FirstHand Research and Consulting

After almost 30 years in the business and finance world, I am blessed to be able to take all of that collectively to create valuable tools and services as technology has finally caught up to us. Web3 and Decentralization is the future. Those of us who grew up without the Internet know what’s coming.  I am grateful I can be a part of it all this time.

Founder

Bell Rock Capital

As an entrepreneur and investor, I have over 25 years of experience in the finance industry, ranging from sell and buy-side analysis, investment banking, and investment management to FinTech and DeFi. I hold a BA in American Government and Politics from Lafayette College and an MBA in Finance from the University of Miami, where I also obtained a Python coding certification last year just for fun.

I am passionate about constant learning and investing my time and capital in innovative and disruptive Web3 technologies that can transform the financial sector and empower people. I have a keen interest and expertise in non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects and platforms, where I leverage my Python skills and market insights. I am also the author of the book "Don't Buy the Bull", which offers practical and honest advice on investing and wealth management.  Over the years I have enjoyed sharing my knowledge and opinions on various economic and market topics on media outlets such as CNBC, Fox News, and Fox Business, and Bloomberg TV.

How Nike jumped the shark with Caitlin Clark

It's bad enough female athletes are having to fight to keep their competitions "girls only".  And Nike knows this, no doubt.

Why then did their "top notch" marketing folks make only a small number of jerseys with #caitlinclark's name on it to celebrate her new contract with WNBA's Indiana Fever??

Not good business. Don't they use AI to help guide inventory?

The jerseys sold out so quickly that the backlog of orders won't be filled for several months apparently.... like, until the season is over.

So guess what happens next for me?

 3 reasons why Nike has made it onto my "No Touch" (ie I won't invest in it) list:

✔ Poor management decisions over the last few years, as recently admitted by the CEO in February

✔ Not enough use of the latest AI predictive tools to control inventory and hop on trends fast 

✔ No shake ups are in the works in the design and R&D teams from what I see, which means nothing is happening to reverse poor results.

I hope Nike can make the changes necessary. 

It would be a shame to see #philknight's hard work and vision diminished. 

If you like these unique insights on investment topics, please repost ♻ for others to read and learn as well.

Follow me for more. 🔔

Cassandra Toroian

Going to burst your bubble…

#Barbie Is Worthless, Sorry.

So is GI Joe.

And Beanie Babies.

In fact, all those “collectibles” our parents and grandparents told us someday would be worth a lot of money….just aren’t in most cases.

4 steps to turn all that childhood stuff into something of value:
➡️ EBay is a great place to do a quick search for similar items that are for sale or recently sold.

➡️AI-based search by uploading an image of the item to see any other comps 

➡️Ask yourself, does the item have value or just sentimental value?

➡️No sentiment = consider selling and put the proceeds into something that keeps up with inflation!

So long World of Barbie case.  I’ll take my proceeds on all these “treasures”and go buy something else tangible that at least paces with inflation.

What would that be?

Gold of course.

♻️ Like this suggestion please share or forward

Deep thoughts with C. Toroian….

I’m not here for gathering followers. I’m too old and jaded for that.

I contribute information about investing. The nuances.  The tid bits one can only know from being in the business 25 plus years.

The knowledge of how to pick an investment.  

How to discern for yourself.

I’m here for networking with people that feel I have some value to offer them and that they offer me.  

I’ve spent more than 25 years as an investment professional and have garnered lots of experiences, wisdom, and knowledge along the way.


Are you someone that:
🇺🇸Still believes in the America dream.  

🏆Believes that whether you are a first or fifth generation American we all have a shot at glory, however we choose to define it.

🆓Believes that freedom of speech is a natural right, not something a government can govern, or take from the people.

🤑Understands no one is entitled to “special privileges” or special “info” because they are part of some “elite” group.  

ℹ️Agrees access to information that is unbiased is paramount. 

🧐Wants each of us to make up our own minds, decide our own destiny, without it being tainted by those who have their hand in our pockets.

If that sounds like you, then contact me. Follow me. DM me. 

Fulfill my need to learn your expertise from you. 

That could be law, marketing, sales, basket weaving, fashion  or whatever your God given gift might be in.

1. Pass this / share this post with others you believe fit the above.

2. “Follow” me and I will “follow you”

3. But most importantly, add your email to my newsletter link.  

I’m seriously not going to sell you anything.  

But it’s the only way I can think of to start building a tribe of likeminded folks that aren’t dependent on a third party to communicate (sorry LI 😉).

