Croatians with money already speak excellent English.” — Andrew Hoppin