The Steross Market and Investing Thread

[steross]

https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/united-airlines-ceo-scott-kirby-delta-american-11621d97?st=3pqoim&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Didn't really know where to put this.

The article is about the United Airline CEO and the strategy of upscaling and charging higher prices which has apparently done well for them as their stock price had doubled.

There was this line:
Until recently, the industry believed that air travel was a commodity—that customers only cared about price and schedule. But that’s wrong, Kirby says. The experience matters, too, and he’s now convinced that a better one can earn brand loyalty.

Man, I have to say that I mostly still see them as a commodity. I look:
1. Price
2. Schedule
3. Airline

Any of you prefer an airline so much that you would pay more and take a worse flight time to stay on it?

 

[cowboyinexile]

https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/united-airlines-ceo-scott-kirby-delta-american-11621d97?st=3pqoim&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Didn't really know where to put this.

The article is about the United Airline CEO and the strategy of upscaling and charging higher prices which has apparently done well for them as their stock price had doubled.

There was this line:
Until recently, the industry believed that air travel was a commodity—that customers only cared about price and schedule. But that’s wrong, Kirby says. The experience matters, too, and he’s now convinced that a better one can earn brand loyalty.

Man, I have to say that I mostly still see them as a commodity. I look:
1. Price
2. Schedule
3. Airline

Any of you prefer an airline so much that you would pay more and take a worse flight time to stay on it?

I would go in that order. Maybe switch one and two if the schedule is better (i.e. would pay a little more for a direct flight). The only time airline really comes into play is if one and two aren't an issue at all-if Sun Country and Delta are the same price Im flying Delta but Im not paying an extra couple hundred bucks for the privilege.

 

[Donnyboy]

https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/united-airlines-ceo-scott-kirby-delta-american-11621d97?st=3pqoim&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Didn't really know where to put this.

The article is about the United Airline CEO and the strategy of upscaling and charging higher prices which has apparently done well for them as their stock price had doubled.

There was this line:
Until recently, the industry believed that air travel was a commodity—that customers only cared about price and schedule. But that’s wrong, Kirby says. The experience matters, too, and he’s now convinced that a better one can earn brand loyalty.

Man, I have to say that I mostly still see them as a commodity. I look:
1. Price
2. Schedule
3. Airline

Any of you prefer an airline so much that you would pay more and take a worse flight time to stay on it?

Tons of regular business travelers pick for perks/miles type stuff it isn’t their money and expense reports don’t flag the difference n 500 and say 750-1009

I find myself doing this more now due to the rise in low class flyers. During the pandemic when me and the boys were traveling non stop I would routinely grab a spirit or frontier type airline flight and put the difference Toward lodging or an extra adventure. Not anymore….as price drops so does humanity. It’s not just annoying it can disrupt schedule when someone throws a massive fit and you have deplane. They can’t all do it United just found its niche….ironically United is still one of my least favorite airlines.

 

[steross]

I retired Friday and this was out in Barron's today. Bad omen?

What Was the Worst Year to Retire? Not 1929.

New calculations from the creator of the 4% rule show that the 1929 market crash wasn’t as bad for retirement portfolios as the high inflation of the 70s and 80s.

www.barrons.com

 

[JTOSU]

I retired Friday and this was out in Barron's today. Bad omen?

What Was the Worst Year to Retire? Not 1929.

New calculations from the creator of the 4% rule show that the 1929 market crash wasn’t as bad for retirement portfolios as the high inflation of the 70s and 80s.

www.barrons.com

I retired end of 2024. Inflation is certainly a very valid concern, but I don’t remotely agree with Bengen’s suggestion at the end of the article to be in only 35% stocks for retirement. That does not make sense to me.

My HOPE…is that the Fed stays very independent. Inflation soared for various reasons in the 70s, but pressure from Nixon definitely increased stagflation. Although lowering interest rates will be good short-term for my retirement accounts, it does the opposite of controlling inflation. I have been a Powell fan and I hate to see him leave (we don’t need Trump successfully pressuring a new Chairman - we need long-term views not short-term).

 

[steross]

 

[TheMonkey]

View attachment 20430

I live in TX. If I were smarter, I’d be in a smaller home in a county with lower property tax rates. But it’s a losing battle with my wife.

