Big Picture

So far we have been discussing the micro level topics and individual equities. I would like to take this chance to maybe have some discussion as to the bigger issues at hand.

For instance:

I will start by saying that I believe in a portfolio which is extremely aggressive with the money one can stand to lose, and uberconservative with the money which cannot be lost. As for the percentage of money I am willing to lose at this early stage of life, I can comfortably say that I could part with all of it and not feel too much pain. However, I hardly think it wise to invest all capital in highly risky financial instruments and leave oneself open to the possibility of poverty, so I will limit my potential losses to half my portfolio. The rest is placed in US T-bills which are widely considered to be the safest investment on the planet. While not directly, in respect to the high percentages, I developed this strategy (stole it really) from Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the former commodity trader who now holds a professorship in probability.

But I am interested in your thoughts as well.