The federal funds rate controls the cash game, fed's rate + 3% = the prime rate and almost everything is derived off of that like mortgages, credit cards, most other consumer credit.

That's why almost everyone has moved to the risky and not guaranteed stock market......a dangerous place for your life savings!   

Remember the days of 10-18% CDs?  The prime rate hit a record high of about 21% in 1978-1979 the Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronnie Reagan years. Runaway inflation?

That's why now more than ever almost everyone needs a good financial planner......and not your uncle Fred.

The days of just pensions and CDs are pretty much gone now.

@unsympathetic said:

How much actual stock do you own?  Top 10% of wealth in the US owns 87% of all stock, 11-20% own the next 9.5%, 21-30% own the next 2.7%.

It's almost like "The Stock Market" isn't a proxy for how everyone in the country is doing economically...

this was a common argument back In 2017 when the market shot up.

Here are some facts...

Last census reported that 33% of Americans have a 401K of course performance health of this is tied to the market.

if you work in State or local governments chances are you have a Pension directly tied to the stock market.

it is true that 70-80% of traditional stock purchasers are institutional buyers (Buying large blocks of stock) and not you or me opening up a TD Ameritrade account and buying stock - although you can today and make trades today too. There are actually some GREAT buys over the past four months.

I’d venture to say some folks can check off some of these and maybe all of these.

Not to go down the Economics rabbit hole here but I also tie Unemployment rate into economic health.  Out here in good ole California where we have had large minimum wage increases Over the past four years and a city wage ordinance increases and still relatively low unemployment that’s also a sign of economic prosperity.

@unsympathetic said:

How much actual stock do you own?  Top 10% of wealth in the US owns 87% of all stock, 11-20% own the next 9.5%, 21-30% own the next 2.7%.

It's almost like "The Stock Market" isn't a proxy for how everyone in the country is doing economically...

Pensions, bonds, IRA mutual funds, banks, 401(k) and other TSA and other plans and investors from around the world also are invested in the USA markets which millions of the lower 90% have a big interest in.  I know I do.  It's really the only game in town.

Sadly roughly 50% or more people in our country have no savings for retirement some just never get started or just don't care about it.  

@sdbacker80 said:

The stock market has some opportunities during this pandemic.

How much actual stock do you own?  Top 10% of wealth in the US owns 87% of all stock, 11-20% own the next 9.5%, 21-30% own the next 2.7%.

It's almost like "The Stock Market" isn't a proxy for how everyone in the country is doing economically...

The stock market has some opportunities during this pandemic.  
 

Horse racing (which is usually always a losing proposition) 

Cops [both state and federal] always knew white right-wing extremists were the real threat during the protests.

Yes, read the link - the hubbub about "antifa" was a deliberate lie [not in the least because there is no such "nationwide" single organization] for political gain.

@the-gipper said:

It was only a $5.00 win.  It has been a souvenir now for 21 years, no reason to change that....and I am not scheduled to go back to Tahoe any time soon.

I'm sure they would be more than happy especially now if you booked a trip to Tahoe to cash your win......they might even comp you with some chips.  

@mjp28 said:

I'd bet they probably would.... unless you want it for a souvenir.

It was only a $5.00 win.  It has been a souvenir now for 21 years, no reason to change that....and I am not scheduled to go back to Tahoe any time soon.

@the-gipper said:

I have a winning ticket from a Lake Tahoe Casino that I visited back in 1999.   I might have won like 5 bucks.  Do you think they would honor it? 

I'd bet they probably would.... unless you want it for a souvenir.

@ballpeen said:

I have kept many $10 chips as souvenirs.  Probably $400 worth from around the world.  I keep telling myself to mount them in some sort of display to hang on the wall.

Maybe it's time to do that.  I have used a local frame shop a dozen or so occasions.  They could come up with something pretty cool.

That would be nice.....mine are somewhere in my big rolltop desk drawers just rattling around.  Some go back before we were married 39 years ago.

Maybe it's time to do that.  I have used a local frame shop a dozen or so occasions.  They could come up with something pretty cool.

@the-gipper said:

How long after you have a bet on the game do you have to cash your winning ticket in?

Sometimes they are printed out on the ticket like a check under these circumstances they might be lenient on cashing procedures if you end up with a winner you could probably call the sportsbook you purchased it from.

I still have some  chips from a few "AC" Atlantic City casinos from long ago some that are gone now that I kept as souvenirs.  Most of the long running casinos are pretty cool about satisfying the customers.

@mjp28 said:

Will you go back to cash it or keep it as a souvineer as some people often do.  Tough choice if the BROWNS actually pull it off.....if the NFL makes it to SB 55.

How long after you have a bet on the game do you have to cash your winning ticket in?

@the-gipper said:

I bet on the Browns to win the Super Bowl when I was in Vegas 

Will you go back to cash it or keep it as a souvineer as some people often do.  Tough choice if the BROWNS actually pull it off.....if the NFL makes it to SB 55.

Super Bowl 55 Odds.....will these tickets ever be cashed ?

The early lines look pretty much like last year's lines with KC, BAL and SF the favorites.  Check it out from Vegas insider.com.      

The Super Bowl is the championship for the National Football League (NFL), which is America’s superior football league. The game pits the winner of two conferences, the National Football Conference (NFC) against the American Football Conference (AFC) in the finale. This is an annual event that started in 1967 and is usually played on the first Sunday in February.

The Super Bowl is the most gambled-on sporting event in the United States. The 2021 finale will take place at Raymond James Stadium from Tampa, Florida on Feb. 7, 2021.

Super Bowl Spreads

Through the first 54 Super Bowls, the NFC and AFC have gone 27-27 against one another. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots have the most Super Bowl wins at six, while the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers both have five.

Favorites have gone 36-17 straight up and 29-20-2 against the spread in the Super Bowl. The largest upset came in Super Bowl III (1969) when the New York Jets beat the Baltimore Colts 16-7 as 18-point underdogs.

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in the 2020 finale and they covered as 1 ½-point favorites.

Super Bowl Lines

The point-spread rarely comes into play with the Super Bowl, meaning you just have to pick the winner of the game. There have only been six instances where the favorite won the game straight up but failed to cover the number. Those outcomes occurred in 2009, 2005, 2004, 1996, 1989 and 1976.

In the 2014-15 Super Bowl between New England and Seattle, the closing consensus line was pick 'em, which was the first in the NFL finale. The Patriots rallied for a 28-24 victory over the Seahawks.

Oddsmakers were on the money with their numbers in two Super Bowls, which produced pushes or ties. Those matchups took place in 1997 and 2000.

......MORE CONTINUED IN THE LINK......

@the-gipper said:

You can still play the lottery 

I think that is where a lot of the regular bettor's money is going right now.

I meanwhile play my one line on the five major lottery games about $127/month and occasionally more out of my winnings.  That's it.

This will be a hard year to try and set lines like favorites and a point spreads.