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I've been thinking a lot about my investment strategies. Right now, virtually all of my investments are in standard equities, such as stocks, bonds, and REITs. By all outward appearances, my investment portfolio is diversified – I have a variety of different equities (large cap, small cap, domestic, international, emerging markets, etc.), various bonds, and some other things to balance it out. The majority of my investments are held in retirement accounts, and I have a strong cash reserve (I feel it's important for me to have a large emergency fund since I am self-employed). But after speaking with several businessmen and investors I respect, I wonder if my investments are truly diversified?
What's missing? The more I think about it, the more interested I become in investing for cash flow. Generating regular cash flow is the single best way to create wealth, and that is an area I have been neglecting with my investments.
Why Focus on Cash Flow?
There are a lot of reasons I want to increase my cash flow, and most of it has to do with financial flexibility. The more cash you have coming in, the more options you have – in terms of lifestyle, ability to weather an emergency or economic downturn, and to build an awesome war chest for future investments or business opportunities.
There are other benefits as well. Right now much of my wealth is concentrated in the stock markets, which are volatile compared to some other forms of investments. I know several people who had to postpone retirement when the markets crashed a few years ago. I lost a lot of money as well, and that left a mark on me. Even though the markets and my investment portfolio have recovered for the most part, I know this can happen again. I want to diversify my investments beyond the traditional stock market; I don't want similar events to the crash of 2008 to occur right before I'm ready to retire.
What is the Long Term Outlook on Taxes?
The US has been running a massive deficit for well over a decade, and the long term outlook says that some how, some way, taxes must increase. When and how much are still to be determined, but I don't see income taxes decreasing in the long run.
What does this have to do with cash flow? As I noted in the opening paragraph, much of my investments are tied up in retirement funds. This is great for the Roth account contributions, which were made with income that has already been taxed. But I also have some traditional accounts in a Solo 401k which have not yet been taxed, but will be when I make the withdrawals in retirement age. If our tax rates continue to increase, then I may end up paying more in taxes than I could have paid now.
I still plan on maxing out my Roth IRA and making 401k contributions. But I also want to start looking outside of those investment vehicles. Investing for cash flow now is a long term hedge against taxes, especially if I can continue making my retirement account contributions.
Investing for Cash Flow – A Few Options
There are literally thousands of ways to generate more cash flow, but not all of them are good for everyone. Lately I've been focusing on a few of them. Some examples include expanding my business, real estate, buying a traditional brick and mortar business, peer to peer lending, and dividend stocks. Here are some of my thoughts on these investment opportunities, and why they may or may not be a good fit for me.
Expanding My Business
As I mentioned, I am self-employed. My business is primarily web-based – I run several websites, do freelance writing, and I do consulting on various internet marketing topics. Expanding my business is always on my mind, and I recently acquired a few more domains to work in that direction. But I don't want to tie all of my income to one segment of the market (just as you don't want all your investments in one stock). I am looking at other ways to expand my business beyond adding new websites.
One area I am looking at is building apps for smart phones. This is complimentary to what I am doing now, but different enough that it doesn't have the same inherent risks (though it does have a set of different risks). There are many opportunities in this space, but this is also something that requires a ton of research on my end, since I don't know how to code. In all likelihood, I would need to hire out the development of any apps I would produce. There are risks here, but I also see this as an opportunity to compliment my current business model.
Real Estate
I've read tons of books on investing and becoming a millionaire, and almost all of the case studies came in two flavors: small business owner, or real estate owner. I already have the small business, and as I'm not yet a millionaire, real estate looks like a good way to help me speed things up. Real estate isn't risk free, but the current market offers many opportunities. Rental prices have gone up steadily in many locations since the bubble burst, largely because many people either can't afford to buy a home, or can't qualify for a mortgage.
Again, this would require a lot of research and perhaps finding a mentor since I don't know the first thing about being a landlord or managing a property. But I am intrigued by the prospect of owning an investment property. I have known several people who used rental properties to either partially or fully fund their retirement. It takes work, but it can be a great way to build wealth.
Buying a Traditional Brick and Mortar Business
I looked into buying into a franchise or other traditional business long enough to know that it probably isn't for me at this time. Most small businesses require a full-time commitment, which is something I can't do at this time. I want to add cash flow, but not another full-time job. Buying a franchise can be a good way to generate wealth, but it often takes a few years of long hours to pay back the initial investment.
