Thursday, January 31, 2019

Tony Robbins: Ways to Master Anything ( Tony Robbins Coaching )

Here is the link.

5:58/ 29:16

Goal - power of goal setting

Conditioning yourself to succeed.

Ultimate performance technology



"Become OBSESSED With SUCCESS!" - Tony Robbins (@TonyRobbins) - Top 10 Rules

Here is the link.

-= TONY'S RULES =- 1. Find fulfillment 2. Feed your mind with greatness 3. Own your business 4. Change your story 5. Be obsessed with adding value 6. Focus 7. Diversify 8. Live your mission 9. #Believe 10. Let go

MONEY MASTER THE GAME- By Tony Robbins EXPLAINED!

Jan. 31, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I like to spend more time to learn how to save money, play more defense game.

Take my notes

0:44
Offense wins games. Defense wins championships

1. How to make more money?
2. How to get a raise?
3. How to get a better job?

- Saving
- Diversification
- Cutting expense
- Budgeting
- Tax strategies


Retirement planning

Case study: How to define a nice person?

Friends working in Facebook

Friends working in Microsoft

Friends working in Amazon

Friends working in Apple.com


From the article

MARKET VALUE: $725.1 billion
DIVIDEND YIELD: 1.9%
ANALYSTS’ OPINION: 11 strong buy, 1 buy, 17 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell
Not too long ago, Apple (AAPL, $153.30) was making headlines for being the first U.S. company to top $1 trillion in market value. My, how times change – and fast. AAPL stock has lost about a third of its value since topping out in early October 2018, erasing about $275 billion in market value along the way. Investors are terrified that the company’s iPhone growth engine is finally starting to sputter.
But value investors, notably Warren Buffett, know that Apple’s long-term prospects rest on more than just that single shiny gadget. That’s why Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has absolutely piled into Apple’s stock over the past few years. Indeed, Berkshire, with its 5.3% stake in Apple, is now the company’s third-largest shareholder.

Friends working in Google

Google

I like to write something about Google and what I know about Google. I learned Google culture more than 2 months in 2017.

Of course, I am too late to purchase Google stock. It was $247 dollar one share in 2007, the price is over $1000 dollar a share. I wish that I can have 10 shares of Google stock in short future. That is $10,000 us dollars. How to get the shares? Work hard! Play google foobar problem set?

I know less than 10 people working in Google right now. So I can say that I should not have too many friends in Google.



How much money I can invest on stock market?

Jan. 31, 2019


Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I like to learn personal finance, one of topics is about stock market. I will continue to learn. One of questions is how much money I can invest on stock market.




101 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for 2019 and Beyond

Here is the link.


12 Stocks You Should Never Sell

Here is the link.


101 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for 2019 and Beyond

Here is the link.

11 Great Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Next Decade

Jan. 31, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I have to push myself hard and figure out how to build wealth and grow rich. I started from Nov. 2018, before I am too emotional to play with my personal finance, now I am a self-learner in my personal finance, three month old, reborn in Nov. 2018. I like to read this article and learn 10 more companies.

10 great companies


Here is the link.


Case study: 979. Distribute coins in binary tree

Jan. 31, 2019

Introduction


It is my mock interview lasting 100 minutes from 10:00 PM to 11:40 PM PST. I was so surprised since the interviewee is in eastern time zone, and start time is 1:00 AM EST. I like to write a case study on the mock interview

Case study


It is my favorite algorithm. I like to learn more about the algorithm through the mock interview. The interviewee has good education, very good communication skills, new graduate from top university, good job experience; I need to learn how to help and exchange ideas, make myself more helpful to contribute ideas.

We had very good discussion to explore the problem in depth after he solved the problem, tested the code with a test case.

I also review JavaScript programming language.

Here are interview in detail:
1. The discussion, ideas we discussed
2. JavaScript code with a test case
3. The discussion after the mock interview

I will come back with more detail.


Here is more...

One thing both of us learned in the discussion is how to calculate each edge in the tree once. We count the traffic to transfer coins through each edge. We like to count each edge once, the pseudo code above will count some edge more than once.

Interviewee feedback


Interviewer feedback


More discussion

I shared my experience in the contest of 120, I had problems to come out the optimal solution. Where to start? I thought about finding a node with zero coin first, and then I need to find a node with extra coins in the tree, but in order to get minimum coins, I cannot just find any node with extra coins. This makes the problem hard to solve.

Secondly, I have math undergraduate degree. I know that we have to prove that the optimal solution using post order bottom up is minimum value. How to prove it?

We had discussion and that is the reason we took extra time to explore those topics.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Shikha Dalmia

Here is the website for me to read.

What Happened to Middle Class America? - The Business of Life (Episode 7)

Here is the link.


2017 monthly expenses

Jan. 30, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I spent a few hours to work on 2017 Scotia bank checking account and also credit card statement month by month, the monthly expense average in 2017 is $1,300 dollars. I like to analyze this expenses.

My analysis


Based on my analysis, I spent $500 dollars for grocery each month. My car insurance annual expense is $1,400. Compared to my asset in Canadian dollars, I need to low my grocery expense from $500 dollars to $300 dollars.

I spent $200 month in Costco, $200 dollars for crystal mall using cash, and $100 dollars on credit card for grocery. I need to lower the cost to $300 dollars.

One of ideas is to set a capped amount $40 dollar for each shopping trip in Costco.

