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This blog is produced by David Merkel CFA, a registered representative of Finacorp Securities as an outside business activity. As such, Finacorp Securities does not review or approve materials presented herein. By viewing or participating in discussion on this blog, you understand that the opinions expressed within do not reflect the opinions or recommendations of Finacorp Securities, but are the opinions of the author and individual participants. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or other instrument. Before investing, consider your investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Any purchase or sale activity in any securities instrument should be based upon your own analysis and conclusions. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Finacorp Securities is a member FINRA and SIPC.

David Merkel

At my blog there are two main purposes: teaching investors about better investing through risk control, and tying all of the markets into a coherent whole.

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    Post 500

    As WordPress counts, this is post 500, though it is only really the 409th post. (A glitch in the software yesterday ate up ten numbers… weird. I had planned on post 500 being near my first blogoversary on 2/20, but it was not to be.) I use the hundred milestones to take a moment to reflect on blogging, and update readers on what is going on in my life, my plans for the blog, and to ask for advice.

    For the most part, I just blog now, and I don’t pay too much attention to the statistics on readership and links. I have a decent feel for where I fit into the financial blogosphere, and I know I won’t be the top writer here. I’m not for everyone.

    As I have commented before, one of the good points and bad points of my blog is that blog readers really can’t tell what I will be serving up next. My interests are broad, and I like writing about a wide number of topics. I think it strengthens my understanding of the markets, rather than weakening it.

    I have also said that this blog is not a business, but it is an option on a business. Well, the option came into the money regarding my new position with Finacorp. Today, an announcement will go out over PR Newswire over my new job there. To any of my readers in the regular media: if you read it, and you have a place for it in your publications, it will be much appreciated here.

    So where am I going from here in blogging? I will continue to cover current issues, and long term ideas of interest, but I also have a list of articles that I would like to do:

    • Traffic
    • Academic Finance Lies
    • Rescuing Capitalism from Capitalists
    • Flexibility vs Fixed Commitments
    • Fundamentals of Market Bottoms
    • Revisiting DFR
    • Commercial Paper less Two-year Treasury Yields
    • Predicting Inflation
    • Unemployment Risk
    • Risk Management vs VAR vs ERM
    • Central Banks can lose money?
    • The Problem of Taxation

    Before I close here, I want to thank my readers, and thank those that refer readers to me. I don’t take anyone for granted here. Your time is limited, and I appreciate that you read/refer to me. Special thanks to Abnormal Returns, Seeking Alpha, Marketbeat, The Big Picture, Random Roger, VIX and More, and more.

    If you have suggestions for me, please send them my way. I write about what interests me, but I listen to readers in order to gauge the broader interest in what I write about.

    PS — It is good to be employed once again.

    Full disclosure: long DFR

    4 Responses to “ Post 500 ”

    1. AllanF Says:

      Here’s a suggestion: MLP’s.

      Chris Edmonds recently recommended in his “Holiday Portfolio” one that his firm manages. Without necessarily getting into the specifics of the one he recommended, I’d be interested in your thoughts on MLP’s in general. I just discovered them following Chris’ piece, and they seem very interesting on multiple fronts. But I wonder if there is some major down-side risks the MLP proponents fail to mention.

      And a specific discussion of any MLP’s you may be familiar with would be appreciated as well.

      Thanks much.

    2. Frank M Says:

      David:
      You may not think you are the top writer, but you are about the only reason I maintain my RealMoney sub, and this is the only blog I look at regularly. Please don’t stop.

    3. PaulinKansasCity Says:

      I agree with Frank on David’s writing and blog; but RealMoney has quality writing with many points of view. It is a great site for learning all aspects of investing.

    4. David Merkel Says:

      I’ll have to look into the MLPs. I don’t do as much with income vehicles, though that may shift if my firm creates an income fund.

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