Joshua Kennon is a Managing Director of Kennon-Green & Co., a private asset management firm specializing in global value investing for affluent and high net worth individuals, families, and institutions. Nothing in this article or on this site, which is Mr. Kennon's personal blog, is intended to be, nor should it be construed as, investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell a security or securities. Investing can result in losses, sometimes significant losses. Prior to taking any action involving your finances or portfolio, you should consult with your own qualified professional advisor(s), such as an investment advisor, tax specialist, and/or attorney, who can help you consider your unique needs, circumstances, risk tolerance, and other relevant factors.

How Much Would the Real Life Monopoly Game Board Cost or Be Worth

If Monopoly Were Real Life, How Rich Would You Be If You Owned the Entire Board?

If you wanted to be as rich as Mr. Monopoly, how much would it take?  How high would your annual income be?  Your net worth? Those are the question that I pondered sitting at my desk this morning.  Out of pure curiosity, I began to adjust the values of the Monopoly property rents for inflation, using the last full-year CPI figures (2009), knowing that the game was originally released in 1935. 

Wal-Mart 401(k) Plan Adjustments

Wal-Mart Ends Profit Sharing, Ups Retirement Plan to Offer 6% Dollar-for-Dollar Matching on 401(k) Savings, and More

Given my two Wal-Mart inspired articles a few days ago, I thought this was germane. [mainbodyad]Wal-Mart is ending its profit sharing plan and upgrading it to include a $1,000 contribution to employee health care accounts so there is a greater cushion before workers have to pay medical deductibles plus moving to a system whereby they…

Kansas City Power and Light Bond for Bond Duration

Bond Duration and Your Bond Portfolio

Bond duration is one of the biggest and most important things to understand when managing a portfolio that includes bonds or other fixed income assets.  Managed well, bond duration can give the chance for huge capital gains profits.  Managed poorly, bond duration can wipe out a supposedly conservative bond portfolio in no time, leaving nothing…

Reading and Taking Notes on Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand Sort of Took Over My Life Today …

Given the historical importance of the book, and my decision to finally read it, my brief introduction to a few pages of Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand turned into an all day affair. I have some very significant reservations about the author’s stated philosophical belief system, Objectivism, but that deserves its own future essay. Suffice it to say, though she gets 70% of the equation correct by supporting free market decision making and individual liberty, I think her model of human behavior is incomplete and therefore not entirely rational and realistic when carried to its logical extreme.