Technical detail


I have to go through Scotia check account, Scotia visa credit card statement, and then I need to put all transactions into an excel sheet, and mark the category; I pay Costco shopping using my Scotia debit card, and then withdraw cash to do grocery shopping in crystall mall, and also I use Scotia credit card to pay grocery as well.

Actionable Items


I worked very hard in 2017 to reduce the expenses. I did not shop any clothes. I repaired my flat tire instead of replacing four new tires. I wrote a blog called my office. I wrote a few blogs related to my car maintenance and I like to look into how I should learn the basics to avoid scam.

I need to cut down the expense on grocery shopping. I need to cut down the bill to $300 instead of $500 Canadian dollars.



Money and experience

Jan. 30, 2019

Introduction


It is the statement like this. Some one has money and get experience. And some one has experience and get money. I like to work on this as a small research topic for 10 to 20 minutes.




The Incredible Shrinking Middle Class

Here is the link.

2000 jobs finance loss in 2008 in San Diego area, highest pay is around $73,000 dollars.


Vanguard Index Funds For Beginners!

Here is the link.

weekly contest 121

Jan. 31, 2019

Introduction


I chose to go to Chinese party in the city of Surrey, so I did not play the contest. But my ranking is 2173/ 3924. So many people did not play the contest or could not score.

Catch up 


The contest was hold on Jan. 26, last Saturday 8:00 PM. Today is Thursday, I found time to work on the contest, and I felt that the algorithms are so tough to work on. I have not written any code last week, it is so challenging for me to work on algorithm now.


984. String Without AAA or BBB

Code screen

Jan. 30, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I like to write a blog related to my code screen in December 2018 from one of Japanese company. My ex-coach works there, I could not pass the code screen.

Tough to play in two hours


I have to push myself to learn more algorithms, and one of ideas I have is to meet more people from interviewing.io, and work on a few algorithms and learn how to master one or two algorithms first.


Personal finance startup

Jan. 30, 2019

Introduction


It is my project management training. I also give some tasks for me to work on. One is to study the company called tally.inc. Here is the linkedin profile.


Another startup company

Jan. 29, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I like to move my focus on personal finance research in 2019. I got a few messages from startup companies this year. I just could not believe that startup company starts to reach to me, even though I am not financial independent yet. I need a stable job to make a living.

Learn from startup companies


I also plan to learn more about startup companies in Vancouver and also in California.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

First praise from gmail

Jan. 29, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I choose to write blogs every day and every time I like to take breaks. I think that the hard work will teach me something, patience and learn to be a problem solver.

My plan


One of ideas is to reach out people and help build good community in terms of algorithm and data structure problem solving. I could not explore linkedin since linkedin.com starts to block all my research since I reach the non-commercial limit.

I got one complaint about my Leetcode discuss, and one down vote; what I did is to delete the discuss post, and rewrite the post and learn to focus on sharing main ideas to solve the problem. Do not write my failures in the contest at all.

Today I got the email message from gmail:


How To Make 12% Annually ... Forever

Jan. 29, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance. I really like to push myself to learn something new. One way is to read the article and then figure out more sense related to Verizon stock and its dividend and fluctuate.

Here is the article.

Motivation


I already transferred one thousand US dollar from my US chase bank to Ameritrade.com in January 2019. I like to try one stock first.




DNA test result

Jan. 29, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I had to pay over $600 Canadian dollars and today the result is in my gmail box. I plan to read the report carefully, and the result is 99.99% probability that sibling test is true.


MP's Bill Gates as a compliment

Jan. 29, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. Today we had a new sale manager to visit our office and he will start to work next Monday. My boss told the sales manager that this is Julia, she is our(?) MP(?) Bill Gates. That is best compliment I hear in my whole life.


Verizon stock $58, 4.15% dividend

Jan. 29, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I need to look into 20 stocks and I like to own 20 stocks in the future. Verizon is my first stock research to look into.




How To Invest And Make 5% Return (Or More)

Here is the article link.


Iron Mountain raises guidance after profit soars

Here is the article to read.

10 years waiting time

Jan. 29, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I started my personal finance research, recently I added $1200 dollars to RRSP and then invest $3,000 Canadian dollar on January 29, 2019 to Scotia US index fund. I like to continue to study more personal finance research before I come out my plan to work on my Par technology 401K.

10 years waiting time


I sold my funds in Par 401 K with $2500 dollars loss. I did not spend time to learn the stock market and economy, since I had to start to appeal for leave for my Canadian immigration case. I felt so frustrated.

I put the money into money market from 2009 to 2019. After 10 years, my balance is $6100, originally I invested $8000 us dollars into 401K in 2007.

I like to push myself to learn more, and I like to evaluate myself learning ability before I plan to invest those $6,000 US dollars into Vanguard growth index fund.


8 Strategies That Offer High Return With Low Risk

Here is the link.


Billionaires don't risk anything for only 10%

Jan. 29, 2019

Introduction


It is one of rules I learned from the book review. Here is the video called Money master the game review - Tony Robbin's 7 Simple Steps To Financial Freedom.




Money Master The Game Review - Tony Robbin's 7 Simple Steps To Financial Freedom

Here is the link.


Tony Robbins' Money: Master the Game - #MentorMeTony

Here is the link.

1. Start now

You can't wait until ...

You have to invest ...

