Friday, October 18, 2019

Neutron Jack's Successor

By Joel Litman

Dear reader, Few CEOs have been more influential than Jack Welch of General Electric (GE). Welch joined the company in 1960 and became CEO in 1981… By that time, GE was an aging, 90-year-old conglomerate that was considered by investors only for its dividend. But the market was unprepared for the sweeping changes that would […]

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This Company Owns the Cashless Society

By Joel Litman

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Dear reader, On September 18, 1958, the “Fresno Drop” completely changed the banking and payments industry… While the exact history of the credit card is a bit hazy, the original cards can be traced back to early single-store “charge cards” in the 1920s and ’30s. These allowed trustworthy customers to pay their bills on a […]

The Formula to This Beverage Giant's Success

By Joel Litman

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Dear reader, If Mickey Mouse is the face of American culture over the past century, then Coca-Cola (KO) is its lifeblood. Through the signature contour bottle and the “Teach the World to Sing” campaign in 1971, Coke became America’s beverage. However, no Coca-Cola marketing initiative has struck the public conscience like its basic premise: the […]

This Company Can't Franchise Away Its Problems

By Joel Litman

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Dear reader, Let’s talk about one of America’s most beloved – and infamous – companies. But it might not be for the reasons you think… I’m not talking about its viral one-cent burger promotion. While I’m excited about it as a pescatarian, I’m not discussing this company’s partnership with meat-substitute producer Beyond Meat (BYND)… nor […]

Returns as Coherent as a Picasso Painting

By Joel Litman

Monday, October 14, 2019

Dear reader, There’s real estate, precious metals, natural resources, municipal bonds, and a litany of other “alternative assets” out in the markets. I often get questions about why our firm spends so much time looking specifically at stocks and bonds. There are so many other asset classes that can help diversify an investor’s overall portfolio. […]

A Collision of Banking and Coffee Culture

By Joel Litman

Friday, October 11, 2019

Dear reader, Imagine an open-air space with modern lighting, trendy furniture, and free Wi-Fi. You can buy coffee and pastries from the barista at the counter… and sit at a table and use the device-charging stations for your laptop or iPad while you crank out that novel you’ve been working on for the past few […]

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