[maktbone]

While I agree that the taxes required to fund public pensions and support unionized government employees are killing the California dream, I’m not convinced things are so rosy in Arizona. I was born, raised, and educated in Arizona. My money is on Texas.

Arizona has the largest budget gap in the country when measured as a percentage of its overall budget. The state ranks in the bottom quintile on various education measures, particularly student-teacher ratios and funding per pupil. In order to keep its semiconductor and electronics industries flourishing, the state has to import educated workers from outside the region. At least California has a highly educated workforce, venture capital, and a university system that can provide skilled workers to keep the economy moving along.

Utility rates per unit of energy in AZ are half those in California, but net usage is higher due to A/C and larger homes, so gross electric bills are generally higher in AZ. While Arizona does have low wages and plenty of real estate, it is heavily dependent on cheap electricity and gasoline. Take the cheap energy away (phase out coal power and implement cap-and-trade) and the cost structure isn’t so favorable any more.

As for Texas, it has low taxes, ports, a large university system, the energy industry, lots of wind power, cheap land, guns, a real death penalty, etc.

[maktbone]

While I agree that the taxes required to fund public pensions and support unionized government employees are killing the California dream, I’m not convinced things are so rosy in Arizona. I was born, raised, and educated in Arizona. My money is on Texas.

Arizona has the largest budget gap in the country when measured as a percentage of its overall budget. The state ranks in the bottom quintile on various education measures, particularly student-teacher ratios and funding per pupil. In order to keep its semiconductor and electronics industries flourishing, the state has to import educated workers from outside the region. At least California has a highly educated workforce, venture capital, and a university system that can provide skilled workers to keep the economy moving along.

Utility rates per unit of energy in AZ are half those in California, but net usage is higher due to A/C and larger homes, so gross electric bills are generally higher in AZ. While Arizona does have low wages and plenty of real estate, it is heavily dependent on cheap electricity and gasoline. Take the cheap energy away (phase out coal power and implement cap-and-trade) and the cost structure isn’t so favorable any more.

As for Texas, it has low taxes, ports, a large university system, the energy industry, lots of wind power, cheap land, guns, a real death penalty, etc.

[maktbone]

While I agree that the taxes required to fund public pensions and support unionized government employees are killing the California dream, I’m not convinced things are so rosy in Arizona. I was born, raised, and educated in Arizona. My money is on Texas.

Arizona has the largest budget gap in the country when measured as a percentage of its overall budget. The state ranks in the bottom quintile on various education measures, particularly student-teacher ratios and funding per pupil. In order to keep its semiconductor and electronics industries flourishing, the state has to import educated workers from outside the region. At least California has a highly educated workforce, venture capital, and a university system that can provide skilled workers to keep the economy moving along.

Utility rates per unit of energy in AZ are half those in California, but net usage is higher due to A/C and larger homes, so gross electric bills are generally higher in AZ. While Arizona does have low wages and plenty of real estate, it is heavily dependent on cheap electricity and gasoline. Take the cheap energy away (phase out coal power and implement cap-and-trade) and the cost structure isn’t so favorable any more.

As for Texas, it has low taxes, ports, a large university system, the energy industry, lots of wind power, cheap land, guns, a real death penalty, etc.

[maktbone]

While I agree that the taxes required to fund public pensions and support unionized government employees are killing the California dream, I’m not convinced things are so rosy in Arizona. I was born, raised, and educated in Arizona. My money is on Texas.

Arizona has the largest budget gap in the country when measured as a percentage of its overall budget. The state ranks in the bottom quintile on various education measures, particularly student-teacher ratios and funding per pupil. In order to keep its semiconductor and electronics industries flourishing, the state has to import educated workers from outside the region. At least California has a highly educated workforce, venture capital, and a university system that can provide skilled workers to keep the economy moving along.

Utility rates per unit of energy in AZ are half those in California, but net usage is higher due to A/C and larger homes, so gross electric bills are generally higher in AZ. While Arizona does have low wages and plenty of real estate, it is heavily dependent on cheap electricity and gasoline. Take the cheap energy away (phase out coal power and implement cap-and-trade) and the cost structure isn’t so favorable any more.

As for Texas, it has low taxes, ports, a large university system, the energy industry, lots of wind power, cheap land, guns, a real death penalty, etc.

[maktbone]

While I agree that the taxes required to fund public pensions and support unionized government employees are killing the California dream, I’m not convinced things are so rosy in Arizona. I was born, raised, and educated in Arizona. My money is on Texas.