Peer to Peer Lending
This is another topic that excites me. P2P lending allows individuals to "be the bank" and make individual loans to borrowers who want to avoid taking a loan from a bank (here is a primer on peer to peer lending). Basically, a group of individuals make micro-loans to a borrower, who then makes one monthly payment. The P2P lending company manages the loans and distributes the payments to the investors. There is risk with these investments, but you can invest with as little as $25 in each loan, making it easier to diversify that risk. Interest rates are often in the 6-10% range, which is a reasonable return on investment. The primary peer to peer lending companies are Prosper and Lending Club.
I invested money with these companies when they first opened, but I haven't made any investments since my initial trial. Right now I am thinking about putting a small investment into each of these platforms to compare them, then decide if I want to invest more money for the long run.
Dividend Stock Investing
Dividend stocks are proven to generate cash flow and there are a lot of benefits to investing with them. In addition to the quarterly or annual distributions, you have the opportunity to increase wealth through capital gains. Earning cash and increasing your net worth with stock appreciation is normally a win-win situation. The problem is that it takes a large amount of money to generate meaningful income from dividend stocks. Dividend payments in the 3-5% range are often realistic returns to aim for, and you can generate substantial holdings and dividend payments if given enough time. You can speed things up by focusing your investments on companies that have consistently raised dividends (See Dividend Aristocrats for some examples of dividend stocks that have consistently increased dividends) and by reinvesting your dividends through DRIPs.
I love the idea of dividend investing, and I have a small amount of dividend paying stocks in my investment portfolio. But I'm not sure this is where I will focus my immediate efforts for increasing cash flow. The best way to increase your dividend holdings is by using DRIPs, which reinvests your dividends to buy more shares of stocks. The compounding effect of DRIPs is great for long term cash flow, but it doesn't do a lot for immediate cash flow. The other issue is the desire to move some investments out of the stock market.
Which Direction Will I go?
As with any investment, you need to go in with a plan, and mine is to diversify my current holdings and focus on cash flow. I want to put my money to work for me, and the longer it sits there earning less than 1% interest in an online savings account, the more I fee like I am missing out on other opportunities. That said, I'm not going to rush into anything. I want to make sure my investments meet my needs and have an acceptable level of risk and time commitment.
Based on the opportunities listed above, I think I will pass on buying into a franchise or other brick and mortar business. That is a time commitment I don't think I am ready for. Likewise, I will take a pass on the dividend stocks. Even though they offer relatively stable returns and an acceptable level of risk, I want to move more of my investments out of the stock markets.
Of the remaining opportunities, I think peer to peer lending will be the easiest to incorporate into my investing strategy. I am also intrigued by expanding my business and by owning real estate. I think I will start with the P2P lending, then branch out from there. The next area I will tackle will be expanding my business with app development. In the long term, I would love to add cash flow from a rental property or two.
What are your thoughts in these investment ideas – are they logical, or flawed? Do you have positive or negative experiences with these investments? Any advice?


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Liparita 2006 Oakville Cabernet
This wine has an inky, almost black hue, and displays ripe aromas of black current, cherry and plum. It is full in body with tons of intensity, but the right amount of balanced acidity. The integrated tannins in this wine show off flavors of ripe black fruits while displaying its fine acidity on the mid-palate. The wine finishes long and gorgeous!
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subset: commoncrawl


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Waive (?), n. [See Waive, v. t. ]
A waif; a castaway.
2. O. Eng.Law
A woman put out of the protection of the law. See Waive, v. t., 3 (b), and the Note.
© Webster 1913.
Waive, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Waived (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Waiving.] [OE. waiven, weiven, to set aside, remove, OF. weyver, quesver, to waive, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. veifa to wave, to vibrate, akin to Skr. vip to tremble. Cf. Vibrate, Waif.] [Written also wave.]
To relinquish; to give up claim to; not to insist on or claim; to refuse; to forego.
He waiveth milk, and flesh, and all. Chaucer.
We absolutely do renounce or waive our own opinions, absolutely yielding to the direction of others. Barrow.