Automate: You save it automatically every month 20%

2. Learn the rules
Be the insider.
9 myths - fee does not matter, 1%

The amount of difference - You take all the risks, take all the losses. I get paid to take 60%.
Average mutual fund - 3.25% or 4.25%

Vanguard talked to him, 1% gives away, 60% rob away

14 base point - 0.25% - become the insider

3. Increase your hunger

4. Risk for valuable returns

5. Understand asset allocation

6.

Money: Master the Game by Tony Robbins

Here is the link.




Buy more culture

Jan. 29, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I have buy more culture problem, I like to look into this topic.


Tony Robbins Shares 7 Steps to Financial Freedom

Here is the link.

A blueprint for building wealth

Here is the link.

2:43 Ron Weiner
Rdm financial group president

There are old pilot, bold pilot, but there is no old bold pilot.

3:24/ 5:21
@Matthew McCall
Penn Financial group founder & president

3:54
@scottien hughes
TPNN.com new director

5:04
@JimAwad
Plimsoll mark capital managing director


0:43
2014 High net worth household trends

$5,000,000+  1.31 M   +5.6%
$1,000,000+  10.1M    +4.9%
     $50,000    15.9M    +3.9%
    $100,000   39.6M    +2.5%


Monday, January 28, 2019

15 Signs You Are POOR

Here is the link.

11 Lottery Winners Who Won BIG and Lost It All!

Here is the link.


Make my own snack at work

Jan. 28, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I used to purchase pecan, walnuts or cashew from Costco all the time from 2010 to 2018. But I like to reduce the cost of expenses. I like to figure out how to make snack at work using cheap alternative ones, fresh peanuts, I can make peanut salted snack in less than 2 minutes using microwave.

Make my own snack

The idea is to lower grocery cost monthly. I am doing research to look into ideas how to feed myself unprocessed food; I like to process food by myself to ensure that I have good nutrition.


The stock market is to transfer money from impatient people to patient people

Jan. 28, 2019

Introduction


It is the statement I learned from Tony Robbins. "The stock market is to transfer money from impatient people to patient people". I like to write a blog based on this statement.

Impatient person


I was an impatient person from 1998 to 2001. I also was an impatient person in 2002 since I sold VIGRX mutual fund as a loss; I was an impatient person in 2008 and 2009.

I like to share what I wrote in 2009 about my thought process.


Tony Robbins On "UNSHAKEABLE: Your Financial Freedom Playbook"

Here is the link.

2:30 / 37:40

when in 2008, if you do not sell, then you do not lose the money.

Julia's notes:

Even you sell, you should have good personal finance habit. Review the transactions every year, get back in.

24:00
Questions and answers

Get in the market. Do nothing. Do not react. Do not try to beat the market.

Stock market is the game to transfer money from impatient people to patient people.

24:00

Worst day -
Dollar cost average - average out - 20 years later
Do not react

Stay in the market

Actionable Items


I plan to study 3 more hours from Tony Robbins interview. I plan to put my Par Siva 401 K into stock market again. This time I will learn how to take loss, be patient, do not react.


How to Get RICH | Unshakeable by Tony Robbins | 10 BEST Ideas | Book Summary

Here is the link.

Wealth tax - 20%

Compounding

10,000 year, put into 5% interest 30 years; if interest goes to investment continuously, then
it will be $33,219.
10,000 year, put into 5% interest 30 years; all interests are taken out, then the value will be $15,000.

Julia's worksheet:
(1 + 0.05)^30 = 4.32194
0.05 * 30 = 1.5


Fear and chicken little

6:22/ 15:56
Stay the course - that is mantra to manage other people's money.

7:00/ 15:56
You cannot time the market. Stay in the market.

Big idea six
"If you do not plan to own the stock over 10 years. Do not plan to own 10 minutes."


Diversify four times

1. Asset class
2. Within asset class
3. Country
4. Stage of life

12:00
Last idea
Resource and technology

Relate to my experience


2001 purchase $3,000 dollar fund VIGRX, sold in 2002 with value $1,900

It is buy low and sell high. I sold $1,900 dollars with over $1000 dollar loss. I purchased in 2001 $3000 US dollar VIGRX fund.

2008 worst stock market crash -

I lost over $5,000 dollars and then I pulled out everything.
I lost over $3000 dollars on Par Siva 401K, and then I chose to purchase money market fund instead.


Money Master the Game by Tony Robbins Summary Easily Explained!!!

Here is 6 minutes video.

1:57/ 5:59
Become the insider...
Know the rules
9 Myths

1. So many damn fees nowadays!!!
2. Mutual fund beats the market
Mutual fund broker - Are you legally working in my best interest or just selling something???

Get yourself a FIDUCIARY

-Legally required to be in your best interest.
-Paid for the service of giving financial advice
(Does not get paid commission for financial products like mutual funds)

Big risk = big reward


3:29 /5:59
5 strategies ( to increase your value)
1. Earn more money & invest the difference.
2. Reduce fees & taxes. Invest the difference.
3. Save more money & invest the difference.
4. Maximize the return on your investments.
5. Alter your lifestyle for more money & invest the difference.


