Heart Disease is a Food and Nutrition Related Pandemic Disease in America

Posted on by

Heart disease is caused by the foods we eat.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death of men and women in America. It kills more than 647K Americans annually according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It fills the nation’s critical care hospitals beds and exponentially increases healthcare costs. Heart disease has become a perennial pandemic in America.

Heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type is coronary artery disease, which can cause heart attack.

Heart disease occurs most often when a substance called plaque builds up in your arteries. When this happens, your arteries can narrow over time, reducing blood flow to the heart.

According to Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr., who directs the cardiovascular prevention and reversal program at The Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, heart disease and the build up of plaque in your arteries can be “prevented, arrested, and selectively reversed” by consuming a plant based diet and eliminating from the standard American diet the typical toxic and unsafe foods which are responsible for the disease.

“When we have a problem, our natural instinct is to add a new habit or purchase a fix. But sometimes, you can improve your life by taking things away. For example, the foods you avoid are more important than the foods you eat.” David Perell

Instead of the government’s universally accepted ‘food pyramid’, Dr. Esselstyn promotes just 3 food categories: safe, condiments, and unsafe.

  • Safe: grains, legumes, lentils, vegetables, and fruits
  • Condiments: nuts and seeds
  • Unsafe: oils, sugars, dairy and processed foods, meat, poultry, and fish

 

References:

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/docs/ConsumerEd_HeartDisease.pdf
  2. http://www.dresselstyn.com/site/study03/

COVID-19 Tracker | FIRST TRUST

Posted on by

First Trust Economic’s weekly COVID-19 Tracker which contains charts and data that they think are important to gain some perspective on the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. 

https://www.ftportfolios.com/Common/ContentFileLoader.aspx?ContentGUID=a9e49836-abc7-41cf-8949-4497ddee0018

Setting Financial Goals | Mass Mutual

Posted on by

Every successful investing journey starts with a set of clear goals.

When it comes to planning for your financial future, it’s essential to have clear, concise and measurable financial goals — and a good comprehensive financial plan and strategies for reaching them.  Sometimes the hardest part is just knowing where to start and what is the destination.

Mass Mutual advises clients to set four basic financial goals; two short term goals (Income & Savings) and two long term goals (Retirement & Debt) — using their simple 5-10-15-20 guidelines:

  • 5: Increase your annual income from all sources by at least 5% each year.
  • 10: Save at least 10% (preferably 15%) of your net annual income each year.
  • 15: Target a retirement “nest egg” of about 15 times your annual income.
  • 20: Plan to have your debt (excluding your mortgage) paid down within 20 years at most.

Goal: 5% Income Increase

While many Americans see their salaries increase about 2% to 3% each year, setting the bar higher will help you maximize your biggest asset: your income. Setting a goal to increase in your total income 5% every year, whether it’s through your salary or other sources of income, can make a big difference over the long run. your personal financial situation.

10% Yearly Savings

A good rule of thumb is to save 10% to 20% of your net income each year. This could help you to take advantage of opportunities that may arise, like finding your dream home or investing in a new business venture. It also can provide a cushion in case of emergencies. You can increase the amount you save by setting aside a little more of your salary each month and cutting back on unnecessary expenses.

15x Salary Retirement Nest Egg

As you get older, you’ll have a better sense of your true retirement needs. For now, we suggest trying to accumulate a total of 15 times your current gross annual income for
retirement. The goal is to end up with a nest egg that could generate about 75% of your current annual income each year in retirement.

20-Year Debt Pay-Down

Many of us are burdened with debt, including student, credit card, auto and other loans. By understanding how long it will take to pay down your debt and working towards a debt elimination plan with set timelines, you’ll be better able to manage not only your debt, but your savings and retirement, too.

https://www.massmutual.com/financial-wellness/calculators/establishing-financial-goals

Color blind or color brave? | TED2014

Posted on by

Mellody Hobson is President of Ariel Investments and an advocate for financial literacy and investor education.

The subject of race can be very touchy. As finance executive Mellody Hobson says, it’s a “conversational third rail.” But, she says, that’s exactly why we need to start talking about it. In this engaging, persuasive talk, Hobson makes the case that speaking openly about race — and particularly about diversity in hiring — makes for better businesses and a better society.

20 Habits of Successful Traders

Posted on by

In a stock portfolio, large companies in mature industries provide typically provide earnings growth and steady cash flows. With a low beta, these companies also help in creation of a defensive portfolio. However, the objective of creating a diversified portfolio is to beat the index returns. It makes sense to invest in the index if investors can’t beat the index.It is likely to be a difficult task to beat the index without having medium and small size companies in the portfolio

