January 2025 Update

Horribly late this month. Numbers had been completed on time, but what with getting ill and going on holiday this post got forgotten.

Current Thoughts

If you’re watching the various goings-on in the world and wandering what to think, you’ve come to the right place, so let me help out. I spent almost 2 minutes compiling a list of things people seem to think they must currently have an opinion on.

  • Ukraine v Russia
  • Trump
  • Trump tariffs
  • Elon
  • DOGE
  • the Middle East
  • government debt
  • AI
  • gold price
  • tax rates
  • cash ISA

Faced with this list, there are a couple of obvious options;

  • Option 1: read an article written by someone that seems to know more than you, be encouraged that their argument seems to hang together, pick a side and be done. Anyone you find from this point forward that doesn’t agree can be lobbed into the ‘wrong’ bucket.
  • Option 2: read multiple articles exploring differing views, spend a day or more to investigate. Maybe spread your research out over a week to be really thorough. Form your opinion. You can now post your views on Facebook, X or Instagram, safe in the knowledge that you’ve done your research and anyone that disagrees can be argued with or even unfriended if necessary.

If you’re looking at these options and thinking neither seem attractive, welcome to the club. Option 1 is obviously going to lead to errors. Considering the list above, option 2 will take at least 2-3 months to complete, by which time it’ll be out of date.

Well . . I’m here to tell you you don’t have to choose either of these options. There is another 3rd option that isn’t often discussed or even considered. I’m here to utter blasphemy and tell you that you don’t need to take an opinion on any of it. The reason? You have no control over any of these things. Even further, you’re not smart enough to have an informed decision on any of it. I’ve made a flow chart that you can refer to in the future should you ever forget the magic 3rd option.

The bad news is, I have to admit I didn’t think of this. The credit goes to stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius who was wise enough to realise this life hack before ’life hack’ was even a saying.

“Do not give undue weight to external matters which do not concern you.” Marcus Aurelius

The amazing added bonus of this approach, apart from time and mental energy saving, is that you don’t then later find yourself being incorrect.

Net Worth Comments

Back to things I can control. Another bump up in net worth after last months flatness. Both stocks and crypto having a good month. Gold is also having a strong run. I’ve temporarily at least moved past BHAG 2. I use the word ’temporarily’ as I’m fully prepared for some kind of downward movement at some point. What I have observed though, is how well a global tracker has held up against the recent tech drama with Nvidia, Tesla etc. I haven’t investigated, but maybe as certain stocks are falling, money is simultaneously moving into other lower valued companies, boosting their valuations? Anyway, enough chit-chat. If I don’t post this now, I’ll have to start working on next months post.