Investor Don Smith on the Economy

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Recent Comments (32)

Nov 2, 2011
blogegog Says:
Heh. Greece 'WAS' a wakeup call to us. He spoke too soon. We're not done waking up to the problem that is Greece yet.

Sep 16, 2011
b00mYou Says:
Another billionaire sugarcoating the economy, and that's the cold hard truth.

Aug 28, 2011
phantomcharger Says:
I'm trusting this reason TV about as much as the one in my living room. what about gold? nothing else to invest in? lol when did Gold become Ron Paul?

Aug 28, 2011
kev3d Says:
I forgot to mention Apple...ten years ago, $8.68, right now, $383. Not too shabby. Uncommon perhaps, but the forward thinking bird gets the worm.

Aug 28, 2011
kev3d Says:
Savings are a gamble, given inflation. Precious metals are a gamble because of bubbles. But not all gambles are equally risky. If one had invested in McDonalds in March of 2003 (a 10 year low), they would have bought at a bit over $12 per share. McDonalds today trades for around $90. Yum! Brands traded for about $8 10 years ago, now $49. In any case, some people are good gamblers. All investments are a gamble, there's never been a "sure thing".

Aug 28, 2011
SuperSneakySteve Says:
Ron Paul has the best portfolio because he bought gold years ago. He knows gold is money and legal tender is not.

Aug 28, 2011
cucucachu0000 Says:
inflation i think will cause prices of stocks to go up. he was absolutly right about the market sell off after the debt deal tho.

Aug 27, 2011
spyletu Says:
lol what's this guy's record in calling commodity prices? often times you find people who make comments saying commodity has peaked are usually the same who said the same thing when gold was 700, 900, 1000 and now 1800

Aug 27, 2011
hannas1234 Says:
What 'the market' needs is some optimism. Or Prozac.

Aug 27, 2011
elricmlbone Says:
lot of money out there and no where to go. May I suggest the only real money-GOLD

Aug 27, 2011
Solverwiz Says:
This guy is hoping the politicians will "do something" to fix the economy. Yet, each time they do, we end up having to working harder.

Aug 27, 2011
chronDiggity Says:
BTW, I feel exactly the same way when he says "I don't understand why everyone isn't a libertarian."

Aug 27, 2011
chronDiggity Says:
he did say near term he's cautious. It's not like he's saying everything's about to boom so we should all buy buy buy. He's not in denial. He's a realist. It pays better to be a realist.

Aug 27, 2011
ryguy86 Says:
Right, and I totally agree with you on that! You're referring to the investment MODEL though, and the majority of investors in this country are the backbone of the free market. It's that 1% at the top that's only investing in itself, and interests that help their friends, that I have beef with. For instance, Buffet investing 5B in Bank of America, who is for all intents and purposes, insolvent from what I've been reading.

Aug 26, 2011
NOLAMarathon2010 Says:
Let's say that you buy an asset because you think it has value -- or future value -- that others don't see. (Let's say it's an empty lot next to a new, small shopping center.) Five years later, the shopping center intends to expand its parking capacity and wants to buy your lot at twice the price that you paid for it. You are not evil. You are an investor. You took a risk on an asset because you expected it's value to increase. I'm not mad at you. I admire you!

Aug 26, 2011
ggadguy Says:
I agree to some extent. They would be screaming like piggies. However, the stock markets are a good feedback mechanism in this pseudo free market we have, even if there are a lot of computers trading based on algorithms.

Aug 26, 2011
NOLAMarathon2010 Says:
Some investors are happy when stocks are rising. Others are happy when prices are low. Don may very well be in cash right now. If that's the case, he sees these lower prices as a buying opportunity. In particular, he probably sees a number of stocks whose intrinsic value is substantially higher than their current trading value, and he's waiting for the right moment to pounce. We lack information to assess Don's current investment position, but I doubt he's in denial.

Aug 26, 2011
merkabaradio Says:
I'm invested in silver, but historically it's a volatile investment. Since 1990-2000 its been hovering between $4-6 an oz, it's now at $40 and now people are considering it a good investment... Sorry, but anyone investing in silver in the last couple years got ripped off hard.

Aug 26, 2011
JaySee5 Says:
This guy's an idiot. He says commodities are topping and never mentions gold or silver. Stocks are valued in DOLLARS! Every time dollars lose value, stocks lose value. Commodities, gold, and silver are the safe bet.

Aug 26, 2011
richardcadbury Says:
The US looks OK compared to Europe in the same way a cancer patient looks OK compared to a corpse.

Aug 26, 2011
ryguy86 Says:
If most of what we have were to be obliterated, and the world was brought back to the Industrial Revolution, and everyone were reduced to their skilled trades, the carpenters would get started, the steel fabricators would still have work...and the banksters would be the squealing pigs running around trying to talk people into giving them their money and playing stock market video games on their abacuses. They're useless and no one should pay them any mind any longer.

Aug 26, 2011
ryguy86 Says:
No you're right. Except I don't make enough to play in the big league like these guys. And that's no one's fault but my own, I'd never throw any blame around on that. But you're right, when it comes to time for their investments to FAIL, they get propped up on the taxes that I FAIRLY PAY with no special treatment by the IRS. And so what angers me is these suits speaking about the fidelity of the economy that they only superficially have a part in at all.

Aug 26, 2011
ggadguy Says:
What's stopping you from investing? Anyone can participate in the markets so I wouldn't complain. When you get home from your 40+ hour job you can sit on your ass and try to make money too. I do believe that Wall Street shouldn't get any bailouts or "stimulus" from the Fed.

Video Details

At FreedomFest in July, Reason's Nick Gillespie talked with investor (and Reason Foundation donor) Don Smith about the economy and his outlook for the market. Smith expects the U.S. will continue putting off a meaningful resolution to its debt problem, but he's thrilled the issue is finally getti... More