The Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU are such a terrific case study in the principles of negotiation, and so current, that it is worthwhile drawing out some lessons.  I wish they were all positive examples of the skilful conduct of negotiation that results in a win-win for both parties.  But, sadly, they are mostly the opposite. 

Most investors don’t have a clue how much they pay across all the different types of investment fees they are charged.  There are fees for advice, administration, investment management, tax planning, and more.  The examples below are intended to help you better understand these fees and roughly calculate how much you pay in total.  Many investors who do this calculation are shocked at how much it comes too.

The biggest ‘bet’ in history is a bet between China and the US that began in 1972 and will play out over nearly a century.  The US (or more generally the Western alliance) is betting that China cannot build a highly developed economy without becoming a democracy.  China (more specifically the governing Communist Party) is betting that it can.  For two separate reasons, now is a good time to check in on how the bet is playing out.