Stirring the pot
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When Bush took office in 2000, I joked to everyone that we all better put our money into oil and energy funds 'cause they're gonna hit the roof. Well, I don't know how many of my friends did, but I did dip my newbie investor toe into some energy funds. Now, looking back, I realize that I could've really scored in other areas as well. Take the defense contractor money-maker. We all know the names by heart, don't we? I passed on making some hefty taxpayer subsidized profit (what a fool!) And here's one I completely missed: educational products to go along with the No Child pr campaign/vote-grabber. Although, it seems like there's another ugly story behind that program and the winners whose products were chosen. Still, I bet money was there to be made and I just let it pass me by. I mean, let's face it, we're living in an investor's economy and sometimes it seems like the best we can hope for is for the big sharks to leave us some scraps to get by. So, next time someone complains about high gas prices, just look at them with disgust and ask them why didn't they invest all the extra money they have lying around in oil companies? I mean, really!
Seriously, the vast majority have no money or really chump change invested in the stock market. Yet, the companies we invest in through our 401k's have the goal of sticking it to workers. So the 401k and mutual fund industry is really a way that most people end up putting some money into institutions that don't have the best interests in mind for small-time investors (workers).