Arizona has the largest budget gap in the country when measured as a percentage of its overall budget. The state ranks in the bottom quintile on various education measures, particularly student-teacher ratios and funding per pupil. In order to keep its semiconductor and electronics industries flourishing, the state has to import educated workers from outside the region. At least California has a highly educated workforce, venture capital, and a university system that can provide skilled workers to keep the economy moving along.

Utility rates per unit of energy in AZ are half those in California, but net usage is higher due to A/C and larger homes, so gross electric bills are generally higher in AZ. While Arizona does have low wages and plenty of real estate, it is heavily dependent on cheap electricity and gasoline. Take the cheap energy away (phase out coal power and implement cap-and-trade) and the cost structure isn’t so favorable any more.

As for Texas, it has low taxes, ports, a large university system, the energy industry, lots of wind power, cheap land, guns, a real death penalty, etc.

[maktbone]

[quote=DataAgent]If you like dividend-paying companies that are currently hiring people, look at utility companies. Sempra Energy – Ticker: SRE (parent of San Diego Gas & Electric) is a utility company.[/quote]

I must point out that Sempra does not perfectly fit the profile of a pure utility company–around 50% of Sempra’s earnings come from its non-utility subsidiaries whose earnings are “at-risk,” unlike its regulated utilities that have guaranteed rights to collect revenues from customers and can thus provide returns to shareholders.*

I encourage you to read the annual 10-K filing and do your due diligence before investing in any corporation. If you do not know how to read financial statements then you have no business purchasing individual stocks as you are speculating and not investing. You would be better served parking your hard-earned $$$ in an index fund or ETF.

*Disclosure: I am a Sempra employee but the views I express here are my own and not those of my employer. I am neither advocating for or against the purchase of Sempra stock.

[maktbone]

[quote=DataAgent]If you like dividend-paying companies that are currently hiring people, look at utility companies. Sempra Energy – Ticker: SRE (parent of San Diego Gas & Electric) is a utility company.[/quote]

I must point out that Sempra does not perfectly fit the profile of a pure utility company–around 50% of Sempra’s earnings come from its non-utility subsidiaries whose earnings are “at-risk,” unlike its regulated utilities that have guaranteed rights to collect revenues from customers and can thus provide returns to shareholders.*

I encourage you to read the annual 10-K filing and do your due diligence before investing in any corporation. If you do not know how to read financial statements then you have no business purchasing individual stocks as you are speculating and not investing. You would be better served parking your hard-earned $$$ in an index fund or ETF.

*Disclosure: I am a Sempra employee but the views I express here are my own and not those of my employer. I am neither advocating for or against the purchase of Sempra stock.

[maktbone]

[quote=DataAgent]If you like dividend-paying companies that are currently hiring people, look at utility companies. Sempra Energy – Ticker: SRE (parent of San Diego Gas & Electric) is a utility company.[/quote]

I must point out that Sempra does not perfectly fit the profile of a pure utility company–around 50% of Sempra’s earnings come from its non-utility subsidiaries whose earnings are “at-risk,” unlike its regulated utilities that have guaranteed rights to collect revenues from customers and can thus provide returns to shareholders.*

I encourage you to read the annual 10-K filing and do your due diligence before investing in any corporation. If you do not know how to read financial statements then you have no business purchasing individual stocks as you are speculating and not investing. You would be better served parking your hard-earned $$$ in an index fund or ETF.

*Disclosure: I am a Sempra employee but the views I express here are my own and not those of my employer. I am neither advocating for or against the purchase of Sempra stock.

[maktbone]

[quote=DataAgent]If you like dividend-paying companies that are currently hiring people, look at utility companies. Sempra Energy – Ticker: SRE (parent of San Diego Gas & Electric) is a utility company.[/quote]

I must point out that Sempra does not perfectly fit the profile of a pure utility company–around 50% of Sempra’s earnings come from its non-utility subsidiaries whose earnings are “at-risk,” unlike its regulated utilities that have guaranteed rights to collect revenues from customers and can thus provide returns to shareholders.*

I encourage you to read the annual 10-K filing and do your due diligence before investing in any corporation. If you do not know how to read financial statements then you have no business purchasing individual stocks as you are speculating and not investing. You would be better served parking your hard-earned $$$ in an index fund or ETF.

*Disclosure: I am a Sempra employee but the views I express here are my own and not those of my employer. I am neither advocating for or against the purchase of Sempra stock.