In the end, what I promise is only ever information from me that is unbiased, firsthand in my field of expertise.  

And I hope you will give me the same back.

#deepthoughts #teach #wisdom

Founder @ Firsthand Research and Consulting | Developing unbiased tools to help you learn, discern and pick investments even if you don't know anything about it.|

What impact does unbiased information have?

How can networking benefit professionals?

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Please I beg you, don't lose it all!! Read this short note so you don't.

I started thinking about all the successful folks on here doing their own thing....

Maybe you're a #solopreneur #influencer #freelancer and you've reached your goals, hitting a MRR of well over what you were expecting in your wildest dreams.  

Now what? 

Let's face it, your network or community could be turned upside down overnight if a platform gets banned or shuttered etc. (ala #TikTok).

So, consider me your #fairygodmother if you will...and listen to some wisdom. 

LEARN how to manage your newfound cash flow and wealth so you can keep it! 

Be smart! You worked hard to get that 29,999th follower and then turn that follower into a paying client! 

How do you learn all of the pieces of savings and investing?

Do you have any clue where to start?

Have no fear....

I've compiled with a whole list of websites to help you get up to speed.

➡️https://lnkd.in/gZbZxsQ9

Or DM me anytime! 

I can point you in the right direction! 

But for god(mother)'s sake DO something for your long-term future!

♻️repost and make someone in your network smile today ♻️

How important is wealth building for freelancers?

How essential is learning about savings for solopreneurs?

Why is it important for freelancers to learn about investing?

A strange observation about LinkedIn:

Content from smaller accounts is often better than large accounts.

So I'm looking to connect with more up-and-coming LinkedIn creators.

So, if you're less than 10k followers, drop 2 lines below:

→ What's your business?

→ Who is 1 other person you think is worth following?

Help upgrade my network.  Thank you in advance. ♻️






Inspired by @justinwelsh

How can smaller LinkedIn accounts provide better content?

What benefits can networking with up-and-coming LinkedIn creators bring?

Why is content from smaller accounts often better on LinkedIn?

Yup…Recession is on the table. Here’s why I know:

1. Major companies are almost on a daily basis declaring bankruptcy or some sort of restructuring.

➡️ Red Lobster just today

➡️Express (known as The Limited for those over 45)

➡️Family Dollar

➡️Body Shop

Overall  bankruptcies are up about 35 percent over 2023.

This means the pain from those actions is still to be experienced and felt.

2. GDP growth is finally losing steam at a measly 1.6% annualized which was announced this morning.

Call me crazy but….I do not know of a time ever when rates have been raised so drastically and it has NOT resulted in a recession.   Ever.

It is taking time for us to get there but we are.  And frankly that’s a good thing - why? 

We need deflation. And a recession will help us get that.

The more Congress and the Prez keep spending money and printing money we don’t have the longer and higher interest rates will need to go to break them.

3. Markets down today over 600 points  earlier and now over 300 down.  They know what’s coming. Don’t fool yourself or believe talking heads.

Food for thought.

Read more about these sorts of topics if you follow me. 🙏🏻🆗⬆️

Josh Roybal

WAKE UP LINKEDIN! SOS!
Seriously, we are headed for disaster soon. I'll explain.

No one seems to care!!

→ $33 Trillion of national debt

→ Of that, $24 Trillion is backed by nothing other than the ability to tax US – meaning these are not asset backed loans (unless you consider us the asset).

No company or household could just continue to borrow and not be told by creditors it's time to CUT your spending or we're cutting you off.

Are we so arrogant to think that won't happen here?  Ha! 

💡 Would YOU "lend" to a company that was always in massive debt and never made a profit?

💡 If you decided to raise the interest rate on that loan you gave, would you worry at some point the payments would get too big?

Common sense says NO.

So then, why do you listen to people who recommend buying US debt?

Think for yourself. Discern. 

#USDebt #Economy #GovernmentSpending #FiscalResponsibility #budgetcuts #USgovernment

♻️ Share this to someone you think needs to see it.

And if you Follow Me, I will Follow Back. 👍

What impact will the US debt have on the economy?

How can government spending affect national debt?

Why is fiscal responsibility crucial for economic stability?

Let this one sink in. 

And remember, the U.S. is a bankrupt country as you hear these numbers.

#bankruptcy #USdollar #immigration #veterans

How does the spending on Illegal Immigrants impact the U.S. economy?

What are the implications of the spending on homeless veterans for society?

How does the allocation of resources towards immigration affect social welfare?

