Making money in the long term
February 18, 2009 (Wednesday)
With most stock portfolios hovering at half their former value, the suggestion is being made that people take advantage of an inevitable demographic trend and invest for the long term. The trend? The population is getting older. Within the next ten years, 76 million “Baby Boomers” will retire. So just look for the companies that will be growing as a result of an aging population, and put your money there. Don’t expect a return soon. Pick a stock. Buy it. Then fuggidabowdit.
What are the stocks that might benefit from an aging population? Well, winners might be companies that provide medicines and treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease. While Alzheimer’s can hit at any age, it most frequently affects “Senior Citizens.” Since there is going to be more of them than ever before, it stands to reason that there is money to be made in companies that profit from medicines or treatments for this dreaded problem. Kinda cold-hearted, huh? Oh, well, “binnis is binnis,” as they say.
Another trend is the great and growing problem of obesity. Investors, some say, should not overlook companies that manufacture anything that treats health problems associated with being overweight. Again, the idea is that if you can’t whip the problem, you may as well profit from it. The investor’s heart is turning to ice.
These are only two of the trends that the investor can take into account as he/she decides where to put his/her money for the long term. They seem to me to have this in common: making money while trying not to think of all the suffering behind the big bucks.
One might say, “Well, I’m putting my money into a company that is trying to provide comfort and/or cures for human suffering.” If that’s your motivation, and you feel that’s the best way to use your money to help others, well and good. Ask the Lord about it, and follow His leading.
People need to follow Jesus, not only making a profession of faith in Him as Savior, but walking “in His steps.” Jesus sounded a trumpet call to deny self and think about how to help others. Only then will we consider ourselves to be fulfilling our purpose for living. Hey, have you read Matthew 5, 6 and 7 lately? Reading those chapters with an open mind will shake you up. If you take them seriously, they can change your life.