4:50/ 5:59

Invest like a billionaire
with these 4 principles

1. Do not lose money
2. Seek asymmetric risk/ reward (big gain, low risk.)
3. Anticipate Financial disasters
4. Never stop learning


Tony Robbins also does us a service in laying out his method, towards achieving financial freedom, into 7 simple steps. Step 1 – Commit to paying yourself a percentage of your income towards your freedom fund. Put the money aside for your investment and don’t touch it. Decide to become a investor not just a consumer. Step 2 – Become the Insider: Know the Rules before you get in the game. Tony reveals the 9 myths around money to become aware of. Step 3 – Make the Game winnable. The financial system we live in is rigged and if you do not know the rules of the game the odds are against you and the house will always win. However if you know the rules of the game and play accordingly then the game is winnable for you still. Step 4 - Make the most important financial decision of your life. Asset Allocation. Determine your risk tolerance and invest correctly and intelligently. Step 5 – Create a lifetime Income Plan. Imagine having a income for life that pays you every month! And the check for life can afford you the life of your dreams. Step 6 – Invest like a billionaire. Tony Robbins elaborates this step into 4 principles, which is explained in the video. A common trait amongst all the successful billionaires he interviews had a similar trait; a relentless hunger and pursuit of knowledge with a will to win. Step 7- Live the rich life. Enjoy your money and life. Be aware that the goal is not to be the richest person in the graveyard. Tony Robbins explains the secret to living, which is something that has been apart of his teaching for a long time. The secret to living is giving. This book has the power to change anyone’s perspective of money and actual financial state given they apply the principals in the book. Remember that knowledge is not power applied knowledge is power. It’s not what you know, but what you do with what you know that will determine your outcome.

Money, Mater the game - by Tony Robbins

Jan. 28, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I like to read a few pages about book called Money, "master the game". Here is 11:25 minutes video about the book.


Relatives are not family

Jan. 28, 2019

Introduction



It is my personal finance research. I am a single person whole life, I have difficulty to separate from my family from relatives. I like to push myself to learn how to correct my behavior and reduce expenses on vacation trip in China, cash gift and learn how to stay in budget, and no more impulsive shopping and pay relative's bill for parties etc.

Personal finance research


Personal finance is such tough research project I have to work on. In order to solve my housing problem in Vancouver area, I like to push myself to examine all possible factors I should learn and examine carefully.

I am my own family. I need to do more case study how single affects me in terms of law, benefit and other concerns based on my experience.


2014 citi credit card statements

Jan. 28, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. Based on my rental analysis, I spent over $4,000 dollars on citi credit card in 2014. I ordered 2014 12 months statements from citi bank today.


Case study: January 2019 grocery shopping

Jan. 28, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I like to learn how to live under my means. I like to cut down my grocery expense, so I can learn how to push myself to stay in budget and also keep myself healthy as well.


Case study


I find out that I shop too much on Costco. So my last Costco shopping trip I learned to set limit to $40.00, so I can do more shopping in Crystall mall.

Here are the list:

Jan. 1- Jan. 18 will be added later.

Cash out from ATM $100 January 15, 2019
Jan. 18, 2019
$4.96
Jan 20, 2019
Crystall mall shopping
$34.85
ming ming trading
peanuts
$5.19 
Jan. 21, 2019
Terra Breads
$4.95
Jan. 23, 2019
Costco $36.85
Jan. 28, 2019
Crystall mall grocery shopping
$34.07

One pen, one paper, one diligent heart to write down every dollar expense.  - Francis Kong


Case study: My scotia bank RRSP

Jan. 28, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I make a decision to stop Scotia RRSP with Scotia income fund, and then purchased Scotia US index fund. I like to do a case study, and then I like to push myself to learn.


Track my car expense

Jan. 29, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I like to push myself hard how to save money and also self-learner. Today I had to fill a tank of gas again. I like to document the expense and start to figure out what I should study in terms of my driving habits, mileage, and preparation for maintenance budget etc.


5 Ways To Help Family Pay For Housing

Here is the link.

Think Twice Before Lending Money To Family

Here is the link.

Smart Money Moves To Make Before The End Of 2013

Here is the link.

The Home Office Deduction: What You Need To Know

Here is the link.

How Smart Girls Get On Corporate Boards

Here is the link.

Deborah L. Jacobs - personal finance

Here is her blog.


6 Ways To Give Family And Friends Financial Aid

Here is the link.


6 Ways To Give Family And Friends Financial Aid

Here is the link.


Sunday, January 27, 2019

Winning The Lottery Isn't Always A Happy Ending

Here is the link.


Being single is so challenging in personal finance

Jan. 27, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I like to read the blogs first, here is the link.

What no one ever told you about people who are single | Bella DePaulo | TEDxUHasselt

Here is the link.

Bella DePaulo Ph.D.

Here is the introduction of Bella DePaulo.


Single, No Children: Who's Your Family?

Jan. 27, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I find out that I have spending problem on vacation and shopping and relatives to maintain the relationship as a relative. I like to look into this topic, "single, no children: who's your family?"


Spent, spent, spent - pools winner now living on £87 a week

Here is the article link.

Back then, there was no network to support or advise big winners - possibly because hardly anyone had even won that much. Having promised to spend, not save, the naive young couple retreated to Yorkshire and recklessly proceeded to do just that.


Historic '81 lottery winner Lou Eisenberg now living in mobile home

Here is the article.

As his fame grew, so did his spending. There were days at the track, trips to Europe and Hawaii, and dinners where the newly minted millionaire always picked up the check.  "Whoever needed something, I gave cash. I wanted to be nice to people," he said.
He said he gave a big chunk of his winnings to his second ex-wife. He married a third time, but that didn't last either.
By 2001, after he cashed the last lottery check, he was broke.


'The curse of the lottery': Why a multimillion-dollar jackpot winner is fighting to keep identity private

Here is the article link.