The current administration spent $66 Billion on Illegal Immigrants in 2023.  The same administration spent $3 Billion on homeless veterans in 2023. You have to ask yourself.....Why?

Ever wondered what trades like a stock but isn’t quite a bond either? Enter Preferred Stocks. 

These hidden gems sit between common shares and bonds in a company's capital structure. But unlike common stock there are no voting privileges.

✅ They offer potentially attractive yields...

✅ And sometimes even capital appreciation. 

4 Types of preferreds you should know about:

➡️ Cumulative: Missed dividends are paid back before common stock. 
➡️ Non-cumulative: No payouts for missed dividends. 
➡️ Participating: Regular fixed dividend plus extra payout w/certain conditions. 
➡️ Convertible: Convert into common shares at a fixed predetermined amount.

Think beyond common stocks – preferreds might be your next smart investment move. 

More on this topic here https://lnkd.in/eEtuqT5a

Boone’s wine is nasty.

But back in college at $3 a bottle it was ok.

I was thinking about it over the weekend as I was getting a bottle of #cabernet from my wine refrigeration.

Then I was thinking about the first time I tasted #silveroak Napa (now my favorite wine) 20 years ago. At the time $200 seemed like crazy money for a bottle of wine, even though I could afford it.

Maybe you have a wine or single malt #scotch you feel that way towards.

Now I buy that Silver Oak by the case.

And I want to be able to drink it when I retire! 

No one wants to have to alter their lifestyle in retirement!

That means a couple of things 
🔥paying attention to our investment portfolios to make sure growth at least at inflation

🔥not just “set it and forget it”

🔥making sure you have done everything possible to be prepared in retirement by working with a planner perhaps

I can help you get there. 

Leverage my 25 years experience and learn how to pick potentially life altering investments for yourself.  

It’s not that complicated and you have the ability to discern for yourself.

Just subscribe to my newsletter. 

It’s free. Always will be. 

➡️ https://lnkd.in/gZbZxsQ9

What makes Silver Oak Napa a favorite wine?

How crucial is retirement planning for maintaining lifestyle?

Why is it important to pay attention to investment portfolios for retirement?

I listen to my inside voice to make money…and if you’re not, here’s why you should!


It took me 50 years to consciously recognize that I had good instincts and an inside voice. 

In this society we’re supposed to make decisions based on a learned approach or a series of flow charts that lead us to a conclusion.

Anything less, and it means we’re just plain reckless.

But no! That’s just not true. Here's why:

👉 How many times have you thought I need to go buy these lottery numbers. You don’t it. And the numbers hit?

👉 How many times were you driving, were lost, and navigation told you to take a left, you listened even though your gut said to go right? And….3 hours later you get to your destination.

👉 Have you ever just had a feeling inside you, that when you hear something on the news or a friend tells you, that you know how it’s going to end?

Now that I am conscious of this little voice, I listen to it at THAT moment. 
Not tomorrow. Not next week. At THAT moment.

How do I use this to make money? 

Easy!

I walk you through those steps in the simple slides attached.

After 25 years, I know these questions saved me and made me money over the years.

Feel free to pass it on. ♻ ▶

How can intuition impact decision-making in professional settings?

What role does the inside voice play in making effective decisions?

I see hamster wheels EVERYWHERE!

Let me show you…

➡️RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW if you’re reading this. 

 Wheel.

➡️AI based apps you’re using? #ChatGPT, #CoPilot #Claude #Dalle 

All KEEP you on the wheel

➡️ Looking for another new car?

➡️ Dreaming of that next must have watch or piece of jewelry?

➡️House renovations?

➡️Signed up for #threads and spending time to figure it out?

Yes. All of the above. #hamsterwheels!

See it now?

I’m not a coach. I’m an entrepreneur.

I sold my last company that kept me on the gerbil wheel called #stockmarket hours.

Now, I am creating an ecosystem of tools that keep AI and all the other stuff in the background. 

Our sole purpose is to give you different types of unbiased information with each tool.  Without a hamster wheel.

If this sounds like it resonates with you then please sign up for my Newsletter. 
https://lnkd.in/eEtuqT5a

Because if you are keen to hear from me in more detail on investing and become a beta user of our first tool, you will have to be a subscriber.

And then I won’t need to be on LI to talk to you.  

And I can get off the hamster 
wheel too!

Diamonds....lab or real, the truth about their value will shock you.

Here's a bit of news for you - diamonds are not rare.  

They were a couple of hundred years ago when only mines in Brazil and India were known to exist.  

