A few moments ago I opened my Bloomberg, something I’ve done almost daily for decades, to see this message; “Your free trial will expire in 1 day(s), 4 hour(s) and 55 minutes (s).” I had tried for another extension, but the kind hearts at Bloomberg said that after 120 days I’m on my own. Truer words…etc etc, right?
My first response was panic. I mean, how would I stay in touch with the market, people, short of spending over $24,000 a year for a subscription? I got myself a martini, which has settled in nicely after one sip in good part a function of skiing in Vermont all day starting just below zero at 8:30AM and finishing at 9 degrees above in the afternoon. As if I have anything to panic about.
Still, at least for now and until I find a suitable spot — if or when I find a such a thing — my name will appear with a (D) in front of it on Bloomberg lists. (D) I suppose stands for deleted or departed. I’ve left out depressed or desperate deliberately.
I think that (D) should be in red, don’t you? It’s like the Scarlet Letter emblazoned on Hester Prynne’s chest. It draws both unwanted attention to a former biggish deal career-wise to his current state, but also adorns a sense of pride about what I did and what I’m doing. The latter is about skiing, and working out, yoga and self discovery. It’s also about a blog I started as an outlet for my other sorts of writings and musings (https://www.iratestrategist.com/).
Yeah, yeah, it’s goofy, silly, but then have you ever read my professional work? I’m allowed the indulgence.
There! I felt it again. That twinge of fear. What comes next? I don’t know. It’s scary, it’s largely uncertain, and it’s bloody exciting. I might ‘consult’ a bit, I’d like to talk about my increasingly macro thoughts without the pressure of having to get a trade done. I would love to be on some investment policy board so long as I can take a Tuesday, or Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, to ski. Or fish. Or write. Maybe Dad was right; I’m rather spoiled.
I just typed in MSG2 on Bloomberg to see seven of the 2356 people on my list wear the same scarlet (D). It’s the nature of the business, and the aging process, and I hope — I really do — that the other marked folk are enjoying themselves as much as I am.