Hamilton lottery winner fritters away $10 million

Here is the link.

Billie Bob's (Mis) Fortune

Here is the article link.


From Rags to Riches to Rags Again: 21 Lottery Winners Who Lost Everything

Jan. 27, 2019

Here is the article to read.



This is Why So Many Lottery Winners Go Broke

Here is the article.

The old phrase: "A fool and his money are soon parted."

"This is the process by which wealth is accumulated; first in small sums, then in larger ones as a man learns and becomes more capable."
- The richest man in babylon

"After you become a millionaire, you can give all of your money away because what's important is not the million dollars; what's important is the person you have become in the process of becoming a millionaire." - Jim Rohn

The richest man in Babylon

"unearned gold: the fortune either makes wanton spenders who develop insatiable tastes, or hoarding misers who know they don't possess the ability to replace it."

Work to increase your capacity for success
Learn new skills
Focus on learning and creating, not distractions
Develop self-discipline. ("Discipline equals freedom," wrote Navy SEAL Jacok Willink)
Commit to values that will remain the same no matter how much (or little) money you get.

"Income seldom exceeds personal development." - Jim Rohn






Why Many Lottery Winners End Up Broke

Here is the article.

"People who were little, ordinary people, all of a sudden become extraordinary. They're euphoric. Thy lose all sense of reality. They think they're invincible and powerful. They think they're Superman."

A lot of winners' friends and family treat them like human banks.

Family and friends 


Believe it or not, most financial advisers agree that the biggest problems that lottery winners face are their family and friends. You may not fall into the trap of thinking your wealth is infinite, but escaping family or friends is another matter entirely. This one is a lot trickier.

Worse, if asking or demanding money from you won't work, there's a good chance some of them will resort to guilt trips and manipulation.

Blindly Investing


You have to do your due diligence to succeed. The problem is that many lottery winners take them on without much scrutiny.

There's a reason that millionaires who got rich through hard work are less likely to go bankrupt compared to those that become rich overnight - they know exactly how to handle it and they surround themselves with the right people. It's not a bad thing to spend your money on nice things, but just like most things in life, do it responsibly and in moderation.

Actionable Item


I used to work full time from 1998 December to 2001 September, I made  net income over $110,000 dollars. But I ended up with less than $16,000 dollars when I got laidoff in Sept. 2001.

I bought a brand new car in 1999. What I should do is to be humble. Buy a used certified car in less than $5,000 dollars, spend time to learn how to handle my driving habits and controlling expenses. I should not replace my used car $1600 dollar over less than 3000 miles driving with a brand new car, over $19,000 dollars in finance.


8 big lottery winners whose money and luck ran out

Here is the link.

The winner needs to figure out day-to-day cash needs, insurance needs and emergency needs before anything else.

Case I:

William “Bud” Post III

“He did everything you would expect of a guy who became a millionaire overnight,” Lacher told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “While you might buy one laptop, Bud would see the same laptop and buy 30.”

Case II:

“A few of my relatives were angry because I had so much.”

Case III:
Andrew “Jack” Whittaker, won $315 million dollars

Whittaker started drinking heavily. He was robbed often and said he was battling more than 400 legal complaints at one point.


Case IV:
Florida residents Alex and Rhoda Toth were downtrodden in 1990. 

“It caused us to lose a lot of friends, some family members,” Rhoda Toth told the St. Petersburg Times in 1997.

A crash course in taxes is a must for lottery winners.

Case V:
Winning a $31 million Texas Lottery jackpot in 1997 initially looked to be a cure-all for Billie Bob Harrell Jr.’s financial woes.

But the endless pressure of strangers asking for money took a toll. Harrell was forced to change his home phone number more than once. He and his wife separated.

One of the first things to do is put together a list of people you trust and make one of them a buffer — someone who will deal with those who come out of the woodwork, because you now have a target on your wallet.

Case VI:

In 1993, Janite Lee, a South Korean immigrant, was running a wig shop in St. Louis when she won $18 million in the Illinois Lottery


She also donated generously to Washington University, and its School of Law named a reading room after her.
But the annual, after-tax payments of $620,000 couldn’t match her spending.
When she filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in 2001, the extent of Lee’s debts became clear. She had only about $700 but owed $2.5 million, according to The Augusta Chronicle. And, she had lost nearly $350,000 gambling at casinos during one year.
Gambling financially is never a good idea. But with CD rates on the rise, they’re a low risk way to earn an almost 3 percent return on your investment.
Case VII:

Suzanne Mullins won $4.2 million in the Virginia Lottery in 1993. After she split the money with her family and taxes ate away some of the prize, her 20 annual payments of less than $50,000 weren’t remotely enough to lead a millionaire’s lifestyle.

Case VIII:

Denise Rossi had been married for a quarter century when she won $1.3 million in the California Lottery in 1996.

In 1999, a judge declared that Denise Rossi had violated state asset-disclosure laws. The result? Her ex-husband received all of her winnings.


Actionable Items


I like to look into the following topics. 

Case II: buy same laptop 30 of them. 

I used to purchase shirts/ pants 6 dollar each pieces, i bought 8 pieces some time from 2010 to 2014, the total cost is $48.00 dollars plus tax.  I used to go USA shopping jeans, I bought more than six pieces of jeans since I do not want to go shopping any more. 

The idea is to set limit on my purchase. Do not buy any clothes anymore. Do not buy grocery each time more than $50 dollar in Costco. Do not purchase any grocery in crystall mall more than $50.00 dollars. 