But by the mid 1800s diamonds were being discovered in many African nations.  Then, other parts of the world.  

With each discovery, the world-famous DeBeers Corp.  would shudder at the diminished true intrinsic value of their diamond monopoly.

That's where good marketing came in - the company created the illusion of rareness via their advertising campaigns, and even were responsible for the entire concept of a diamond engagement rings cost should be 3x a monthly salary "as a rule of thumb".

But now lab created diamonds are indistinguishable from a natural diamond.  The DeBeers monopoly can no longer keep the values as steady and growing year after year simply by controlling the supply side. 

And, as noted recently in the #wsj, young couples are opting to get the biggest lab grown they can which is also contributing to a stigma. If they are that common now, many affluent may not want them.

Hence, not all that glitters is a good investment. 

A few tips to keep your sweetheart happy as well as make the right financial move:

💡 Worried about the long-term investment opportunity?  Then, opt for rare and colorful over clear. Fancy colored natural diamonds are truly rarer.  If the pocket can cover it, a yellow or pink is the best chance at growth in the investment.

💡 Natural diamonds are like cars - they lose about 30 to 50% of their value upon purchase.  So, if you can forgo a "new" diamond, find a pre-owned stone at auction or private sale, you will get a much better value.  

💡 Lab-grown diamonds will cost about 20 or 30% less than a natural diamond, which make them very tempting. Some couples do just care about maximum size vs lab/natural.  BUT beware, it will also mean NO resell market altogether AND have zero appreciation.


#DiamondInvesting #LabGrownVsNatural #JewelryIndustry Insights

I'm full of juicy investment concepts in all asset classes. Sign up for my newsletter to learn something new - never stop learning. https://buff.ly/44r8Hcn

What’s next? 7-11 selling #gold next to #slurpees?

Sounds crazy right? 

But #Costco is already selling millions of gold bullion a month to customers who want physical gold.

South Koreans can now buy gold via vending machines and in convenience stores! 

What does this sign of the times mean?

Do you own gold? Have you thought about it?

My newsletter is full of insights on assets classes you should understand. Including gold.

#newsletter link in my bio to get weekly “nuggets”

What impact will the rise in gold sales have on the market?

What cultural factors influence gold purchasing trends in South Korea?

Heeeeey BTW…..We Are Bankrupt. 

So I assume you have a plan in place to make sure you have no illusions you’ll be getting a social security check some day…. 😂

Oh, you think it will be ok?

You think they will figure it out in time?

No.  We are there my friend. 

The precipice.

Today the U.S. Treasury admitted the time table for Social Security insolvency is now 2035.

So from today forward just know and act like you have only YOURSELF to depend on funding your retirement.

That’s why I want to help you learn for yourself. 

No Bull 🐂 from the government or Wall Street with some panacea. 

If you want to learn how to take care of your future for yourself subscribe to my newsletter. 

Or check out my Podcast #DontBuyTheBull

What impact will Social Security insolvency have on retirement planning?

How can individuals secure their retirement funding independently?

Why is self-reliance crucial for retirement planning?

My Friday #DeepThought 

Getting arrested sucks - ask #scottyscheffler or maybe your neighbor....

Maybe we don't know because it's kept hush hush, but the fact is millions of innocent Americans from ALL walks of life have been falsely and inappropriately arrested by #police.

Maybe we just don't hear about it because many, like #scottyscheffler have the money to have things dealt with quickly. 

That the bogus charges like #felony (a decision made by a #cop) get dropped.

That the #mugshots get deleted from the internet by paying thousands to have that done.

Go ahead, ask the couple of dozen people closest to you in your life. I can guarantee they will have similar stories to #scottyscheffler.

And they will have been traumatized, mistreated, manhandled, shoved against a police car, had their arms twisted behind their backs. 

And the #police will try to cover-up by claiming injuries etc. that are all fictious. It's all #CYA.

I've seen this scenario in real life several times with loved ones.

I am all about having police. Society needs them.

But let's not pussy foot around the obvious - there are too many overzealous, undertrained #police out there.  

The police officer in this situation is trained to be observant. So how did he miss the ID of this car? How did he miss there is a MAJOR golf tournament going on that day?

Sorry. Not sorry to say this. But I can't ignore the obvious.

The man speaking is Dr Martin. He is a an amazingly brilliant scientist and medical doctor. 

Please watch this. 

He has the documented proof that we were all being used as guinea pigs on purpose for #bigpharma #pharmaceutical companies to make billions while testing how easily we would all comply. 

