How I Am Investing During this Crisis

When I sent out the final regular Monday Newsletter on January 27, I thought it would be my last. But over the past months, with things happening in the States, I started to feel like, on occasion, I needed to provide you with an update or two.

It's a Saturday holiday, raining outside, and I can’t visit my bees. So, I thought sending you some updates on what I am doing was a good idea. Maybe it will help if you wonder what I am doing during this “crisis.”

Firstly, I continue to follow the rules of the Honeybee Hive. I also continue to go back to our book and re-read sections, which helps me stay focused on the structure and avoid emotional behaviour when investing.

When Trump announced his wish to purchase Gaza and put up a hotel, and also started destabilizing our banking system here in Canada, I sold all my publicly traded equities.

I then began buying more real estate in Nova Scotia, including oceanfront land tracts and lots. I also purchased an oceanfront property for personal use.

If you are a regular reader of this newsletter, you know that I have previously discussed my purchase of gold bullion. I have also discussed it on some podcasts. I started buying at about $1,500 an ounce and continue to buy gold regularly.

That’s all I’ve been doing.

Land, some gold and personal fun.

Given I’ve been at this for over 40 years now, here are some rules I follow when there is a crisis in investing:

1. Keeping the emotion aside, I consider behaviour consistent with my philosophy. Survival is job one. Cash flow is within the definition of 7^th generational investing. I know that when the news cycle quiets, good solid investments and sticking to the 10 rules of the hive work for me.

2. Turn off the noise. People on TV calling themselves helpers are generally dumb and try to sell you things that benefit their pocket, not yours.

3. What is happening on the investment side is the psychological damage of uncertainty. It’s so bad that Canadians think having a self-serving banker be their next prime minister is a good idea. Like an emotional investment decision, few voters honestly think of the long-term.

4. Great companies will still be worth owning. With a timeline of at least 10 years, I will pick up publicly traded stocks once I’ve exhausted my gold quest. I still like REITS, some banks, and software that makes people and things more productive. 

5. Real Estate, including land in strategic locations, will always hold value and conform to 7th-generation principles. 

Outside of investing, our bees are thriving on the farm. It’s quite a joy to walk around the farm and listen to the bees drown out the sounds of the political pundits or the noise coming from the Canadian election candidates.

I have no real advice, only to suggest we all practice gratitude daily. Hug those you love and spend time on those things that matter most to you. Regardless of your success with investing, time is limited for all of us. Let’s now waste any of that today. Bee well and talk soon. Hank