  • Learning how to invest doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it can be simple. Regardless of the current state of the stock market, you should still invest in the market.
  • Learn how to find and buy stocks, generate consistent returns, and reduce your risk.
  1. Always important to remember that equity markets are huge crowds of people attempting to make money at the expense of others.
  2. Be patient with winning trades and aggressively impatient with losing trades by cutting your loser immediately. Cut losses immediately.
  3. Making money is more important than being right. The market can stay wrong longer than you can stay solvent. Do what the market is telling you do.
  4. Look at charts as a picture of where traders are lining up to buy or sell. Charts are simply where traders are lining up.
  5. Before they enter any trade, they know exactly where they will exit for either a gain or a loss. Know where you’re going to exit before you get in.
  6. They approach trade number 5 with the same mindset they did on the 4 previous losing trades. Understand that statically chart patterns do not always work.
  7. Use naked charts and focus on zones. Successful traders rarely use anything but price.
  8. They realized a long time ago that being uncomfortable is okay. You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Will never have 100% complete information. They’re able to make decisions based on incomplete information.
  9. The markets are their workplace. They are a participant, not an on-looker.
  10. Stop trying to pick tops and bottoms. Trade when charts are trending. Trade with the trend.
  11. Stop thinking about the market or stock as being “cheap” or “expensive”. Is someone going to pay more or less for the stock at a later date.
  12. Buy higher highs and sell lower lows. Trade the trends. Things that are going higher tend to go higher. Things are going lower tend to go lower.
  1. Change your plan as market change. Be willing to change sides if the market tells them to do so. Wait to see what the market is going to do and trade the trend.
  1. Trade aggressively when trading is going well and modestly when trades are going badly. If I have three losing trades in a stock in a row, I will reduce trading size on that stock.
  2. They realize the market will be open again tomorrow. They do not succumb too the fear of missing out. Don’t beat yourself up.
  3. Never add to a losing trade. Never, ever add to a losing trade.
  4. Cash is the goal, but never the measure of success. The goal should be did you follow your rules getting into trades and getting out of trades.
  5. They read books about mobs and riots.
  6. Provide liquidity to the markets while watching price and volume. Treat trading as a market maker.
  7. They have a way to gauge fear, greed and speed of the markets: use Tick Charts 233, 612.
  8. They practice reading the right side of the chart, not the left. Become better at seeing, predicting and reading the patterns before they’re formed.
  9. Every wealthy trader has an “edge” that can explain to their mothers. As simple as a moving average crossing over another moving average.
  10. Businessman Risk. Avoid risking more than 2% on any trade. Position size is calculated exactly on risk tolerance. The objective amount they will risk, or willing to lose, on any one trade. An objective way to calculate risk.
  11. Profit targets are based on average range or something objective. Know the normal behavior of a stock before you trade it.
  12. One or two trades a month, make their month. Have many more small losers interspersed with big winners
  13. Confidence decision makers in the face of incomplete information.
  14. A losing trade does not mean you are a loser. Successful traders do not take the market or a stock loss personally.
  15. They buy higher highs and sell lower lows.
  16. Their business isn’t trading — it’s finding the right trades to make money.
  17. They write down or record every trade — price, thoughts, news, attitudes. Find patterns in your own behaviors.
  18. Their conviction pa an active trade remains unless something major changes.
  19. A winning trade does not result in taking on extra risk the next trade.
  20. Trade the reaction, not the news. Trade the aversion back to the mean. Don’t trade the initial reaction, trade the reaction to the initial reaction to the news.
  21. Make trading as objective as possible.
  22. Keep a journal: Price entry and exit, slippage, max profit, max loss,
  23. Learn as much as you can about trading by reading, listening to experts and seminars. Keep a degree of healthy skepticism.
  24. Do not get greedy and rush to trade. Take your time to learn how to trade.
  25. Develop a method to analyze the markets. Markets keep changing. Need different tools for Bull, Bear and transitional markets.
  26. First goal must be long term survival. Second goal is steady growth of capital. Third goal is making high profits.
  27. Trader is weakest leak in any trading system. Winner think, feel and believe differently. To be a winner, you must change your personality.
  28. Mass Psychology: Bulls are buyers, bets on a rally and profits from a rise in prices. Bears are sellers, bets on falling markets and profits fall in prices . Hogs are greedy. Sheep are passive followers.
  29. Ask is what a seller asks to sell. Bid is what a buyer offers to pay. Sellers sell because they expect prices to fall. Buyers buy because they expect prices to rise. Undecided

Coronavirus Rates Surge in West and South

Posted on by

Several U.S. states continue to set daily records for coronavirus infections as outbreaks surge mostly across the South and West. As of Tuesday, at least 35 states are seeing increases in daily coronavirus cases. The increases are particularly steep Florida, Arizona, California, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. Many of the states are reporting more cases than they’ve ever seen on a daily basis.

Those regions are experiencing higher seven day average infection rates and hospitalizations. The spike in new cases that have outpaced daily infection rates experienced in April.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has proven to be the type of virus that epidemiologists have always feared. The virus spreads easily, no one appears to have immunity to it and it’s much more stealthier than expected. The severity of COVID-19 symptoms can range from very mild to severe. Most people experience only a few minor symptoms, and some people experience no symptoms at all.