I also need to spend time to document each purchase with items in detail. Also I need to push myself to find time to generate monthly expense report. 

Case VI:Gambling financially is never a good idea. But with CD rates on the rise, they’re a low risk way to earn an almost 3 percent return on your investment.

I sold VIGRX fund with one thousand dollar loss in 2002. And then I sold all stock and mutual fund after 2008, since the value of loss is more than $5,000 dollars. 

So I have to learn to make my investment in stock market as a business. I need to document the purchase. Even if it is 50% of loss, it is still better for me to spend on vacation or shopping. Those items I can sell them with 10% of value easily. 



Why So Many Lottery Winners Go Broke

It is my personal finance research. I like to learn from the topic. Here is the article link.

Statement:

lottery winners frequently become estranged from family and friends, and incur a greater incidence of depression, drug and alcohol abuse, divorce, and suicide than the average American.

I like to review those things in the article:

As soon as you start wearing nice jewelry, buying a new wardrobe or an expensive car, or giving cash to anyone, you’ll be outed. And everyone—parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, coworkers, charities, and strangers—will want some of your money. Many will ask for it and some will demand it, arguing that they would’ve shared their winnings with you if they had won. The guilt trips and manipulation will start quickly. Expect also to get plenty of investment pitches: Open a restaurant! Buy a car dealership! Put money into an oil well!

Be careful about those people:

Parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, coworkers, charities, and strangers
Ask for money or demand it
The guilt trips 
Manipulation will start quickly
Investment pitches


On The Money: My Money Story [Jason Lo]

Here is the link.

11:52 / 28:29
3 C's
1. Character
2. Competence - Resourcefulness, how you sell ideas
3. Contentment - Be content with what you have




ANC On The Money: My Money Story

Here is 20 minutes interview.

20:50/ 27:17

Nicole
What general investment guidelines can you give for newbie investors? What's a good way to learn more about investing?

Jim Rohn:
Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.


A finance blog to read

Here is the finance blog for me to read.



Case study: over 8,000 dollars wants not needs

Jan. 27, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I do not know what is the way for me to learn personal finance; I like to figure out why I choose not to purchase a home in Vancouver area when one bedroom over 10 years old is around $130,000 Canadian dollars from 2010 to 2015. I knew that I did not learn how to discipline myself financially. I like to case study my USA checking account and what I spent on those rental income over years.

Case study


I like to do a quick and short case study. I like to find topics for me to work on. How to discipline myself? I have this issue to spend money on clothing and vacation, spending on relatives with compassion. But I am lack of financial knowledge to invest those money instead. All those are gone.

One thing for me to learn is that home is most important thing to purchase, at least I should make a plan on it.

Actionable Items


I need to get 2012 and 2014 citi credit monthly statements. I like to question every item purchase on the credit card. I like to build a value system and understand what is needs and what is wants.

I do not learn enough lesson without a job permit and without income; I should stop shopping anything except grocery and gas. And also I need to count miles I drive, document purpose and see if can lower the cost and choose alternative public transit.

Later on, I did not have money to maintain the minimum balance, I had to transfer money from Canadian bank. And then I had to figure out how to repair bathroom, hundreds of hours research and I had to work out to find a cheapest solution; I had to transfer money from Scotia bank to pay a new central AC installation.

Credit card spending is such a bad habit. I did take over 22 trips to USA Bellingham from 2011 to 2014.

If I learn compound effect, then I should invest those credit card expenses in stock market, then I can use those net income to pay later on bathroom repair and a new central AC.



Saturday, January 26, 2019

Counterflow Session 5

Jan. 26, 2019

Introduction

It is one hour 20 minutes video. I am doing personal finance research, and I work on my Florida rental analysis. Also I like to spend time to learn from the teaching.

My notes

7:16/ 1:20:11

Training includes TEACHING
Training internalizes VALUES
Training involves DISCIPLINE
Training turns ACTIONS into HABITS

14:00 / 1:20:11

Discipline without good relationship
leads to frustration.
Love without discipline leads to anarchy.
Discipline without love leads to rebellion.
Love plus disciple leads to godly character.
We earn the right to discipline when we have established good relationship.


Case study: 15 months service fee in my chase saving account

Jan. 26, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. It is first time for me to work on my chase bank saving and check account statements and import all data into an Excel sheet for statements from 2010 to 2019. On Jan. 25, 2019, I spent over 5 hours from 7:00 PM to 1 AM to work on my own analysis, what I did is to copy and paste each transaction to excel sheet first. I like to write a case study of my chase saving account service charge over 15 months.

Case study


I did get charge $5.00 dollar from 2011 January every month, until 2012 April after 15 months. I need to learn how to build a good personal finance habit, read the statement line by line; also I need to do annual review and do my own annual report.

Here is the statement of January 2011.


Here is the statement of April 2012.


Actionable Items


It is time for me to teach myself to build basic finance habits. I have to push myself to learn one mistake a time.

I like to evaluate myself in terms of personal finance knowledge and also wealth I can build over 30 years. I definitely think that good personal finance habit is something I like to work on.

I have to parent myself after 18 years old.

In 2017, I had a car accident and also I wrote a blog to document my experience.

Counterflow Session 4

Here is the link.

16:00 - 20:00 / 35:51

Francis as a dad explained how he educated his son.

