A number of points:
1. On a previous Bob Brinker radio program, within the past two weeks, I believe Bob mentioned that shorting against the box was no longer allowed under the tax laws. I am not an accountant or a CPA but my understanding of the law is as follows:
One is allowed to short against the box for up to 10 months out of the year. On the 31st day of the following year, read that to mean January 31st, one must take the position off or the position becomes a taxable event. The position must stay off for the next 60 days and be exposed to market risk. Then after that 60 day period has passed one can enact a new short against the box position once more if one chose for the following 10 months. To complicate matters further, if one bought an at-the-money-put option to protect the position for the exposed 60 days that also became a taxable event but the rules were unclear, at the time I read them, as to whether an out-of-money put option too close to the market price of the equity was a taxable event as well. Any clarifications or comments on this issue would be appreciated.
2. This is my first post on this board although I have been a lurker on this board since its inception. This board excels when the people who post critically analyze the issues talked about on Bob's show and the board fails when people's egos and personalities get the better of them and they attack one another. We can all learn from each other if we keep in mind that we all share the same goal...that of reaching critical mass...or a financial level where we can live more comfortably through intelligent investing...let's keep our focus on these objectives.
3. In relation to the aforementioned point, there are some people who post on this board who are critical of Bob for not making more timely individual mutual fund or stock recommendations. As an economist, long-term investor, option trader, and speculator, (not necessarily in that order), I would like to point out that if Bob was forecasting this market with only a 55% to 65% rate of accuracy, an accuracy rate most investors / traders would die for, and you followed his advice...you would be vastly richer.
4. Finally, having been a faithful listener to the show since 1986 I know better...his accuracy rate has been well above 65%...dare I say something on the order of 90% plus...that is unheard of...these are just the facts. If you have taken his advice like I have you have a great many things to be thankful for I know I have...but I will save that story for the next post. |