To throw away; to cast off; to reject; to desert.
3. Law (a)
To throw away; to relinquish voluntarily, as a right which one may enforce if he chooses.
To desert; to abandon.
⇒ The term was applied to a woman, in the same sense as outlaw to a man. A woman could not be outlawed, in the proper sense of the word, because, according to Bracton, she was never in law, that is, in a frankpledge or decennary; but she might be waived, and held as abandoned.
Waive, v. i.
To turn aside; to recede.
To waive from the word of Solomon. Chaucer.
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If you like whisky and have a bit of spare cash then you might be interested in this idea. Based on the book 101 Whiskies to Try Before you Die it is the ultimate package of just that, 101 whiskies, in fact one of each mentioned in the book. The special offer is available from Royal Mile Whiskies until the end of December and even includes a free copy of the book, bargain.
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Amy Poehler And Will Arnett Reclaim The Title Of World's Most Adorable Couple
By Joanna Robinson | Pajiba Love | June 26, 2012 | Comments ()
By Joanna Robinson | Pajiba Love | June 26, 2012 |
Showtime has released the teaser poster for the next (and final?) season of "Dexter." It's everything you've always wanted...if everything you've always wanted is to be able to count each individual piece of stubble on Michael C. Hall's jaw. No spoilers, no clever, just stubble. (Screen Crush)
Speaking of fall shows I can't wait for, "Doctor Who" returns in just a few short months. Until then, ladies, get your geek on with these fetching female Who shirts. Fine, siiiiiiigh, you dudes can wear them too, I guess. Just as long as you're comfortable with the super deep V. (PR Web)
Anglophenia has the 10 Baddest Brits in History Of Legend. Suffragettes, poets and PMs, oh my. (BBC America)
The always lovely Geek Girl Diva sent me these new interesting photos from the set of Maleficent. Apparently those horns are aerodynamic. (Lainey Gossip)
Look who's in the running for the oft-nude Johanna Mason in the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire. Somewhere in Hollywood, Kristen Bell is punching things with her tiny, adorable fists. Side note. Are those...tribbles? (EW)
This, filmgoers, is the best thing you will see on the internet today. And, so help me, I may end up bellowing "INTO THE DOME, MOTHERF*CKER" to the next obnoxious teen who has the misfortune to sit near me. (The Oatmeal)
Louis CK basically sent Ticket Bastard Master into the dome by announcing that he will sell his own tickets for his upcoming tour. Yup, Dustin's right, CK is the greatest man alive. You can find his hilarious announcement here. (Uproxx)
These superhero tutus are rad but I must warn you, the wee Merida one may make your ovaries explode. And you know ovary schrapnel is a b*tch to get off of your monitor. (The Mary Sue)
NPR profiles a day in the life of a Buzzfeed editor. Yeah swap out the jorts for a Wonder Woman tutu and they basically nailed the life of a Pajiba Love Link Wench. (NPR)
To prove my Pajiba Loves aren't all gay things and tutus, I've go-WAIT. First this gay thing. Some *sshats are boycotting Oreos because of this recent Oreo Gay Pride ad. Your loss, homophobes. More diabetes for me. (Business Insider)
I want to get some of these rad Princess Bride pint glasses for everyone I know and make dumb "I can clearly not choose the beer in front of me" jokes all day long. (That's Nerdilicious)
Okay, as promised, super duper macho links! First, do you know what happens when two runners tie during an Olympic qualifying trial? Turns out neither do the Olympics. (Slate)
Anthony Davis, a hotshot basketball player, is trying to trademark his eyebrows. Frida Kahlo might have something to say about that. You know, if she weren't super dead and stuff. (CNBC)
Some guy who is clearly vying for Father of the year put a video of his young son atomic fetal weeping because his favorite White Sox player had been traded. What do you think about parents posting photos/videos of their kid's "humiliation" online? (Chicago Tribune)
And because I gave you three, count them THREE tangentially sports related links, I feel comfortable posting this, the gayest thing to ever gay on the internet. Allegedly, there is a Broadway adaptation of Magic Mike in the works. To quote my friend at the Stripper Citizen Kane screening last night, "There's not enough Tahitian Vanilla in the world to cover up that smell." (/Film)
The adorable Ms. Amy Poehler answers some questions during a recent 92nd St. Y visit. My favorite, of course, is her reveal about the best way to make Will Arnett cry.