➡️➡️ It is things like this which have driven me to try to enlighten people to why they must LEARN how to think about important matters for themselves.  

➡️➡️Your money. Your future. Use your own brain. 

➡️➡️Use your own discernment.

Please SHARE this because humanity all needs to know the #truth via #facts 🌍♻️♻️

#criminal #DrFauci #Vaccines #WHO #freespeech #selfhelp

⚠️ "THE ENTIRETY WHAT WE BEEN THROUGH IN LAST FOUR YEARS HAS BEEN MERELY AN ORCHESTRATION TO THE ASSAULT OF THE LIBERTIES AROUND THE WORLD!" 🌎
A full circle moment as Dr D@vid M@rtin informed 16 members of the UK 🇬🇧 Parliament that C0vid was a 56 year plan in the making which started in the UK when the Welc0me Trust decided to use the c0rona v1rus as the ‘preferred form of human manipulation’.
📓✏️ ↙️
A plan implemented by G@tes, the R0ckefeller Foundati0n, the WH0; all for the implementation of a universal vaXYine by 2020.
☢️☣️
#awareness #publicheath #publicsafety #plan #agenda #global #hazard #health #resist #WHO #reject #bigpharma #drugcartel #corruption 💰

You know, a lot of people think 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 is this really complicated subject that only professors and politicians need to worry about.

But the truth is, it affects pretty much every part of our daily lives, whether we realize it or not.

Think about all the little choices you make as a consumer - what to buy, where to shop, how much to spend. 

Those decisions are all influenced by economic factors like prices, supply and demand, and incentives. Even bigger life choices like what job to take or where to live often come down to economic considerations in the end.

The point is, economics shapes how we behave as individuals and how we interact with others in society.

It determines how resources like money, goods, and services get distributed.

Whether you're rich or poor, working or unemployed, buying a house or renting an apartment - economic forces are at play.

So instead of thinking of economics as this obscure ivory tower thing, we should try to understand how it actually works in the real world.

Having that knowledge can help us make smarter choices and have more control over our own economic situation, you know?

It's more relevant to our lives than we might think at first glance.

A worthwhile newsletter she’s got some great tips on posting to social media.

What impact does quality networking have on business relationships?

How can LinkedIn help in building strong business relationships?

What are recent developments in networking events?

International Social Media Speaker and Trainer / Social Media Consultant / TV Commentator / Social Media Strategist

View Zoe Cairns - Social Media Specialist’s profile

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE FOLLOWERS, IT'S ABOUT THE QUALITY OF YOUR NETWORK.

Utilise every meeting, network event, and engagement opportunity. 

I’ve learned the importance of building a strong network for future opportunities and lasting business relationships.

Meeting someone offline might mean waiting a while to see them again. 

But connecting on social media, especially platforms like LinkedIn, allows you to keep in touch, see updates, and build trust much faster, accelerating the development of business relationships.

Here’s how I optimise my social media connections:

ONE

↳Immediate connection - Whenever I meet someone new, I ask if they’re on social media, particularly LinkedIn. 

Instead of exchanging business cards, I pull out my phone and connect with them right there. 

This immediate connection is followed up with further communication after the event.

TWO

↳Personalised outreach - If I miss the chance to speak with someone at an event but feel a connection would be beneficial, I find them on LinkedIn and send a personalised message. 

I mention the event and show my interest in connecting and chatting in the future.

THREE

↳Active engagement - I regularly engage with their posts to strengthen our business relationship. 

This builds familiarity and trust, showing genuine interest in their content and insights.

FOUR

↳Hashtags and event follow-up - I engage with event-specific hashtags and any follow-up posts by the event organisers. 

This helps me stay visible and utilise additional networking opportunities with others who attended.

FIVE

↳Profile views check - I review who viewed my profile on the day of an event to identify any further connections I might have missed. 

This allows me to initiate conversations with interested parties or follow up with people I met.

And guess what? It works.

These strategies have allowed me to build a relevant and specific network for my target audience.

Each interaction on social media is an opportunity to strengthen offline connections and ensure continual engagement.

When I attend events or meet new people, I see each person as a contact and a potential part of my network.

This approach to social media has grown my audience organically and connected me with like-minded individuals who are important to my network.

To anyone looking to get more from their networking, social media is a powerful tool for building and strengthening relationships. 

It’s time to turn your contacts into valuable connections.

To your successes, Zoe.

____________

If you like this post, you will love my newsletter 💜 

Join my newsletter for a FREE weekly growth strategy for speakers and thought leaders - see the first comment below to join 👇

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