[maktbone]

[quote=DataAgent]If you like dividend-paying companies that are currently hiring people, look at utility companies. Sempra Energy – Ticker: SRE (parent of San Diego Gas & Electric) is a utility company.[/quote]

I must point out that Sempra does not perfectly fit the profile of a pure utility company–around 50% of Sempra’s earnings come from its non-utility subsidiaries whose earnings are “at-risk,” unlike its regulated utilities that have guaranteed rights to collect revenues from customers and can thus provide returns to shareholders.*

I encourage you to read the annual 10-K filing and do your due diligence before investing in any corporation. If you do not know how to read financial statements then you have no business purchasing individual stocks as you are speculating and not investing. You would be better served parking your hard-earned $$$ in an index fund or ETF.

*Disclosure: I am a Sempra employee but the views I express here are my own and not those of my employer. I am neither advocating for or against the purchase of Sempra stock.

[maktbone]

Trying to beat the market is only going to bite you in the long run. Unless you work for Goldman Sachs or have extensive finance training, you’re only falling victim to irrational psychological biases. Academic theory, especially the stuff coming out the U. of Chicago, has shown time and time again that the average person, no matter how-well intentioned, cannot consistent beat the market. If you want to risk retiring with nothing and having to live solely off social security checks that’s fine with me, but for your own sake and your family I hope you come to the realization that you are gambling, not investing. Try reading “A Random Walk Down Wall Street.” It will change your life.

Personally, I’m invested in index funds, 40% in an S&P 500 ETF, 35% in a MSCI International ETF, and 25% in a corporate bond fund. I rebalance once a year.

[maktbone]

Trying to beat the market is only going to bite you in the long run. Unless you work for Goldman Sachs or have extensive finance training, you’re only falling victim to irrational psychological biases. Academic theory, especially the stuff coming out the U. of Chicago, has shown time and time again that the average person, no matter how-well intentioned, cannot consistent beat the market. If you want to risk retiring with nothing and having to live solely off social security checks that’s fine with me, but for your own sake and your family I hope you come to the realization that you are gambling, not investing. Try reading “A Random Walk Down Wall Street.” It will change your life.

Personally, I’m invested in index funds, 40% in an S&P 500 ETF, 35% in a MSCI International ETF, and 25% in a corporate bond fund. I rebalance once a year.

[maktbone]

Trying to beat the market is only going to bite you in the long run. Unless you work for Goldman Sachs or have extensive finance training, you’re only falling victim to irrational psychological biases. Academic theory, especially the stuff coming out the U. of Chicago, has shown time and time again that the average person, no matter how-well intentioned, cannot consistent beat the market. If you want to risk retiring with nothing and having to live solely off social security checks that’s fine with me, but for your own sake and your family I hope you come to the realization that you are gambling, not investing. Try reading “A Random Walk Down Wall Street.” It will change your life.

Personally, I’m invested in index funds, 40% in an S&P 500 ETF, 35% in a MSCI International ETF, and 25% in a corporate bond fund. I rebalance once a year.

[maktbone]

Trying to beat the market is only going to bite you in the long run. Unless you work for Goldman Sachs or have extensive finance training, you’re only falling victim to irrational psychological biases. Academic theory, especially the stuff coming out the U. of Chicago, has shown time and time again that the average person, no matter how-well intentioned, cannot consistent beat the market. If you want to risk retiring with nothing and having to live solely off social security checks that’s fine with me, but for your own sake and your family I hope you come to the realization that you are gambling, not investing. Try reading “A Random Walk Down Wall Street.” It will change your life.

Personally, I’m invested in index funds, 40% in an S&P 500 ETF, 35% in a MSCI International ETF, and 25% in a corporate bond fund. I rebalance once a year.

[maktbone]

Trying to beat the market is only going to bite you in the long run. Unless you work for Goldman Sachs or have extensive finance training, you’re only falling victim to irrational psychological biases. Academic theory, especially the stuff coming out the U. of Chicago, has shown time and time again that the average person, no matter how-well intentioned, cannot consistent beat the market. If you want to risk retiring with nothing and having to live solely off social security checks that’s fine with me, but for your own sake and your family I hope you come to the realization that you are gambling, not investing. Try reading “A Random Walk Down Wall Street.” It will change your life.

Personally, I’m invested in index funds, 40% in an S&P 500 ETF, 35% in a MSCI International ETF, and 25% in a corporate bond fund. I rebalance once a year.

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