Finally, here's a supercut of Sorkinisms. Listen, as an unabashed Sorkin fan, I don't think this proves sh*t about his talent or originality as a screenwriter. I'm fairly certain that if you did this to any prolific writer, the results would be similar. That being said, someone went to a lot of work to put this together, so enjoy.
Joanna Robinson will have her review of "The Newsroom" up soon. You think? You bet!
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Thanks Ma!
Thanks for blowing the leaves off the deck so I can sun myself...now if you get Papa to quit giving me so many treats I could run around a little more...just sayin'.
My poor mom now has pneumonia. I swear she can't get a break. At least she's on antibiotics now. I am really feeling badly for her. Hoping she is better soon!
Today I will be transporting a wonderfully stinky bloodhound pup from Kentucky to Tennessee. I'll be leaving shortly to pick her up. I'll be sure to post some pics!! Tata for now.
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Somehow still the same for me. Must be something with my modem/line then?
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Two generations of bland Acura TLs made way in 2004 for the competent midsize luxury sedan that, as we said in a 2005 review, was finally worthy of serious attention from the established German automakers. With the 2009 TL, Acura has made the full transition from wallflower to hard-to-ignore. Acura's Touring Luxury car became the best-selling luxury sedan in the U.S. in 2005, but some say the bold 2009 redesign went too far. With the 2012 TL soon to go on sale, let's take a look at how the model has progressed since it bowed in 1996.
With the 1996 3.2TL (1997 model shown), Acura targeted the lucrative near-luxury sedan segment and considered the Lexus ES 300 the category benchmark. In the review, we said the 3.2TL's "lines may speak with a soft voice, but they speak unmistakably of success."
Those lines were backed up by a 3.2L V-6 making 200 hp, 24 more ponies than the five-cylinder Vigor the 3.2TL replaced. The 2.5TL retained the Vigor's five-cylinder 176-hp powerplant. A "slick-shifting" four-speed automatic was standard equipment, as was the feeling that the car should cost much more given the "cocoonlike cabin environment." Unlike the less-expensive 2.5TL, the 3.2TL placed a greater emphasis on luxury rather than sport, a tradeoff that would be better balanced for the 1999 TL.
"Recalibrate your impression of the Acura TL," we said about the 1999 model. "The new '99 Acura 3.2TL will prove a stimulating and attractive alternative to the likes of the Lexus ES 300, BMW 328i, and Mercedes C280. Horsepower on the 1999 Acura 3.2TL — built in Marysville, Ohio — was up to 225 and the 0-to-60 mph time was down to 7.4 sec (Acura predicted 8.2 sec).
The Acura name wasn't as distinguished as other premium automakers, so value was big on the TL: The 1999 model was just $27,950 with a navigation system as the only option. One of the 1999 TL's few faults? The alphanumeric name: "It's too bad Acura didn't bring back the Legend name, as the '99 3.2TL matches or tops its dearly departed sibling in just about every category, including roominess and performance, while its price brings back fond memories of the Legend's 1987 debut."
Big changes continued for the third-generation model. Motor Trend staffers wondered if the 2004 Acura TL in our long-term fleet had been styled by an Italian design house. The experience behind the wheel continued to impress. The refined 3.2L V-6 powering the TL made 270 hp under the pre-2008 standards (258 hp after) and value remained a key part of the car's formula. Still, with so much power being routed to the front wheels, torque steer was a problem. It took just 6.9 sec to get our 2004 TL from 0 to 60 mph and, aside from a minor brake issue, the car was "essentially bulletproof" during its stay with us.
The same could be said about our 2009 long-term TL. "A year with the TL leaves us in love," we wrote in the verdict article, "just not with the face." Well Acura has heard our complaints and restyled the TL for the 2012 model year. The car now uses a six-speed automatic transmission and is quieter than before. Anyone who's seen the 2009-2011 TL in person may argue that what's most important is the refreshed grille.
"TL owners will no longer feel the need to apologize for their choice of luxury vehicle," we wrote in our First Drive of the 2012 TL. In about a week, we'll start to see if the 2012 TL will resonate with buyers.