With the current level of spread in the West and South, Americans should expect this virus to continue to circulate. Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases and the top U.S. infectious diseases expert, has warned that unless the current trend shifts, the U.S. could see its daily number of new coronavirus cases rise to 100,000 from its current level of around 40,000. However, people can help to curb the spread of infection by:

  • Practicing social physical distancing (6 feet or 2 meters)
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Cover your face (nose and mouth) with a cloth mask in public spaces.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, electronics and counters, daily.
  • Stay home from work, school and public areas if you’re infected, unless you’re going to get medical care.

Yet, it’s important to understand, according to Dr. Fauci, that the only way to successfully stop the spread of the coronavirus will be an effective vaccine that proves safe and has shown some efficacy by creating coronavirus neutralizing antibodies in people. There are currently 17 potential SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in clinical trials being tested on human patients across the globe.

References:

  1. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/29/cdc-says-us-has-way-too-much-virus-to-control-pandemic-as-cases-surge-across-country.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.microsoft.onenote.shareextension
  2. https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/06/30/Dr-Fauci-warns-US-COVID-19-cases-could-reach-100000-a-day/1971593516091/
  3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/symptoms-causes/syc-20479963

Wells Fargo Cuts Its Dividend | THE STREET

Posted on by

After the Fed’s stress tests on banks, buybacks are halted through at least the end of September, and common-stock dividends are capped at an average of the past four quarters’ earnings

Wells Fargo  announced it will cut its dividend, breaking rank with all of Wall Street’s other big banks, following the Federal Reserve’s move to set new restrictions on dividend payouts to shareholders.

The fourth-biggest U.S. bank by assets announced it plans to cut its dividend from the 51 cents it paid in each of the four most-recent quarters. The bank said it would announce its payout when it reports second-quarter earnings on July 14.

The move marks the first time since the financial crisis that a major U.S. bank has slashed its quarterly reward to shareholders, though it also comes as the Fed literally backstops banks and other lenders with almost free money to keep cash flowing through the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing economic collapse.

Read more:  https://www.thestreet.com/investing/wells-fargo-wfc-dividend-cut-wall-street-banks

Three New Symptoms of Coronavirus Infection

Posted on by

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added three more symptoms to its official list of coronavirus symptoms. The following symptoms, according to the CDC, can be indicative of the novel coronavirus infection:

  • Congestion or runny nose,
  • Nausea or vomiting, and
  • Diarrhea

COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization. The complete list of symptoms, according to the CDC.

Most common symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Dry cough
  • Tiredness

Less common symptoms:

  • Aches and pains
  • Sore throat
  • Diarrhea
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Headache
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Rash on skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting

Serious symptoms:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Loss of speech of movement

Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days

Read more: https://apple.news/Awg8eB6MFTUKtV9Q388kS4Q

References:

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fsymptoms.html

NCL Norwegian Dawn in Harvest Caye, Belize

Posted on by

Harvest Caye is Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Private Island nestled off the coast of Belize. The private island has amazing white sand beaches and a large pool.

Although the island of Harvest Caye is apparently exclusive to Norwegian Cruise Line, many first time NCL Cruise ship passengers were surprised to discover that ship board beverage packages and complimentary food privileges did not extend to the island. Instead, cruise ship passengers were required to pullout cash ($USD) and credit cards to purchase high priced, limited selection of food and a vast variety of overly priced cold beverages.

One casual observation, the poolside bar service on the island was glacially slow and inefficient. At the Harvest Caye Bar and Grille, there were four gents crowded behind the bar to fulfill drink orders of the thirsty horde. Yet, it took too long for the gents to complete each beverage transaction.

For whatever reason, it took this quartet of bartenders more than five minutes to fulfill each beverage transaction. How do I know…because I took the opportunity to time two of the bartenders’ transactions from the moment they took a guest’s order to the time that guest walked away with their ordered beverage in hand.

In my attempt to order a beverage, I waited in the relatively short queue more than fifteen minutes, before I decided to abandon my quest for a beverage from the bar. And, I was not the only making the decision to forego a beverage because of the bars‘s inefficiencies.

NCL is leaving quite a bit of money on the table due lack of customer service and bar service training provided to the four gents. From my observations, it should not take a bartender, if properly trained and managed, five to eight minutes to fulfill a simple drink order like pouring a beer or a making a margarita.

The island’s pool area was large and well laid out with ample number of chairs and umbrellas available, if there was only a single NCL cruise ship present. Unfortunately, multiple ships were concurrently visiting the island. And, as a result, I did have a challenge locating an available chair and umbrella combo that would provide shade and cover from the blistering heat of the this early March day.

Many of the poolside chairs were apparently reserved by cruise ships’ guests who left behind towels or other personal belongings to indicate there unavailability. This was truly a case of the early birds getting the worm. And in this case, the worm were the pool side and beach chairs and umbrellas.

Thankfully, the crystal clear aqua blue water surrounding the island was relatively mild temperature-wise. I did take advantage of the opportunity to wade shoulder deep into the surf to swim and view the ocean bottom. The experience floating with the Caribbean surf proved quite memorable and relaxing.

Overall, it was a pleasurable visit to Harvest Caye and I look forward to returning to picturesque Harvest Caye island in the near future.