Allstate wants to move away from the traditional practice of using credit scores to determine auto insurance premiums. The company is talking to regulators about using customers’ driving habits to determine premiums. But it has to overcome privacy concerns and drivers’ reluctance to have driving habits tracked. (WSJ)
American stores are running out of things. Container costs are going through the roof. Supply chains are strained and are breaking down. American companies cannot find workers. The shortage of everything is likely to lead to a tough Christmas season for retailers and consumers. (The Atlantic)
Chamath Palihapitiya, the founder of Social Capital LP talks to Barry Ritholtz about his investing strategy, his love for SPACs, and venture capital investing. (Bloomberg)
136 countries agreed to a deal that will ensure that companies pay at least 15% corporate tax. For decades, companies have moved to low-tax countries to avoid taxes in their home countries. This deal will end the tax-based competition between countries to attract foreign investment. It usually takes many years for countries to implement international tax deals. (Reuters)
BlackRock wants to encourage real shareholder democracy for the big institutional investors of its index funds by allowing them to vote at company meetings. This will allow big institutions to vote on executive pay, ESG proposals, and other hot-button issues. (Reuters)
Volvo, owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. of China is returning to the public markets at a valuation of $25 billion. The shares are expected to be listed on the Stockholm stock exchange. (WSJ)
One thing is certain if you are saving money for your kids’ college expenses in a 529 account. You are either overfunding it or underfunding it. There is no way to know until your kids go to college and you know the actual expenses. College tuition varies widely and most costs are just “averages” that may not apply to your situation. (Humble Dollar)
Rich people use trusts to pass on wealth to the next generation without paying estate taxes. If the investments in Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) goes up in value, that increase goes the heirs without being subject to estate tax. (ProPublica)
The oil and gas sector is one of the best performing sectors of the market this year. Energy stocks have returned 54% this year. Rising demand, supply disruptions, and economic growth have led to increasing oil and gas prices. WTI prices are the highest since 2014. (Marketwatch)
Former Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi says explained why she has never asked for a raise. Immigrant fear and the belief that if you did a good job, you will reap the rewards prevented her from asking for a raise. (Fortune)
Disney will charge its guests as much as $15 per ride to skip the line. Disney has been looking for ways to reduce crowding at its popular rides. Reaction from Disney fans has been negative but the company has been offering the pay-to-skip-the-line option at its resorts in Shanghai and Paris. (Detroit News)
Copyright holders have a lot of control over their video content. So it’s not surprising that old content is disappearing from streaming platforms like Netflix. Netflix catalog is one-tenth of the size it was fifteen years ago. While the law allowed Netflix to continue renting the DVD forever without renegotiating contracts, streaming has provided copyright holders more control over content than it did with DVDs. That has led to fewer choices for consumers. (Fullstackeconomics)
The SEC has once again punted its decision on allowing bitcoin ETFs. The decision is now likely to come in November or December 2021. (The Block Crytpo)
Dial back at work. Putting in more hours at work doesn’t improve results. Focus on the 20% of the things that deliver 80% of the work. Ask what an 85-year old self would have done at the current stage of your life. (HBR)