In the Fall of 2008, I entered college as a math and finance double major. It was a scary time for the economy but I think the fear and uncertainty helped motivate me to learn. And, one way I did that was by reading a ton of finance articles.
In the twelve years since, I’ve continued that habit. I would say I know more now than I did back then but in the world of finance, which can be so forward looking, I sometimes wonder if knowledge is even the right word. Maybe the right word is “experience.”
With that experience then, when I think back to one thing I wish I could have changed about how I consumed information through articles, it would be a way to have better continuity with financial information.
Let me give an easy example to explain. I write an article about something random - let’s say market valuation as measured by stocks divided by GDP. I show a chart and say, “wow look at that valuation it’s so high!” Then, the stock market crashes a few weeks later and the reader is stuck wondering what that chart looks like now.
If I don’t do a follow up article then how will you know what is happening now? If you are experienced like me you can go do your own grunt work and calculate the latest numbers yourself but if you are me as a Freshman in college learning up from down, how are you going to easily do that?
That’s one thing I hate about financial news. Literally, what I do every day I post a chart in my newsletter. I provide a snapshot and then move on. Since starting Endless Metrics, this annoyance has bothered me each day that I’ve written because it feels like I’m perpetuating something I dislike.
Now, if your wondering if this is some long-winded backstory about why I’m retiring from newsletter writing - don’t worry! Because it’s time for solutions.
Here’s what’s next. I love writing each day and will continue to do so. On top of that, I’m working on a very simple first version of a site that will host all these metrics that I talk about in live charts that update as new information is available.
I’m a huge believer in progressing things through daily habits and so my plan is to create the most simple first draft and publish it live. Then, with your input and feedback combined with small but frequent iteration, steadily improve the site and use the newsletter as a companion for the release of new metrics and analysis.
I hope to get the first version out very soon and, in the mean time, am open to any suggestions! Hopefully with this new approach, I can finally fix this one thing I’ve always hated. That way, those who are getting started on their journey now as I was back in 2008 can have at least one more advantage than I did - especially in times that (at least to me) seem more uncertain than anything I had to face.