X-Message-Number: 7131 Date: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 23:19:11 -0500 From: Garret Smyth <> Subject: investments for assets whilst frozen Hi! For anyone who's missed missed me - please note my new address. For anyone who hasn't missed me - well I've missed you all the same. Investment strategies: This is an old question which grumbles on and on. First remember that to have anything at all upon revival you actually need to be revived - so get signed up and support research. Yes, money spent now on getting you to a point when you need to worry in the future is vastly more important. But.... ...I can't help noticing that there are those cryonicists (or "would be" cryonicists) that can't help but dream about having lots of lolly without working for it so here's my two penneth (compound interest not having been taken into account)... goods will generally be easy to copy, unless they have scarcity value, say as antiques (but fakability may be a problem here), or because they use rare elements such as gold. Gold may not be of much value because it may have little use and there may be better ways of collecting it. Perhaps from space, or from the sea. I hear that there is gold in solution in sea water. A tiny amount per litre, but given the total volume of the seas, there is a lot altogether. A major problem with physical assets is the cost of storage. Who is going to look after your gold ingots? Intangible assets are hard to look after too. Laws against trusts in perpetuity abound and the investor can only hope that the ever globalising government doesn't press such a law on Lichtenstein. (Oh, the EU wouldn't do that, woudln't it?) Assuming that the intangible is going to be safe in the long run you will need to leave instructions for investment strategy whilst you are in suspension. Just picking one market sector for a hundred year gamble might be unwise. It is understandable that cryonicists like "technology" but don't forget that higher returns usually reflect higher risk and *you won't be around to direct your broker*. Also, "technology" today is like saying "industry" 150 years ago. An expanding sector indeed, but non the less prone to crashes, and other sectors have done very well too. Property is a good suggestion. Historically a very good sector in many countries, but think of all those that had their property empires wiped out in the last couple of hundred years. Britain and the US are unusual countries in their continuity of government - but "land reform" has affected both enormously. Again, don't forget taht you won't be there to watch over your assets. There is a simple answer though. Don't try to beat the market, for this is hard enough to for the relativley unfrozen pro to do. Just try to ride with it. Go for "tracker funds" - preferably global ones. No tricky instructions need be given, dealing costs are very low, and they will follow every sector, even if new ones are invented. TTFN Garret PS Remember that it is better to be poor and alive than rich and dead. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7131