yes, we are all trying to figure out a way to make a buck. They have something called "Target Funds." I suppose if you choose the 2115 Target fund, they invest in bullets and shovels. But if the 2045 Target Fund is more your style, they will buy you some stocks and loan a small amount to the US government.
that is, your investment decisions are based on when you are going to need the money The way a young kid just starting out sees it may be different than the old guy just getting ready to retire sees it. For the young guy, loaning money to the United States Federal Government is probably not a good plan for financial independence. But for the old guy it may be ok if he wants to reduce his stock exposure.
I get it ... makes sense.. on a 20 year horizon government debt doesn't seem like a good idea.. nor does buying the market right now..
that's what I am trying to tell you. When you own SPY you own a lot of diversified assets. Real Estate, Banking, Manufacturing, Tech. The only question is, how much is it worth and what is a good price? and if you are keeping score in dollars, then the only question is, "How much is a dollar worth?"
in this hi tech world, it should be very easy to wake up and type something in on your iphone which will tell you how much a dollar is worth today. For instance, how much gas and Starbucks coffee and SPY and gold will a dollar buy today? when you get to trading that forex, you start asking, "What really is moving today? Is it stocks or crude? Or is it just the dollar?
yes I totally get that.. Everything is a spread trade or pair trade.. like if i buy a piece of equipment i am implying that the return from the equipment within the context of my business is going to be higher then then just hoarding the cash.. or any other transaction for that matter.. currency trading lends quickly to that ideology.. i get what your saying though...
cool man, I don't want to hijack your thread. Now, what exactly is your concern about money being locked up in banks?