Welcome to Robert H. Black

 Life401 contains  both my beliefs as well as knowledge and techniques that I have found  useful. I have tried to illustrate each of the things I have found  useful with examples from my life. In some cases, When possible I  appropriately referenced original sources, however, much of the content  has ideas from others I encountered through life and it is impossible to  remember all of the sources.

Life 401 is a collection of ways to  improve life's journey. Its wisdom comes for the ancient philosophers,  more recent observers of life and from my experiences. It includes  investment principles, notes about culture, how to have a satisfactory  career, tips on voting and what to look for, race relations, capitalism,  public speaking, leadership, price of commodities like oil, socialism,  language for being class, man and women relationships, slavery from a  prospective of 2020, keeping ones integrity, science, religion, World  War 4, being an inventor, and predictions of the future in 2040. The  book Life401 is part of a series of four books. The book Happy in  Intensive Care was written as a secular book so that it could be a text  in a college it is focused on spiritual and mental health.  Happy in  Intensive Care Christian Edition is the Christian version. Age  Successfully  is focused on physical well being. Life 401 is focused on  controlling your destiny and living a satisfying life.

 originally  wrote Life401 for my grandchildren but have expanded it for the general  public. A lot of what I have to say is not politically correct. That  does not make it right or wrong. I know that the current climate makes a  lot of what I have to say controversial.  The political left in  academia want to silence much of what I want to say. (Many on the left  are now anarchists) Students will not hear much of this in school.  If  they succeed in silencing enough people, many of these ideas will die  and along with the successful free market capitalistic system that has  made the United States the greatest country on earth.

 I have  many heroes: Albert Einstein, Eric Hoffer, Walter Williams, Ronald  Reagan, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill, Margaret  Thatcher, Calvin Coolidge, Jordan Peterson, George Washington, Benjamin  Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Many of the ideas in this book are  borrowed from them.  I am writing this in the hope that it will, in a  small way help to preserve some of their ideas. It is also a reflection  of my personal beliefs. I hope it is of value to those that read it. If  it makes you think it is worthwhile.

The book is divided into  chapters by subject. No attempt has been made to have them in any  specific order. The book can be read from front to back or by picking  chapters of interest in any order.

This book is intended to be  read by someone in grade school, reread by someone in High School,  reread later in college, reread when seeking employment, and again when  approaching retirement. I am 80 years old and have been through all of  that, made mistakes, and in some cases learned from the mistakes.  Sometimes I accidentally did the right thing. I also learned by  observing people who did not do the right thing. If you read this, you  will be able to avoid some of what I and others have learned the hard  way.  My friend Ralph Cwik helped edit this book. Pastor Phillips helped  edit the religion chapter.

  Buy and forget Portfolios:

The simplest buy and forget portfolio is 100% in SPY. 

Any  time is a good time to buy  SPY. Over the long term, the S&P 500  has returned 9.9% a year on average since 1928, says IFA.com.

For those who want a more complex buy and forget portfolio:
50%        S&P 500        S&P 500 SPY
10%        Mid Cap         Mid cap 400 Pure Value RFV
10%        Small Cap      Small cap 600 Pure Value RZV
10%        Tech               Fidelity Information technology                                              FTEC
10%        REIT ETF        Vanguard REIT index       VNQ
10%        Fixed income:
                 Fidelity Total Bond Fund:      FTBFX                              

                 Alternate to fixed income:    Vanguard Utilities ETF     VPU                                                            

                 Second alternative:                Vanguard  Intermediate-Term Tax Exempt     VWITX 

 There is risk in all  investments. This portfolio is designed to be diverse, requires minimal  adjustment over the years, and have minimal fees.  It is designed for  readers who understand the various products. It should be rebalanced  yearly to be within 10% of the target distribution. 

Both the  100% SPY and the more complex portfolio will go up and down over the  years. The risk is panic and selling at the bottom.

Keep enough  in cash to carry through when the stocks take a dip so that you are not  selling at the bottom.