Here, you can make $240k/yr and pay a lot more/less in state taxes depending on the value of your home.

 

[JTOSU]

Here, you can make $240k/yr and pay a lot more/less in state taxes depending on the value of your home.

I think that is the situation in about any state. From the graph all have property taxes and I believe all state’s property taxes are ad valorem. Although I do know states like Georgia freeze property taxes for seniors (IMO, a great idea) and Florida (and a few others) cap the annual increase of taxes.

 

[TheMonkey]

I think that is the situation in about any state. From the graph all have property taxes and I believe all state’s property taxes are ad valorem. Although I do know states like Georgia freeze property taxes for seniors (IMO, a great idea) and Florida (and a few others) cap the annual increase of taxes.

Maybe multiple states, but not “about any state.” Not to the same extent as TX. Just compare TX to Oklahoma. TX Has no state income tax (blue) and property taxes (red) look like 70% with sales tax (green) about 30% of the state tax average. Florida is similar. Alaska is even more so. But most others are less dependent on property taxes.

 

[Polds4OSU]

Now he is doing miracles

Sen. Tim Scott: "We have a very healthy economy because of President Trump. We have to look back at the Biden years. The great news is President Trump has pulled a miracle."

Aaron Rupar (@aaron.rupar) on Threads

Sen. Tim Scott: "We have a very healthy economy because of President Trump. We have to look back at the Biden years. The great news is President Trump has pulled a miracle."

www.threads.com

Fox Business: There’s a new poll out showing 61% of Americans feel the economy is on the wrong track. That’s up from 43% in January.

The Lincoln Project (@lincolnproject.us) on Threads

Fox Business: There’s a new poll out showing 61% of Americans feel the economy is on the wrong track. That’s up from 43% in January.

www.threads.com

 

[HacklemanPoke]

I think that is the situation in about any state. From the graph all have property taxes and I believe all state’s property taxes are ad valorem. Although I do know states like Georgia freeze property taxes for seniors (IMO, a great idea) and Florida (and a few others) cap the annual increase of taxes.

Instead of playing games w tax rates and freezes how about we solve the real situation and make property taxes affordable for everyone.

Why should a 65 yo billionaire pay a lower tax % than a family of 5 w 2 teachers?

 

[JTOSU]

Instead of playing games w tax rates and freezes how about we solve the real situation and make property taxes affordable for everyone.

Why should a 65 yo billionaire pay a lower tax % than a family of 5 w 2 teachers?

I am certainly good for lowering property taxes for everyone.

Unclear how freezing property tax rates for seniors (who generally have stopped working) is playing games. I think it is a great idea for our older residents who have lived in homes for decades only to see the value increase (but not their checkbooks) due to items outside of their control.

Property taxes are ad valorem. Presumably a billionaire will have a home much bigger than a family of 2 teachers. Hence the billionaire will already pay more....and MUCH more depending upon size of the mansion or Mcmansion.

 

[HacklemanPoke]

I am certainly good for lowering property taxes for everyone.

Unclear how freezing property tax rates for seniors (who generally have stopped working) is playing games. I think it is a great idea for our older residents who have lived in homes for decades only to see the value increase (but not their checkbooks) due to items outside of their control.

Property taxes are ad valorem. Presumably a billionaire will have a home much bigger than a family of 2 teachers. Hence the billionaire will already pay more....and MUCH more depending upon size of the mansion or Mcmansion.

Thanks for not reading comprehending my post.

 

[cowboyinexile]

Thanks for not reading comprehending my post.

 

[CowboyJD]

I couldn't decide whether to give you a "winner" trophy emoji or a "funny" laugh emoji.

So I one and then I clicked the other.

 

[JTOSU]

Thanks for not reading comprehending my post.

Are you referring to the portion about a lower tax %? I didn't address that because I assumed you were from Oklahoma and understood the effective property tax rates are lower for lower value homes (due to flat homeowner's exemptions). For a $70K home the effective property tax rate is 1.32%. For a $3,500,000 in the same zip code the effective rate is 1.51%.

And if the homeowner has a household income of less than $30K, the effective rate drops even further to 1.06%.