19:11 - 20:11 / 35:51

Three seconds rule - when the friends say that come on, let us do it. Let us steal, rape.

I will do it. It will bring you regret whole life.

Next time he likes to go out. Three seconds.


Case study: Boca Raton rental business analysis (I)

Jan. 26, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I like to push myself to learn the business, how to grow rich and build wealth. As I like to find ways to be able to afford a home in Canada somewhere. What I like to do is to push myself learn; one thing is to learn from my own experience.

Case study


I did put together a blog for the series, the first blog is here for the summary. My analysis is roughly hard to proceed since there are so many years involved, and I did not have bank statements. And my analysis based on the chase bank statement may not reflect the truth. I do not have all transaction receipts etc.

The goal is to push myself hard. I like to figure out what I should work on and also what I should learn from my own experience.



Actionable Items


I need to learn the basic finance habit. Every year I should try to put all my finance activity in Excel sheet and try to analyze them. 

I did not read the bank statement, I had Chase saving account charge $5.00 below $300 dollars for over 12 months, until I noticed the charge, I transferred the balance from checking account. 


Business analysis of my rental property

Jan. 26, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I spent time from 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM on Jan. 25 and then put all my checking account statements into Excel sheet. I like to analyze my rental business in detail, I like to push myself hard to build basic finance habit, and learn basic analysis, market and sales, and understand the business better.

Business analysis


This is the first time I came out the idea and willing to reserve time to do basic book keeping. Why? Since I could not afford a home in Vancouver area, last November I decided to start personal finance research. I like to learn how to grow rich, build wealth. This is the first time in last 10 years I spent one hour to put all 12 checking statements into one excel sheet for each year. Last night I spent 6 hours to generate this report based on chase checking account statements.

The analysis is hard to process, since there are so many factors involved.

Dive deep


I do not have proper business education through the college years from 1984 to 1992, and from 1996 to 1998, from 2002 to 2006, from 2008 to 2010. I try to figure out why I should analyze a business, what is my business goal and how to make business success in terms of financial and other experience. 

I had a BB&T bank account, but I did not have statements from 2010 to 2011. The bank only provides last three years statements. I did not know why those money came from. My memory just had a few things, I opened the account in FAU branch, and I deposited some amount of money. 

I spent over $4000 US dollars in bathroom repair in 2014 and 2015, and I spent over $4600 Canadian dollars to put new central AC. Two transactions are not in Chase bank statement.

I used my chase checking account to my citi bank credit expense. One purchase is for the trip to Florida in 2014. All others are not related to rental business, also I paid FAU tuition using chase checking account.

I was charged below $1,500 balance for monthly maintenance fee a lot of times.


Actionable Items


Ask BB&T to get bank statements from 2010 to 2012. The bank will not have records. I did ask Chase bank for records from 1996 to 2011, but no longer available. 

I should have basic financial habit to save each statement for every year. 


Friday, January 25, 2019

Counterflow Session 1

Here is the link.


Francis Kong at the 9th USLS 2018

Here is the link.


Francis Kong at the 8th USLS 2017

Here is the link.

48:00 /

10 seconds rule - shopping


Emotional IQ - manage emotion


Case study: home insurance in 2001

Case study: a J2SE exam in 2008

Case study: $200 lawyer fee in 2008

Feb. 22, 2019

Introduction


It is my personal finance research. I did make a decision to chat with an immigration lawyer and paid $200 dollars for 30 minutes. Actually in less than 15 minutes, we had nothing to say.

Case study: 30 minutes phone consultation


I talked to the immigration lawyer in USA, and he told me that I should give up USA and go for other country opportunities.


This is another impulsive shopping behavior. I had so many behaviors related to impulsive shopping.

I bought roller skating shoes, knee pads, wrist pads over $350.00 dollars in 2001, I was a home maker at that time. I only used less than 10 times. My friend complained to me that I fell on the floor and made noise, I decided to give away in less than two years.




Case study: a dental fee $100 in 2001

Case study: a physical exam in 2007

Case study: an eye exam in 2007

Jan. 25, 2019

Introduction


I got health insurance from Par siva from 2006 to 2007. I only used twice, but I came cross the bill over $300 US dollars. I like to do a case study on this expense.


22 secrets to save time and money shopping at Costco

Here is the article to read.

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Case study: Costco shopping

Jan. 24, 2019

Introduction


It is most challenging job for me to cut expenses on Costco shopping. One of techniques is to spend less than $50.00 dollars for each trip, and also only buy big bulk vegetables. I like to case study my Costco shopping, I used to shop over $300 dollar every month in Costco.

Case study


I like to work on this topic and also find some good ideas to cut expenses.

I will put all my expense from 2010 to 2019 in Costco in my github first, and then analyze a few shopping and get some ideas to cut expenses.


Where I am in personal finance research?

Jan. 24, 2019


Introduction


I have two month personal finance research experience. I started from Nov. 2018 and I worked on so many things already. I like to figure out where I am in terms of personal finance research.

How to make good research?


I like to review more financial data, today I got 2004 citi bank credit card statement from January to December.

I also like to explore more topics in personal finance area, and choose some area related to me. I like to find ideas for me to work on.


5 Ways to Know if Joining a Startup Is Worth the Risk

Here is the article I plan to read.

503 Next great element II - a better solution

Jan. 24, 2019

Introduction


It is the algorithm related to stack. What I did is to spend 30 minutes to run the code from Leetcode discuss, debug the code and learn one new idea.

Optimal solution


It is hard for me to come out the optimal solution in my practice. I did write solution more than one month ago. Today I studied one solution and wrote my own one.

Here is C# code. I like to write a discuss post as well.


Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Case study: longest univalue path

Jan. 22, 2019

Introduction 


It is another 60 minutes discussion about algorithm longest univalue path. I was an interviewer on interviewing.io and the algorithm is longest univalue path.


Case study


Here is the example we worked on together.


Here is my feedback:


I work on the algorithm with over 20 interviewee right now. I learn one way to approach the problem and it should take me less than 15 minutes to solve it right now.

The fact I learned is the following:

I failed to solve the similar problem in weekly contest 120 distribute coins in binary tree, and I spent over 36 minutes in Jan. 19 2019.

Steps to shorten the time to 15 minutes

Using post order traversal, bottom up. It is a good idea to mark the path using number next to each node, and the number can be solved using recursively.

First step is to work on straight path, not cross path. From any node as a root node to the leaf node longest univalue path.

Second step is to calculate the cross node path.

Feedbacks


Here is the interviewee's feedback:


It took us more than 60 minutes to reach a final solution, and the code is still under investigation. One of ideas to improve for me as an interviewer is to bring the interviewee into discussion how to hack solution in quick and easy way.

The interviewee tried a few ideas but none of them worked. Even though the code passed a few test cases. I ask why it is plus one in one statement, I ask where is the statement to add two path together in the code.


code review: longest univalue path

Jan. 22, 2019

Introduction


It is a good idea for me to train myself hard. One thing I can do is to study very good written solution, and try to improve it, or simplify the code.

Code review

Here is the algorithm written in a coding blog called  a casual coder.
Here is C# solution I like to review for longest univalue path.

I also write down my thought process as well.

Thank you for sharing longest univalue path. I played with your solution in the above a few times, it is hard for me to come out the good review, but I did something to share with you. 

The variable maxThruLeft is declared and calculated but it is no use in your code. Same as maxThruRight variable. 

If we use maxThruCurrent variable and apply it to every node in the tree using post order, then we can get longest univalue path. No need to use third variable called maxGlobal. 

The following is the code I rewrote and just provide you a second opinion. The code passes online judge. 

Here is C# solution I rewrite to simplify the code.


NEED TO KNOW | Generation jobless: 'Millennials' struggle with unemployment | PBS

Here is the link.


Monday, January 21, 2019

Case study: Do not yell at me

It is a blog title not so popular to write. I have similar complaints before. Today I got it in my mock interview.



Case study of my mock interview



It is my determination to master the tree algorithm called longest univalue path. One of my ideas to learn is to work with various interviewee if they choose to work on the algorithm, and I also have discussion with the interviewee.

The interviewee chose to work on medium level algorithm instead of starting from an easy level algorithm. So I think that it is better for me to give this algorithm for him to work on.

The discussion lasted over one hour.

The interviewee wrote very good solution and tested the code with the test cases. I tried to point out that there is an edge case to consider. He told me again "why you yell at me? I do not yell at you.".

code to review

Feedback from the interviewee


My feedback


Actionable Items


It is the most challenging job to be an interviewer. I interview new graduate from MIT, Harvard, and all other engineers and leaders in the world. I keep making mistakes on this longest univalue path algorithm as an interviewer.

It takes some time for me to figure out things. I got complaint before not active involving discussion; Now it is my tone of voice. I should show genuine courtesy, instead of saying that there is a bug, I should say that what if we need to add some constraint here. Can we add some constraint here to make it harder?


Lower income families benefiting from Fair PharmaCare investment

Here is the link of English article. Here is Chinese article.

2015年,BC省推出公平药物护理计划(Fair PharmaCare),在这个计划之下,低收入的家庭可以获得一定的处方药补助。

不过之前,该计划下的垫底额一直比较高,很多家庭并不能从中受惠。

比如,过去年净收入在1万5到3万之间的家庭,虽然拿处方药可获优惠,但垫底费有300-600美元。如果不是依赖药物的家庭,这个门槛还是比较高的。

因此,去年,省府公开表示,会修改这个计划,降低门槛,让更多家庭受惠。

终于,上周五,省府宣布,从2019年1月1日开始,年收入3万元或以下年薪的家庭不需要支付垫底费了

此外,3万至4.5万元收入的家庭所支付的处方药物费用也会减少; 年龄在78岁或以上的长者,其年收入不超过1.4万元、以及年收入少于$13,750元的人士,也毋须支付部分药费。


You Will Be Poor If You Do This! | The 7 Financial Sins

Here is the link.

#1 Most people do not plan their finances

Avoid over spending
Check your bank account every day for the next 30 days

When you actively manage your money you become better at it.

#2 Buying with consumer credit

#3 Making minimum payments on your credit card

#4 Not saving for retirement or financial freedom

#5 Making money decisions based on emotion

Maniac mode/ negative - unpredictable

Avoid making important decisions while emotional
Wait and use intelligence and rationality instead when ready

#6 Focusing too much on money and neglecting the process

You have to love the process
You've got to be passionate
"If you go into business only to make money, you're better off doing nothing"

#7 Not educating ourselves financially

Learning about personal finance
How to manage out money
How to leverage and grow our money
Is our own responsibility



Dream Hoarders: Is the Upper Middle Class Leaving Everyone Else Behind?

Here is the link.


Dream Hoarders: Who’s destroying the American Dream?

Here is the link.